I know most of the time slaps happen in movies that it is a false slap and no contact w/ the other actor, but i've replayed the slap over and over and i cannot tell if it is fake. anyone heard anything about it?
"The mainframe is out of the coolant!" Mace (Sunshine 2007)
Which one?
If you're talking about where Douglas smacks Greer, it may have been faked, but it's one of the most realistic looking/sounding slaps I've seen.
Or maybe that's just because she deserves it.
There, daddy, do I get a gold star?
I watched it in slomo. It looked to me as if his fingertips might have brushed her cheek. I think what's impressing us is her impeccable acting. The foley guy's contribution should not be overlooked either.
"By God, I heard the crow call my name!" exclaimed Caw.
I'm pretty sure Douglas and Greer rehearsed it as a "fake" slap and at the last moment Kirk did it for real to get a better reaction from her. Think I heard this from Robert Osborne, host of TCM's "The Essentials".
shareThis scene is SO much better than the Cagney/ Mae Clarke grapefruit scene in 'Public Enemy'. Kathy was genuinely stunned by Whit's very real slap. And she was such a conniving bitch you didn't even mind!. What a great movie!
Hi, Bob.
Yes, it was a real slap. Douglas mentioned it in an interview in the 70s, I saw it, not exactly sure with whom.. anyone recall?
share<<Yes, it was a real slap. Douglas mentioned it in an interview in the 70s>>
It worked - we're still talking about - but I doubt such a thing would be attempted today. Kind of unprofessional. Really, assault.
Now at the risk of being inappropriate myself at the risk of being deleted I will say that Greer looked sexy in that stunned moment of pain.
That look on Jane Greer's face reminded me so much of Mary Astor's look when Bogey tells her about how she's "going over" in Maltese Falcon. Awesome lighting made that scene with Greer really special.
shareThe slap does look very realistic and is shocking in how sudden it is.
Funnily enough Kirk Douglas is also involved in another scene involving a shocking slap to the face in "Ace in the Hole". These two scenes are the first that come to mind when I think cinematic slaps.
The slap was real. Greer nearly jumps out of the frame since she had no idea. I read she hated Douglas from then on. Douglas repeats a realistic slap with Jan Sterling in Billy Wilder's ACE IN THE HOLE, and judging by her expression, she didn't know it was coming either. Brutal, cruel and fascinating.
shareNonsense. of course she knew it was coming. No director would allow that, and no (or very few) actors would do such a thing.
It was probably a real, but rehearsed slap. As a failed stage actor of little talent, I can tell you that slaps happen all the time, sometimes harder and more painful than others but always real. Now, if you have time to rehearse a slap you can avoid contact altogether and have it look absolutely real. Think of all those "cowboy" punches (the ones that look real anyway) -- lots of rehearsing and/or stuntmen who know what they are doing.
Sorry to disagree, but I believed Jane Greer when I read it. As far as "no director would allow that" : you must be on the young side. Hollywood is filled with stories you wouldn't believe - a real slap is on the tame side. Although since the TWILIGHT ZONE MOVIE disaster most of the dangerous stuff probably comes from the foreign Jackie Chan movies.
shareWell, I'm actually 60 years old, sorry to say. That, in and of itself does not, I admit, give me automatic credibility nor any special insight to the truth.
May I say that my opinion is based on years of speaking with actors, directors, theatrical historians, etc, which has lead me to several conclusions, one of which is that 99% of what actors say in the their books is not reliable. Less is what others say ABOUT them.
Regard the "slap" in particular, I am aware of exceptions to the rules, as in every case in life. However, looking closely at the slap in question, in great detail and the evidence against it, (the actor involved, the director, etc) I cannot bring myself to believe it was real.
If Ms. Greer had a personal dislike for Douglas it was probably because he tried hard to nail her against her will, or, he nailed her, and dumped her.
Nice writing. Believable, too. But, like the case with Jan Sterling, when tears well up in the actress' eyes immediately after, you know that slap is real because NOBODY is that good.
shareThank you.
I hate to press this point but that may also be the result of an actor being "in" the part. It is not unlikely or unusual for an actress to produce tears at the right moment if the role calls for it. Not all can do it, and not all the time.
There's a story told by Richard Chamberlain of his favorite special guest star on "Dr. Kildare." The story goes that Gloria Swanson was fully prepared for the "take," and built herself up to this huge climax ending in tears. She was devastated. Then, the director shouted great, now let's shoot it! Turns out it was a rehearsal take, not caught on film. Chamberlain said that she was spent and could not muster up any reserve emotion (not to the extant of the first) and the shot came out less effective as a result.
So. . .
I am inclined to believe that some of these incidents are true and that actor or actress is experiencing a genuine slap. It's just really hard to tell from an audience point of view.
What exactly is the Jan Sterling incident? Sounds interesting. . .
Check out ACE IN THE HOLE where Douglas delivers a double slap in giant close-up to Jan Sterling's face. Can't get a copy? The scene is featured in JERSEY BOYS. Me thinks Douglas had a nasty streak in him.
shareHe did.... It's been rumored for years that he raped Natalie Wood.
And I don't know who the actors are that the poster has spoken to, but I know I've seen interviews with actresses about what Hollywood was like in the days when this was filmed and I have no trouble believing that an actor would have slapped someone and gotten away with it.
I hate to press this point but that may also be the result of an actor being "in" the part. It is not unlikely or unusual for an actress to produce tears at the right moment if the role calls for it. Not all can do it, and not all the time.
Lana Turner wrote that she was unable to cry when filming a scene in Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde. Unusual for her, that scene took many takes. Finally, before the final take, the director angrily twisted her arm. Lana also wrote that Spencer Tracy told her that he wanted to deck the director.
Of course, he didn't. No one did. Most observers of violence say nothing which is the same as saying "yes".
Most of the time? Heh.
But yeah, back in the day it wasn't that uncommon for actors to really slap (and get rough with) the dames in the more physical scenes. And considering the memorable slap in this scene is done by Douglas, that's enough to know it was real. :D
You want something corny? You got it!
In the Trivia section, it says:
Greer said, Kirk Douglas is a more physical actor. He bruised my arms grabbing me, and my face was roundly slapped. How he did Champion (1949) without maiming his partner is a miracle.'
In the Trivia section, it says:
Greer said, Kirk Douglas is a more physical actor. He bruised my arms grabbing me, and my face was roundly slapped. How he did Champion (1949) without maiming his partner is a miracle.'
It's a terrific moment. But a lot of the time actors will be okay with being slapped if it's for one take or whatever . They usually have to work it out , because if the actor is caught to unawares it could ruin the take.
"Our Art Is a Reflection of Our Reality"
Yes, that scene/slap could have been wasted quite easily if Greer stepped out of frame or character. She's a pro.
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