Question 1

What real-life oil tycoon inspired Daniel Plainview's character?

Accepted Answer

Daniel Plainview resembles real early 20th-century California oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny, sharing similar backgrounds and connections like both being from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Question 2

What unexpected ingredient was used as fake oil in the film?

Accepted Answer

The fake oil used throughout the movie included the substance put in chocolate milkshakes at McDonald's, according to director Paul Thomas Anderson.

Question 3

How did a neighboring film production affect the shooting of this movie?

Accepted Answer

While filming in Marfa, Texas, testing pyrotechnical effects for an oil derrick fire created smoke that intruded on the neighboring production of 'No Country for Old Men,' delaying their filming.

Question 4

What was unusual about the casting of H.W. Plainview?

Accepted Answer

Dillon Freasier, who plays H.W. Plainview, was not an actor but an elementary student near the West Texas shooting location, cast after his mother researched Daniel Day-Lewis.

Question 5

How did Paul Dano end up playing two different characters in the film?

Accepted Answer

Paul Dano was originally cast as Paul Sunday, but when the actor playing Eli Sunday was replaced, director Paul Thomas Anderson asked Dano to play both brothers, making them identical twins.

Question 6

What on-set incident involving smoke caused a neighboring film production to delay shooting?

Accepted Answer

While filming in Marfa, Texas, Paul Thomas Anderson's crew tested oil derrick fire effects, creating massive smoke that intruded on Joel and Ethan Coen's shot for No Country for Old Men, forcing them to delay filming until the next day. [23]

Question 7

How did Paul Dano end up playing both Eli Sunday and Paul Sunday in the film?

Accepted Answer

Paul Dano was originally cast as Paul Sunday. After the actor playing Eli Sunday was replaced, director Paul Thomas Anderson asked Dano to also play Eli, changing the brothers to identical twins. [25]

Question 8

What unusual ingredient was used to create the fake oil throughout the movie?

Accepted Answer

Director Paul Thomas Anderson revealed that the fake oil included "the stuff they put in chocolate milkshakes at McDonald's." [26]

Question 9

What real-life oil tycoon shares striking similarities with Daniel Plainview?

Accepted Answer

Daniel Plainview resembles real early 20th-century California oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny. Both were from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, worked in mining before oil, and collaborated with a prospector named "H. B. Ailman." [27]

Question 10

Which major international film festivals featured There Will Be Blood in 2008?

Accepted Answer

The film was featured at the Berlin International Film Festival and San Sebastián International Film Festival in 2008. [14, 20]

There Will Be Blood

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