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Greatest Stunt Driver?

Theophilus Punoval

Theophilus Punoval

The Queen says it's OK...
I think Bill Hickman was the best stunt driver in movie history. He was driving the Charger Steve McQueen was chasing in "Bullitt", and he not only appeared as a bilious Fed (Agent Muldrig) in "The French Connection" but also did the driving in the car/subway sequence.

The "French Connection" chase is legendary for its use of other cars and pedestrians, which stunt drivers call "gags". The lady pushing the stroller said she had no idea of what to do so her expression of fear is genuine.

Aside from "Bullitt" and "The French Connection" Hickman did the car sequences in "The Seven-Ups" as well as other movies. He also taught James Dean how to race and was following him with a trailer for Dean's Porsche cracked up.

This is just an opinion. I don't know why I thought of it - I should have "Terra Incognita" on my scalp.
 
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I'd say Paul Mantz, of Tallmantz Aviation... but he drove planes, and gave his life in the stunt flying sequences being filmed for The Flight of the Phoenix.
 
Maybe not the greatest but on the list
Remy Julienne "Europe's famous international stunt driver "
Often imitated in stressful driving situations.
 
Carey Loftin -

Not only was he driving the Charger Steve McQueen was chasing, but he was the maniacal Truck Driver in the 70's classic "Duel".
 
Criss Angel. He can make himself disappear in mid-air while on a motorcycle. That's pretty good. Best iceman is David Blaine.
 
You must have seen Bullitt on TCM yesterday. Bill Hickman gets my vote. Great driver, as well as a great looking actor. :thmbsp:
 
Joie Chitwood - maybe not a stunt driver, exactly, but he brought a lot of fun to a lot of county fairs, and he once drove a Chevette more than 5 miles on 2 wheels!
 
RichPA said:
Joie Chitwood - maybe not a stunt driver, exactly, but he brought a lot of fun to a lot of county fairs, and he once drove a Chevette more than 5 miles on 2 wheels!
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I gotta second this one, definitely the first name that came to mind when i saw the thread title.

Usually billed as a "Thrill Show".

Annual attraction at the Afton Fair in Afton, NY for many many years, i have many fond memories going well back into my childhood.:yes:
 
In a related vein the greatest saddlefall and horsefall guys were Fred Kennedy, Chuck Roberson (Bad Chuck) and Chuck Hayward (Good Chuck).

Roberson was a protege of Kennedy and was supposedly the first guy to so a full bore horsefall (not counting tripped horses) with a horse he'd trained and named Cocaine. Roberson and his horse were in scores of movies, often with Cocaine painted to look like other horses.

Kennedy was killed while making The Horse Soldiers for John Ford; broke his neck doing a horsefall. Kennedy was the stout little fella who played Trooper Heinz in Ford's Rio Grande.

Hayward did what's perhaps the greatest saddlefall in Hollywood history in The Alamo. He played a Mexican officer who came fullbore at Laurence Harvey as Travis who shot him out of the saddle; Hayward flipped right backwards over the horse's ass.
 
bowtie427ss said:
I gotta second this one, definitely the first name that came to mind when i saw the thread title.

Usually billed as a "Thrill Show".

Annual attraction at the Afton Fair in Afton, NY for many many years, i have many fond memories going well back into my childhood.:yes:
Click to expand...

And a +3 for Mr. Chitwood. Always a full house when he'd bring his crew to the fair.
 
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