Western Stunting 101:
Elementary Western Stunt Horsemanship
and Weapon Handling Cont …
Stunt 2:
Alright … your next Stunt is another location shot. It’s pretty simple – no riding or shooting involved.
I just need you to climb out of the speeding stagecoach and get on it’s roof … nothin’ to it.
What? You want a safety harness!!??? Wellll … we don’t have any of those … how about an extra five bucks?
Good … here we go …
Action !! … Open the door … out you go !
Hold ‘er steady boys !!!
Just climb up there … !!
Hey! Not bad! – Didn’t fall or anything.
We might make a Stuntman outta you yet.
Here’s your 15 bucks.
Next:
Stunt 3:
Western Stunt Gun Handling
Stunt 3 is mostly a series of ‘close up’ shots – so to speak – done in the studio.
You’re playing Andy Devine‘s role – stagecoach driver. You’ll only have to pretend to handle the reins – but there’s no horses on the set. Just try to look like you know what you’re doing; Handling a real team of horses would be Advanced Western Stunt Horsemanship ...
Here’s an interesting anecdote from Stagecoach (IMDB): “(Director) John Ford liked to bully actors on the set, and this was no exception. At one point he said to Andy Devine, “You big tub of lard. I don’t know why the hell I’m using you in this picture.” Undaunted, Devine replied, “Because Ward Bond can’t drive six horses.” Point taken.
Because Andy Devine usually played a ‘comic relief” role in Westerns, his skills as a Western Actor are massively under-appreciated. He was a really a very accomplished gun handler and rider. And obviously could do other things – like drive a rig.
Now for Stunt 3 … this scene will clearly demonstrate some of the dangers of Western Gun Handling / Firearms.
After you (Yakima Canutt) climb up on the roof of the stagecoach the shooting starts in earnest …
John Wayne starts firing …
… and gets a facefull of smoke … *cough cough*.
But he keeps on shootin’…
Marshal Curley Wilcox (George Bancroft) is ‘riding shotgun’ … and let’s fly …
John gets smoked again …
Note the huge muzzle flash from the shotgun … about 3 feet long!
Imagine standing in front of that?!
Doc (Thomas Mitchell) starts shootin’ too …
Did you notice Actress Louise Platt covering her ears?
She’s not Acting …
That idiot is shooting his pistol about a foot from her face !!!.
The boys keep blasting away …
OK … time to get you into some action !!
Hold still … while we blast a shotgun off beside your head …
No whining.
Here comes Johnny !
Ooops, missed …
Did I detect a Wilhelm?
Good work.
Hello?
Next:
Advanced Canutt Stunting …
Nice post.
Thanks Don … hope somebody likes it … cuz that was a hell of a LOT of work.
A lot of work but well worth it.
I’m grinning from ear to ear! Love your stunt posts!
Glad you liked ’em. Fun to do.
Still at least one Stunt post to go … Stunt Falls and Yak’s best.