1. Raiders of the Lost Ark - Sword vs. Gunfight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anEuw8F8cpE However, there is no better example of a happy accident than what took place on the set of Raiders of the Lost Ark one day. The script called for Indiana Jones to be assailed in the middle of a crowded market by a swashbuckling swordsman, and an epic swordfight was supposed to follow, with Indy eventually gaining the upper hand. However, the day prior to shooting, Harrison Ford was struck down with a brutal bout of food poisoning, and asked director Steven Spielberg if the scene could be modified so that it wouldn't be so physically stressful. And we all know how it was altered; an exasperated Indy pulls out his pistol and kills the guy with one shot. There's no question this is far better than what was originally on the page; it instantly helps characterise Indy as a wily, no-nonsense adventure hero, and creates one of the funniest moments in all of cinema. I like to think that Ford's can't-be-arsed face afterwards is very real, a result of him having to shoot a movie while being sick out of both ends. What is your favourite improvised movie moment? Let us know in the comments below.
Shaun Munro
Contributor
Frequently sleep-deprived film addict and video game obsessive who spends more time than is healthy in darkened London screening rooms. Follow his twitter on @ShaunMunroFilm or e-mail him at shaneo632 [at] gmail.com.
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