Kurt Russell Destroyed a Priceless Prop in Quentin Tarantino’s Movie
One of the most memorable scenes from The Hateful Eight wasn’t actually supposed to be like this.
Summary:
- Kurt Russell accidentally smashed a 140-year-old guitar while filming The Hateful Eight.
- The plan was to use a replica for the smashing scene, but Russell unknowingly destroyed the real guitar.
- Martin Guitar Museum director declared that they would no longer loan instruments to film productions.
While filming Quentin Tarantino 's The Hateful Eight, something particularly unexpected happened. Kurt Russell, who starred in the movie, accidentally destroyed a priceless prop that was actually a piece of history.
The priceless guitar in question was no ordinary instrument. It was a 140-year-old piece from C.F. Martin & Co., a revered name in the world of acoustic guitars. The plan was simple: use the antique for the scene and then swap it with a replica for the smashing part.
However, this crucial detail was somehow not communicated to Kurt Russell. In the scene that left everyone on set, including co-star Jennifer Jason Leigh, in shock, Russell smashed the real guitar, not a replica.
The Scene Where Kurt Russell Smashes the Real Guitar Made It to the Final Cut
Of course, this take was left in the final version of the movie, and you can see Jennifer Jason Leigh’s genuine reaction. She was aware of the guitar's value and was shocked to see it being destroyed.
The guitar was insured, but the compensation couldn't match the historical and sentimental value of the instrument.
How the Owners of the Guitar Responded to the Accident
This incident has actually left an impact on the relationship between cinema and historical artifacts. The destruction of the guitar was not just a loss of a prop but a blow to the preservation of American musical history.
In an interview with Reverb, Dick Boak, the director of the Martin Guitar Museum, expressed his dismay. He emphasized that his concern was less about financial loss and more about safeguarding cultural legacy.
As a result of this incident, Martin declared that they would no longer loan instruments to film productions.