Famous movie curses The remake of the classic 1976 devil-incarnate horror The Omen was released onvery evil release, on the most evil of all days — 06/06/06. The remake of the classic 1976 devil-incarnate horror The Omen get its very evil release today, on the most evil of all days — 06/06/06. While filming the devil-becomes- a-man tale, star Pete Postlethwaite, who plays Father Brennan, was struck by tragedy when his brother reportedly died after drawing three sixes in a card game. That was only the latest in a long line of incidents that some say are signs of the beast: the original movie was likewise plagued with unexplainable tragedies, including scriptwriter David Seltzer, who was struck by lightning, and star Gregory Peck, who narrowly escaped a plane crash, but wasn’t so lucky when it came to his son, who killed himself by way of a single bullet to the head. If you don’t buy into the whole death-becomes- the-actor- who-crosses- the devil thing, take a look at some of the most infamous Hollywood curses of all time. They just might make the skin crawl right off your spine. • Rosemary’s Baby Roman Polanski’s controversial 1968 film — about a woman who gives birth to the devil after her husband promises it to a sect of Satanists in return of fame and fortune — is also surrounded by mysteriously coincidental, horrifying incidents. A year after Rosemary’s Baby’s release, Polanski’s wife, Sharon Tate, was murdered by the Manson Family while she was eight months pregnant with the couple’s first child. Also in 1969, producer William Castle was rushed to the hospital with kidney failure and, legend has it, he yelled out, “Rosemary, for God’s sake, drop the knife!” while being admitted. Krzysztof Komeda, who scored the movie, happened to be a resident of the same hospital Castle was taken to; he later died of a blood clot, mimicking the death of Rosemary’s friend Hutch from the film. • The Poltergeist The most infamous possession movie is also afflicted with Hollywood’s most infamous curse: four deaths are associated with the trilogy, which was premised around destructive spirits who inhabited a house. The film’s young star, Heather O’Rourke, died at only 12 of septic shock, and her onscreen sister, Dominique Dunne, was strangled to death by her distraught boyfriend. Julian Beck, who played an evil spirit, died of cancer, while Will Sampson, who played a good spirit, died after a heart-lung transplant. All the deaths occurred within a six-year period. • The Crow Star Brandon Lee’s death paralleled the plot of gloomy ‘90s goth flick he was working on so closely, it’s hard not to chalk it up to the supernatural. Lee died on the set of The Crow after being shot by a gun that was supposed to be filled with banks, while his character was supposed to be shot with a gun he thinks is unloaded. Likewise, in the script, The Crow was killed the night before his wedding; Lee was to marry his fiancée once filming ended on the movie. • Superman Everyone’s heard about Margot Kidder’s (Lois Lane) nervous breakdown, Richard Pryor’s (Gus Gorman) multiple sclerosis and Christopher Reeve’s (Superman) unfortunate paralyzation, but did you know George Reeves, who played Superman in a 1950s TV series, was found dead with a single gunshot wound to the head under suspicious circumstances? And then there was Bud Collyer, who voiced The New Adventures of Superman cartoon: he died after three years on the job of a circularity ailment. Here’s hoping Brandon Routh, who plays the capped crusader in the new Superman Returns, has better luck. • James Dean’s death car The silver Porsche Spyder that Rebel Without a Cause star James Dean was killed in, nicknamed Little Bastard, was the vehicle of an eerie curse, which first took its toll on two mechanics, who both had their legs broken while unloading it after it was bought by a Hollywood car customizer. The engine and drive-train were later purchased by two different men, who used the parts in their own cars. The first time the men, Troy McHenry and William Eschrid, raced the cars, both spun out of control; McHenry hit a tree and was killed instantly, while Eschrid was seriously injured after rolling his car while taking a turn.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Aug 2013 19:44:59 +0000