And the book definitely doesn't skimp when it comes to the photo section. The late nights out on the town and inevitable subsequent hangovers were as much a part of the life of a stuntman as the days spent working the ranges, wrangling cows and horses (and later actors, when Chuck graduated to a second unit director). But it's this informal, rough tone that lends the book a lot of its offbeat charm. The book gives a little too much attention to the late night boozing, womanizing, and cardplaying of "Bad" Chuck Roberson, and maybe short shrift is given to some of the technical ins and out of the "gags" (industry lingo for the stunts). Through it all, and perhaps most compellingly, he developed a rapport with a stunt horse named Cocaine, a graceful beast able to survive falls and jumps that would cripple or kill most other beasts.
![the fall guy the fall guy](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/C3CB02/douglas-barr-lee-majors-heather-thomas-the-fall-guy-1981-C3CB02.jpg)
He had the good fortune to become a part of legendary director John "Pappy" Ford's repertory gang of cowboys, and proved an integral witness and participant to the making of some of the most legendary Westerns in the genre's canon. Pretty soon he'd developed into a topflight stuntman, as well as a character actor specializing in playing scowling heavies. Quickly enough he got a job as a harness cop and then, on a lark, did some tricks on a horse in a movie. He found his way to LA shortly after talkies came in and the "Land" part got cropped off the famous "Hollywood" sign.
![the fall guy the fall guy](https://www.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/2/2019/09/truck-show-podcast-episode-87-1.jpg)
"The Fall Guy" takes the reader through his life and career, starting with a childhood on a Texas ranch where he witnessed a killing that would haunt him for years to come. But it should go without saying that the stuntmen (and eventually stuntwomen) of bygone eras had much more dangerous careers, especially considering that many of them had to invent the stunts and pioneer the techniques that later became industry standards, learning their jobs the very hard way.Ĭhuck Roberson, who stunted for "Duke" John Wayne himself, was one of the best-known and most-respected from the trade's golden age.
The fall guy movie#
Chuck Roberson, who stunted for "Duke" John Wayne himself, was one of the best-known and most-res Movie stunts can be dangerous, even in this era of CGI and on-set insurance adjustors and safety personnel. But it should go without saying that the stuntmen (and eventually stuntwomen) of bygone eras had much more dangerous careers, especially considering that many of them had to invent the stunts and pioneer the techniques that later became industry standards, learning their jobs the very hard way. Movie stunts can be dangerous, even in this era of CGI and on-set insurance adjustors and safety personnel.
![the fall guy the fall guy](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j26KWRnFZNQ/maxresdefault.jpg)
Men's men, unmatched in strength, skill, and bravery.yet rarely acknowledged outside the industry professionals who knew just how incredible their work really was.more The Fall Guy: 30 Years as The Duke's Double, is a look back at the original action stars of Hollywood. They called their work "stunts" and "gags" but those words don't mean the same thing anymore. These days, a stand-in does pilates in front of green painted walls, while someone uses a computer to paint danger and the leading man's face into the shot.īut it wasn't always so easy.Hollywood once had a brand of man - part hero, part fool - that risked life and limb to put on a good show. They called their work "stunts" and "gags" but those words don't mean the Action. But it wasn't always so easy.Hollywood once had a brand of man - part hero, part fool - that risked life and limb to put on a good show. These days, a stand-in does pilates in front of green painted walls, while someone uses a computer to paint danger and the leading man's face into the shot.