August 21: Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Milestone Years

• 15th Anniversary: August 21, 2024
• 20th Anniversary: August 21, 2029
• 25th Anniversary: August 21, 2034
• 50th Anniversary: August 21, 2059

Inspiration Behind the Movie

Quentin Tarantino had envisioned Inglourious Basterds for over a decade, aiming to craft a WWII epic that combined spaghetti westerns, revenge fantasies, and revisionist history. Drawing partial inspiration from 1978’s “The Inglorious Bastards,” his goal was to deliver a bold, stylized take on the genre that also paid homage to classic cinema, particularly through the character of Shosanna and her film theater.

You Might Not Know

• Brad Pitt’s character, Lt. Aldo Raine, was inspired by a real-life WWII soldier named Audie Murphy, with added Tarantino flair.
• Christoph Waltz almost didn’t get the role of Hans Landa, which won him an Oscar and made him an international star.
• Tarantino halted production for years because he felt he hadn’t found the perfect actor for Landa.
• The infamous strudel scene took days to shoot and showcases Tarantino’s love for slow, tension-building dialogue.
• The film was shot in Germany and France, and includes four languages: English, German, French, and Italian.

Food Ideas

• Strudel with cream – just like the one Landa orders for Shosanna.
• Bratwurst and sauerkraut – a nod to the German setting.
• French charcuterie board – representing Shosanna’s cinema life in Paris.
• Whiskey shots – mirroring the underground tavern scene.
• “Basterds Burgers” – custom burgers with “scalp” toppings for fun flair.

Ways to Celebrate

• Host a Tarantino-themed movie marathon with friends.
• Dress up as your favorite character for a costume viewing party.
• Quiz your guests on WWII movie trivia.
• Recreate the strudel scene as a dramatic skit.
• Watch in a candle-lit room to mimic Shosanna’s theater finale.

Filming Locations

Filming took place in Germany and France, with Babelsberg Studios in Potsdam providing most of the interior sets. The cinema exterior was built in the small German town of Bad Schandau. Many authentic WWII-era structures were used to bring the alternate-history setting to life. Some locations, like the tavern set, were constructed entirely from scratch.