When you’re watching the opening credits to a movie, it’s not just a list of names. What you’re actually seeing is intense negotiations by Hollywood stars and their agents playing out in text form.
This is 99% invisible.
I'm Roman Mars.
In 1987, Touchstone Pictures released a buddy comedy called Outrageous Fortune.
Outrageous Fortune wasn't a flop, but it was overshadowed by some of the year's bigger movies.
RoboCop, Predator, Three Men and a Baby.
That's producer Jacob Reid.
The main reason I know about Outrageous Fortune is a bizarre rumor I heard in film school.
A rumor about how the stars were credited.
The film starred Shelley Long and Bette Midler.
Or maybe it was Bette Midler and Shelley Long.
It depends who you ask.
Supposedly the studio somehow promised both actresses they'd be the top billed star of the film.
And it got pretty contentious.
Here's Bette Midler doing a Q and A the following year.
You and Shelley Long were great together in Outrageous Fortune.
I was wondering if you guys were going to work together again.
I don't think so.
No.
No, I don't think so.
Did you enjoy working with them?