Ralph Fiennes (sigh) was cast as Amon Goeth in part because of his sexual charisma. According to Time Magazine, Spielberg claimed he "saw sexual evil" in the man's eyes. He'd seen Fiennes' performance as Heathcliff in a version of Wuthering Heights that just so happens to be one of Shmoop's favorites. So take note: if you do brooding-and-tormented-on-the-Moors really well, you might just land a big part in a Spielberg flick. (Source)

Steven Spielberg wasn't the first director to be considered for this movie. Roman Polanski turned it down because… well, remember the scene where they liquidate the Krakow ghetto? Polanski was there. His mother got him out before she herself got sent to the camps. So yeah, the subject may have been a little personal for Roman. (Source)

Polanski went on to direct a Holocaust movie of his own called The Pianist, which earned almost as much praise as Schindler. It's also a lot darker even though it tells the story of a Jewish man who stayed free of the camps and captivity throughout the war. (Source)

Steven Spielberg dropped out of college to start his career as a filmmaker. (Disclaimer: Shmoop doesn't recommend this for everyone.) But he never forgot the work undone, so he secretly re-enrolled at Cal State Long Beach with an eye on finishing his degree. As his final thesis, he had to submit a student film. His choice? Schindler's List. The department seems to have deemed it acceptable, and Spielberg finally earned his college degree in 2002. (Source)