10 Hidden Details You Completely Missed In Outstanding Biopics
7. Luther Perkins' Cause Of Death Foreshadowed - Walk The Line
Much like Lionel Logue hinted at the effects smoking would have on King George VI's life, Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) did something very similar during James Mangold's biopic Walk the Line (2005) which was based on the life of the rock 'n' roll star.
When walking through his touring coach during a scene in the flick, Cash can be seen pulling a lit cigarette out of his guitarist's mouth and extinguishing it in an ashtray. This performer was Tennessee Three member Luther Perkins (Dan John Miller). Yet, once you realise exactly how the rocker passed away, this brief throwaway moment suddenly becomes a harrowing piece of foreshadowing.
Perkins was an avid fisher and one night, after returning from one of his fishing trips in the early hours of the morning, he fell asleep in his living room with a lit cigarette in his hand. A couple of hours later the entire area was on fire. Though he wasn't killed in the initial blaze, Perkins was soon rushed off to hospital and died in intensive care two days later.
The film may not have focused on this shocking event specifically, but this subtle action mid-scene definitely alluded to Perkins' death due to sleeping with a lit cigarette in his possession.