20 Things You Didn't Know About The Omen

9. How Richard Donner "Killed" Those Fish

Poster for The Omen
20th Century Fox

We've talked a bit about the animals in the film, and while there's no question a majority of them were hard to work with, it's important to stress that no animals were harmed in the making of the film.

Important because Donner, who went on to helm the Lethal Weapon franchise, Superman and The Goonies, tries to remain strict to his liberal leanings in his film-making. Hence things like Lethal Weapon 2's fixation on apartheid and non-dolphin tuna.

As a result, the fish that fall to the ground in the bowl that shatters along with Lee Remick were dead sardines painted orange. Donner refuse even to kill a goldfish for the sake of a film.

Contributor
Contributor

Kenny Hedges is carbon-based. So I suppose a simple top 5 in no order will do: Halloween, Crimes and Misdemeanors, L.A. Confidential, Billy Liar, Blow Out He has his own website - thefilmreal.com - and is always looking for new writers with differing views to broaden the discussion.