Decades ago, there was an independent movie being shot. One whose record of safety violations is the stuff of industry legend. It was directed by a lunatic who, under the influence of a lot of white powder and the success of producing one of the biggest hits of the decade up to that point, thought he was invincible.
Leading the crew was this foreign-born cameraman who would go on to have one of the biggest careers of anyone in his field. But back then, he was a young hot-shot who was trying to get his union cards, and with the film’s director completely out of control, he was basically the one responsible for salvaging anything resembling a movie from the madness.
When our cameraman almost lost his head - literally - the crew staged a mutiny. They all agreed the director - who was putting his cast, crew, and family in mortal danger - was insane, and were following the cameraman’s lead. Not wanting his first major assignment to end in ruin, he returned despite his grave injury, and when he did, so did much of the crew. The director was in so far over his head, the film was basically a documentary at this point.
While our cameraman wouldn’t officially have his first directing credit for a couple more decades, the fact this movie exists at all in any finished state has a lot more to do with him than the director and his “friends”.
Leading the crew was this foreign-born cameraman who would go on to have one of the biggest careers of anyone in his field. But back then, he was a young hot-shot who was trying to get his union cards, and with the film’s director completely out of control, he was basically the one responsible for salvaging anything resembling a movie from the madness.
When our cameraman almost lost his head - literally - the crew staged a mutiny. They all agreed the director - who was putting his cast, crew, and family in mortal danger - was insane, and were following the cameraman’s lead. Not wanting his first major assignment to end in ruin, he returned despite his grave injury, and when he did, so did much of the crew. The director was in so far over his head, the film was basically a documentary at this point.
While our cameraman wouldn’t officially have his first directing credit for a couple more decades, the fact this movie exists at all in any finished state has a lot more to do with him than the director and his “friends”.
Is this about Twilight Zone and John Landis?
ReplyDeleteI was thinking John Landis but he became somewhat acclaimedso I wouldnt say he was over his head.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Harmony Korine and his films after Kids? Enty doesnt like Harmony Korine at all...
ReplyDeleteTZ was a Warner Brothers film, so not an indie.
ReplyDeleteSounds like Roar, with Jan de Bont as cinematographer.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like Roar. Noel Marshall began filming in 1976. He produced The Exorcist. Used real lions on set. Cinematographer was Jan De Bont, who got partially scalped by a lion. Made his directorial debut on Speed nearly two decades after the start of filming. (Roar did not get an actual release until 1981.)
ReplyDeleteI think this is Roar. The director of that produced the exorcist. Jan DeBont was the cameraman who went on to bigger success.
ReplyDeletehttps://nypost.com/2015/04/11/son-of-roar-director-he-was-a-f-ing-a-hole-for-making-us-do-the-movie/
ReplyDeleteMost likely Roar - Jan de Bont got his scalp bitten off.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe Heavens gate - blowing up horses.
Roar. I think Tippie Hedron was involved in the producing of it not just acting. She had the lions at her house
ReplyDeleteHe was with Tippi Hendren at the time, and it stars her Lions and Melanie
ReplyDeleteI love these making of the movie tales. You all have made a convincing argument for Roar and Jan de Bont
ReplyDeleteNever heard of this film or Jan de Bont but I do appreciate the blind item.
ReplyDeleteThe movie is insane, T. W. , but the story of the making of the movie ramps up the insanity ten fold. Melanie Griffiths - the directors own step daughter, was badly mauled during filming. She was only one of dozens of mailings. How no one was killed diring the eon long shoot is in itself a miracle.
ReplyDeleteRed Letter Media have a good and hilarious review of the movie itself on YouTube.
@ Flashy Vic
DeleteThank you!
This video is shorter and more helpful:
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/099VKn9jCcQ
You can also watch Roar for free on YouTube. I’m afraid to look. The clips are outrageous.
So this Noel fellow died of brain cancer. I wonder if the tumor caused his strange behavior.
ReplyDeleteHahaha!! “When Drafthouse re-released the film in 2015, they used that number to frame up their catchy tagline: ‘No animals were harmed in the making of this movie. 70 members of the cast and crew were.’”
ReplyDeleteQuote taken from this article, about the on-set injuries:
Deletehttps://www.indiewire.com/2016/11/roar-tippi-hedren-people-hurt-insane-movie-1201748012/amp/
They should have let the director play with the lions, problem solved.
ReplyDelete@Brayson - he did. He was hospitalized with gangrene from his injuries. Dude was in way over his head, but he wasn't letting anybody else do anything he wouldn't do, it seems.
ReplyDeleteThis blind set me off and I've been reading about this movie and the associated characters all afternoon. What a wild tale!
@JD, Thanks! Sheesh what an a$$hole, he really did want to die.
ReplyDelete@Brayson87
ReplyDeleteNoel was the director, one of the producers, and the lead actor of the film. You can see people get injured during the film. The animal attacks stayed in the finished product. Here is a link to a video that was funny for all the wrong reasons:
Roar: A Movie Made with 150 Untrained Lions and Tigers
https://youtu.be/099VKn9jCcQ
I read several years ago about this film that the main lion named Neil had his teeth and claws removed prior to filming. So much for the animal-loving Hedren and the nature preserve
ReplyDeleteLove these comments and links!
ReplyDeleteI too did not know about Roar or it's legend. Thanks for sharing everyone, I love older Hollyweird stories.
ReplyDeleteCoke will make you feel invincible, they should've hidden his coke in the lion's den.
It’s the one with the lions,tigers, leopards, called “roar” guy got scalped
ReplyDeleteStressful to watch
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of weird indie flicks from days gone by....does anyone remember the movie 'Kids'? It launched the careers of Rosario Dawson and Chloe Sevigny. Released in mid-90s. Very disturbing flick - back then AND by today's standards. I haven't read into the director, but always wondered whether he had a pedo-ey background. The opening scene to that movie with the 17 year old guy character and the 11/12 year old girl made me sick to my stomach. I can't believe that actress' parents allowed her to do scenes like that!
ReplyDeleteTippi Hedren always seems to get a pass based on her tales of abuse by Alfred Hitchcock, even though no other actresses he worked with seem to have shared the same type of experience.
ReplyDeleteI get a sinister vibe from her.
Where did the money to keep wild cats come from? It's an extremely expensive and dangerous hobby.
I once wrote an independent movie and they were trying to cast it. The director, who was friends with Tippi Headren sent her the script. There were several other well known character actors attached who loved the script and a couple of B-stars.
ReplyDeleteThe director played a voice mail for me that he received from Tippi Hedren, who went on and on about what a disgusting script it was and how could he be such an irresponsible filmmaker making such filth! We were laughing our asses off.
Sadly, the film was never made. I think the producer is still trying to get it financed 20 years later...