Star and Two Children Killed on 'The Twilight Zone' Set

The Twilight Zone scene became the deadliest in movie history. It showed veteran actor Vic Morrow saving two Vietnamese children from an attacker in a helicopter. Morrow carried Renee Shinn Chen, age six, and Myca Dinh Le, age seven, across the Santa Clara River while pyrotechnics exploded around them. The helicopter hovered twenty-five feet above the actors. One explosion hit the tail-rotor, setting the aircraft ablaze and making the pilot lose control.Twilight ZoneThe scene became the deadliest in movie history. It showed actor Vic Morrow saving two Vietnamese children from an attacker in a helicopter. Morrow carried Renee Shinn Chen, age six, and Myca Dinh Le, age seven, across the Santa Clara River while pyrotechnics exploded all around them. The helicopter sat just 25 feet above the actors. An explosion hit the tail-rotor, engulfing the plane in fire and making the pilot lose control.

The helicopter fell on the actors. It crushed Chen and decapitated both Morrow and Le. This happened in front of the 100-member crew and both children's parents.

To make the tragedy worse, theline Morrow was about to deliver was, "I'll keep you safe, kids. I promise. Nothing will hurt you, I swear to God."Right before the accident, Morrow said, "I'll keep you safe, kids. I promise. Nothing will hurt you, I swear to God."

Director John Landis, a producer, production manager, helicopter pilot, and explosives specialist all faced involuntary manslaughter charges. They went to trial for these charges during a nearly ten-month trial.The trial included 71 witnesses.The tragedy gave Landis a negative mark: he became the first movie director charged with a death on set. Even before a grand jury, Landis refused to accept responsibility.Landis insisted he planned everything carefully and had no part in the events.Perhaps Landis's attitude toward his actors' deaths caused several co-workers to testify against him. One cameraman testified Landis kept ordering the helicopter to fly lower. Though Landis and his crew admitted they illegally hired the child actors, they avoided child labor law charges.

Landis's attitude toward his actors' deaths made several co-workers testify against him. One cameraman testified Landis kept ordering the helicopter to fly lower. Landis and his crew admitted they illegally hired the child actors. However, they went to trial for the deaths and avoided child labor law charges.

Dorcey Wingo flew the helicopter for the scene. He sought the job hoping to start his film career. Wingo was a Vietnam War veteran who had flown in the war.The Twilight ZoneThe Twilight Zone production was Wingo's first time flying on camera.Wingo was likely scared by pyrotechnics exploding near him. A stubborn director yelled and swore at him over a radio system later found to be poor quality.The production was already behind schedule, and John Landis seemed impatient.Wingo said nothing about the dangerous situation Landis created, possibly motivated by his Hollywood ambition. One Hollywood air coordinator thought Landis cut corners by hiring an inexperienced movie pilot who "wouldn't talk back to the director."Production was already late. John Landis showed great impatience.

Wingo said nothing about the dangerous situation Landis created. One Hollywood air coordinator thought Landis cut corners by hiring an inexperienced movie pilot, especially one who "wouldn't talk back to the director."

According tochild labor lawsUnderage actors needed work permits and only worked set hours. The helicopter scene killing both children filmed at 2:30 AM, long past their allowed time. Neither child had a permit; their work was illegal. Landis broke many rules.Casting directors allegedly never told the actors.The children were working near explosives.

The families of the dead children received payments under the table.They paid under the table.John Landis admitted to hiring actors illegally. He faced no criminal charges. Still, he paid a $5,000 fine and settled several civil lawsuits.

In May 1987, a jury found John Landis and four others chargednot guilty of involuntary manslaughter.Some people think the prosecution made a mistake by not charging Landis for breaking child labor laws and instead pursuing their deaths. The director washeld accountable in several civil lawsuits.These lawsuits came from the children's parents and Vic Morrow's family. The helicopter maker, producer Steven Spielberg, and the Warner Brothers studio were named in the suits.

The accident hurt John Landis's career. He kept working after the tragedy, making hits likeThree AmigosMichael Jackson's "Thriller" video.Coming To Americahiscareer as a movie director slowly endedafter the trial ended several years later.

After the trial ended, John Landis did few interviews and seemed toavoid public attention.He rarely spoke about the incident. However, what he said shows he believes himself innocent.

When pleading not guilty in criminal court, he said, "I know in my head and I know in my heart that we did not cause the accident." He also stated in interviews:

"What people forget is the helicopter crashed less than a foot from where I stood. I was not removed from this."

Steven Spielberg served as executive producer ofTwilight ZoneSince John Landis's segment was filmed first, Spielbergconsidered stopping the entire movie production.He finished the project but disliked how John Landis handled the tragedy. Spielberg was angry that Landis refused responsibility and cut all contact.

Spielberg commented:

"No movie is worth dying for. People stand up more now than ever before for producers and directors who ask too much. If something isn't safe, every actor or crew member must yell, 'Cut!'"

The deaths of several people changed Hollywood. The tragedy on the set ofTwilight ZoneWarner Brothers vice presidentJohn Silvia formed a committee.This committee monitored film production safety. It set rules and standards for pyrotechnics and stunts. The Injury and Illness Prevention Program covered all Hollywood studios and included industry guilds and unions.

Accidents still happen on sets, but rules change after each one. Risk managers check all locations and sets for problems. They read scripts to find issues before filming starts. Producers and directors cannot fire them, so crew and actors feel safer speaking up about safety.

John Landis started filmingTwilight Zonewith a strong career, including hits likeAnimal HouseandThe Blue BrothersLandis had a healthy career. He was in his early thirties and highly sought after as a director. Some people who worked with Landis called him arrogant and said he acted extremely reckless and stubborn when he wanted a specific shot.

One account says he told crew members toclimb thirty feet of scaffoldingand get blown around by helicopter rotors to fix the lighting while filmingTwilight ZoneWhen people questioned his request, Landis allegedly called them "chickensh*t."

The movie released in theaters despite the terrible deaths. SinceTwilight Zonehas four segments by different directors, the whole film did not need changing. However, the helicopter accident scenes were cut, and any mention of the children was removed from John Landis's part. Stars like Dan Aykroyd, Albert Brooks, and John Lithgow were in the film, but critics did not like it.critics didn't like itand it earned much less money than expected.