MovieChat Forums > Mondo cane (1962) Discussion > Semi-OT: Why did Belinda Lee refuse to w...

Semi-OT: Why did Belinda Lee refuse to wear a seat belt when she died?

posted 10 years ago by vnisanian2001
6 replies | jump to latest

From IMDB's trivia section:

On March 13, 1961, following some shooting of the documentary in Las Vegas, writer-directors Paolo Cavara and Gualtiero Jacopetti and the film crew traveled to Los Angeles. One car contained Cavara, Jacopetti and Jacopetti's paramour, actress Belinda Lee (who was not in the picture), in addition to their Italian driver. Nearing San Bernardino on US 91, the speeding car lost control on a winding road and flipped after blowing a tire. Actress Lee, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the car and died at the scene of a broken neck and fractured skull. The others escaped serious injury and taken to a Barstow hospital. Jacopetti suffered a broken leg.

Her life could have been saved that night, had she worn a seat belt.

[–] sarge-19 9 years ago

A seat belt is no guarantee but yet you're right it might have saved her.

[–] vnisanian2001 9 years ago

Belinda Lee was known for a curvy and voluptuous body, a la Diana Dors, another British sex symbol of the 1950's. Maybe Lee was so worried about her figure, that was why she refused to wear a seat belt in the car.

[–] elzpeth 9 years ago

Maybe there weren't enough seat belts in the car--they weren't required by law in the U.S. until 1968.
Most people didn't wear them at all until later in the 70s. There were TV & radio jingles encouraging people to "Buckle up for safety! Buckle up!". Child restraints were uncommon up until the mid-seventies, & weren't legally required until later.

[–] pantsronfire 8 years ago

How old are you? Jesus no one wore a seat belt in 1961.

[–] BugisStreetAnnie (1294) 6 years ago

That's very true. I don't even remember wearing one in the '70s.

[–] artisan278 (106) 8 months ago

Cars did not have seatbelts in 1961.