The Inside Story of ‘Pulp Fiction’: 20 Creatives Break Down Making the ‘Tarantinoverse’ Look and Feel

Pulp Fiction,” Tim Roth knows the truth about a privileged piece of movie mythology. “We tend to know only as much as [our character] would know, but one thing that I do know because my character would know, which is what’s in the suitcase,” Roth reveals. “But Quentin asked me not to mention it.” In a film full of mysteries, the contents of that sacred object remain among the biggest.

But even without Jules Winnfield’s 9mm pistol pointed at his head, Roth is kind enough to volunteer an answer that, though perhaps slightly disappointing, is at least factually accurate. “I remember him saying that the answer if they ask you was, ‘A battery and a lamp’.” To commemorate the 30^th anniversary of “Pulp Fiction,” Variety spoke with more than 20 members of the film’s cast and crew about their experiences, recollections and insights. This article is actually the second part of our larger retrospective; while this chronicles the production itself, the other piece traces the project from its origins to its eventual legacy as one of the most successful and influential independent films ever made.

David Wasco, production designer: We knew that there was more money for “Pulp,” but it was still a modestly budgeted indie film. Sandy Wasco, set decorator: We felt free to bring in different genres, so we mixed in different architectural styles to separate the stories. So we had the mid-century Hawthorne Grill, and then Jack Rabbit Slim’s, the craftsman bungalow for the Jodie and Eric Stoltz’s character.

We had the Polynesian post-war family room for the watch sequence. Although Tim Roth remembers Tarantino originally writing the role of fugitive boxer Butch for him to play, the filmmaker would eventually cast his former “Reservoir Dogs” star in a small but pivotal role in the film’s wraparound scene in the diner. Tim Roth (“Pumpkin”): My feeling is he’d just gotten more finances, but the guy was exactly the same. He’d probably gotten a nicer car.

Actually, no, he kept his car. It was always full of cups and food wrappers. Travolta (“Vincent Vega”): I think the first scene we worked on was grabbing the guns out of the trunk of the car and entering from outside of the building where