10 Extreme Movie Scenes That Left Stars Scarred

There’s no better way to guarantee a believable take than just committing whole-heartedly and actually doing whatever feat the scene calls for for real, rather than merely faking it.

Just look at the filming of 1987’s classic subverted fairy tale, the William Goldman scripted comic fantasy adventure The Princess Bride, an instant classic directed by Rob Reiner during his extraordinary “Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery” run.

Taking a leaf out of Texas Chainsaw Massacre star Marilyn Burns’ book, Cary Elwes insisted that co-star Christopher Guest genuinely conk his head with a full weight genuine broadsword when he proved unable to fake an authentic-looking knock out after multiple takes.

Cut to the next thing Elwes remembers which, according to the actor himself, is waking up in hospital having stitches put in his head.

It’s a pretty brutal cost for a minor gag given that Elwes incurred an actual head injury on-set rather than just, you know, act. Still, at least the director used the take in the finished film?