28 Dark Behind-the-Scenes Facts That Change Your Perspective on These Movies

28 Shocking Secrets From Movie Sets

 

There are some truly disturbing stories from behind the scenes of your favorite films that may forever change how you view them.

 

1. One of the most notorious events in Hollywood history occurred during the filming of Twilight Zone: The Movie. On the final day of shooting, star Vic Morrow and child actors Renee Shin-Yi Chen and Myca Dinh Le were filming a Vietnam War scene when a helicopter lost control and crashed, tragically killing all three. Even more shocking, the children were not supposed to be there, and safety regulations were flouted. Director John Landis and producer George Folsey Jr. faced involuntary manslaughter charges but were ultimately acquitted.

2. Prior to the fatal accident, safety protocols were ignored as Landis insisted on using real guns and live ammunition in a sequence. Initially, Morrow objected to the use of shotguns but was persuaded to participate.

 

3. The 1985 film Come and See also took glaring risks on set. Actors were shot at with live rounds, and a scene featuring a cow being shot with a machine gun was real. Aleksey Kravchenko, just 14 at the time, was subjected to extreme dieting to achieve a frail look.

 

4. In another chilling incident, the tiger used in Life of Pi nearly drowned during filming. An email from an on-set monitor described a terrifying situation where the animal struggled to find its way to safety. Although the production later asserted that the tiger was unharmed, the incident raised serious concerns.

 

5. Roar, a film featuring over 130 big cats, inflicted serious injuries on multiple cast members, including actress Melanie Griffith, who required plastic surgery after a mauling. Director Noel Marshall faced immense danger as well but claimed no animals were harmed during filming.

 

6. In a more tragic case of animal cruelty, a chimpanzee involved in Any Which Way You Can died after being brutally beaten by its trainer. The trainer allegedly used a pipe wrapped in newspaper to instill fear and control the animal.

 

7. Disney’s Snow Buddies faced severe backlash when it was revealed that the filmmakers employed 30 golden retriever puppies, of which 15 were not healthy enough to film. Unfortunately, five puppies died despite the production’s attempts to cover the situation.

 

8. Disney has a dark history regarding animal treatment. In the 1958 documentary White Wilderness, the filmmakers were accused of killing lemmings to create a false narrative of mass suicide.

 

9. Cannibal Holocaust, another infamous film, was so graphic that its director faced murder charges based on suspicions that actors were killed on camera. Although the charges of animal cruelty were later dropped, the production’s human rights violations are widely condemned.

 

10. The Conqueror’s production may have led to a cancer epidemic among its cast and crew. Filmed near a nuclear testing area, numerous participants developed cancer, with many fatalities reported years later.

 

11. Similarly, Stalker, directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, was shot in a potentially hazardous location that may have contributed to cancer diagnoses for several key contributors.

 

12. Victor Salva, director of the Jeepers Creepers movies, has a background marred by controversy. His past conviction for the sexual assault of a young actor on a separate film cast a shadow over his achievements.

 

13. Luc Besson’s Léon: The Professional was allegedly inspired by his controversial relationship with a young girl, raising uncomfortable questions about the themes depicted in the movie.

 

14. During the filming of Candyman, real bees were used, and actor Tony Todd was stung multiple times under risky conditions. He negotiated a payment for every sting.

 

15. Virginia Madsen, who starred alongside Todd, underwent hypnosis before her scenes, resulting in an unsettling experience where she struggled to remember parts of the shoot.

 

16. Director Andrzej Żuławski similarly employed hypnosis to elevate performances in Possession, leading to a distressing experience for actress Isabelle Adjani, who suffered a mental breakdown after filming.

 

17. The set of Predator was marked by chaos involving actor Sonny Landham, prompting the production to hire security to protect against potential violence due to his unpredictable behavior.

 

18. The use of real human remains in films is not as uncommon as one might think. Movies including Frankenstein and Poltergeist utilized actual skeletons in their productions, raising significant ethical concerns.

 

19. In some cases, real cadavers were unknowingly included in films, as seen with Apocalypse Now, where grave-robbed bodies were discovered.

 

20. Final Destination incorporated genuine footage from the TWA 800 crash, a horrific event that affected many innocent lives.

 

21. Following Bruce Lee’s untimely death before completing Game of Death, filmmakers controversially included footage from his funeral in the final cut.

 

22. The film Men Behind the Sun gained notoriety for allegedly incorporating real footage from a child’s autopsy, provoking outrage over its authenticity.

 

23. A chaotic moment occurred during Tora! Tora! Tora! as stunt performers found themselves in genuine peril when an explosion went awry, requiring them to flee for safety.

 

24. The thriller Sliver faced its own close call when filming above an active volcano led to a near-fatal crash of crew members and equipment.

 

25. The making of The Wizard of Oz is marred by shocking treatment of its stars. Judy Garland endured a harsh regimen of diet pills, cigarettes, and severe restrictions on her diet. Compounding this, she faced inappropriate behavior from older cast members.

 

26. Margaret Hamilton, who portrayed the Wicked Witch of the West, suffered serious injuries due to a malfunction during an explosive scene. The toxic green makeup she wore posed additional health risks during her recovery.

 

27. Buddy Ebsen suffered severe health consequences from the aluminum dust used in his makeup while portraying the Tin Man, resulting in a prolonged recovery and ultimately leading to his replacement.

 

28. The snow used in classic films like The Wizard of Oz was actually made from asbestos, contributing to serious health issues for cast members over the years.

 

What are some dark secrets from Hollywood that you know? Share your thoughts in the comments.