The time-traveling DeLorean is arguably the most iconic movie car of all time, but in the original script of the film, Marty and Doc Brown did not use a vehicle at all. Instead, the first draft of Back to the future had Doc Brown uses a kitchen refrigerator as a time machine. Accordingly Far Out Magazinethe refrigerator would have a machine called “Current transformer”, which had to be powered by a nuclear explosion in order to travel back in time. While this idea may seem fun on the surface, its inclusion would have Back to the future before it was even published.

Back to the future is widely regarded as one of the best films of all time, and it’s the film’s willingness to be a little silly and self-aware that makes it such an enjoyable viewing experience. The characters aren’t perfect, the jokes are always funny, and the story is endlessly creative – but there are limits. The film knows when to go too far, and holds back on certain science fiction rules (the car goes 88 mph, for example) to make sure it at least something real. That makes Back to the future great, and a time-traveling refrigerator would have ruined it.

The refrigerator plan from Back to the Future would have been terrible

The refrigerator could have ruined the film

On paper, the original DeLorean plan could have been funny – the idea of ​​Marty climbing into a refrigerator and being thrown into a nuclear explosion could easily be played for laughs, but it definitely borders on slapstick. The DeLorean works better because it is at least partially real: it is a recognizable car that exists in real life and is already used for transportation, so the the suspension of disbelief is not too greatIt would have been hard to imagine a refrigerator becoming a vehicle, and this scene at the beginning of the film would have put some people off.

Interesting, Back to the futureThe original refrigerator idea was later developed in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull when the title character climbs into a refrigerator to survive a nuclear explosion. It quickly became the most controversial scene in the filmnot only because it was so ridiculous, but because it ruined the tension of the story by essentially making Indy feel like he couldn’t really exist. The negative reaction to this scene in Indiana Jones basically proves that it would not have worked in Back to the future either.

Why in “Back to the Future” the refrigerator was no longer a car

The last-minute decision saved the film

There are two main reasons for this, Back to the future switched from refrigerator to car: The first was, as mentioned, that it seemed too ridiculous. The film needed to slowly introduce the audience to this story, with most of the strange time travel escapades taking place in the second act when viewers were already hooked and captivated. Such a ridiculous idea would have caused some viewers to tune out immediately. The DeLorean became an integral part of the story, allowing for timeline changes and alternate versions in Back to the future.

However, the main reason Spielberg opposed the time-traveling refrigerator was the fear that its inclusion would be blamed for all refrigerator-related incidents after the film’s release. Many refrigerators in the ’80s were equipped with a latch that prevented food from spoiling, but this actually caused several deaths among children who were able to lock themselves inside. Spielberg wanted to avoid the possibility of further tragic incidents, so The vehicle was changed.

No way back to the future would have been so iconic with a time machine from the refrigerator

The DeLorean has become a symbol of the sci-fi franchise

The decision to switch from a refrigerator to a DeLorean was probably the smartest decision Back to the future From a marketing perspective, it would have been almost impossible to use the refrigerator as a symbol for the film – everyone has one in their house and it is completely unrecognizable. But DeLoreans are a very special type of car with unique featureswhich means that all toys, posters, DVDs or memorabilia for Back to the future could use it.

Although DeLoreans were not as successful in real life, this arguably only made the model more iconic. It is somewhat unfamiliar and unconventional for modern audiences, which adds to the science fiction feel that Zemeckis wanted to achieve with this film. The car is almost exclusively referred to as “the Back to the future car,” which has helped it survive in pop culture in a way that a refrigerator never could. The abolition of the refrigerator idea could Back to the future before it was even filmed, which is not something you can say about many films.

Source: Far Out Magazine