VladKinder
Well-known member
To this day I find what happened sad and in disbelief that it was allowed to happen.
Made in 1982 the movie based on the TV series was spilt into four different segments, each directed by a famous director.
John Landis director of The Blues Brothers, Animal House, Trading Places, American Werewolf in London and Michael Jackson's Thriller video was one.
Around midnight on July 23rd, Landis insisted a very dangerous scene to be filmed that broke safety and child labour laws.
Later it was found state officials had been paid off to allow the scene to go ahead.
Landis had a reputation of being a bully and some stated was coked out of this head at the time
In the scene actor Vic Morrow had to carry two child actors out of a jungle environment across a shallow river whilst a helicopter dropped explosives into the river.
There were no CGI effects. It was real and already dangerous.
Landis instructed the pilot to go as low as possible, within 24 feet of the water.
The pilot lost control and crashed into the water, decapitating Morrow and one of the kids, and crushing the other child to death.
Landis was charged with manslaughter but was acquitted after his defence that it was freak accident was successful, but he would lose civil cases brought by the families including actress Jennifer Jason Leigh, daughter of Vic Morrow.
The tragic incident changed the way movies would be made in the future with strict safety laws being introduced.
The segment still made it into the movie but with the scene obviously removed.
For those with a morbid interest the scene can be found on YouTube but I will not post it.
Oddly, although it damaged Landis career and reputation he still went on to direct other Hollywood movies.
Made in 1982 the movie based on the TV series was spilt into four different segments, each directed by a famous director.
John Landis director of The Blues Brothers, Animal House, Trading Places, American Werewolf in London and Michael Jackson's Thriller video was one.
Around midnight on July 23rd, Landis insisted a very dangerous scene to be filmed that broke safety and child labour laws.
Later it was found state officials had been paid off to allow the scene to go ahead.
Landis had a reputation of being a bully and some stated was coked out of this head at the time
In the scene actor Vic Morrow had to carry two child actors out of a jungle environment across a shallow river whilst a helicopter dropped explosives into the river.
There were no CGI effects. It was real and already dangerous.
Landis instructed the pilot to go as low as possible, within 24 feet of the water.
The pilot lost control and crashed into the water, decapitating Morrow and one of the kids, and crushing the other child to death.
Landis was charged with manslaughter but was acquitted after his defence that it was freak accident was successful, but he would lose civil cases brought by the families including actress Jennifer Jason Leigh, daughter of Vic Morrow.
The tragic incident changed the way movies would be made in the future with strict safety laws being introduced.
The segment still made it into the movie but with the scene obviously removed.
For those with a morbid interest the scene can be found on YouTube but I will not post it.
Oddly, although it damaged Landis career and reputation he still went on to direct other Hollywood movies.
