DANGEROUS STUNTS FOR FILM STUDIOS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 87, 6 January 1940, Page 12

DANGEROUS STUNTS FOR FILM STUDIOS

Man Who Has Doubled For

Many Stars

CRASHING AEROPLANES FOR A LIVING

A man who has lived dangerously all his life and acted as double for many film stars in sensational aeroplane and automobile crashes lets arrived at Wellington on a visit, to New Zealand. He is Mr. R. Kavanagh, and he Ims often been described overseas as the world's highest-paid stunt artist. His many experiences include mid-air collisions and last-minute leaps for safety, delayed parachute drops, rolling over in motor-cars, bull-ligliting on motorcycles in Spain, and air battles in the Spanish War and also inChina. In an interview last night Mr. Kavanagh spoke of his experiences in ti casual, modest way, as though risking his life was as matter of fact a tiling as taking a walk through the Botanical Gardens on a summer evening. He is a former holder of the world delayed parachute drop record —24,000 ft. —and is leader and organizer of the Film Crash Squad, formed in London 10 years ago with the object of providing stunt men for film companies. The squad lias its own offices and staff in London, and is the only organization of its type formed on proper business lines. Standard Charges. Film studios may telephone and inquire about any type of stunt, from crashing into a tree on a motor-cycle to a mid-air collision between two aeroplanes. The standard price for the latter stunt, for example, is £lOOO, and on one occasion Mr. Kavanagh was paid as much sis £2OOO. The stunt took eight minutes, and his fee worked out at £250 a minute. This was when he was taking part in the film, "Night Flight.” The fee for crashing an aeroplane into the ground is £5OO, and that for walking on the wing of an aeroplane in flight is £2O a minute. An ordinary parachute drop costs £5O, but a delayed jump with a guarantee of wliere he will land costs the film company £250. A head-on catcrash is done for £2OO. In each case the equipment is provided by the studio.

Mr. Kavanagh is generally known as an American, but he was born in Ireland and lias travelled in many parts of the world, often with teams of daredevil aviators and drivers, fully equipped with their own aircraft and racing ears. He ran away from home at the age of 12. travelled to Australia, and later went to Honolulu and the United States of America. There he took over a racing car after the driver had been killed and performed a sensational double-somersault crash. The manager of the track asked if he would repeat the act, which he agreed to do, and then Mr. Kavanagh started crashing cars for a living. Several World Records.

He holds world titles for aeroplane crashing and stunting, for 1200 consecutive delayed parachute jumps, and the record for rolling over io times in a car. He lias also leapt 71ft. in a ear. Stunting, however, has not been witn out its mishaps. Mr. Kavanagh has fractured his right arm on six occasions, his left arm four times, has broken both his legs, and at different times all his ribs have been fractured. He said last night that lie was disappointed because the Royal Air Force would not take him. He is a qualified pilot ami learnt to fly in Germany when he was doing parachute jumps in 1928. “I tried to enlist, but they turned me down because of the injuries 1 have received,” be said. On the outbreak of war Mr. Kavanagh had a narrow escape from being interned in Germany. He was 300 miles lieyond the Italian frontier and motoring to Berlin, wliere he intended meeting his team of stunt drivers and mechanics. They had arranged to perforin in Germany, but before reaching Berlin Mr. Kavanagh received word that his staff had escaped to Denmark. He immediately returned to ibe Italian frontier, and after a hectic dash, trs lie described it, succeeded in getting clear of enemy territory. Petrol restrictions in Italy compelled him to abandon a ear worth £3OO, and in Germany 15 ears, representing £llOO in value, were abandoned by his team. Twice Reported Dead. Mr. Kavanagh has been twice reported as dead. The first occasion was in Berlin 10 years ago. After a delayed parachute jump be crashed to the ground and fractured both legs and arms. People who watched the accident thought lie had been killed instantly and were later amazed when they learnt he bad escaped. The second occasion on which he was reported killed was in 1938, after a sensational head-on collision between two motor-cars. He was knocked unconscious, but recovered. In spite of deliberately crashing aeroplanes and automobiles, Mr. Kavanagh has never been in a real accident in his life. The win- had made a difference to his squad of crash artists, Mr. Kavanagh said. Three years ago he had a team of 20 dare-devils. Seven had lost their lives while stunting, and since the outbreak of war seven had enlisted witli the Royal Air Force and six were in the British Army. One of his stunt aviators was killed in a midair collision in the South of France in 1937. They were all unmarried and devoted their lives to their perilous calling. Describing his experiences iu Germany, Mr. Kavanagh said lie had always found the Germans keen sportsmen and very fair. The people had given him the impression that they liked England and that war with Britain was unthinkable. He had noticed during recent pre-war visits, however, that they were afraid to speak openly.