MovieChat Forums > Shampoo (1975) Discussion > Interesting about the motorcycle

Interesting about the motorcycle

posted 10 years ago by CrashRiley
5 replies | jump to latest

That was obviously Warren Beatty riding his motorcycle in those scenes, as opposed to a stuntman, but what I find interesting is that the insurance company would allow Beatty to do that; would any insurance company underwrite a major motion picture today with the star of the picture riding a motorcycle without a helmet? Hell, even Peter Fonda wore one in "Easy Rider" and that was made before (and depicts the same time period) "Shampoo" (granted, Dennis Hopper didn't wear one in "Easy Rider", and he was not only the co-star, but the director as well).
The thing about a helmet is, safety issues aside, a full-face helmet allows the filmmakers to use a stuntman and no viewer is the wiser.
Yes, I know Steve McQueen didn't wear a helmet in each cycle scene in "The Great Escape" (he had a German soldier's helmet on in a couple) but Bud Ekins did the famous cycle jump over the fence.
The only more recent example I can think of is Tom Cruise in "Top Gun".
I'm just surprised that a star would be allowed to do that. Does add a nice touch of realism, though.

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

It's funny. I watched the movie today, after not seeing it for years and thought exactly the same thing. It does certainly appear that WB is riding the bike himself and IMDB trivia suggests it may have been one of his own personal bikes. May be because he was the producer, he could get away with it.

[–] cameron3482 10 years ago

Ann Robinson, in the 2nd commentary for "The War of the Worlds" DVD, says the scene with her and Gene Barry surrounded by retreating army vehicles were the very last things shot- just in case they got run over they'd still have a film in the can. I'd almost take it for granted the same was done with Warren's cycling scenes; some of them were pretty hairy.

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

That does make sense.

[–] TongueFu 8 years ago

The only time Warren was actually operating the motorcycle was when he was riding slowly on the road with no, or hardly any, other traffic. In the scene where he chases after Julie Christie in her Mercedes, that's clearly a stuntman riding the Triumph in the high-speed segments. If you stop the action, you'll see that that is not Warren Beatty's face.

[–] jingster6666 7 years ago

It was not illegal nor unusual for one to ride without a helmet at the time this film was set (60's). Also, the southern California climate was ideal for NOT wearing one. That Beatty was portrayed as not wearing a helmet is entirely accurate. Also, in '74, when this movie was actually shot, the true danger of riding without a helmet had not yet been brought home. Surprisingly, the issue is still being fought unsuccessfully by the motorcycle community on the basis of personal liberty.