IS IT BOLLOCKS?

Film Buff investigates the facts behind outlandish movie plots.

Abseiling while sailing: should you take a stab at it?

THIS MONTH THE BLACK PIRATE

Q In this classic swashbuckler, Douglas Fairbanks stabs a sail with his sword and rides it from crow’s nest to the deck. Much-copied and referenced – but three sheets to the wind or shipshape?

A ANDY WILKINSON FILM SWORD MASTER, DIRECTOR AND AUTHOR OF TAKE ONE, ACTION!

Peeking behind the curtain of this great moment in film, this is how it was done. The sail was pre-cut. A fixed false blade was placed in a pulley and counterbalance rig for Douglas Fairbanks to grab hold of. The rig was behind the sail so the camera can not see it in shot. As Fairbanks drops to the deck below, his weight on the rig cuts through the sail and the counterbalance lowers him to the deck. The pulley counterbalance was designed by Fairbanks’ brother, Robert, a founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The swords in common use on 16th-century ships were the dirk and the cutlass, both short blades designed for cut-and-thrust actions. Not much room on board a ship, so cut and thrust was the best option. Both would pierce the sail, but neither would be sharp enough or have the weight to split the sail. The sailcloth was made of tough, heavily woven canvas. Sails that could be torn easily were useless at sea.

What would happen if attempted? The blade would enter, however, as soon as you put weight on it the blade would slide out. You would need to be above the blade constantly to even move it down the sail, not that you could do that either. The scene is pure ‘smoke & mirror’ magic from the movies. But we are still talking about that scene 95 years later, so my hat goes off to the filmmakers and Douglas Fairbanks for creating such a great moment.

VERDICT BOLLOCKS Want us to investigate if a movie scenario is bollocks? Ask us at totalfilm@futurenet.com