Episode 3: fargo
How the Coen Brothers introduced folks to the quirky Midwest and its dark underbelly.
“There are a couple of things that Joel and Ethan wanted that I thought were really charming. One of them was, as soon as you walk in the house, you’ve got to stomp your feet to get the snow off. They would remind us every time; “You’ve got to stomp your feet as soon as you walk in the door.” God bless them, that’s the music of living in North; stomping your feet to get the snow off so you don’t track it in through the kitchen.”
The 1996 movie Fargo stirred widespread curiosity about snowy winters, funny accents and bloody mayhem on the frozen tundra of North Dakota and Minnesota. The film won two Oscar awards and inspired a popular television series of the same name. But how well did it actually capture and reflect the region?
In this episode, The Drunk Projectionist presents a documentary about the movie.
Reporters Diane Richard and Todd Melby unravel the mystery behind the parkas, prowlers and wood chippers in the Coen Brothers' Fargo in interviews with actors William H. Macy (Jerry Lundegaard), John Carroll Lynch (Norm Gunderson), Tony Denman (Scotty Lundegaard), dialect coach Liz Himelstein, women in law enforcement, and many more. Narrated by Bruce Bohne (Deputy Lou).
In 2021, Todd Melby wrote a book about the movie: A Lot Can Happen in the Middle of Nowhere: The Untold Story of the Making of Fargo. William H. Macy wrote the introduction.
THE FARGO FILE
March 8, 1996
Fargo released. The Coen Brothers’ sixth film stars William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, and Peter Stormare.
May 21, 1996
Joel Coen wins best director at Festival de Cannes.
December 22, 1996
Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune, lists Fargo as his favorite film of the year .
March 23, 1997
Fargo wins six Independent Spirit Awards for best picture, director, actor, actress, cinematographer, and script.
March 24, 1997
Frances McDormand wins the Oscar for Best Actress for her role as Marge Gunderson. Ethan Coen and Joel Coen win the Oscar for Best Screenplay.
1998
American Film Institute celebrates its centennial with “100 Years … 100 Movies” list of best pictures. Fargo sneaks in at #84, just below Platoon and just above Duck Soup. Ten years later, Fargo is removed from the AFI list.
2005
Writer’s Guild of America names Fargo to its list of Top 101 Greatest Screenplays.
December 27, 2006
U.S. Library of Congress adds Fargo to the National Film Registry.