The cast of Pulp Fiction reunited for the 30th anniversary of the film: the best-of in photos and videos
Uma Thurman, John Travolta, Harvey Keitel and Samuel L. Jackson greeted Bruce Willis on the red carpet.
In 1994, two years later Reservoir Dogs, Quentin Tarantino paves the way for a new generation of directors who exploit violence with facetiousness and fun. It is not for nothing that we say “Tarantinesque” when we talk about a postmodern work which mixes genres, references and violence in a grotesque and explosive whole which impresses with sharp and sharp dialogues. The director established himself as a great filmmaker from his beginnings, and in particular thanks to pulp Fictionwhich caused a sensation in Cannes 30 years ago.
That year, Tarantino and his five-star cast arrived on the Croisette while pulp Fiction is in official competition. Nobody then believed in the success of the film. However, as surprising as it may seem, the man of loud complaints, Clint Eastwood presents the American director with the Palme d'Or. Unexpected and controversial, this award is the first in a long series which brings Tarantino's second feature film to the Oscars and the cult film.
Pulp Fiction: the turbulent history of a Palme d’Or
Cult, notably thanks to the heady dance of Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) and Vincent Vega (John Travolta) participating in a twist competition to music by Chuck Berry. A scene elsewhere inspired by The Aristocats !
This year, pulp Fiction celebrates its 30th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, part of the cast gathered this week at the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood.
John Travolta (Vincent Vega) and Samuel L. Jackson (Jules Winfield) teamed up again on the red carpet, surrounded by Uma Thurman (Mia Wallace) and Harvey Keitel (Winston Wolfe), but also by Tallulah Willis, the daughter of the Butch Coolidge interpreter.
The big absentee from this reunion is in fact Bruce Willis. Diagnosed last year with frontotemporal dementia, it is his daughter and his wife who represent him on the red carpet. But if the actor is not physically present, he is the main subject of discussion.
Travolta talks about his deep friendship with Bruce Willis:
“Bruce and I have a history in common. We toured together Hello mom, here baby, and we have great success with it. (…) We were comfortable with each other. With Bruce, it was like being at home. It was very caring. He's a good person. We took care of each other.”
Samuel L. Jackson adds this memory of the time he seen Pulp Fiction with Bruce Willis in Cannes:
“We were sitting at the Palais, we were watching the film and it was great. Then we started to realize that the people in the room were speaking French, it was a different atmosphere. (…) They loved the film, we understood that it was going to matter And Bruce said to me: 'Yeah this movie is going to make you popular, but it's. Die Hard 3 (which they were filming at the same time, editor's note) who will make you a star!'”
Samuel L. Jackson says he and Bruce Willis flew to Cannes to promote “Pulp Fiction” while shooting “Die Hard with a Vengeance” together: “Bruce was like, 'Yeah, this movie's going to do things…It's going to put you on the map, but 'Die Hard' is going to make you a star.” pic.twitter.com/xLGj7JqPu6
— Variety (@Variety) April 19, 2024
Quentin Tarantino would like to offer a small role to Bruce Willis in his latest film
The actor also remembers his first day of filming. It was the dinner scene. At that time, he was far from imagining the cultural impact that pulp Fiction. He explains to this same media:
“I didn't realize it until the first screening. We were making a film that we liked, it was fun for us, a great script to direct and great characters to play.”
Black bob and fringe, slightly unbuttoned white shirt and cigarette between her fingers, Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace is as iconic as the film itself. The actress says about pulp Fiction :
“It changed cinema (…) My relationship with pulp Fiction has always been evolving and has become more beautiful throughout my life. This film changed cinema, and it changed every director I've met since.”
If we have to thank one person in particular for Vincent Vega's look, it's his interpreter himself. On the red carpet, the journalist from Variety returns to John Travolta's hairstyle and the actor explains that he went to see Tarantino to find out if it was possible for his character to have long hair – what we call “dutch hair”. Tarantino asks him to try and so Travolta puts on extensions and an earring. The director is amazed. He declares : “It’s perfect! Sold!”
Their reunion was filmed by several Hollywood media, and everyone was visibly delighted to meet again to celebrate together this film which had such an impact on their respective careers:
It was a #Pulp Fiction family reunion! 🥹 #SamuelLJackson, #UmaThurman, #JohnTravoltaand #HarveyKeitel reunite for the 30th anniversary. pic.twitter.com/iwl8uJUHel
– E! News (@enews) April 19, 2024
Samuel L. Jackson says he should have won the Oscar for Pulp Fiction
Finally, note that to also celebrate in France the 30 years of pulp Fiction, the TCM channel will broadcast the film in restored version on May 14 at 8:50 p.m. – opening day of the Cannes Film Festival. It will then be available on demand from this date until June 11.
