The Tragic Accident on the Set of “Twilight Zone: The Movie”
Many people have enjoyed watching Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) but are you aware of the tragedy which occurred behind the scenes causing the deaths of a talented veteran actor and two innocent children in the most gruesome of ways?
The tragic accident occurred during the filming of “Twilight Zone: The Movie” at 2:20 a.m. on July 23, 1982, during the filming of a segment called “Time Out”, directed by John Landis (of American Werewolf in London fame). The accident resulted in the deaths of actor Vic Morrow (53) and child actors Myca Dinh Le (7) and Renee Shin-Yi Chen (6).
The events which transpired that day stand as a sombre reminder of the importance of safety on film sets. The incident not only shocked the entertainment industry but also led to significant changes in safety regulations and protocols for special effects, working with children and stunt work.
Vic Morrow, known for his role in the ABC drama series “Combat!” in the 1960s, was cast in one of the lead roles in the segment of the movie directed by John Landis. The scene, set during the Vietnam War, involved Morrow’s character carrying two children across a river while being pursued by American soldiers, with a helicopter hovering overhead at an estimated height of a mere 25 feet.
Due to an alleged series of misjudgements and violations of safety protocols, including the use of pyrotechnics, the helicopter lost control and crashed.
(Above right) The floundering helicopter can just be seen enterering the top right of frame, looming above Morrow and the children in the water below.
During the scene, Morrow had been wading in water carrying the two helpless children as directed. As the stricken chopper fell, Morrow dropped Chen into the water. He was bravely reaching out to grab her when the plummeting helicopter fell heavily on top of him and both poor children. This resulted in the fatal accident which reportedly dismembered all three and decapitated Morrow and Le. If anything ‘positive’ can be taken away from the grisly scene, it is that the three victims would have died instantly and with no lingering pain nor any suffering.
The aftermath of this event was marked by years of legal battles, including civil and criminal actions against the personnel overseeing the shoot. Director John Landis and four other defendants were acquitted of involuntary manslaughter after a nearly nine-month trial. The families of the child actors settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
This accident prompted the film industry to re-evaluate and strengthen its safety measures. New procedures were introduced, and existing laws, such as those governing the employment of minors on film sets, were enforced with greater rigor. The tragedy highlighted the need for clear communication, thorough planning, and strict adherence to safety standards to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
The legacy of Vic Morrow and the young actors serves as a constant reminder to prioritise the well-being of all individuals involved in the filmmaking process. Their untimely deaths have not been in vain, as they have led to a safer environment for actors and crew members alike, ensuring that the magic of cinema does not come at the cost of human lives.
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