In the world of cinema, few stories are as captivating as the tale of Stick, the Burt Reynolds thriller that was almost a completely different movie. This tale is a testament to the power of studio influence and the resilience of a director's vision. But what makes it truly fascinating is the unexpected journey it took, from a gritty crime drama to an action-packed thriller, all while the star, Burt Reynolds, was battling personal struggles. Let's delve into this intriguing narrative and explore why Stick remains a cult favorite despite its troubled production.
The High Hopes and the Back-to-Back Flops
Burt Reynolds was at the peak of his career in the early 1980s. His films Best Friends and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas were box office successes, and his directorial debut, Sharky's Machine, received critical acclaim. Stick, based on an Elmore Leonard novel, was set to be his next big hit. The film's initial vision was a gritty crime drama with a lighter touch, and Reynolds had assembled a stellar cast, including Charles Durning, Candice Bergen, and George Segal. However, the year 1983 proved to be a disaster for Reynolds' box office draw. He suffered two consecutive flops, Stroker Ace and The Man Who Loved Women, which significantly impacted his career.
Disaster Strikes on Set
Principal photography for Stick went smoothly, but disaster struck during the filming of City Heat with Clint Eastwood. During a fight scene, Reynolds was accidentally struck in the face with a real metal chair, shattering his jaw. This incident left him in chronic pain and restricted to a liquid diet, resulting in a rapid weight loss of over 30 pounds. Despite the injury, Reynolds' career took another hit with the flop of The Cannonball Run II. When he presented his finished cut of Stick to Universal, the studio executives were disappointed. They wanted an action movie, not the slow, character-driven drama Reynolds had envisioned.
Turning a Drama into an Action Movie
The reshoots were extensive, and the resulting film had very little relation to the original cut. In the revised version, the character of Chucky, the drug dealer, was demoted, and the action was aggressively ramped up. New sequences included a major brawl in a Jai Alai arena and a massive gunfight finale. The studio also forced the inclusion of an estranged teenage daughter for Stick and softened Bergen's character into a standard love interest. What makes the film fascinating is how obvious the reshot footage is. Reynolds' physical frailty in the new action sequences is hard to miss, and it adds an interesting layer to the character.
Why the Reshoots Actually Work
Oddly enough, the reshot sequences are pretty good. Reynolds, despite feeling terrible, gave it his all, executing his own stunt work. His physical frailty actually adds legitimacy to the character. The finale, where Stick fires a machine gun, works remarkably well because Reynolds looks genuinely strained under the weight of the weapon. The original "Reynolds Cut" leaked to the public, and while it didn't work, the reshot version is a cohesive thriller. The best elements from Reynolds' original cut survived, including George Segal's over-the-top performance and a tense scene where Stick clears a tough guy out of a party.
A Flop, but a Lasting Cult Favorite
Despite the reshoots and the departure from the original vision, Stick remains a cult favorite. The era, the Miami milieu, and the isolated set-pieces are incredibly distinct. While it's not perfect and can't compare to Sharky's Machine, it holds up as a solid thriller. The film's troubled production, including the bad press from Elmore Leonard and Reynolds' declining career, doomed it at the box office. However, the unique blend of original and reshot sequences creates a remarkably cohesive thriller. Backed by a moody, Miami Vice-esque synth score, it stands as Reynolds' best movie of the late eighties.
In my opinion, Stick is a fascinating study of the film industry and the resilience of a director's vision. It's a reminder that sometimes, the most interesting stories are the ones that take unexpected turns. From a gritty crime drama to an action-packed thriller, Stick is a testament to the power of cinema and the enduring appeal of a well-told story.
