At the beginning of the 20th century, horses were often viewed as unfeeling, disposable animals. They were the means to an end — useful for transporting people and goods, producing crops, and in Hollywood, for adding dramatic flair to movies. Especially on early movie sets, there was little regard for horses’ fates.
These stories and many more about horses on film can be found in Hollywood Hoofbeats by Petrine Day Mitchum
Made in 1936, The Charge of the Light Brigade was one of the first movies to raise awareness of horses’ treatment in the film industry. Actor Errol Flynn was appalled and spoke out when he saw several horses (one report says 25 or more) die or be destroyed as a result of the epic battle scene. To make it appear that the horses and riders were shot by enemy fire, the filmmakers rigged wires to trip the horses while they were running at full speed. Some horses broke their necks and died instantly while others broke legs and were euthanized.
Unfortunately it took the public a few more years to become aware of these kinds of movie-making tricks. The film Jesse James (1939) starring Tyrone Power resulted in the death of two horses that were ridden over a cliff so the director could capture their spectacular falls. The following year the film Northwest Mounted Police had two horses die on set. The movie-going public protested the horses’ deaths in those films, resulting in the creation of the first guidelines for protecting performing animals.
The scene in Jesse James (1939) that caused audiences to demand better treatment of movie horses. This horse was ridden off a 70-foot cliff and broke its neck in the fall. A second horse followed and suffered the same fate.
Cocaine, one of the most popular stunt horses of his day, crashing through a window in the John Wayne movie Chisum (1970). Photo from the book Hollywood Hoofbeats
While directors often felt their creativity was inhibited by having AHA representatives on set, stuntmen and horses both benefited because it was much safer for a stuntman to perform on a horse that was trained to do tricks. The Hollywood “falling horse” was in demand for its ability to learn stunts quickly and perform them dramatically. Since it could take a year or more to train a good falling horse, the best horses often appeared in many films. Coco, a stunt mare owned and trained by Jack Williams, was known for her signature pirouette when taken into a fall. Because of her talents, Coco made movies for 20 years — but the long career didn’t leave her broken like many human stunt performers. She retired on Williams’ ranch and lived well into her 30s.
Jack Williams and Coco, the trained stunt horse that would pirouette during a fall. Photo from the book Hollywood Hoofbeats
Unfortunately the codes established to protect animals on film were made voluntary in 1966 and horses’ lives were at risk on the set again. Directors could keep AHA representatives from monitoring animal safety during production. In 1969’s The Wild Bunch, stuntmen prepared for a dangerous scene where five horses and riders fell into a river after the bridge they were on exploded and collapsed. Because of the stunt riders’ professionalism, everyone made it through the scene without injury.
The famous bridge explosion scene from The Wild Bunch (1969). All five horses and riders were uninjured.
The film that forced the movie industry to return to animal safety standards was Heaven’s Gate (1980). A critical and commercial flop about the battles between Wyoming cattle ranchers and immigrants in the late 19th century, the movie resulted in the death of four horses, including one killed in an explosion, according to the American Humane Association. Actors on the set feared for their own well-being during the shooting of the climactic battle scene. In response to public outcry, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) began working with the AHA to put safety representatives on the set of every SAG domestic production using animals. (Reality shows and international productions are subjected to AHA’s monitoring only through special arrangements.)
Flicka did not earn the No Animals Were Harmed statement after two horses died on set. The AHA determined the deaths were unpreventable.
The animatronic Joey, which was used in the No Man’s Land scenes in War Horse. Photo by Pete Hawkins/Wired.co.uk
The video below has interviews with the horse handlers on the set of War Horse and mentions the production crew’s work with the American Humane Association.
Of all the reasons why humans kill animals, it’s the most sad when it’s just for our own entertainment. The shift towards computer-generated images will hopefully prevent horses from being harmed from now on. The graphics are so good nowadays they could just use them for all footage with horses.
In the case of film and TV, technology has definitely worked in the favor of animals. It’s pretty amazing what movie makers can create using “analogs” and computers! Thanks for your comment, Keith 🙂
I do not know if it possible with you, but I urgently need a high resolution photo of the Cocaine photo going through the storefront window in Chisum.
I don’t have a high resolution version, but you can click on the pic of Cocaine on this page and save the large version when it pops up. Sorry I can’t offer more help!