A River Runs Through It Trivia

FISHING
None of the actors in A River Runs Through It had ever fly fished before making the movie.

Trout used in the movie were pond-raised in Montana and were kept in a specially aerated and cooled tank truck until their big moment in front of the cameras. No hooks were used, and no blood was drawn. A line was tied to each fish's lower jaw under the careful observance of the Montana Humane Society.

COSTUMES
There were four "period" costume changes needed for the movie. Costumes were needed for the years 1912, 1919, 1927, and 1938 for all the actors, bit parts, and extras. Craig Sheffer, who played Norman Maclean, had about 55 costume changes, and Brad Pitt (who played Paul Maclean) had about 30 changes. Five of Craig Sheffer's 55 changes included four sets of identical costumes. If the actor needed to be in a fishing scene and got wet and then had to be dry again, a costume change was needed.

About 100 costumes were used for the picnic scene, 50 for the train station scene, and another 50 for the church scene. Since the church was filmed in all four periods, 50 costumes for each period were needed.

ACTORS
Brad Pitt brought his hound dog, Dacon, with him on location to Montana. In between takes on the set, Brad played his guitar and read, and he and Dacon enjoyed Montana's countryside.

Craig Sheffer, who played the writer Norman Maclean, is also a writer in real life. During filming, he kept a book in his trailer to scribble down his feelings during free moments between takes.

Tom Skerrit, who played the Reverend Maclean, visited Yellowstone National Park while filming A River Runs Through It. His then-13-year-old son visited with him and the two were very intrigued with the wildlife they saw.