15 Historical Firsts in the World of Stunts
![15 Historical Firsts in the World of Stunts](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/8/1/884181_320x180.jpg)
Filmmakers have wanted to captivate audiences with spectacular feats since the dawn of filmmaking. Who knows if they actually called them “stunts” back then, but movies have displayed these risky feats as early as 1903. In the silent picture era, physicality was a must, so Hollywood’s first “stars” were comedic, vaudevillian performers or early action heroes who could ride horses, sword fight, and barroom brawl.
Even for the early 1900s, the stunts look pretty cool by today’s standards. Seriously, grab your iPhone and go film your buddy falling off a horse. We might be desensitized from everything we’ve seen since then, but your buddy could still break his neck, so maybe some technique should be involved. It’s a fine line between safety and “looking real,” so little by little, professional stunt performers have implemented techniques to get the shot, but come home at night (relatively unscathed.) Here’s a look back at 15 firsts in stunts that helped grow the industry.
Frank Hanaway - 'The Great Train Robbery'
![Historical Firsts in The World of Stunts The first stuntman 1903 In the Guinness Book of World Records as the first stuntman, Frank Hanaway landed a part in 1903's The Great Train Robbery for his ability to fall off a horse without injuring himself. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/8/7/884187.jpg)
Edison Manufacturing Company
'The Count of Monte Cristo'
![Historical Firsts in The World of Stunts The first paid stuntman 1908 Maybe previous stunts were undocumented, but the first recorded payment to a stuntman was in 1908's The Count of Monte Cristo, where an acrobat was paid $5 to jump off a cliff upside down into the sea. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/9/1/884191.jpg)
General Film Company
The Keystone Kops
![Historical Firsts in The World of Stunts The first ever stunt team 1912 S From 1912 to 1917, a group of prize-fighters, acrobats, clowns, race car drivers, and vaudevillians performed a range of stunts and pratfalls in The Keystone Kops film series. They're widely regarded as the first stunt team. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/9/4/884194.jpg)
Hollywood’s first comedy star was a stuntman.
![Historical Firsts in The World of Stunts Charlie Chaplin 1914 Beginning in 1914, Chaplin became known as one of Hollywood's first stars, and had the second- ever million dollar contract. As a vaudevillian and slapstick comic, he did all of his own stunts. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/8/6/884186.jpg)
United Artists
Douglas Fairbanks brings in a pro.
![Historical Firsts in The World of Stunts The first realistic 1920 sword fighting In 1920's The Mark of Zorro, Douglas Fairbanks brought in a fencing master, creating the first realistic on-screen swordplay. Prior to this, films had primitive whacking, but this opened doors for the countless swashbuckling films to come. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/8/9/884189.jpg)
United Artists
Buster Keaton
![Historical Firsts in The World of Stunts The first quantum 1920s leap in danger Buster Keaton's hilarious and life-threatening stunts raised the bar. In 1928's Steamboat Bill, Jr. a two- ton house falls as he stands precisely in its open window, and in 1924's Sherlock, Jr. a gush of water breaks his neck! Let's not forget 1926's The General. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/9/6/884196.jpg)
United Artists
Harold Lloyd - 'Safety Last!'
![Historical Firsts in The World of Stunts The first safety precautions 1923 I ESTIC J IV S E T 1 1 houng DAC Hollywood realized their stars' worth and took precautions. Ironically titled Safety Last! the 1923 film's iconic clock scene used stunt doubles, safety nets, harnesses, and camera tricks to pull off Harold Lloyd's dangle from a skyscraper. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/9/2/884192.jpg)
Pathé Exchange
John Wayne and Yakima Canutt choreographed screen fighting.
![Historical Firsts in The World of Stunts The first screen 1930s fighting techniques John Wayne and Yakima Canutt began working closely after Canutt stunt-doubled for Wayne in 1932. They pioneered techniques (still in use today) that make fake punches look real on camera. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/8/4/884184.jpg)
Monogram Pictures
The Godfather of modern day stunts.
![Historical Firsts in The World of Stunts Yakima Canutt pioneered the industry Instrumental in modern day stunt techniques, he developed horse falls, wagon wrecks, and screen combat over four decades. Не received an honorary Oscar in 1966 for his stunt work, and for developing safety devices that revolutionized the profession. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/9/0/884190.jpg)
United Artists
From “Bump Men” to Stuntmen
![Historical Firsts in The World of Stunts The first stunt association 1940s In the early '40s, stuntmen unified to develop techniques and discuss pay rates. Known as The Cousins, they persuaded studios to use pros instead of Bump Men (extras chosen for stunts). This later became The Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/8/8/884188.jpg)
RKO Radio Pictures
1958’s 'Thunder Road' introduced the car chase era.
![Historical Firsts in The World of Stunts The first car chase stunts 1958 Car stunts had been done (notably 1955's Rebel Without A Cause), but Cary Loftin and his team's work on Thunder Road was ground zero for the modern action movie (although driver safety became a new issue). CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/9/5/884195.jpg)
United Artists
1959’s 'Ben-Hur' was a quantum leap in action sequences.
![Historical Firsts in The World of Stunts The first large scale prep 1959 for a large scale stunt Yakima Canutt had over one year to train 78 horses, build chariots, and train actors for Ben- Hur. The now iconic scene had only one injury (Canutt's son, Joe, who doubled for Charlton Heston). The 1925 Ben-Hur film killed one stuntman and five horses, so... Progress! CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/8/3/884183.jpg)
MGM
The A.D. used to coordinate stunts.
![Historical Firsts in The World of Stunts The stunt coordinator 1960s Officially formed in 1961, The Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures set the precedent for stunts in film and TV, and made it industry standard to utilize a Stunt Coordinator on set. Prior to this, the Assistant Director did that. CRACKED ALK332](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/9/3/884193.jpg)
United Artists
Civil Rights and Women’s Lib in stunts!
![Historical Firsts in The World of Stunts Associations for stuntwomen 1967 and black stuntmen In 1967, The Stunt Women's Association helped put an end to wigging (a wigged man doubling as a woman), and the Black Stuntmen's Association put an end to paint downs (white stuntmen using makeup to double as various races). Yeesh. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/8/5/884185.jpg)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Bruce Lee & Jackie Chan in the 1970s
![Historical Firsts in The World of Stunts The rise of martial arts 1970s in western cinema America's fascination with kung fu saw the first Asian leads in U.S movies. Bruce Lee had a formal approach, and Jackie Chan used (and still uses) a more comical Buster Keaton style. For action or comedy, their cinematic martial arts are still a gold standard. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/9/7/884197.jpg)
Warner Bros. International