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The initial years of filmmaking were filled with trial, discovery, and new possibilities. Since this was a fledgling art form, there were no established laws or regulations like those we have today to ensure the safety of film production. These are some of the earliest and most tragic incidents that took place before the implementation of safety standards.
10. Across the Border
One of the first documented and horrific accidents on a movie set happened during the making of the 1914 film Across the Border. Very little is known about this silent Western, except that it featured lead actor Edmund Cobb and was the site of one of Hollywood's earliest, most tragic fatalities.
The film was shot on location in the Arkansas River in Colorado. Grace McHugh, a 26-year-old actress from Golden, Colorado, played the lead role. While filming a scene where her horse was supposed to cross the river, McHugh was swept into the current when the horse lost its balance.
Owen Carter, the cinematographer, immediately dove in after her and managed to pull her to a sandbar. The crew believed they were safe, but the sandbar turned out to be quicksand, and both McHugh and Carter tragically drowned.
Filming had already wrapped, so both McHugh's and Carter's performances were included in the final version of the film.
9. Such Men Are Dangerous
Such Men Are Dangerous was a 1930 drama inspired in part by the mysterious disappearance of Belgian financier Alfred Loewenstein over the English Channel. The film's plot, which involved extensive aerial scenes over water, led to the tragic deaths of 10 people.
While filming a parachute jump scene off the Southern California coast, two Stinson Detroiter aircraft collided at their wingtips. The impact caused the planes to come together, crash, and explode, killing everyone on board, including director Kenneth Hawks and two military pilots. Of the 10 fatalities, five bodies were recovered.
Similar to the accident on Across the Border, production continued as planned, and the film was released on time. However, this tragedy highlights a startling fact: Cameramen are four times more likely to die on set than stunt performers.
8. The Warrens of Virginia
The next tragedy struck on the set of the 1924 film adaptation of The Warrens of Virginia, a period drama set during the US Civil War. This unfortunate incident led to the death of 24-year-old lead actress Martha Mansfield.
During a break in filming, Mansfield was seated in the back of her car when a lit match was thrown in her direction, causing her ruffled hoopskirt to catch fire. By the time actor Wilfred Lytell threw his overcoat over her, most of her body had been severely burned.
The injuries were catastrophic. Mansfield's chauffeur, who tried to remove the dress from her body, was also badly burned. Sadly, Mansfield succumbed to her injuries less than 24 hours later in the hospital, dying from severe burns and toxemia.
Mansfield, who had prior experience in vaudeville, had recently found success with the 1920 film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
7. The Valley of the Giants
The tragic story of actor Wallace Reid highlights the lack of awareness about set safety and drug use in the early days of Hollywood. While filming the 1919 movie The Valley of the Giants, Reid was injured in a train crash in Oregon, sustaining severe cuts to his arm, a back injury, and an 8-centimeter (3 in) head wound that required six stitches.
To manage the constant pain and meet the demanding filming schedule, Reid was administered increasing doses of morphine. Over time, he developed a dependency, as films grew longer and production schedules became more grueling.
At that time, there were no effective drug rehabilitation programs or addiction education, so Reid's morphine addiction ultimately led to his death. He passed away in a sanitarium in 1923 at the young age of 31.
Another tragic incident occurred in 1923 during the filming of Souls for Sale, when actress Barbara La Marr injured her ankle and was prescribed morphine and cocaine for the pain. Along with alcohol abuse, La Marr developed nephritis and tuberculosis, and she died three years later.
6. Haunted Spooks
The production of the 1920 comedy film was abruptly halted following an accident involving lead actor and comedian Harold Lloyd. While posing for publicity shots at the start of filming in August 1919, Lloyd, best known for his role in Safety Last, was holding what he thought was a prop bomb with a lit fuse.
To his horror, the bomb was real, and it exploded in his hand. The blast severely burned his face, temporarily blinded him, and caused the loss of the thumb and index finger of his right hand.
Despite the severe injuries, Lloyd remained positive and joked, “The pain was considerable, but trivial compared with my mental state.” He resumed filming in January 1920.
He was fitted with a glove with artificial fingers and kept the accident unknown to the public. Lloyd didn’t do this for vanity but because he felt that people should genuinely want to watch his films. He didn’t want an audience who came out of pity or sympathy.
5. The Charge Of The Light Brigade
Accidents in the early days of film didn’t happen exclusively to humans. Before regulations were adopted, many animals were treated poorly or died as a result of unsupervised filming practices.
The 1936 film The Charge of the Light Brigade engaged in unnecessary inhumane treatment of animal actors. It was filmed in Mexico to avoid some scrutiny from animal rights laws.
The final climactic scene of the film involved the use of a “running W” (a type of trip wire) to make several horses trip and fall. This caused numerous injuries—from broken legs to broken necks. Of the 125 horses that were tripped, at least 25 were killed or had to be put down afterward.
This wasn’t an isolated incident, however. Three years later, a horse with blinders was filmed riding off a cliff in Jesse James. The climax of 1925’s Ben-Hur also resulted in an exorbitant loss of 100 horses.
Nonetheless, the deaths of these animals weren’t all in vain. Scenes like the one in The Charge of the Light Brigade prompted the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to ban the use of trip wires in films. It also paved the way for organizations like the American Humane Association to monitor animal treatment in films from then on.
Additionally, one extra in The Charge of the Light Brigade was killed when he fell on a prop sword bent upward that punctured his side.
4. The Viking
The 1931 film The Viking featured stunning footage of ships, was the first to record sound and dialogue on location, and surprisingly didn’t even feature any Vikings. However, it’s most remembered for a tragic accident that led to the highest death toll in film history.
Director Varick Frissell, after reviewing the film, realized it lacked establishing shots of the Newfoundland Grand Banks, especially the Labrador ice floes. In an effort to capture more footage, he joined the SS Viking, one of the main ships in the film, on its annual seal hunting expedition.
Tragically, they became trapped in ice near the Horse Islands on March 15, 1931. Shortly afterward, an explosion erupted at the rear of the ship, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 men. The survivors either made their way over the ice to land or were rescued by other ships.
Despite the devastating tragedy, the film was still released. With an added introduction featuring interviews and context, the final version not only served as a visual record of the Labrador region but also honored the lives of those who perished in the accident.
3. The Wizard of Oz
The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz is iconic for many reasons, including its stunning use of Technicolor and special effects, its cultural influence on both children and adults, and its profound connection to the LGBT community. Yet, even such a groundbreaking film wasn’t immune to the less regulated and sometimes dangerous Hollywood practices of the time.
Buddy Ebsen was the original actor cast to play the Tin Man. After recording all of his songs and beginning to film, disaster struck. Ebsen was hospitalized after complaining of severe lung cramps and difficulty breathing, which was caused by the aluminum dust in his Tin Man makeup.
Ebsen went on to achieve great success starring in the beloved TV show The Beverly Hillbillies, but he continued to suffer the long-term effects of the aluminum dust. He later remarked about the ordeal, saying, 'That damned movie.'
The other major accident occurred with Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch of the West. While filming her fiery escape from Munchkinland, a trapdoor malfunction delayed her exit. A real burst of flames erupted, causing her to suffer second-degree burns on her face and third-degree burns on her right hand. She required six weeks for recovery. However, she declined to file a lawsuit and returned to the set only under the condition that there would be 'no more fire work!'
Hamilton’s stunt double, Betty Danko, was also injured during the skywriting scene. Her broomstick prop, which was emitting smoke, exploded, leaving permanent scars on her legs. Many of the actors playing the flying monkeys were also injured when their wires broke, causing them to fall to the ground. Even Terry, the dog who portrayed Toto, wasn't spared—one of the witch’s guards accidentally stepped on his leg, breaking it.
Luckily, the film didn’t follow the darker version L. Frank Baum initially envisioned. Had it, it would have included more dismemberment, head stealing, and murder.
2. The General
Buster Keaton was known for performing his own stunts in his comedic films. With a background in vaudeville, Keaton mastered physical comedy, always maintaining his trademark deadpan expression. This earned him the nickname, 'The Great Stone Face.'
In a famous sequence from Steamboat Bill, Jr., the 2-ton framework of a house crashes toward Keaton, but he miraculously remains unharmed thanks to a tiny window opening. (A nail driven into the ground marked the spot where he stood.) In another scene from Sherlock Jr., Keaton was knocked to the ground, only to discover 11 years later that he had fractured his neck.
However, Keaton faced the most accidents during the making of his 1926 film The General. Known for its historical accuracy, many scenes featured real muskets and explosions, some of which caused injuries to National Guardsmen who served as extras.
Keaton was knocked unconscious when he stood too close to a live cannon, and assistant director Harry Barnes was shot in the face by a blank round (though fortunately unhurt).
The most serious injury, however, occurred when Fred A. Lowry, a train brakeman, had his foot run over by one of the car wheels. Lowry attributed the accident to the vehicle’s lack of safety features (the cars had been modified to look like authentic Civil War-era cars) and sued Keaton for $2,900 in damages.
1. Noah’s Ark
The 1928 film Noah’s Ark was a pioneering effort in bringing a biblical story to the big screen, but it also included a climactic sequence that led to several serious accidents among the cast.
Directed by Michael Curtiz, the film’s depiction of the Great Flood required over 2.3 million liters (600,000 gal) of water, which naturally led to devastating consequences for those involved.
During the chaotic scene, three extras tragically drowned, one individual sustained a leg injury so severe it required amputation, and 35 ambulances were dispatched to treat the others with broken bones and various injuries.
Similar to The Charge of the Light Brigade, the disastrous events on the set of Noah’s Ark resulted in the implementation of some of the film industry’s earliest safety regulations.
