“Burt, stop this worrying. You must have heard surely of movie magic. You should be a stuntman… Now listen to me: that door is the looking glass, and inside it is Wonderland…”Peter O’Toole
The Stuntman is an all-time favorite film of mine, and terribly underrated. The book it was adapted from is also excellent. Mysteries within mysteries within mysteries.
Oh Charlotte, the feeling is so mutual. 🙏 I cannot wait to hear more about your magical past and how you weave it together with your magical present. ✨❤️
Thank you DNA! I truly appreciate you stopping by to read my work and taking the time to comment. I am hoping you have a fabulous weekend! Sending happiness and joy!✨💖✨💞💫
Interesting glimpse into your background. You were acquainted with a host of very notable and accomplished people!
I remember watching re-runs of Kung Fu as a boy and I internalized respect for much of Kwai Chang Caine's philosophy and stoicism. I seriously worshipped that character and I wanted to be like him. Boys my age wanted to be like famous athletes but I wanted to be like the loner Hapa barefooting it through the treachery of the Wild American West!
Michael mentioned in his comment that during an interview David mentioned he wasn’t a martial artist as much as he was a dancer. That is true. I think David was fascinated with the philosophy and stoicism that came with the martial arts culture. He began studying martial arts with Michael who was an expert and the best.
Thank you so much for your support and reading my article. I’m glad you enjoyed it and got some thing out of it today. Have a magical weekend!🪄✨💖
Thank you for reading my article and your support Kristen! It’s a B rated movie so in my opinion it’s not very good. But I love watching David Carradine. And Claudia is very beautiful. I watched it at a drive-in theater back in 78! 😂
This is a fascinating insight into the special characteristics needed by stunt artists and in particular (I am surmising of course) an unusually elevated spatial awareness. Fitness and physical performance may get you so far but you only need to be out of position once at the wrong time for things to go quickly pear-shaped. I was a big fan of David Carradine in Kung Fu which I think came to an end before I left school. I remember being puzzled by an interview where he was asked about his marital arts skills, only for him to say something like, 'I'm am just a dancer...' I was a teenager and for a long time I was unconvinced that his skill set was solely down to choreography. This piece resonates with me because, as I always suspected, 'just a dancer' was a massive understatement of when into the illusion of a Shoalin on the run.
David connected very close to Michael van drill. David wanted to learn the intricacies of martial arts and it was Michael who could teach him. Michael had been hired by Bruce Lee to instruct Brandon. That’s how good Michael was with his craft.
yes, Carradine was a dancer and that’s where he developed his physicality and skill for martial arts. Interestingly enough I am also a dancer and a double Farrah Fawcett doing martial arts and I had never had martial art training. It was just my dance that made me look like a expert martial artist. Lol! I will be talking about that and one of my upcoming sub stacks in the next couple weeks. If you don’t mind I would love to use this quote in that article. To demonstrate my skill set.
Thank you so much for your support and I am sending you love and joy and hope you have a fabulous weekend!✨💫💖
Another wonderful window into your world, Charlotte. I actually saw Death Sport at the drive-in, must have been 11 of 12 😁
That is where I became a huge Carradine fan, drive-ins - oft the third or fourth movie of the night was a Carradine film, so I enjoyed his B-flick offers 🫡 And the fact you two were friends with him? Wow... 🥰
So much awesomeness here, glad you are sharing these stories ☺️
I'm older than you, Lol! I too watched it at the drive-in theater in Orange County back in the day. It's probably the last movie I saw at a drive-in theater. Carradine was always good to me and my ex. I'm not sure if his website is still up, but he mentions Jonathan as his friend and sword master. Michael and him were like best friends. Michael was hired by Bruce Lee to train Brandon. That's for another Substack.
Sending you love and appreciation for your kind words and support. Have an incredible weekend Stone! ✨💖✨💞💫🤗
Death Race 2000 is till my personal favorite, but I was reading an article about how the 1970s marked the very first time that computer analysis was used by studios to curate complicated stunts with stunt men and cars. The sports car spiral roll in "Man With The Golden Gun" was engineered by computer calculations or momentum as a car was driven though a set of ramps to create a car that spiraled through the air and landed perfectly on all four wheels after a complete turn. That is indeed the magic of engineering, but it is magic nonetheless. Great article.
Thank you David! I appreciate you taking the time to read it and comment! I have never seen death 2000. I barely stayed awake for death sport. I know it’s a bee movie. We saw it at a drive-in.
That would be a fascinating article to read. I don’t know too much about car work except to turn the car to the right or left like a ski stop. A few little maneuvers like that. But I have not done those in years and would not want to try it. Jonathan expertise was not cars although he did some car work. He drove one of the cars in the Blues Brothers.
The Stuntman is an all-time favorite film of mine, and terribly underrated. The book it was adapted from is also excellent. Mysteries within mysteries within mysteries.
Ok, Wow! Yes its a great movie and underrated. A rare gem. Thank you for your support Eric! 🥰✨
I love your story-telling, Charlotte! And oh my, the pictures! All the action-shots with Jonathan in the air...and you with the eyeballs!!
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support Jacqueline. Thank you so much. Sending love and joy to you! 🥰🤗♥️💫
Oh Charlotte, the feeling is so mutual. 🙏 I cannot wait to hear more about your magical past and how you weave it together with your magical present. ✨❤️
Sending you much magic your way Jacqueline 🪄✨💖✨
Incredible start. Looking forward to the rest of the journey.
Thank you DNA! I truly appreciate you stopping by to read my work and taking the time to comment. I am hoping you have a fabulous weekend! Sending happiness and joy!✨💖✨💞💫
Pleasure is absolutely mine. These were the flicks of my teenage years! Love em! Love that you were involved!
Awesome! Seen Death Sport many times. Thank You!
That's cool! 😎 Thank you! Now you can watch it again! 👀 😂
Love the story from behind the scenes. Thank you.
Thank you! 💘💘💘
You are welcome.
Interesting glimpse into your background. You were acquainted with a host of very notable and accomplished people!
I remember watching re-runs of Kung Fu as a boy and I internalized respect for much of Kwai Chang Caine's philosophy and stoicism. I seriously worshipped that character and I wanted to be like him. Boys my age wanted to be like famous athletes but I wanted to be like the loner Hapa barefooting it through the treachery of the Wild American West!
Michael mentioned in his comment that during an interview David mentioned he wasn’t a martial artist as much as he was a dancer. That is true. I think David was fascinated with the philosophy and stoicism that came with the martial arts culture. He began studying martial arts with Michael who was an expert and the best.
Thank you so much for your support and reading my article. I’m glad you enjoyed it and got some thing out of it today. Have a magical weekend!🪄✨💖
Charlotte, this is so freaking cool. I've never seen Death Sport, we'll have to give it a watch. Thanks for including the link. Can't wait for Part 2!
Thank you for reading my article and your support Kristen! It’s a B rated movie so in my opinion it’s not very good. But I love watching David Carradine. And Claudia is very beautiful. I watched it at a drive-in theater back in 78! 😂
Freaking Cool!!! Spot on!
Thank you Elizabeth! Have a great weekend!🥰🥰🥰
This is a fascinating insight into the special characteristics needed by stunt artists and in particular (I am surmising of course) an unusually elevated spatial awareness. Fitness and physical performance may get you so far but you only need to be out of position once at the wrong time for things to go quickly pear-shaped. I was a big fan of David Carradine in Kung Fu which I think came to an end before I left school. I remember being puzzled by an interview where he was asked about his marital arts skills, only for him to say something like, 'I'm am just a dancer...' I was a teenager and for a long time I was unconvinced that his skill set was solely down to choreography. This piece resonates with me because, as I always suspected, 'just a dancer' was a massive understatement of when into the illusion of a Shoalin on the run.
David connected very close to Michael van drill. David wanted to learn the intricacies of martial arts and it was Michael who could teach him. Michael had been hired by Bruce Lee to instruct Brandon. That’s how good Michael was with his craft.
yes, Carradine was a dancer and that’s where he developed his physicality and skill for martial arts. Interestingly enough I am also a dancer and a double Farrah Fawcett doing martial arts and I had never had martial art training. It was just my dance that made me look like a expert martial artist. Lol! I will be talking about that and one of my upcoming sub stacks in the next couple weeks. If you don’t mind I would love to use this quote in that article. To demonstrate my skill set.
Thank you so much for your support and I am sending you love and joy and hope you have a fabulous weekend!✨💫💖
Write the book…you must keep going…..
It’s in the works, but I need more time! I wish God gave us a 48 hour day! Sending you love and thanks Richard! Stay awesome! 💫💞🤗
Thank Dear Heart, Blessings to you and your family…always…
💖✨💖
Agreed
Even stranger, last week I was recommending it to an acquaintance and, realizing I hadn't seen it in ages, bought a copy from Amazon. Oooeeeoooo!
Serendipity is powerful!
Another wonderful window into your world, Charlotte. I actually saw Death Sport at the drive-in, must have been 11 of 12 😁
That is where I became a huge Carradine fan, drive-ins - oft the third or fourth movie of the night was a Carradine film, so I enjoyed his B-flick offers 🫡 And the fact you two were friends with him? Wow... 🥰
So much awesomeness here, glad you are sharing these stories ☺️
I'm older than you, Lol! I too watched it at the drive-in theater in Orange County back in the day. It's probably the last movie I saw at a drive-in theater. Carradine was always good to me and my ex. I'm not sure if his website is still up, but he mentions Jonathan as his friend and sword master. Michael and him were like best friends. Michael was hired by Bruce Lee to train Brandon. That's for another Substack.
Sending you love and appreciation for your kind words and support. Have an incredible weekend Stone! ✨💖✨💞💫🤗
I love reading your work. Please keep posting. 🙏🏼
William, thank you so much! Bless your heart! 🥰♥️🥰
Always wonderful. Can’t wait for the 2nd part. I am so glad you are on Substack!
Sending you much love and appreciation Elizabeth 💖✨💖
Death Race 2000 is till my personal favorite, but I was reading an article about how the 1970s marked the very first time that computer analysis was used by studios to curate complicated stunts with stunt men and cars. The sports car spiral roll in "Man With The Golden Gun" was engineered by computer calculations or momentum as a car was driven though a set of ramps to create a car that spiraled through the air and landed perfectly on all four wheels after a complete turn. That is indeed the magic of engineering, but it is magic nonetheless. Great article.
Thank you David! I appreciate you taking the time to read it and comment! I have never seen death 2000. I barely stayed awake for death sport. I know it’s a bee movie. We saw it at a drive-in.
That would be a fascinating article to read. I don’t know too much about car work except to turn the car to the right or left like a ski stop. A few little maneuvers like that. But I have not done those in years and would not want to try it. Jonathan expertise was not cars although he did some car work. He drove one of the cars in the Blues Brothers.
Have a wonderful weekend!🥰✨
Well written Charlotte
I appreciate your support Justin! Thank you so much! 💖
Fun as hell. Thanks Charlotte!!
Thank you D! Sending you magic and fun, have a wonderful weekend 🤩🪄✨💖