Trivia / Inferno (1980)

• Actor Allusion: Sacha Pitoëff previously starred in Last Year at Marienbad, which Argento cited as an inspiration for Inferno.
• California Doubling: Set in New York City and Rome, but shot mostly in the latter.
• Enforced Method Acting:
  • Leigh McCloskey was forced to do his own stunts during the fiery climax, as his stunt double had broken a leg.
  • Assistant director Lamberto Bava (of Demons) fame was placed in charge of cat wrangling, and subsequently developed such a distaste for them that he hasn't been able to stand being in the same room as them since.
• He Also Did: Lead actor Leigh McCloskey went on to become a fairly well-known artist and Tarot card illustrator.
• Same Language Dub: Leigh McCloskey's dialogue was looped by another actor, since he'd already left Rome to work on Dallas.
• Sexy Soaked Shirt: Rose enters the water-filled hole to find her keys wearing a white blouse with no bra underneath. And she surfaces once in the ordeal.
• Troubled Production: Dario Argento contracted a severe case of hepatitis early in principal photography, leading to him being bed-ridden for a several days and having second unit director Mario Bava fill-in for him. Argento has since called Inferno his most challenging film to date.
• Uncredited Role:
  • Maniac and Maniac Cop auteur William Lustig served as the film's uncredited New York production manager, and plays the murderous hot dog vendor.
  • Actress Irene Miracle (Rose) claims many of her scenes were directed by an uncredited Mario Bava, Argento's mentor who served as the visual effects and second unit director.
• What Could Have Been:
  • James Woods was considered for the lead role, but was already committed to Videodrome at the time.
  • Nancy Allen was offered the role of Rose, but turned it down.
  • Goblin offered to write the film's soundtrack, but were turned down by Argento who instead hired their initial inspiration Keith Emerson.

---