The movie scene almost ruined by Jack Nicholson and John Candy’s drunken behaviour
Individually, Jack Nicholson and John Candy had earned reputations for their hard-partying ways, so combining the two of them for a night on the town was only ever going to end one way. That being said, the pair almost conspired to ruin a pivotal scene in a hit movie that one of them wasn’t even in.
Ron Howard’s fantastical rom-com Splash was one of the biggest critical and commercial success stories of 1984, beyond serving as the breakout role for relative unknown Tom Hanks. In addition to becoming the tenth top-grossing release of the year, it also landed an Academy Award nomination for its screenplay and a Golden Globe nod for ‘Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy’.
Candy lent support as Freddie Bauer, the brother of Hanks’ Allen, in a typically scene-stealing comedic turn that ultimately saw him approve of his sibling’s unusual relationship with Daryl Hannah’s mermaid Madison. One of the most memorable scenes in Splash comes when the Bauers play a little racquetball, with Candy’s slapstick stylings and impeccable timing on full display.
However, the actor thought was forced to profusely apologise after turning up to set on the day of the shoot behind schedule and still drunk from the previous evening’s antics, as Howard revealed on Reunited Apart: “John, totally professional guy, but he’s late one day,” he said. “And he finally pulls up and rolls out of the car and he says, ‘Ron, I’m so sorry.’ I said, ‘It’s OK. You’re late, but we’ll get going.’ He said, ‘No, no, no. Look, I’m drunk.'”
As much as the director respected the honesty of his star for such unprofessional behaviour, it was the explanation – and the subject of blame – that caught Howard off-guard as he regaled Candy’s admission of guilt: “Here’s what happened, I’m telling you the truth: I’m at the bar and Jack Nicholson is at the bar. Jack Nicholson knew my name, Ron! And he starts buying me drinks.”
Even though Candy protested and repeatedly reminded his opposite number that he had shooting in the morning, Nicholson simply told him not to worry about it. As it turned out, they never caught so much as a wink of sleep, leaving Howard with a still-inebriated performer who was required to film a physically demanding scene imminently. In a testament to his professionalism despite a lack of it being on full display, Hanks recalled that the racquetball sequence – especially its key moment – went off without a hitch.
As the leading man put it, “The difficult moment was going to be the ball hitting John on the head.” And yet, on the very first take, he remarked that “it came right back and smacked him on the head.” Even after a night on the tiles with Nicholson, Candy’s comedic talents remained remarkably undimmed.
