15 Fascinating Facts About Rushmore

On December 11, 1998, Wes Anderson unveiled his distinctive style of quirky humor with Rushmore. While it wasn’t his first film—he had previously directed Bottle Rocket, based on a short film, in 1996—it marked his debut in mainstream Hollywood. This film also began his enduring partnerships with a group of gifted actors, including Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman. Additionally, it was the second screenplay Anderson co-wrote with Owen Wilson.

In honor of the eccentric comedy’s 20th anniversary, here are some lesser-known details about Rushmore.

1. The director attended Rushmore Academy, which served as his alma mater.

Wes Anderson dispatched location scouts throughout the United States and Canada to locate the ideal high school for filming. Despite struggling to find the right setting, his mother sent him a photo of his former high school in Houston, Texas: St. John's School. Anderson immediately knew it was the perfect spot for the movie.

2. Bill Murray was so eager to join Rushmore that he offered to work for free.

After reading the script, Bill Murray was so enthusiastic about the project that he contemplated working without pay. Ultimately, he agreed to the Screen Actors Guild’s minimum day rate for smaller independent films. Anderson estimated Murray earned approximately $9000 for his role in the movie.

3. Renowned film critic Pauline Kael was granted a private screening.

Pauline Kael’s film critiques profoundly shaped Anderson’s cinematic perspective. “Your insights and writings about movies have been a significant source of inspiration for me and my work, and I hope you don’t regret that,” he once wrote to her.

After Kael retired from The New Yorker in 1991, Anderson organized a private screening of Rushmore for her before its 1998 release. In the introduction to the published screenplay, Anderson recounted the screening and shared Kael’s reaction: "I genuinely don't know what to make of this movie."

4. Jason Schwartzman made his film debut in this movie.

Casting directors scoured the United States, Canada, and England to find the right actor for Max Fischer. Australian actor Noah Taylor was the top contender until Jason Schwartzman auditioned on the final day in Los Angeles. Schwartzman wore a prep school blazer with a handmade Rushmore Academy patch, which helped him land the role.

5. Some of the film’s plot elements were inspired by Owen Wilson’s private school experiences.

During his sophomore year at St. Mark High School in Dallas, Texas, Rushmore co-writer Owen Wilson was expelled for stealing his geometry teacher’s textbook, which contained all the answers. He later finished 10th grade at Thomas Jefferson High School. This incident inspired the scene where Max is expelled from Rushmore Academy and transfers to Grover Cleveland High School.

Although Owen Wilson doesn’t have an official role in Rushmore, he makes a cameo as Ms. Cross’s late husband, Edward Appleby, in a photograph displayed in Appleby’s childhood bedroom.

6. A Moment in the Film Was Inspired by Wilson’s Father.

Herman Blume’s speech about privilege at the start of Rushmore was inspired by Owen Wilson’s father, Robert Wilson.

7. Alexis Bledel appeared as an extra in the movie.

Before gaining fame as Rory Gilmore on Gilmore Girls, Alexis Bledel appeared as an uncredited extra in Rushmore, portraying a Grover Cleveland High School student. She can be spotted in the background of several scenes, including dancing with Magnus Buchan (Stephen McCole) during the film’s finale.

8. Both Anderson and Wilson’s brothers had roles in the film.

Andrew Wilson, the older brother of Owen and Luke Wilson, plays Rushmore Academy’s baseball coach, Coach Beck. He also appeared in Anderson’s first film, Bottle Rocket, as the bully John Mapplethorpe.

Eric Chase Anderson, Wes Anderson’s brother, portrays the architect responsible for designing Max’s aquarium.

9. The Film’s Editor Appeared in a Cameo Role.

David Moritz, the editor of Rushmore, plays the Dynamite Salesman who sells Max the explosives for his stage production Heaven and Hell near the movie’s conclusion.

10. Producers Struck a Deal to Secure a Bentley.

The production team needed a Bentley for Herman Blume, played by Bill Murray, but the film’s $20 million budget didn’t allow for renting one. A Houston local offered his Bentley in exchange for a role for his daughter. The producers agreed, and his daughter appears as an usher seating Miss Cross during Max’s play at the end of the film.

11. Mason Gamble’s Role in Dennis the Menace Nearly Prevented Him from Playing Dirk Calloway in Rushmore.

Wilson described Dirk Calloway, portrayed by Mason Gamble, as the moral compass of the film. Initially, Anderson hesitated to cast Gamble due to his well-known role as Dennis Mitchell in the 1993 live-action film Dennis the Menace.

12. Rushmore Annoyed Francis Ford Coppola.

Francis Ford Coppola, who owns a winery, was displeased with Anderson after watching Rushmore. The film featured Coppola’s main Napa Valley wine competitor during Max’s celebration scene. (This likely didn’t sit well, especially since Coppola is Schwartzman’s uncle.)

13. The Criterion Collection Artwork Was Created by Anderson’s Brother.

Eric Chase Anderson created the artwork for the Criterion Collection DVD cover, inspired by a scene from the montage of Max’s extracurricular activities at the start of the film. The Yankee Racer scene itself is a homage to a 1909 photograph by French photographer Jacques Henri Lartigue, taken when he was just 15.

14. Schwartzman Waxed His Chest for the Role of Max.

Despite Max only baring his chest once in the movie (during the wrestling match), Anderson required Schwartzman to wax his chest throughout the entire filming of Rushmore.

15. The Max Fischer Players Made an Appearance on MTV.

At the 1999 MTV Movie Awards, the Max Fischer Players performed stage adaptations of that year’s popular films—The Truman Show, Armageddon, and Out of Sight.

An earlier version of this article was published in 2014.