To create memorable movies, filmmakers use over-the-top methods and extravagant techniques. But they are not entirely safe from unexpected turns behind the scenes that are common on Hollywood sets. That’s why the help of an all-star crew committed to having a fun and safe experience on or off camera is essential before seeing their masterpieces on the big screens.
1. A Harry Potter double’s life after Deathly Hollows
Actor and former stunt double David Holmes enjoyed almost 8 years of playing a wizard for the Harry Potter franchise before being struck by an unfortunate accident while rehearsing a flying scene that left him paralyzed from the chest down.
However, David didn’t let the tragedy bring him down. He even teamed up with Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe for a podcast and interviewed stunt performers from around the world to raise awareness around responsible filmmaking.
2. The blow that took Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone, who played the titular boxer in Rocky IV, revealed in an interview that his award-winning film sent him to the hospital after a scene with his co-star Dolph Lundgren. He joked and compared the injury to when your chest hits the car’s steering wheel in a car accident.
3. The Mummy prop that went wrong
The cast and crew of The Mummy had to endure many troubles, including sandstorms and snakes, while shooting the action comedy in Morocco and the Sahara. Actor Brendan Fraser revealed the rope scene with his character Rick O’Connell caused more than trouble for him. The stunt team tied the rope so tight that it choked him before he passed out.
4. Tony Todd’s bee stings that weren’t as sweet as honey
Before the days of CGI, in the 1990s, practical effects and props were the go-tos when shooting movies. For Candyman actor Tony Todd, things got too real when production asked for real live bees to be put on his face for long periods of time. However, his contract stated that every bee sting counted for $1,000, so he just said, “Bring it on!”
5. The over-the-top underwater scene in Kingsman
Even the action-packed film Kingsman: The Secret Service had its heart-racing moments off camera. As they shot the underwater scene with Eggy and his fellow recruits, director Matthew Vaughn shared that the computer responsible for keeping the set and cameras in place went faulty while the actors were submerged. “Those actors weren’t acting, they were absolutely terrified,” Matthew added.
6. The slithering spaces in The Maze Runner
Being a movie full of action sequences, The Maze Runner had its share of the wild outdoors in Louisiana. Actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster shared, “We were seeing 10 snakes a day in the beginning, and then by the end, we were still catching 4 a day.” The production had to hire snake wranglers who found 25 venomous snakes just lurking around.
7. Debbie Reynold’s hurting feet in Singin’ in the Rain
Perfection was what actor Gene Kelly was after while shooting the iconic “Good Morning” tap dance scene in Singin’ in the Rain with co-stars Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor. However, because of rehearsing too much, Debbie’s feet paid the price for perfecting the routine with injuries. She shared, “It was very difficult to do those numbers as fast over and over and over.”
8. The anxiety-fueled tank scene in Now You See Me
In Now You See Me, actor Isla Fisher, who played magician and escape artist Henley Reeves, does a classic Harry Houdini-esque trick, and that is to escape a water tank in chains. But things got messy and Isla’s chains locked around her and became entangled. She had to hold her breath for minutes before breaking free and pressing the “panic button” the crew had set up.
9. The unconventional makeup trick in Interview with the Vampire
To achieve realistic effects through makeup, the artists behind Interview with the Vampire had the cast of the horror classic hang upside down for 30 minutes while putting on their makeup. They would repeat the process for another half hour if they didn’t get it right. The reason? So that the artists could trace the pale vampire veins as seen in the actors’ close-up scenes.
10. The snow that became a health hazard in The Wizard of Oz
As magical as the snow was in the “poppy field scene” in The Wizard of Oz, it was actually made from 100 percent asbestos, a toxic mineral that is hazardous when its fibers get trapped within the body. Asbestos was also used in actor Ray Bolger’s Scarecrow costume and Margaret Hamilton’s Wicked Witch of the West props and costume.
