Humiliating Moments in the History of Movie Shoots

The film industry, full of stars and glamour, is not immune to the occasional shameful and humiliating moments on the set. Stars and directors have faced various awkward situations and conflicts that made headlines and, in some cases, even affected their careers. Here are two memorable stories from the golden era of Hollywood that illustrate the less glamorous side of movie-making.

1940s: John Wayne and 'They Were Expendable'

One of the most humiliating moments in Hollywood history occurred during the filming of the World War II classic They Were Expendable in late 1944. John Wayne, a rising star, was part of the cast, but he found himself at odds with the director, John Ford. While Ford had elevated Wayne to A-list stardom, Wayne had spent the war years making Westerns and war movies instead of serving in the armed forces.

Wayne had legitimate deferments due to supporting a family and working in an essential wartime industry, but that wasn't enough for Ford. According to historical accounts, Ford was irate over Wayne's choices and insisted on another take of a saluting scene with co-star Bob Montgomery. When Wayne couldn't satisfactorily execute the salute, Ford shouted, 'Goddamnit Duke! Can’t you manage a salute that at least looks as though you've been in the service.'

At this, a visibly embarrassed and angry Wayne walked off the set, a rare occurrence in his career. Bob Montgomery, another combat veteran, walked up to Ford, put his hands on the director's chair, and sternly said, 'Don't you ever speak to anyone like that again.' Montgomery demanded an apology from Ford. He later recalled, 'Ford blustered at first, "I'm not going to apologize to that son of a bitch," but then he came out with a lot of phony excuses: "I didn't mean to hurt his feelings." He ended up apologizing, even if grudgingly.'

1945: Bette Davis and 'Mildred Pierce'

In yet another episode of on-set humilation, director Michael Curtiz faced off with the legendary actress Bette Davis during the making of Mildred Pierce in 1945. Curtiz was dead set against working with Davis, whom he considered a former star now on the decline, due to her reputation for being difficult and altering the character to make it more glamorous.

Curtiz began to refer to Davis as 'Phony Joanie' and 'The Rotten Bitch' in front of the entire cast and crew. To mitigate the language, the producers restricted Curtiz's use of obscenities to Hungarian only. Despite this, Davis was determined to get the director fired, claiming she deserved "a post-graduate degree in humiliation." Her protests, however, were not enough, and the film was completed with Curtiz at the helm, marking a tumultuous period in the making of Mildred Pierce.

These tales underscore the human aspect of movie-making, highlighting the tensions and conflicts that can arise on a film set. From John Wayne's frustration with Director Ford to Bette Davis's clash with Michael Curtiz, these stories offer a glimpse into the less glamorous side of the film industry, the one where star-studded egos and creative differences conflict in the name of artistic vision.