Kurt Russell’s “most poorly-prepared” movie burned through four different directors: “The worst-organised film”
Officially, Kurt Russell has never directed a movie. Of course, anyone following the actor’s career will know that he effectively took over Tombstone when George P Cosmatos, who was himself a replacement for the fired Kevin Jarre, wasn’t up to the task of helming the cult favourite western.
That’s as close as he’s come to taking the reins on a feature from behind the camera, but it was hardly his first experience of behind-the-scenes discontent. For the most part, almost every well-known star will be involved in at least one troubled production during their career, but not many have suffered the misfortune of working with four different directors on the same film.
It’s almost fitting that Russell wasn’t supposed to be part of the cast either, with Patrick Swayze dropping out of playing the secondary title character in Tango & Cash in favour of Road House, which opened the door for John Carpenter’s muse to step into the breach and co-star alongside Sylvester Stallone in the beloved buddy comedy.
Andrei Konchalovsky was announced as the director, and it soon became clear that production wasn’t going to be smooth sailing. In addition to its quartet of directors, Tango & Cash also burned through a trio of cinematographers, with Donald Peterman swapped out for Barry Sonnenfeld, who Stallone subsequently booted after a week of shooting in favour of Donald E Thorin.
Seven days into principal photography, the action flick was on its third DP, and from there, things somehow got even worse. Konchalovsky retained his position for three months, but following a disagreement with Stallone and producer Jon Peters over the ending, he was given his marching orders.
Albert Magnoli swiftly assumed control, shooting the chase sequences and the Peters-approved ending. And yet, whispers began emerging from the set that between the Konchalovsky and Magnoli eras, executive producer and second-unit director Peter MacDonald had picked up the slack, never mind allegations that star, producer, and established filmmaker Stallone was doing a spot of ghost directing.
With so many cooks in the kitchen, it’s unsurprising that one crew member didn’t have the fondest recollections of Tango & Cash: “This was the worst-organised, most poorly prepared film I’ve ever been on in my life,” they told the Los Angeles Times. “From the first day we started, no one knew what the hell anyone was doing.”
Understandably, editor Stuart Baird had a monumental task on his hands when he was brought in to try and hammer so many disparate visions into shape in the editing room. While the end result wasn’t a blow-away, brilliant movie, it was a box office success and holds a special place in the hearts of anyone with a fondness for the 1980s odd couple caper boom.
Thanks to Konchalovsky, Magnoli, MacDonald, Stallone, and Baird, Tango & Cash was finally dragged kicking and screaming across the finish line, and it’s fitting that the movie is an exercise in excess, much like the production itself.
