Buzz
Chevy Chase returns as the iconic character in the 1989 sequel to Fletch. Here are 15 intriguing details about Fletch Lives that might surprise you.
1. The film is based on a series of 11 books by Gregory Mcdonald.
Unlike its predecessor, Fletch, the sequel Fletch Lives tells an entirely original story.
2. The theatrical poster for Fletch Lives was designed to evoke a sense of déjà vu.
The poster cleverly parodies the iconic 1939 film Gone with the Wind.
3. Fletch maintains his tradition of adopting famous pseudonyms in Fletch Lives.
Among his aliases are Peggy Lee, Nostradamus, Victor Hugo, “Henry” Himmler, Billie Jean King, Elmer Fudd, and Robert E. Lee.
4. Fletch recycles some of his disguises from the original Fletch in the sequel.
His “Gordon Liddy” outfit from Fletch
5. The character of televangelist Jimmy Lee Farnsworth is portrayed by actor R. Lee Ermey.
Ermey is most famous for his role as Gny. Sgt. Hartman in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor.
6. Randall “Tex” Cobb, who plays Ben Dover in Fletch Lives, was once a professional Heavyweight boxer.
Before transitioning to acting, Cobb had a boxing record of 42-7, with 36 knockouts. He also appeared in films like the Coen Brothers’ Raising Arizona and Jim Carrey’s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Cobb collaborated again with Fletch and Fletch Lives director Michael Ritchie in The Golden Child and Diggstown.
7. Fletch appears to be a Democrat with a sharp sense of humor.
Fletch is seen sporting a McGovern/Eagleton ’72 presidential campaign t-shirt after his first night in Belle Isle. Although the McGovern/Eagleton ticket lost, the campaign is historically significant: the Democratic National Committee Headquarters were burglarized during that election year, an event tied to the Watergate Scandal, masterminded by G. Gordon Liddy (one of Fletch’s aliases).
8. The electronic score for Fletch Lives was composed by German artist Harold Faltermeyer.
Faltermeyer is best known for crafting the iconic “Axel F” theme from Beverly Hills Cop and the “Top Gun Anthem” from Top Gun.
9. Fletch Lives opened at the top of the box office, earning over $35 million.
Its predecessor, however, grossed more than $50 million.
10. Scenes featuring the Bibleland theme park in Fletch Lives were filmed at Universal Studios in Hollywood.
The Noah’s Ark Flood ride, which Fletch narrowly escapes, was part of the Flash Flood attraction on the Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour.
11. The televangelist’s auditorium is a real-life location you can visit.
The exterior shots were filmed at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island.
12. The Belle Isle plantation, inherited by Fletch, was filmed on location.
The plantation featured in the film, Houmas House in Darrow, Louisiana, was built in 1810.
13. The biker bar Fletch visits is the same location as the iconic tequila scene in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.
The Halfway House Café in Santa Clarita, California, which opened in 1931, has been featured in numerous films, TV shows, and commercials over the years.
14. The biker bar scene contains a subtle nod to the original Fletch.
The Underhills, the couple Fletch charged meals to at the country club in the first film, can be spotted dancing behind him in their tennis attire.
15. Patricia Kalember, who portrays Amanda Ray Ross, and Julianne Phillips, who plays Becky Culpepper, later starred together in the TV series Sisters.
Interestingly, they did not share any scenes in Fletch Lives.
