British stuntman Simon Crane performing the stunt that cost US$1mil to do.
SYLVESTER Stallone and his action movies are iconic. The characters he played, like John Rambo, Rocky Balboa and John Spartan, were unforgettable. The movies that he starred in, like the Rambo franchise, Rocky movies and Demolition Man, are considered action-packed classics.
With 81 movie credits under his belt, did a stunt in one of Stallone’s make a mark in the Guinness Book of Records?
Verdict:
2841197
TRUE
Stallone’s movie Cliffhanger (1993) broke the record for the most expensive stunt performed in the air in cinema history. The stunt, involving a stuntman jumping from one aeroplane to another at 15,000ft (4,572m) in the air, was so death-defying that the insurance company refused to cover it.
Because of that the "Italian Stallion" decided to pay USD1mil from his own pocket for the stunt.
The Guinness Book of Records awarded the stunt as the "most expensive film stunt performed in the air."
In an interview with The Telegraph, British stuntman Simon Crane shared his experience performing this stunt.
"It was extremely cold at that altitude and speed. I had to be covered with a prosthetic mask. I was also wearing a gas mask and an SAS survival suit with a hidden parachute.
"But my hands were covered so it was difficult to get to the release in an emergency. A hidden parachute is always dangerous because it has to open through your costume."
Although the movie was set in the Dolomite Mountains, a mountain range in Italy, it was reported that the stunt was filmed in the United States because it is prohibited in Europe.
Crane had difficulty performing the dangerous stunt. It was reported that he failed to land on the second jet and eventually tossed himself over the roof.
However, the stuntman managed to pull his parachute safely. Crane had suggested doing another take, but since the stunt almost killed him, he was denied.
Instead, the editing team did their best to make it look like he landed successfully.
This stunt record remains unbroken over 30 years after the movie was released.
While some stuntmen were involved in Stallone movies, there were some stunts that he did himself - including one which left him having undergone seven back surgeries from The Expendables movie in 2010.
Let's hope he will continue entertaining the audience with his cool looks and action scenes in the future.
References:
1. https://youtu.be/ImQYAzzeblg?si=VMzf27nGMX69wHg0
2. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/73447-most-expensive-film-stunt-performed-in-the-air
3. https://fandomwire.com/insurance-company-refused-to-insure-255m-sylvester-stallone-movie-cliffhanger-that-holds-guinness-world-record-for-costliest-aerial-stunt/
4. https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/23/sylvester-stallone-underwent-7-back-surgeries-has-metal-plate-in-neck-after-stunt-injuries-on-expendables-set
