Landis Says He’d Shoot Fatal Scene Differently

Director John Landis, concluding three days of rigorous cross-examination, emotionally acknowledged Tuesday that while he still believes the fatal 1982 “Twilight Zone” filming sequence was not inherently dangerous, he would “absolutely not” shoot it again in the same manner.

The concession came during a rapid-fire exchange between Landis and Deputy Dist. Atty. Lea Purwin D’Agostino, who peppered the director with a series of sometimes rhetorical and somewhat abrasive questions about safety on the film set.

Landis, director of such anarchic hit comedies as “Animal House,” continued Tuesday to maintain a calm composure for much of the day. But he finally snapped back loudly when D’Agostino asked specifically about the mock Vietnam battle sequence in which actor Vic Morrow and two child actors were struck and killed by a helicopter which plunged from the sky when hit by the fireball of a special-effects explosion.

‘Inherently Dangerous?’

“The helicopter was in itself longer than this courtroom, the main rotor blade was four feet longer than this courtroom and it was nine feet in height higher than this courtroom and you’re telling us here that you do not feel that was an inherently dangerous situation?” D’Agostino asked.

“Yes, I’m telling you that, yes,” Landis, 36, replied calmly.

“And of course if you believe that that was a perfectly safe scene in the film at the time you filmed it sir, you of course would have no hesitation about filming it again?” D’Agostino retorted.

“I would not film it again, I’m sorry,” Landis snapped, shaking his hands in the air for emphasis. “Three people died closer to me than you are. And absolutely not. I’m not emotionally prepared regardless of who told me it was safe. No, I haven’t shot with a helicopter since then.”

Landis, the first defense witness following 71 prosecution witnesses called by D’Agostino since September, is on trial for involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of actor Morrow and the two child actors, Myca Dinh Lee, 7, and Renee Chen, 6. Facing the same charges are four Landis associates: unit production manager Dan Allingham, special-effects coordinator Paul Stewart, helicopter pilot Dorcey Wingo and associate producer George Folsey Jr., all of whom may also eventually testify.

Hand-in-Hand With Wife

Landis, hand-in-hand with his wife, Deborah, refused comment after leaving the courtroom late in the afternoon.

But his attorney, James Neal, characterized Landis’ testimony as “a very honest story told very honestly. . . . He (even) said this was such a tragic accident that he would not be involved with a helicopter again if 100 people told him it was safe.”

D’Agostino, on the other hand, asserted outside court that the director’s testimony was “manufactured,” “rehearsed” and “choreographed.”

Emphasizing that point, she asked in the courtroom whether Landis was trying to project an image to jurors, as he would on a film set.

“I’d hope they understand I’m telling the truth,” he replied.

Not Usually Calm

In response to a follow-up question, however, Landis conceded that he is not usually as calm and soft-spoken as he has been on the witness stand. Several prosecution witnesses testified that Landis often yelled and screamed on the set.

The trial has been recessed until Monday because of a death in a juror’s family. The defense is then expected to present witnesses to attack the credibility of camera operator Stephen Lydecker. In his testimony for the prosecution in January, Lydecker, 45, said that when he warned Landis of the possible dangers of filming the sequence, Landis replied, “We may lose the helicopter.”

The defense Tuesday, without the jury present, called Herald Examiner reporter Andy Furillo to verify that Lydecker told reporters that Landis was joking when he made the comment.

Lydecker later testified that it was not a joke, and Landis, on the witness stand, denied ever making the statement.