Stunts(film)
| Stunts | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Mark L. Lester |
| Written by |
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| Based on | Story byRaymond Lofaro original idea and treatment by Shaye |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | Robert Forster |
| Cinematography | Bruce Logan |
| Edited by | Corky Ehlers |
| Music by | Michael Kamen |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by |
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Release date |
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Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $600,000[1] |
| Box office | $2 million[1] |
Stunts,also released asThe Deadly Game,is a 1977 Americanadventurethriller filmset in the world ofmoviestunt performersdirected byMark L. Lesterand starringRobert Forster,Fiona LewisandRay Sharkey.[2][3]The first film produced byNew Line Cinema,Stuntswas part of a late 1970s/early 1980s cycle of stunt performer films that included stunt man-turned-directorHal Needham'sHooper(1978) andRichard Rush'sThe Stunt Man(1980).
Plot summary[edit]
The film opens on an unseen figure tampering with a helicopter harness. The next morning, stuntman Greg Wilson wakes up in bed next to a blonde woman. He rides his motorcycle to the set, late for a shoot. In the stunt, he is the passenger in askiing car.He climbs out the window and grabs onto the skid of a helicopter, which climbs to a great height. During the ascent, Greg tries to attach his harness, but finds that the hook will not close. He loses his grip and falls to his death.
His brother Glen arrives on the set with reporter B.J. Parswell in tow. She is there to write about the dangers of stunt work. The producer of the film, Alvin Blake, introduces Glen to his wife Judy and asks him to join the production. He reluctantly agrees. Greg is then given a stuntman's funeral, in which one of his colleagues drives his motorcycle off a cliff. Judy later comes onto Glen, revealing that she was sleeping with Greg and wants to see if his brother is as much fun in bed. Glen turns her down.
Meanwhile Glen joins the film's stunt team. They are a close-knit group that promise each other they would pull the plug on each other if they are ever left in a vegetative state.
Patti & Chuck Johnson are married members of the team, and they are beginning to think about having a baby. After Patti tells Chuck that she has stopped taking birth control, he loses his nerve on a 6-story fall he is supposed to take off a roof. Chuck asks Glen to switch places with him, and he takes Greg's place on the stunt team that is climbing up the building during the scene. As Glen is on the roof, shooting at the climbers during the scene, Chuck's harness fails, and he plummets to the ground. Hospitalized in a vegetative state, a tearful Glen pulls the plug on Chuck.
Realizing the tampered harness was meant for him, Glen promises B.J. that he will get revenge. In a stunt where he is supposed to emerge from a burning building while completely on fire, stuntman Paul is inside the building lighting it on fire for the shot. As he tries to exit, an unseen figure traps him inside, leading to his death.
On the day that Glen is to recreate the helicopter stunt that killed Greg, B.J. discovers that Blake is responsible for the murders. He is jealous of his wife's infidelity. She rushes to the set to stop the stunt, but it is already in progress. Blake flees in his convertible. He has loosened the skid on the helicopter, and it is starting to fall off as Greg hangs from it. B.J. tells him over the radio that Blake is the murderer. Glen directs the helicopter to hover over Blake's car. He jumps into it, just as the helicopter skid finally breaks free. Glen wrestles with Blake and jumps free of the car, just before it crashes and bursts into flames, killing Blake.
Cast[edit]
- Robert Forsteras Glen Wilson
- Fiona Lewisas B.J. Parswell
- Ray Sharkeyas Paul Salerno
- Joanna Cassidyas Patti Johnson
- Bruce Gloveras Chuck Johnson
- Richard Lynchas Pete Lustig
- Darrell Fettyas Dave Allison
- James Luisias Alvin Blake
- Candice Rialsonas Judy Blake
- Malachi Throneas Earl O'Brien
Production[edit]
StuntswasBob Shaye's first movie forNew Line Cinemaand was also the company's first full-length feature film production; for the previous 10 years they had existed solely as a distribution company.[4]"They were distributingTruck Stop Womento college campuses and they already had a script, so I was hired to direct it, "said the director Mark Lester." We hired Robert Forster because he had doneMedium Cool.Don Stroudwas supposed to star in it but he got into a motorcycle accident the night before shooting. "[5]
Stuntswas filmed in San Luis Obispo, California.[6]
Candice Rialsonmakes one of her final appearances.[7]
References[edit]
- ^abCollins, Keith (August 22, 2004)."A brief history".Variety.
- ^Thomas, Kevin(June 2, 1977). "Movie Review: Star Turn for the Stunt Men".Los Angeles Times.p. h15.
- ^"STUNTS".Monthly Film Bulletin.Vol. 47, no. 552. London. January 1, 1980. p. 77.
- ^DiGiacomo, Frank (March 2009)."The Lost Tycoons".Vanity Fair.
- ^Cribb, John (2011)."The Films of Mark L. Lester".The Pink Smoke.
- ^Linn, Sarah (May 21, 2020)."From 'Commando' to 'Spartacus': These movies were filmed in SLO County".The Tribune.
- ^Vagg, Stephen (November 26, 2019)."The Cinema of Exploitation Goddess Candice Rialson".Diabolique Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon January 3, 2020.