Back to the Future Part III premiered in theaters on May 20, 1990. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film follows Michael J. Fox’s character, Marty McFly, as he journeys to 1885 to save Doc Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd. While the movie was well-received both critically and commercially, it marked the conclusion of the iconic trilogy. However, during filming, Fox faced a life-threatening moment on set, making the incident notable in the history of his career and the franchise.
The Dangerous Hanging Scene
One dramatic sequence filmed in the winter of 1989 involved Marty being chased by a lynch mob, who attempt to hang him. In the story, Doc arrives just in time to stop the execution. Behind the scenes, however, the filming of this scene was far more perilous than it appeared on screen. In his 2002 memoir Lucky Man: A Memoir, Michael J. Fox recounts how the shot required a close-up of his face during the hanging, which meant his stunt double Charlie Croughwell was not involved for this particular take.
Initially, Fox stood on a small wooden box to assist with the hanging effect for the first two takes, as the full body was not supposed to be visible. The effect did not look convincing enough to Fox, leading him to attempt the stunt without the box. While the first two attempts went as planned, during the third try, he misjudged the placement of his hand between the rope and his neck. This mistake caused the rope to constrict his carotid artery, cutting off blood flow and causing Fox to lose consciousness while the cameras kept rolling.
Aftermath and Impact of the Accident
Fox described the terrifying moment in his memoir, stating,
“I swung, unconscious at the end of the rope for several seconds before Bob Zemeckis, fan of mine though he was, realized even I wasn’t that good an actor,”
highlighting the genuine danger he faced. Fortunately, the film crew was able to quickly rescue him, preventing any lasting injury. Despite this near-fatal accident, the production continued, and the film was successfully completed without further incident.
This near-death experience underscored the risks actors sometimes endure during stunts, especially when safety measures are compromised or overlooked. For Michael J. Fox, the incident was a harsh reminder of the physical dangers involved in his craft, making the filming accident a defining moment in the final chapter of the Back to the Future series.
