Introduction
The filming of Quentin Tarantino’s 2015 Western thriller The Hateful Eight featured one of the most shocking on-set incidents involving a movie prop in recent memory. While shooting a pivotal scene, actor Kurt Russell ended up smashing an incredibly rare antique guitar from the 1870s over his co-star Jennifer Jason Leigh’s back. But here’s the crazy part – the guitar Russell destroyed was never supposed to be the real antique. Due to an unbelievable prop mix-up, Russell was handed the priceless 145-year-old Martin museum piece instead of a replica prop. Neither Russell nor Tarantino realized it until after filming the violent guitar bashing. So how did this massive mistake happen? And what was the fallout from wrecking such an irreplaceable piece of music history? Let’s take a closer look at the strange true story behind Kurt Russell’s accidental $40,000 guitar smash in The Hateful Eight.
The Guitar Smashing Scene
The guitar smashing scene comes near the climax of The Hateful Eight as tensions boil over between bounty hunter John Ruth, played by Kurt Russell, and captive outlaw Daisy Domergue, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh.
As Ruth transports Domergue by stagecoach to Red Rock to be hanged, the two exchange vicious words. Finally, Ruth grabs a guitar and violently smashes it over Domergue’s shoulder in a shocking act of brutality. This aggressive guitar destruction was specifically written into the script by Quentin Tarantino as a pivotal and visceral plot point.
The guitar smashing represents the culmination of simmering hatred between Ruth and Domergue. It’s a physical act demonstrating Ruth’s cruelty and rage toward the woman he’s bringing to the gallows. Tarantino envisioned the guitar smash as an impactful, jarring moment that propels the film’s rising action. The sudden, brutal guitar bashing underscores the vicious nature of Ruth and foreshadows the violence still to come.
The Rare Antique Martin Guitar
The specific Martin guitar used in the infamous scene was an exceptionally rare and prized instrument. It was a 1870s Martin that was over 145 years old at the time of filming. Martin guitars from that era are incredibly scarce, especially in playable condition.
This particular 1870s Martin was on loan from the Martin Guitar Museum in Pennsylvania. The company, C.F. Martin & Co., was founded in 1833 and is the oldest guitar manufacturer in America. Martin guitars are renowned for their craftsmanship and cherished by musicians and collectors alike.
The museum had provided the antique Martin to be used as a cheap prop double that could be safely smashed. But due to the miscommunication, it was the real museum piece that ended up being destroyed instead.
This exceptionally rare 1870s Martin was made of Adirondack spruce and had an estimated value of around $40,000. Its age and fragile condition made it irreplaceable. The destruction of this iconic Martin guitar was a devastating loss for music history.
The Prop Mix-Up That Led to Destruction
The plan had always been to use a cheap replica guitar for the violent guitar smashing scene. Prop masters on the set were responsible for swapping out the priceless 145-year-old Martin museum piece with a convincing but expendable stunt double.
However, in the rush and intensity of filming, the prop masters somehow failed to make the switch before the fateful scene. So when Russell grabbed what he thought was a regular prop guitar and smashed it down full force, he was in fact shattering the irreplaceable antique.
Quotes from various production crew members reveal the confusion and miscommunication that led to this disastrous prop mix-up. The prop masters insisted they had left clear instructions, while other staff claimed it wasn’t made clear that the priceless Martin was still on set during filming.
Regardless of who was at fault, the end result was a thoughtless mistake that destroyed a rare piece of American music history. All because a simple prop guitar swap failed to happen at the critical moment.
Jennifer Jason Leigh’s Authentic Reaction
When that irreplaceable Martin guitar shattered into pieces, Jennifer Jason Leigh’s reaction of pure shock and horror was no act. In one of the best examples of method acting caught on film, Leigh’s stunned face as she watched a literal piece of history destroyed before her eyes was completely genuine.
Just moments before filming the scene, Leigh had been informed by Tarantino that they would in fact be using the real antique Martin guitar for the smashing. Up until then, Leigh believed a replica prop would be substituted in, as per the original plan.
So when Russell violently swung the guitar down, smashing it across Leigh’s back, her jaw-dropping, wide-eyed reaction was real. As a lover of vintage musical instruments herself, Leigh was likely mortified realizing what had just happened.
While Tarantino and Russell expressed regret afterwards, Leigh never commented publicly on the incident. But her raw, unfiltered reaction permanently captured on film underscores just how rare and special that 1870s Martin guitar was. In that unscripted moment of shock, the magnitude of the loss was painfully clear.
Aftermath and Fallout
The destruction of the irreplaceable Martin guitar on set understandably caused significant fallout after filming wrapped. When Kurt Russell realized the true value of the instrument he had smashed, he was deeply remorseful. Director Quentin Tarantino was also reportedly furious when the details of the incident came to light.
The damaged guitar was sent back to Martin Guitar headquarters in Pennsylvania to assess the extent of the destruction. The estimated cost for such an antique and rare Martin guitar was around $40,000. The production company behind The Hateful Eight filed an insurance claim to cover the loss, and eventually a settlement was paid to the Martin Guitar Museum for the destruction of their artifact.
Incredibly, the smashed guitar was carefully restored by Martin’s repair experts as best they could. The fractured top was patched, the neck reset, and structural repairs made while preserving as much of the original antique wood and components as possible. After extensive restoration work, the guitar was eventually returned to the Martin Guitar Museum, though of course not in the same flawless condition as before the fateful incident. The restored guitar remains on display with a description of its now-legendary, if unfortunate big screen debut.
Legacy of the Incident
The infamous guitar smashing scene from The Hateful Eight has left a lasting legacy and become part of the film’s pop culture lore. Fans and musicians alike still discuss the shocking incident years later. Many react with a mix of horror and fascination when they learn an irreplaceable antique guitar was destroyed as part of the fictional on-screen violence.
The reaction from guitar enthusiasts and professionals is especially intense. As lovers of fine instruments, they are particularly appalled that a rare museum piece from the iconic Martin Guitar company was so callously smashed to bits. Many feel it was an unconscionable act of negligence. Luthiers and vintage guitar dealers have pointed out that Kurt Russell destroyed an instrument that was older than many European cathedrals and valued as highly as a Stradivarius violin. Its loss is seen as a tragic and needless destruction of musical history.
While Tarantino fans argue the violent guitar smash is central to the film’s impact, others criticize him for valuing a powerful scene over preserving an antique. Some have called it a symptom of Hollywood excess. The fact that the filmmakers failed to protect such a rare instrument continues to be a point of contention.
Overall, the legacy of the smashed Martin guitar highlights the fine line between fiction and reality. While movies portray imaginary events, real objects with real value are often affected or harmed in the process. This incident serves as a sobering reminder to treat props and cultural artifacts with great care. For those who love instruments and music history, the destruction of the vintage Martin still strikes a mournful chord.
Lessons Learned
The accidental destruction of the rare Martin guitar on the set of The Hateful Eight underscores the immense importance of proper prop handling in filmmaking. Despite the guitar smash being written into the script, the failure to swap the authentic antique for a replica led to an incredibly costly mistake.
The case exemplifies why strict protocols and procedures need to be followed when it comes to props, especially those being used in scenes involving damage or destruction. Robust communication channels between the director, props department, and actors are essential as well to avoid potentially hazardous mix-ups. Steps should have been taken to visually indicate or tag the Martin guitar to avoid any confusion over which instrument was the priceless original.
While accidents will always be inevitable in the controlled chaos of a film set, if proper precautions had been taken, the devastating outcome could have been avoided. The incident serves as a cautionary tale for the film industry, spurring improved safety measures and lessons learned to help prevent such blunders in the future. Prop masters and crew can now use it as a case study for training, driving home the dire consequences of lax prop management.
By reflecting on and learning from unfortunate accidents like the smashed Martin guitar, productions can refine their protocols to better safeguard precious items on set. While the financial loss was covered, the destruction of an irreplaceable antique is lamentable. Thankfully though, the legacy of the incident lives on to remind us how diligent prop handling can prevent history from being shattered in an instant.
Conclusion
The infamous guitar smashing scene in The Hateful Eight has certainly left a lasting legacy. What seemed like a simple prop mix-up on set ended up destroying an irreplaceable piece of American music history in the Martin museum guitar. While the violent guitar smash was scripted, Kurt Russell had no idea at the moment of filming that he was handling a real antique instead of a replica prop. This legendary on-set mishap has become a cautionary tale underscoring the critical importance of diligent prop handling during the production process. The story serves as a stark reminder that even small oversights can have huge consequences when filming elaborate, stunt-heavy scenes.
In summary, a single miscommunication led to the accidental annihilation of a rare 145-year-old Martin guitar worth around $40,000. The incident shocked cast and crew, made headlines, and still evokes strong reactions from cinephiles and musicians today. Though the destroyed guitar was eventually restored and returned to its owner, the infamous guitar smash remains one of Hollywood’s most intriguing behind-the-scenes stories about a priceless prop meeting its untimely demise.
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