In cinema, some moments transcend the screen and forever leave their mark on the industry. However, not all moments are remembered for their brilliance. On a fateful day in 1982, the production of “The Twilight Zone: The Movie” faced an unforeseen tragedy that resulted in three deaths and forever altered the course of filmmaking history.
“Twilight Zone: The Movie” opened on June 24, 1983. The movie was a flop and would’ve been forgotten if it weren’t for the unsealing of the grand jury charges against five of the filmmakers for the responsibility of the three tragedies that occurred during the production. At 2:20 a.m. on July 23, 1982, Vic Morrow’s character was instructed to be chased by a military helicopter while assisting two children across a river while a village exploded behind them. The scene was poorly planned and barely rehearsed. The explosion from the village caused the helicopter’s blades to lose control, crashing into the river and killing Morrow and the two children (Myca Dinh Le & Renee Shin-Yi Chen).
Investigators later discovered that the children’s presence on the set was illegal, as they weren’t allowed to work at that late hour. Furthermore, no welfare workers would have permitted the children to be in such proximity to danger.
Three years after opening day, the case finally came to trial. John Landis (the director) and four other directors were charged with involuntary manslaughter. Somehow the defenders were free on all charges, seemingly due to a messy prosecution and a star-struck judge. The filmmakers and Warner Bros., the studio behind the film, still faced some consequences, being fined for labor violations and settlements in civil suits. However, despite the tragedies on set and poor decisions leading up to it, Hollywood continued to support John Landis. Sixteen well-known directors even signed an open letter of support for Landis.
Landis resumed his career, directing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and some feature comedies. Dan Aykroyd, who worked with Landis, stated, “That was an industrial accident, nothing more.” In 1988, Eddie Murphy hired Landis to direct a comedy, “Coming to America.” The film was a huge success, despite Murphy and Landis’s clashes. Murphy was asked if he’d ever work with Landis again, to which he responded, “Vic Morrow has a better chance of working with Landis than I do.” Ironically, Landis directed Murphy again in “Beverly Hills Cop III” six years later.
After the “Twilight Zone” deaths, the Directors Guild of America issued firmer safety guidelines but cutting budgetary corners jeopardized film members’ lives. For example, camera assistant Sarah Jones was killed by a freight train while working on a low-budget film, “Midnight Rider,” in 2014. Verisimilitude versus safety has been discussed 40 years since “Twilight Zone: The Movie” was released. Steven Spielberg, one of the most prominent film industry directors, didn’t support Landis and stated, “No movie is worth dying for. I think people are standing up much more now than ever before to producers and directors who ask too much. If something isn’t safe, it’s the right and responsibility of every actor or crew member to yell, ‘Cut!’”
“Twilight Zone: The Movie” opened on June 24, 1983. The movie was a flop and would’ve been forgotten if it weren’t for the unsealing of the grand jury charges against five of the filmmakers for the responsibility of the three tragedies that occurred during the production. At 2:20 a.m. on July 23, 1982, Vic Morrow’s character was instructed to be chased by a military helicopter while assisting two children across a river while a village exploded behind them. The scene was poorly planned and barely rehearsed. The explosion from the village caused the helicopter’s blades to lose control, crashing into the river and killing Morrow and the two children (Myca Dinh Le & Renee Shin-Yi Chen).
Investigators later discovered that the children’s presence on the set was illegal, as they weren’t allowed to work at that late hour. Furthermore, no welfare workers would have permitted the children to be in such proximity to danger.
Three years after opening day, the case finally came to trial. John Landis (the director) and four other directors were charged with involuntary manslaughter. Somehow the defenders were free on all charges, seemingly due to a messy prosecution and a star-struck judge. The filmmakers and Warner Bros., the studio behind the film, still faced some consequences, being fined for labor violations and settlements in civil suits. However, despite the tragedies on set and poor decisions leading up to it, Hollywood continued to support John Landis. Sixteen well-known directors even signed an open letter of support for Landis.
Landis resumed his career, directing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and some feature comedies. Dan Aykroyd, who worked with Landis, stated, “That was an industrial accident, nothing more.” In 1988, Eddie Murphy hired Landis to direct a comedy, “Coming to America.” The film was a huge success, despite Murphy and Landis’s clashes. Murphy was asked if he’d ever work with Landis again, to which he responded, “Vic Morrow has a better chance of working with Landis than I do.” Ironically, Landis directed Murphy again in “Beverly Hills Cop III” six years later.
After the “Twilight Zone” deaths, the Directors Guild of America issued firmer safety guidelines but cutting budgetary corners jeopardized film members’ lives. For example, camera assistant Sarah Jones was killed by a freight train while working on a low-budget film, “Midnight Rider,” in 2014. Verisimilitude versus safety has been discussed 40 years since “Twilight Zone: The Movie” was released. Steven Spielberg, one of the most prominent film industry directors, didn’t support Landis and stated, “No movie is worth dying for. I think people are standing up much more now than ever before to producers and directors who ask too much. If something isn’t safe, it’s the right and responsibility of every actor or crew member to yell, ‘Cut!’”
