MovieChat Forums > Shamus (1973) Discussion > the breaking tree branch and bad fall ...

the breaking tree branch and bad fall (spoiler alert)

posted 12 years ago by TerryThomasPhotos
9 replies | jump to latest

In the final chase scene Shamus jumps off a high wall and tries to grab a tree branch. The only problem is that it is winter and evidently no one thought about branches having no sap and therefore are brittle. Anyhow, the branch breaks and the man takes quite a bad fall - flipping backward in the air and landing on his upper back with his legs folded so his face is down on his belly. The man is lucky he did not break his neck or back.

So my question is: what it Burt that took the fall or a stunt man? The film's Trivia section only mentions the fall but not who actually took it.

Terry Thomas
Cinematographer
Director of Photography
Film Unit Stills Photographer
http://www.TerryThomasPhotos.com

[–] joyride_situation 11 years ago

flipping backward in the air and landing on his upper back with his legs folded so his face is down on his belly.

Actually, I once had to tag a kid that broke his neck trying to put his mouth on his penis.

I'm gonna learn ya my philosophy

[–] TerryThomasPhotos 11 years ago

What do you mean by "tag"?

Unless there were witnesses how did you know that is how he broke his neck?

Sad for the kid's parents. What do they put in his obituary as cause of death?

[–] TerryThomasPhotos 11 years ago

What do you mean by "tag"?

Unless there were witnesses how did you know that is how he broke his neck?

Sad for the kid's parents. What are they supposed to put in his obituary as cause of death?

[–] joyride_situation 11 years ago

The way he broke his neck was kind of embarassing

I'm gonna learn ya my philosophy

[–] MrDeltoid77 11 years ago

To answer the original question… It was Burt Reynolds who did the stunt. He ended up breaking his neck and some ribs. He was lucky to survive.

As for the other responses on this post… our society is doomed.

[–] photoe 10 years ago

I concur with both your comments, particularly about the weirdos on this post. Regardless, it seems noone has the definitive answer. THat fall looked awful. If Reynolds took the fall, he would've been in traction and couldn't finish the film. My bet is it was a stunt man who was badly injured and maybe the makers sort of covered it up, but this is pure speculation.

[–] MrDeltoid77 10 years ago

It was Reynolds. He has spoken about it in a couple of interviews. He was hurt pretty badly. Had to recover and then continued filming.

Reynolds was known for doing a lot of his own stunts, particularly in his early years. In Deliverance he went over the waterfalls in the canoe. In HOOPER he jumped out of the Helicopter in the closer shot of him. About forty feet…. much to the chagrin of the studios and the Director Hal Needham.

In the wide shot it was stuntman A.J. Bakunas who jumped 200+ feet into the big airbag. If you look closely you can see him split his pants.

Reynolds started out as a stuntman/actor so it was not unusual for him to take chances.

Robert Conrad was another one who was big into doing his own stunts, particularly the fights in Wild Wild West. He broke his neck as well in one mistimed stunt. Production shut down for nearly six months.

[–] activista 10 years ago

It was Reynolds. He has spoken about it in a couple of interviews. He was hurt pretty badly. Had to recover and then continued filming.

Just saw this film on the MOVIES channel last night, and really enjoyed it---I'm surprised I've never heard of this one, especially since it's a Burt Reynolds flick,and it's pretty damn good, like most good tough '70s crime dramas do. So Reynolds did do the stunts himself? Whoa---that was a pretty dangerous fall---I'm actually surprised he was allowed to do that, since he was the star---even if he was an experienced stuntman himself! I also liked his offbeat, eccentric friend Springy (played the talented Larry Block) who was clearly into sports statistics in a big way,and the way he spoke made me wonder if he had some kind of broadcast training (it says on his IMDB page that he did, so my guess was right,lol.) He was definitely one of those memorable character actors that good '70s films were chock full of---another reason I really enjoyed this film. Even the villain wasn't your typical stereotypical thug-type,and that ade him a little more interesting to watch,too.

[–] billyglenn 11 years ago

I had Shamus on the DVR from this-TV and that stunt looked really bad. Easily could have been dead. I would be shocked if they actually let Reynolds do that.