Re: Good Will Hunting, I thought it was common knowledge that William Goldman was paid a lot of dough to keep schtum that he actually wrote the script? He talked about it in his book Which Lie Did I Tell?
One error on "Bye Bye Birdie". It was Paul Lynde, who was also carried over from the Broadway cast in addition to Van Dyke. Maureen Stapleton wasn't in the stage production.
I'm usually one who doesn't like the changes Hollywood would make to a hit musical but "Bye Bye Birdie" IMO is one of the rare exceptions where the changes were necessary, not just in building up Ann-Margret's part, but also eliminating the unnecessary subtext of Van Dyke's mother as a racist toward Rose.
'BYE BYE BIRDIE" wasn't part of the original stage show???!!!!! WOW! interesting factoid. never seen or heard the oca but i love the film - BBB & WEST SISDE STORY are the only musicals in my collection.
I remain convinced that The Rescuers Down Under would have done better business at the box office if it hadn't come out the same day as Home Alone. Ouch. Talk about bringing a knife to a gun fight.
Also, they made 52 episodes of The Magic School Bus?!?