MovieChat Forums > Deliverance (1972) Discussion > In Burt Reynolds' biography, he said....

In Burt Reynolds' biography, he said....

posted 5 years ago by ben-thayer
21 replies | jump to latest

When it came time to shoot the rape scene, Reynolds said Ned Beatty really wasn't that keen on doing it. Would anyone be?

He said John Boorman knew he'd only get one chance to get the take, so Boorman privately told Bill McKinney to give it everything he had and to go as far over the top as he could. McKinney followed his instructions and gave it 120%.

Reynolds said they were completely floored by McKinney going so far, and he said they demanded that Boorman stop shooting. According to Reynolds, Boorman kept shooting.

Reynolds said that when the scene ended, Beatty was so furious he jumped up and proceeded to beat the living hell outta McKinney. Reynolds ended the anecdote by saying no one stepped in to stop Beatty from pounding on McKinney...in fact he said they all enjoyed it.

[–] SorcererForChrist 5 years ago

Bill McKinney really did bugger Ned. Ned's reaction when he yells out is real.

"I am free of all prejudices. I hate every one equally."
W. C. Fields

[–] 5 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ben-thayer 5 years ago

To quote Bugs Bunny:

"Ehhh....it's a living" (and in Beatty's case, a damned *good* living). I'd have to say his immediate relations should be extremely happy he did it, since they're likely living pretty well as a result.

Better to ask any young, struggling wannabe actor...if given the chance would they do that same part, in a major motion picture, with other successful actors?

I'll guarantee that most (if not all) would say YES. And that's not knowing if they'd get any other parts afterwards. If you added "you'll enjoy the same success Beatty had after doing the part", absolutely 100% would do it.

Actors need to work, simple as that.

[–] 5 years ago

[deleted]

[–] I_Created_U 5 years ago



People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs

[–] InherentlyYours 5 years ago

That's ridiculous. Actors don't need to actually do the act, especially when they don't show anything. This is all very stupid. No actor just takes a foreign object up the butt due to artistry. Ned could say "no". Did Burt's "bio" also mention that if it was women, it would no longer be a laugh riot on imdb?

Bill says this:

McKinney denies this, and also disputes Reynolds contention that he was overly enthusiastic playing the infamous scene where his character buggers Ned Beatty.

"He always played sickos", Reynolds said of McKinney, "but he played them well. With my dark sense of humor, I was kind of amused by him.... McKinney turned out to be a pretty good guy who just took the method way too far".

McKinney told Maxim magazine in an interview honoring him and his Mountain Man partner 'Herbert "Cowboy" Coward' as the #1 screen villains of all time that Reynolds' stories were untrue. "If you lose control on a movie set", McKinney told Maxim, "it's not acting, it's indulgence".

[–] rascal67 5 years ago

Reynolds is exaggerating and was full of himself. He couldn't even make the right choices for film roles and then later had regrets. He was a self-centered narcissist in the making and his career decline was perhaps deserved. He got on top due to charisma and looks and most of the films he made were crap. Especially the ones where he wore director's hat. He needed talented directors like Boorman and Aldrich, to make his more memorable films.

Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata:💩

[–] dawnbaxter34 5 years ago

Reynolds wrote that McKinney actually had it up when he was about to rape Beatty and that it was the only time Burt ever saw cameramen turned their heads away when filming.

McKinney, according to Reynolds, when travelling with the crew down the river, would sometimes look at Beatty and say "Always wanted to try it. Always have...", causing Ned to turn to the director and say, "John...Oh,John!!".

[–] pepetoony (811) 9 months ago

So much gay panic! I felt way more sorry for the redneck "top" than for the pig. Who'd wanna fuck that fat slob!?

[–] liscarkat (7465) 7 months ago

It's not gay panic. It's straight aversion to taking part in, or simulating taking part in, a sex act that is distasteful.

[–] pepetoony (811) 7 months ago

Beating your scene partner for doing what was called for in the script and by the director goes beyond "straight aversion" (whatever that means).

[–] ProductionNow (1072) 5 months ago

No, not "gay-panic", it's stupid-panic. You dont' just sit there while actually getting penetrated. You struggle, yell out, ruin the take. He doesn't have a gun to his head. In addition, there is no need to get penetrated for that specific scene; it's not a hard-core porno film.

[–] TimMC (5483) 7 months ago

I loved BR's book.

[–] sivagish (4385) 5 months ago

Frankly, I question Beatty's commitment to acting. He should have let McKinney go all the way in order to elicit the maximum performance.

I've no idea how the guy is even Academy Award nominated?

[–] ProductionNow (1072) 5 months ago

Frankly, because that would be plain-stupid, slvagish. Going all the way is not related to being committed to acting, since it's acting, not real life. Shall the teenagers in Friday the 13th be literally slashed to elicit the maximum reaction and performance out of them? You would no longer be hiring actors if they actually lived-out what they are portraying.

[–] sivagish (4385) 5 months ago

I think Beatty could have been extra-piggy with the assistance of a barebacked McKinney.

[–] ProductionNow (1072) 5 months ago

no time for silliness

[–] sivagish (4385) 5 months ago

I'm sorry. I was being silly! McKinney should have, of course, worn a prophylactic sheath when entering Beatty.

[–] filmcollector (279) 5 months ago

Anyone who believes Reynolds stories on ANYTHING deserves what they get. The guy was a narcissistic, overpaid, untalented, attention whore. Sure, I'd do the handsome guy but I'd throw him to the curb when done cause you don't wanna start listening to any of his bullshit.

[–] ProductionNow (1072) 5 months ago

I don't think he was untalented, though.

[–] ccr1633 (544) 15 days ago

One thing I find interesting about this scene is that Ned Beatty continued after this film to have a prolific career. He played central supporting roles in some of the best films of the 1970s across a wide variety of genres. Some of these include Nashville, Network, Superman, Hopscotch, All the President's Men (a small role, admittedly), and Silver Streak. No doubt he was concerned after Deliverance that he would be forever remembered exclusively as the chubby dude raped by backwoods sodomists. To a minor extent that is true, but, at least to my mind, I think he deserves praise for the courage to just consider doing the rape scene, even if he was reluctant. This film didn't typecast him or put a visual stain on his visage, which easily could have happened. It's most likely testimony to his fine acting chops and the distinct personality he added to his roles.