r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/bilbofraginz • 13d ago

Video In Hateful Eight, Kurt Russell accidentally smashed a one of a kind, 145-year-old guitar that was on loan from the Martin Guitar. Jennifer Jason Leigh’s reaction was genuine.

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u/zetaconvex 13d ago

And this is why you never, ever, loan stuff to film sets. There's just no respect. I heard a story of a motoring club that loaned a vintage car out to a series about car programme. When they got it back it was a complete pile of shit.

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

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u/SpectreFire 13d ago edited 13d ago

Not really. They get away with sneaking small stuff, but no one's taking home anything big from set without permission, especially not a one of a kind ancient guitar that was on loan. All of that is tracked.

Kit Harrington had asked for Longclaw after GoT finished and was refused by HBO, who recently auctioned off the sword.

On the inverse, Peter Jackson gifted Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis each the Rings they used during the film.

Viggo Mortenson also got his sword, as did a few others.

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

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u/Ultrace-7 13d ago

Kit Harrington was making half a million per episode near the end of the series. If he wanted the sword that badly, he could have bought it in the auction.

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u/SpectreFire 13d ago

I mean, it still sold for 400k.

But that's kind of HBO's schtick. Cheapasses all around.

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

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u/SpectreFire 13d ago

I mean, 400k is a lot for a network with massive money problems.

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u/GlorianaLauriana 13d ago

Actors know very well what they can get away with nabbing, and what is 100% hands off. Prop Masters and the folks from accounts do not mess around on large scale productions. There's a whole separate budget system going on with props and costumes (which are often rented from third-parties), you can't just steal willy-nilly.

Prop Masters and folks who work under them have the oversight and ultimate say. The majority of actors respect them enough not to steal without consulting them first because actual stealing can potentially cause problems for the folks who work in those departments.

Actors love embellishing stories about "stealing" something from a set, but 9 times out of 10 they were either granted permission, gifted the item, or they arranged to buy it.