10 Famous Movie Scenes That Came From On-Set Issues
6. Candie Bleeds On Broomhilda - Django Unchained
Though Django Unchained is far from Quentin Tarantino's best film, it may be his most well acted. Subliminal performances from Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz clashed with Leonardo DiCaprio's bombastic turn as the film's villain, the eccentric plantation owner Calvin Candie. In one of the movie's most harrowing scenes, Calvin reveals that he is aware of the protagonists' plan to save one of his slaves over dinner.
In an explosion of anger, he slams his hand to the table. In that moment on the set, DiCaprio accidentally shattered a glass and cut open his palm. Being the professional that he was, DiCaprio not only didn't let something as benign as profuse bleeding ruin the scene, he used it to enhance it. Continuing on with his villainous monologue, he made a point to get overly physical with actress Kerry Washington, who was playing the damsel Broomhilda.
Washington's face of disgust in the scene wasn't inspired by Candie's racism, but rather by DiCaprio grabbing her head and caressing her face with his bloody palm. The scene was completely elevated by his knowing his ruthlessness and evil overshadowed physical pain and drove home how DiCaprio interpreted the character's racist mindset. Because of how effective and in the moment everyone had been on set, Tarantino made sure every shot from that one take was used in the final film.