The “desperate” movie that taught Michael Caine an invaluable lesson
In terms of British cinema, there are few actors who can boast the esteem of Michael Caine. A genuine stalwart of his native United Kingdom, Caine has established himself at home and also across the Atlantic Ocean in the United States, having given several performances of the highest quality in a career of unrivalled longevity.
Just reeling through a handful of Caine’s most memorable on-screen efforts proves his overall brilliance. Take, for instance, the likes of Get Carter, Hannah and Her Sisters, The Cider House Rules, Educating Rita, The Quiet American and The Dark Knight for just a glimpse into the London-born actor’s excellent back catalogue.
However, while Caine has indeed given some of the greatest performances in the history of the cinematic medium, there was a moment in his career when he was turned in a moment of desperation to star in a film that he really wished he might not, showing that even the greatest actors have low moments in their careers.
The late 1980s and early 1990s were a real mixed time for Caine. He starred in decent efforts like Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and The Muppet Christmas Carol, but there were equally disastrous attempts like Jaws: The Revenge, which Caine himself admitted was awful and Michael Winner’s ridiculous 1990s film Bullseye.
Those latter films weren’t as bad in Caine’s eyes as when he agreed to feature in 1994’s environmental action-adventure film On Deadly Ground. Directed, produced and starring Steven Seagal, also serving as the only time Seagal directed, On Deadly Ground tells of an experienced firefighter who takes the fight to his former employer, who himself has caused widespread environmental damage.
Writing for The Daily Mail, Caine once explained how he came to make On Deadly Ground and admitted to being somewhat on his knees for a good film. “The danger is, of course, that the wait for a decent movie makes you desperate, and I got desperate to the point that I accepted a picture in Alaska with Steven Seagal, the martial arts expert,” Caine wrote.
In fact, Caine went on to say that the title of On Deadly Ground was an “apt” one because after shooting in Alaska, he felt the full force of the environment. “Although Steven and the rest of the team were great to work with, I had broken one of the cardinal rules of bad movies,” the Academy Award-winning actor noted. “If you’re going to do a bad movie, at least do it in a great location.”
Caine added, “Here I was, doing a movie where the work was freezing my brain, and the weather was freezing my arse. I vowed never to work in a tough location again. The litmus test for this, I decided, would be my wife.” What Caine had promised himself was that if his wife refused to come to the location of a film shoot, then he would reject the offer of the role.
When Caine asked his wife Shakira Baksh if she wanted to come to Alaska to watch him shoot On Deadly Ground and she replied with a resounding negative, Caine should have “got the warning”, but decided to head out for the freezing part of the United States and set about making a “bad” film with Steven Seagal.
Naturally, On Deadly Ground received widespread negative reviews, but it did bring in a decent box office and gave Michael Caine the important lesson of only shooting in temperate climes.
Never Miss A Tale
The Far Out Michael Caine Newsletter
All the latest stories about Michael Caine from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.