The 100th Anniversary of the infamous Aeroplane Crash in The Grim Game is coming up on May 31st.
Of course, it is now “widely known”, that it was stunt double, Robert E. Kennedy, on the rope and not Houdini.
For the 100th year anniversary, thought I would share a tidbit about the plane crash that is “not widely known”. It involves the third machine with the camera.
According to “The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood Classic Aviation Movies by H.Hugh Wynne”, the camera plane may have indirectly led to the collision.
The studio rented three DeMille airplanes and pilots, and scheduled the flight for the calm air of the early morning on May 31, 1919. Maintenance problems and a delay in mounting the camera held things up until after lunch. Finally three airplanes took off in the early afternoon. David E. Thompson and Christopher Pickup flew the stunt planes. Al Wilson piloted the camera plane with Irving Willat, the director-cameraman, riding in the back seat with his camera.
In compliance with the flight plan, Pickup, with Kennedy aboard, flew straight and level while Thompson, with less weight and wind resistance, and better visibility in the lower machine, moved into position directly below. Al Wilson maintained a steady camera platform position to the left, and in line with the performing machines, so that neither his tail section nor wing tip appeared in the camera’s field of vision. By this time of day the air was rough and it was difficult for the pilots to maintain their positions.
Willat recorded the spontaneous incident on film and the studio revised the script to include the mid-air collision.
Bonus tidbit:
The script called for Harry Houdini [Kennedy], to climb down a knotted rope attached to the front mid-wing strut of one plane, drop to the top wing of another machine flying just below, and make his way to the rear cockpit.
Patrick Culliton spoke with Irvin Willat about this stunt and was told that Kennedy was supposed to drop into the rear seat.
When the stunt was filmed it was contrary to the plan and turned out to be one of the most exciting air stunts ever recorded on film.
To be continued…
Related:
- First Ever Pictures of Aeroplane Collision
- Lobby Display: The Real Aeroplane used to advertise “The Grim Game”
- Houdini Grim Game Stunt Doubles
- How did Robert E Kennedy get the plane-changing job?
- What happened to Robert E Kennedy after the plane incident?
- What happened to David Thompson, whose plane flipped over?
- What happened to Christopher Pickup from The Grim Game
Fantastic details I’ve never heard before. Thanks Joe!
A great read Joe, but how did the camera plane lead to the collision? It was out and to the left. Sounds like serious afternoon headwinds caused the two planes to collide.
Thanks Leo! My point was that the camera plane “indirectly led” to the collision; that is, had there not been a “delay in mounting the camera”, the planes would have done the stunt in the “calm air” of the morning and we may not be talking about this mid-air collision. The “rough air” in the afternoon definitely was a factor.
Ah–understood. Thanks for the clear up Joe. It was the delay prepping the camera plane that caused the schedule bump in the flight. The crash turned out well for the film. Kennedy and the two planes were roughed up a bit, but all survived and the movie got a money shot.