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The fight scene between Richard Burton and Cameron Mitchell


The fight scene between Richard Burton and Cameron Mitchell recalls very strongly by Spencer Tracy and Ernest Borgnine in "Bad Day at Black Rock".

Richard Burton on how Spencer Tracy all strokes with an arm / a hand. Richard Burton is like Spencer Tracy physically disabled. Cameron Mitchell plays like Ernest Borgnine guy without the crude manners. Cameron Mitchell is similarly prepared on how Ernest Borgnine (including a "flight" through a door).

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I watched it last night and had to see it twice to believe that such an inept fight scene made it to celuloid. Mitchell seems to run toward Burton, and then deliberately bounce away to crash into something.

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How about that great moment when Mitchell veers (illogically) to his left and falls over a stack of luggage. Seconds later you can clearly see the stuntman's air mattress on the floor. Totally inept stunt work and direction.

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Not to mention you can clearly hear the director's voice off camera screaming, "Get up, Cam! Get up!" HILARIOUS INEPTITUDE!

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I actually think that's an overdubbed line meant to be a bystander. The line isn't "Get up, Cam". It's "Get up, Cutt", because Mitchell's character is named "Butt Cutt".

Regardless, the fight is amazingly sad. Every time Burton throws a "karate chop" (I think it's supposed to be a karate chop), he nearly falls over. He's so drunk he can barely stand up.

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