Some of my favorites film stories are about the physical altercations on movie sets. Best ones are violent confrontations between directors and actors.
A few examples:
As quotes on the imdb - "While making The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958), John Wayne apparently became so enraged with director John Huston (who was something of a tough guy himself and was nearly as tall as Wayne, but not as massive) that he throttled and punched him out. It is unknown what Huston did to earn the beating, but the director was known to have a mean streak."
"Kris Kristofferson and Sam Peckinpah had several heated arguments during the making of the film, and others on the set often thought it would end up in a fight. Peckinpah, always very confrontational, wanted to fight Kristofferson but said that he feared Kristofferson, a former Army Airborne Ranger, would "kill him". Kristofferson answered, "Yeah, Sam, I think you're right". In spite of this, Peckinpah referred to Kristofferson as a "f**king great guy" and said that working with him was "one of the greatest experiences of my life"."
Above is from Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, not Convoy.
More Peckinpah - "During the filming of this movie, Sam Peckinpah was so obnoxious and abusive towards his actors that Charlton Heston physically threatened the director with a sabre. Heston later remarked that this was the only time he had ever threatened anybody on a movie set."
Apparently, Bruce Lee was regularly challenged to fights by up and coming fighters looking to make a name for themselves. Reportedly, he always won, but the fights become so common he started refusing them.
Tupac Shakur was going to be in Menace II Society, but punched the director in the face on the set and ended up going to jail instead.
Anyone know more? The ones from the Golden Age are the best, because they usually just kept working and even maintained civility after a fist fight. Today lawyers, legalities, and other mumbo jumbo always get involved.
Lame.
