'It's a wild, wild movie' - Behind the scenes of Babylon, Hollywood's roaring 20s blockbuster

In a world of déjà vu and repeating themes, "It's a wild, wild movie" echoes Justin Hurwitz, the man behind the compelling score of "Babylon," an exploration of 1920s Hollywood at the dawn of the talkies era (as reported by Deadline in 2022). Now, as we look back, we can only marvel at the audacious retelling of an era that many believe birthed Hollywood's golden age.

Unleashing the Roaring Twenties: A Wild, Wild Trip

In Babylon, director Damien Chazelle, known for his unique storytelling, and Hurwitz, his frequent collaborator, confronted the daunting task of recreating an era of lavish decadence. Yet, they intended not to mimic the 1920s but to embark on a wild and manic trip through it. As Hurwitz recalled, they aimed for a score that used instruments of the time, but in more contemporary ways. The result? A sonic backdrop that helped deliver a fresh take on a well-tread era.

The Unforgettable 'PA' Stunt and the Birth of Babylon

The star-studded cast of Babylon features big names like Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Olivia Wilde, and Samara Weaving. Yet, one face was new to Hollywood - Diego Calva, a well-established actor from Mexico, playing the role of rising film producer Manny Torres.

And who can forget Calva's memorable introduction to Brad Pitt? Under the guise of a PA on a commercial Chazelle was filming with Pitt, Calva recalled, "And then Mary [Zophres] said the secret like, 'Brad, have you met Diego? He's acting in Babylon.' And Brad turned to me and Damon and said, 'I think somebody has something to explain to me.'" This clever introduction only added to the buzzing anticipation surrounding Babylon.

A Feat of Costuming and Production Design

Babylon's story didn't just lie in its plot, but also in its staggering production design and costuming. The film showcases the Herculean efforts of costume designer Mary Zophres and production designer Florencia Martin, who dealt with the "monumental task" of creating era-appropriate attire for a cast that included 250 speaking parts and 8,000 background actors, all without the use of CGI.

Today, as we look back at Babylon, we see more than a movie – we witness a wild ride into Hollywood's past, punctuated by a unique score, a surprise reveal to a Hollywood star, and a feat of production that redefined the limits of the movie-making experience.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)