In 1982, actor Vic Morrow, who had a distinguished career in film and television, was cast in the film. On the edge of reality (The Twilight Zone: The Movie). The film, taking the concept of the famous series and turning it into an anthology of short films by various directors, became one of the most interesting projects in Hollywood. Moreover, the segment in which Morrow participated was controversial and much closer to cultural criticism than the others. The actor will play Bill Connor, a man with a violent and racist temperament who finds himself in the middle of loop temporary, taking him into the past. Everything to become victim of various historical events associated with discrimination and prejudice.
Filming for this segment, directed by John Landis, began in July of that year. On the 23rd day of filming, Morrow began filming a difficult scene involving a helicopter jump with two child actors. And this is in the midst of a series of controlled explosions around the device. In the middle of a complex scene, the car was hit by one of the special effects bursts. As a result, the blades were damaged, the plane crashed to the ground and decapitated Morrow and the children in a bloody accident similar to few have been seen in Hollywood.
The horror of the tragedy was compounded by the director’s maneuvers to hide his responsibility, allegations of child abuse and lawsuits by Vic Morrow’s daughters. Which ultimately turned the situation into a dark, confusing circumstance and one of the black legends of the mecca of cinema. But not the only one: we leave you with five of the most difficult, terrible and confusing stories in Hollywood. From an unanswered murder to a sinister figure who changed the face of sexual violence in the North American film industry. All to better understand the dark side of Hollywood.
Death of Natalie Wood
In 1981, actress Natalie Wood was going through difficult personal times. At 40, fully devoted to motherhood, she was a forgotten star of golden Hollywood. Much more, she regretted that the major studios relegated her to the background amid the emergence of a new generation of actors. Everything is very far awayIt’s the perfection of old celebrities and relatability to younger audiences.
In contrast, her husband, Robert Wagner, was a rising star who had conquered the big and small screens. Thanks to such series switch And Hart to Hartthe performer has been recognized as one of the most popular faces in North America. This meant difficult tensions in the marriage, loud arguments and, eventually, the conflict between them becomes increasingly apparent.
By the early 1980s, it became clear to the couple, who had married twice—once from 1957 to 1962 and again in 1972—that their relationship was doomed. Amid rumors about a new divorce, the actress’s alcoholism and Robert Warger’s infidelities, the couple tried to escape the attention of the world community. This prompted them to take a short trip to Santa Catalina Island on a yacht. Splendorproperty of the couple. They are accompanied by actor Christopher Walken. A close friend of both and at the time one of the greatest leading men in Hollywood.
Death under strange circumstances
What happened between November 28 and 29, 1981 remains a mystery. The only thing that is clear is that at some point in the early morning, Natalie Wood boarded a lifeboat to swim to shore. Something that her husband noticed only a few hours later and rushed to inform the authorities. After an intensive search for the body The actress was found floating very close to the beaches of Santa Catalina Island.
An autopsy later determined that Natalie Wood had drowned. This happened after he apparently fell from the lifeboat in which he was trying to reach shore. At the time of her death, the actress was in a state of severe intoxication, due to which, according to the preliminary investigation, she could neither swim nor seek help. However, there were scratches and bruises on his body with no immediate explanation. Amid general confusion, suspicions of a possible murder became public knowledge. Especially after Robert Wagner admitted to being involved in a fight the same night his wife died.
Although it has never been proven that Natalie Wood’s death was not a tragic accident, nothing is clear about that fateful night. From witnesses who claimed to have heard violent arguments, to circumstantial evidence that compromised Robert Wagner’s account. In particular, the moment when he claimed that he noticed his wife’s disappearance only a few hours after it happened. The truth is that everything surrounding the actress’s death seemed to be mired in controversy, cover-ups and confusion. As a result, the case was reopened in 2011. Investigations were reopened and continue to this day.
The Dark Secret of The Postman Always Rings Twice
In 1981, director Bob Rafelson brought to the big screen the second film adaptation of the play of the same name by James M. Cain. Like the 1934 book, the film tells the story of a pair of lovers who kill her husband to get him out of the way. Which ends with an ambiguous, ironic and slightly twisted ending.
The plot united two of the most popular actors in Hollywood at the time. Jessica Lange was cast as Cora, a woman married to a man she hates. Frank, the man who becomes a killer out of lust, Jack Nicholson. Which guaranteed at least a good portion of the sexual tension in the book between both characters. the result was an unstable, mundane and often uncomfortable atmosphere.
All of the above led to one of the most unique and dark moments in Hollywood. In one scene, Cora and Frank can be seen having a passionate sexual encounter on the kitchen table. The realism of this episode was such that they immediately began to claim that it was an episode. in which both actors had sex.
The rumor became more complicated when it was revealed that the scene was filmed indoors, with only the actors and the director present. Which turned into direct criticism of the film and the actors, which even infuriated Lana Turner, the main character of the first version. Finally, in the midst of the controversy that this possibility generated, both Rafelson, Jessica Lange and Jack Nicholson denied that anything like this had happened. Nevertheless, the scandal continued and It was rejected as a type of cinema based on the exploitation of actors.
The Violence of Alfred Hitchcock
The Briton is almost unanimously considered one of the best film directors in history. Even so, throughout much of his career in both England and North America, his behavior on set attracted comment and criticism. Especially when everything connected with his already famous and iconic heroes seemed to be shrouded in a disturbing cloak. This, when he became so obsessively controlling each of them, is enough to raise suspicions. outside and inside the recording setup.
Finally, in 2016, actress Tippi Hedren revealed in her autobiography that Hitchcock abused, threatened and stalked her. Especially when recording classics Birds (1963), in which, in a particularly brutal scene, the director threw real birds at the actress. By that time, the performer, whom the director had discovered through a television advertisement, was already terrified. The director was cruel, dominant and finally had behavior directly insulted her.
Even worse: while recording Marnie (1964), the tension and violence reached such alarming levels that Hedren attempted to escape. In particular, when Hitchcock filmed a very brutal rape scene, which ultimately scared the actress. By the time filming ended, Tippi Hedren decided to leave Hollywood. At that time, claims against such a person as a director were unthinkable. so he chose to step aside and give up his career.
Rape in Last Tango in Paris
One of the darkest cases in recent decades involved an iconic film and one of cinema’s most respected directors. We are talking about the rape of French actress Maria Schneider during the filming of the film “Last Tango” in Paris. A dark event that entered the dark legend of Hollywood after they tried to hide it for more than twenty years. This is despite the fact that the actress has repeatedly commented on how traumatic it was. It all happened in a sex scene in which his character was raped.
The translator made it clear that no one explained to her what would happen in the controversial episode. Much less what the dynamic was between his character and Marlon Brando’s character. Because of this, the behavior of Marlon Brando and the director made her feel sexually violated. Later, Maria Schneider began to have mental problems, which ultimately undermined her health and alienated her from the cinematic environment. On February 3, 2011, the actress died of cancer. never achieving success in his acting career.
Paradoxically, it was after his death that everything that happened began to be discussed again. This is when an interview became known in 2013 in which Bertolucci admitted that he did not prepare the actress for the stage. All with the goal, he said, of achieving real tears and a believable sense of humiliation. The statements shocked Hollywood and caused widespread rejection of the director. Also a respectful review of the life of Maria Schneider. Finally in 2024 it was released andin Cannes Be Mariadocumentary documenting his memory and experience.
The tragic death of Peg Entwistle
The young British actress is one of the most tragic stories and part of Hollywood’s black legends. In 1927, he decided to travel to the United States to pursue his ambition of becoming a big screen star. But he soon discovered that his goal was not as simple as he had imagined. During this year, he spent most of his time playing small theater roles—he even shared the stage with Humphrey Bogart. without causing much impact.
Things got even worse when, due to the Great Depression, the actress lost her contract with the RKO studio. What Doomed Her to Leave Her Acting Career in Hollywood and Losethe few opportunities he had before.
By 1932, Peg Entwistle was unemployed, in the middle of a country that was experiencing a historical crisis and had no way of returning to her country. On September 16, inconsolable after yet another refusal, he climbed the Hollywood city sign, climbed to the letter H and threw himself into the void. Which, as ironic as it may sound, made hercreepy celebrity in the history of Mecca cinema.
Source: Hiper Textual
