Quentin Tarantino Once Came Close To Remaking A Beloved Classic

Quentin Tarantino has always been open about his love for old movies, especially the fast and cheap films made by American International Pictures. These movies were popular in the 1950s and 1960s and often focused on rebellious teens, rock music, and crime. Many of them were guided by producer and director Roger Corman, who helped launch the careers of several famous filmmakers.

In a conversation with filmmaker Roger Avary, Tarantino revealed that he once came very close to remaking one of those classic films. The movie was Rock All Night, released in 1957 and produced by Corman. Tarantino said this was the closest I ever came to actually committing to a remake. He praised the script and said the story still worked perfectly decades later. He also spoke highly of actor Dick Miller, calling his performance a key reason the film stood out.

This near remake happened in the early 1990s, shortly after Reservoir Dogs put Tarantino on the map. At the time, producers Deborah Hill and Lou Arkoff were putting together a Showtime series called Rebel Highway. According to interviews, the project was meant to honor old AIP movies by reusing their titles and spirit. Most of the directors involved wanted to create new stories, but Tarantino wanted to stay true to the original Rock All Night plot.

He even had casting ideas ready. Tarantino imagined Tim Roth in the lead role, playing a guy who walks into bars and starts st. The story centers on gangsters who take over a roadside bar and trap everyone inside. A local troublemaker eventually outsmarts them. Tarantino described the character as a total a****** but said he was exactly the a****** you need to take down the criminals.

Tarantino also came up with a bold twist for the remake. He thought about setting the story in Memphis and bringing Elvis Presley into the plot. In his version, Elvis would be forced by the criminals to sing a song about his mother. The idea blended crime, music, and pop culture in a way that felt very Tarantino.

Even with all these ideas, Tarantino backed away. He said in the discussion with Avary that the producers seemed too eager to sign him. That made him stop and think about where his career was heading. He admitted he felt like he was kinda the man at that moment and wondered if he should really take on what he called a fun little assignment for television.

In the end, Tarantino decided his next move needed to be bigger. Walking away from the remake opened the door for him to make Pulp Fiction instead. That film went on to win the Palme d’Or and change modern cinema. Avary agreed that passing on the remake was the right choice.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments.