'Fat City'

Interesting tidbits about Fat City:

1. Stacy Keach in his role of "Tully" was well regarded. In the New York Film Critics Circle, he received multiple votes for Best Actor. At the time, the circle was a heavy influence on the Oscar voters. Keach, however, only got a few votes along with fellow contender Marlon Brando, in his role of Vito Corleone in The Godfather. The organization quickly changed the rules forcing the winning to get a majority of the votes. Neither Keach nor Brando could get a majority. The voters compromised with Laurence Olivier for Sleuth.

Both Olivier and Michael Caine were nominated for Oscars for Sleuth. Keach wasn't. And Brando took home the Oscar. Bottomline: Keach was screwed.

2. Brando was initially offered the role of Tully.

3. Beau Bridges was initially offered the role of Ernie. He declined and offered up his brother, Jeff. Jeff, of course, won the Best Actor Oscar this year for Crazy Heart. Beau is doing another episode of Stargate.