The Crow <Accidents during filming> A C C I D E N T S W H E N F I L M I N G Many accidents are reported to have occurred during the filming of The Crow, but one stands out from the others - the one that caused the death of Brandon Lee. Several explainations have been put forward as to the exact circumstances of Brandon's death. Some say it was a freak accident, some say incompetence (on the part of several people) was to blame, and some even say it was murder... So which scene was being filmed at the time? Filming was taking place in the loft set (Eric and Shelley's apartment). The scene in question is near the beginning of the film, when T-Bird, Funboy and the others 'pay Eric & Shelley a visit' and kill Eric.ï¿½ Funboy (Michael Massee) points a gun at Eric and fires.ï¿½ The shot injures Brandon Lee who later died of his injuries.

The camera is on Funboy throughout the gunshot.ï¿½ It's possible that Funboy taking the shot was re-filmed, but the shot that was seen to be fired in the film is probably the one that killed Brandon.ï¿½ There was also a camera behind Funboy, filming Brandon.ï¿½ The film shot by this camera (and any others that could see Brandon) was destroyed without being developed.ï¿½ There were eight days of filming left to complete when Brandon was killed, mostly involving the loft set.ï¿½ The majority of this was completed using digital effects. (see the Trivia/Production page - the 'Life After Death' section). An article in Martial Arts Illustrated' (Feb '95) describes the incident thus: "A few minutes before the fatal scene where Brandon Lee was shot, the actor Michael Massee (who played Funboy) pointed the actual .44 Magnum at Lee in order to save time. After these trial scenes, the man in charge of accessories (the 'propsmaster'), 'Mr. X', filled the Magnum with blanks, but forgot to check the barrel. (Apparently, the armsmaster whose job this was, was away from the set for the day).

Now, a few days earlier, not having any such blanks, a DIY guy had emptied out real bullets to use in their place. When fired, a light detonation, due to the remainder of powder, forced a piece of cartridge into the barrel, henceforth it blocked. As nobody took the trouble to check and clean the gun, it was in this state that the .44 Magnum came to be used in the scene. The cameras started rolling: Michael Massee takes up his position a short distance away from Brandon; too short, as all the professionals will tell you, as a blank fired at a few metres can cause serious damage. Added to this, Michael Massee, off balance, fired right at Brandon instead of aiming just above his shoulders. When the shot was fired, the sound was deafening, the powder from the blanks violently thrust the cartridge in Brandon Lee's direction. As planned, the star pushed at that instant, the button on the detonator releasing the blood sacks he was wearing. Seriously injured as the scene dictated, Brandon Lee/Eric Draven drags himself along the floor whilst the actor David Patrick Kelly (T-Bird) hurls abuse at him.

As a result of the tension created by the scene, nobody yet suspected the accident. There was a general feeling that if Brandon Lee wasn't following the plan precisely it was due to the fact that he was a great actor, that he improvised. Less than a minute later everyone became aware of the 'hitch' without realising, as yet, just how serious it was." For the record, the actor Michael Massee was deemed not responsible for Brandon Lee's death and no criminal charges were ever brought against him. Other reports on the death of Brandon Lee exist, including one that says that the bullet in the gun was simply a live one, instead of a blank... whatever happened, his death will probably always be shrouded in mystery. The accident happened at 12:30 am on 31st March. The shot had perforated Lee's stomach, tearing several vital organs and causing an internal haemorrhage. Brandon Lee died in hospital at 1.03 pm on 31st March 1993 (12 1/2 hours after the accident). Cause of death is listed as G.S.W. (gunshot wound) of the abdomen.

Brandon is buried with his father, Bruce Lee, at Lakeview Cemetary, Seattle, Washington, near the Seattle Asian Museum. How Brandon Lee really died - YouTube How Brandon Lee really died Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jul 18, 2013 In this video you will see how Brandon Lee,the son of martial arts Legend Bruce Lee died on the set of the film the Crow in 1993. Category The Death of Brandon Lee The Death of Brandon Lee Brandon Lee Shot on the Set of The Crow Was it an accident or the "Curse of the Chinese Merchant?" Against his wishes and in spite of his best intentions, Brandon Lee will always be known as the son of martial arts movie star Bruce Lee, who starred in more than 20 films, including The Big Boss (1971), Fists of Fury (1971) and Enter the Dragon (1973).

Though he toiled beneath the shadow of his father, hard work and persistence had finally begun to pay off for Brandon as he landed the role of Eric Draven in 1993's The Crow. But just like his father some 20 years earlier, Brandon Lee would die during the filming of a movie, cutting short a promising career. Bruce Lee died at the age of 32 in Hong Kong on July 20, 1973 while filming Game of Death. Brandon, would die in a tragic on-set accident while filming The Crow on a North Carolina sound stage. The peculiar circumstances of Brandon's death coupled with the cult-like following experienced by his father, have caused much speculation and rumor mongering about the death of the young martial arts star who was about to break through into the world of mainstream Hollywood movies. Many believe he was the victim of foul play. Others speculate that his own premonitions sent him to an early but preordained destiny. Brandon himself believed his family was jinxed by a curse levied against his grandfather when he angered some Chinese businessmen. Rumors have even cropped up that Brandon is indeed alive and kicking, having pulled off a genius prank.

For some reason we doubt that this latter scenario is actually the case, we do believe Elvis, Andy Kaufman and Tupac Shakur are alive. In 1993, The Crow was being filmed at Carolco Studios (now Screen Gems) in Wilmington, North Carolina. The set was plagued by numerous accidents before and during filming. On the first day of shooting, February 1, 1993, a carpenter was severely shocked and received serious burns when the scissor lift he was driving came into contact with high-voltage power lines. On March 13 of that year, heavy storms destroyed some of the movie's elaborate sets causing even further delays. Later, a prop master discovered a live round in one of the prop guns and an enraged carpenter drove his car into the studio's plaster shop. As if that weren't enough, another worker was injured when a screwdriver was accidentally driven through his own hand, and a stuntman fell through the roof of one of the sets, breaking several ribs. As filming of The Crow finally neared completion, eight days from wrap to be exact, yet another accident would rock the slip-shod production.

Several prop masters, in an attempt to save time and money, made a grave decision regarding some bullet cartridges that were to be used for a scene involving a close-up shot of a handgun fired at Brandon. During the scene, the gun was loaded with "dummy" cartridges, which are used for close-up shots because they contain the actual projectile on the end of the cartridge but contain no gunpowder. (It looks more realistic if the camera can see the bullet tips in the pistol's cylinders.) It seems that the prop department didn't have any of these "dummy" cartridges on hand, so rather than shut down the production for the night, some Bozo decided that he'd "rig" some of the live rounds. They removed the gunpowder from the cartridges and replaced the bullet tips, thereby giving them the "dummy' rounds that were needed for the close-up shots. At some point, one of the tips would unknowingly come detached from the cartridge and lodge itself within the barrel or cylinder of the handgun.

(The subsequent investigation never conclusively determined how or why the bullet tip came dislodged.) This seemingly innocuous oversight would not only set up the tragic event that ended up shutting down production after all, but it would also provide Morbidly Hollywood ® with its next fascinating tale of death and morbidity. As shooting of the close-up scenes finally wrapped, it was now time to move on to the scene in question. It would call for a wide shot of Brandon's character being shot with a handgun that was loaded with "blank" cartridges. These blanks were loaded into the handgun not knowing that somewhere in the barrel or cylinder, there was a whole or piece of a dislodged bullet. "Blank" cartridges are different from "dummy" cartridges in that the blanks are loaded with highly explosive powder to give the handgun the smoke and muzzle flash associated with having fired a live round. Filming was taking place in Eric (Brandon's character) and Shelley's apartment. The scene called for Brandon to enter a room where actor Michael Massee was to shoot him using a revolver loaded with blanks. Brandon, wearing black leather jacket and boots, and a t-shirt bearing the prophetic phrase "Hangman's Joke" entered the room carrying a sack of groceries.

As the .44 caliber revolver fired from about 12-15 feet away, Brandon set off the "squib" which is supposed to simulate bullets hitting the grocery bag. Brandon then collapsed to the floor, bleeding profusely from his right side. Many later commented that they noticed he did not hit the floor in the same manner as he had in rehearsals. Brandon groaned and signaled with his arm that he was hit but everyone was too busy with their individual roles to notice. The director yells "cut" but Brandon doesn't get up. Upon noticing the actor was no longer acting, Brandon was rushed by ambulance to the nearby New Hanover regional Medical Center in Wilmington located at 2131 S. 17th Street. Upon his arrival he still had vital signs and it was decided to perform emergency surgery to stop the bleeding. The bullet created a quarter-sized hole in his lower right abdomen before perforating his stomach and several more vital organs. The "bullet" finally came to a rest next to his spine. The doctors couldn't stop the severe internal hemorrhaging.

He died in the hospital at 1:03 pm on March 31st, 1993, 12 plus hours after the shooting. The investigation determined that the tip of the "dummy" shell had come dislodged and remained in the barrel unnoticed. The "blank" cartridge fired with enough force to propel the broken bullet tip out the barrel and into Brandon. The official cause of death is listed as gunshot wound of the abdomen. His body was flown back to Washington state where he was buried on April 3rd next to his father in Lake View Cemetery. The next day a memorial service was held at his actress friend, Polly Bergen's house in the Hollywood hills where many celebrities attended including David Carradine, Kiefer Sutherland, David Hasselhoff, Lou Diamond Phillips and Steven Seagal. Ironically, due to the inordinate number of scenes involving gunfire, a special firearms consultant was hired to ensure the proper safety standards were followed. The Crow was eventually finished and was released on May 11, 1994. Surprisingly, or not, the film did quite well at the box office with a final total of over $50 million.

During the police investigation, detectives examined a plastic bag that contained the unloaded handgun and the spent shell casing. They later found that one of the "dummy" shells in the gun's case was missing its tip. Brandon was 28 years old. Have additional information, or don't agree with something we said? Read or post comments about Brandon Lee on the More Brandon Lee Stuff: 1905 Benedict Canyon Rd. The home where Brandon Lee was living at the time of his death. Carolco Studios (now Screen Gems) in Wilmington, North Carolina, where Brandon Lee was filming The Crow. New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where Brandon Lee was rushed by ambulance after the shooting. Andrews Mortuary in Wilmington, where Brandon Lee's Body was taken after his death. Video that looks at the Chinese curse, Bruce Lee's death, Brandon Lee's childhood, and a reenactment and explanation of the accident that killed Brandon on the set of The Crow. Actor Michael Masse, who was involved in the shooting accident on the set of The Crow (1994) that resulted in the death of Brandon Lee. Dummy cartridges made with old fired primers are NOT acceptable. The cartridge on the right is a dummy.

The one on the left is a misfired cartridge. It is still LIVE. The ONLY acceptable way to make dummy cartridges is to remove the primers completely. This way everyone knows that they are safe and there is no possibility of ever mixing live rounds with dummies. Brandon is buried next to his father at Washington State's Lake View Cemetery Coroner's diagram showing the entry wound in the lower right abdomen. Some External Links to More Brandon Lee Stuff: 8 Facts About Brandon Lee’s Death 20 Years After ‘The Crow’ Via Entertainment Film You’d be hard pressed to find a movie out there steeped in as much mystery and controversy as The Crow. (Maybe Cannibal Holocaust, but that’s not exactly mainstream fare.) Based on James O’Barr’s comic book, the film was supposed to be Brandon Lee’s springboard to movie stardom, but instead, ended in tragedy. The Crow — which happens to be available for streaming on Netflix , I might add — came out 20 years ago today, and in that time has spawned sequels, video games, lawsuits, and rumors. Between the anniversary and the inevitable remake in the works , now is the time to go digging into the movie’s mystery.

– Let’s take a look at the false rumors and allegations surrounding Brandon Lee’s death. There have been lots of rumors about how and when exactly Brandon Lee died while filming the movie. So, to hopefully clear some of the smoke surrounding his death, we’ll break it down by the rumors and what actually happened — or at least what those on set said happened. Rumor A: Lee was fatally shot during the “Big Moby” gun-fight scene. The fatal shooting that killed Lee involved the scene with the rape of Shelly and the death of Lee’s character Eric Draven. The script called for Lee to enter the room holding a bag of groceries that contained explosive blood packs, and for actor Michael Massee to shoot Lee, setting off the blood pack. This is where things went horribly wrong. EMAIL Rumor B: Lee was shot in the head. Lee was not shot in the head, but shot in the abdomen with the bullet hitting his spine. Immediately following the incident, a paramedic on site began to administer CPR with Lee being transported to New Hanover Regional Medical Center 30 minutes later. According to a People Magazine profile of the incident, Lee’s doctor struggled for five hours to save the actor. Dr. Warren W.

McMurry began desperately trying to stanch the bleeding, but at the end of the five-hour operation, Lee’s condition had not improved. “There was so much blood loss, ” McMurry says. “It wouldn’t clot. It was oozing from everywhere.” Rumor C: You see Lee’s death in the movie. Watch this movie with a group of people and somebody will undoubtedly say “dude, he for real died in this scene, look closely and you can see it!” It’s been fueling online movie forums since 1993. There is no actual footage of Lee’s death — or at least none that has ever been found in the darkest corners of the internet. Those involved with the film say the footage of Lee’s fatal shooting was destroyed without ever being developed. – Brandon Lee’s death was largely due to cost-cutting measures. Gun-play was a common place on the set with Lee telling one interviewer that during a scene he was shot “60 or 70 times.” The scene that took Lee’s life was rather simple compared to the previous action sequences, calling for a .44 Magnum revolver to be cocked and pointed at the camera.

To achieve the close-range of the camera shot, the bullets loaded had real brass caps, but no powder. Via Entertainment Film The mistake happened when the freelance arms-master, James Moyer, was told by Carolco Studios he would no longer be needed and that the prop-master could finish the remaining scenes. After the closeup shot, the props-master dry-fired the gun , which knocked the slug off an empty cartridge and into the gun’s barrel. The gun was then loaded with powerful blanks that when fired by actor Michael Massee, propelled the slug out of the barrel and into Lee. – Lee talked about his death and even joked about the movie’s blood. Even before filming started, friends of Lee said that he would talk about death and a premonition that he would die suddenly, like his father. To get into character as a rock star risen from the grave, Lee filled a dozen bags of ice and surrounded his body with them to see how it would feel to be a dead body in the ground. It’s a bit eerie in retrospect, but Lee was also pretty laid back about all the bloodshed during filming. “[Lee] strolled into the Fitness Today health club and pulled up his shirt, then laughed loudly.

“Look at this!” he said to fitness consultant Donna Lamanna, pointing to the fake blood that clung to his rippling, washboard stomach. “This blood is still stuck on me!” – Actor Michael Massee has not seen the film. After the accidental shooting, Massee, who played Funboy, took a year off from acting, and not surprisingly, has never watched the completed film. Via Entertainment Film – A number of serious accidents happened when shooting the film. The Crow had some bad juju associated with it from the beginning and Lee’s death was the standout in a series of accidents. For starters, on the first day of principal photography, a carpenter received serious burns when a scissor lift he was driving came into contact with power lines. Other accidents that plagued the film involved a stuntman accidentally falling through the roof of a set, a crew member driving a screwdriver through his hand, a truck catching fire, and an angry carpenter driving his car into a plaster shop. Filming was also delayed on several occasions because of hurricanes off the North Carolina coast. – Actor Jon Polito was concerned about Brandon’s well-being after an on-set accident. Breakaway glass in movies is used because it’s safe for actors to smash through without injury.

Lee sustained an injury from the glass though during his first scene with Jon Polito, and it worried the veteran actor : “I remember my first scene with him was his breaking through the glass to come into my shop at the end of the fight. And I remember him breaking through the sugar glass and his body got cut. I remember one of the first things I said to that man was, “Don’t pull a Vic Morrow on this film. Don’t endanger yourself in any way.” Vic Morrow was still fresh on our minds at that time.” (Vic Morrow died while filming Twilight Zone: The Movie.) – Brandon Lee wasn’t the first choice for Eric Draven. James O’Barr wasn’t thrilled about the casting of Lee for the film adaptation of his comic book. If Barr had gotten his way, Johnny Depp , Christian Slater or River Phoenix would have been playing the lead role. Via Entertainment Film – Lee’s scenes were completed using revolutionary CGI technology. The film began under Paramount Pictures, but after the shooting, the company quickly abandoned the project. It was actually Entertainment Media Investment Corporation that decided to buy the film and finish it using newly developed CGI technology and body doubles.

For example, effects team Dream Quest Images superimposed Lee’s face on a body double in the scene where we see Eric Draven’s face in a smashed mirror. In total, the team spent between 500-600 hours on effects to bring Brandon Lee “back from the dead.” By: Conrad LK 05.13.2014 @ 10:33 AM This movie changed my life. I’ve seen this movie probably 100+ times. Darker than The Bat, indeed. By: LudwuigVanBor 05.17.2014 @ 8:54 PM I just gσt pαid $18784 wσrking σff my lαрtσр this mσnth. I’ve been doing this for almost two years now, and have made over $300k using this sγstem. It’s really user friendly, tasks simple and fun.

Here’s what I’ve been doing…DollarGazette­­.­c­­o­­m By: Biff 05.13.2014 @ 10:40 AM Its probably because I saw this as a teenager, but I still like this movie. I watched it a couple of months ago after not seeing it for years, and still felt the same way the first time I saw it. Still like the soundtrack, too. That is one term I wouldn’t want to hear on a production with lots of guns/gunfire: “freelance arms-master”. Its probably standard on movies, but it still just sounds like it was some guy off the street. By: TBW 05.14.2014 @ 11:29 AM The real problem was someone dismissing the guy that knew what he was doing and letting the prop master finish out the shooting scenes. Cheaper should never be better than safer. By: The Jersey Devil 05.13.2014 @ 10:54 AM I still love this movie, pull it out and watch it again probably 2 or 3 times a year.

I actually really like the soundtrack as well . . . Rollins Band, NIN, Pantera, good stuff. By: III 05.13.2014 @ 11:00 AM Had a party during high school where I was just starting to fit in, then single handedly shut the door on that when I announced I would be screening The Crow in the other room without the Keystone Light & Salem 100’s. Yes, I was that kid. By: Jek_Porkins 05.13.2014 @ 11:02 AM One of the best soundtracks of all time, a great performance by Lee, and Michael Wincott at his creepiest. I remember thinking when it came out that this kid would have been a star after this movie. He seemed like a good man, too. Very tragic. By: Vice4Life 05.13.2014 @ 11:38 AM Comic nerds can rave about The Dark Knight and The Avengers all they want.

This is one the best comic book movies ever made (easily in my top 10), and it still pains me to think of what Lee’s future as an actor would’ve been. Sure he wouldn’t have ever been an “A class” actor, but I know he would’ve held his own with all the other action stars like Van Damme and Seagal. By: TBW 05.14.2014 @ 11:31 AM Agreed. He would have put several actors on the back burner and probably have had a few action franchises. By: Erswi 05.13.2014 @ 11:39 AM Shit I’m old. Took off to see this opening Friday with half the damned class for our 6th and final senior skip day. By: Taco_Jones 05.13.2014 @ 11:52 AM I told everyone I wasn’t going to the junior prom because I had to see this opening night (but it was really because I was too scared to ask any girls out).

By: zuelly 05.13.2014 @ 1:03 PM By: MarvelBoy 05.13.2014 @ 1:31 PM This film wasn’t cursed- it was simply dangerous. Pressman cut costs left and right, shooting in a non union town with an exhausted crew working 20 hour days. Accidents were happening daily. The Prop Master had no experience (aside from setting out spoons on another film) and the “Arms Master” made HIS OWN blanks. He emptied powder from bullets using pliers and then put them back together. But there was enough primer in one to lodge the bullet inside the barrel after the trigger was pulled. When the PropMaster emptied the gun, it never occurred to him why one shell came out EMPTY and had he looked in the barrel, this never would have happened. Instead, he put a full powder load in behind the bullet lodged inside the barrel and created a live round. Ed Pressman was sued and found completely liable for this accident. Not only did he pay a substantial sum to Lee’s fiance and mother, but as a provision, added a significant amount of money back into the film.

But it’s a good thing this movie was a success and Pressman made numerous sequels, tv shows and now trying to relaunch it. Good for him. By: Jonathon Shingoose 05.13.2014 @ 3:16 PM he had so much potential to be THE action star of the 90’s..looks, fighting skill and acting ability..tragic. By: El Superbeasto 05.13.2014 @ 3:59 PM This movie really holds up. It had a great cast, an awesome soundtrack, moving score, and a compelling story. The writers did an excellent job taking the themes of the graphic novel and working it into a more cohesive, traditional, story structure. The sequels…not so much. Although the original script for the sequel kind of advanced the story, it’s a shame they went more for a carbon copy of the original. Also, Iggy Pop was an awesome villain.

By: TheMuffinman1234 05.13.2014 @ 4:08 PM By: bloodandmetal 05.13.2014 @ 8:03 PM this movie is a true classic and one of the best comic book movies ..

theres great acting the music fits the movie perfectly and ads to the look of the movie ..the sets and costumes are awesome..its got ernie muthafuckin hudson ..just a masterpiece ..ill tell you guys a story I have whit this movie that I really don’t tell anyone..none of the homies wanted to go see this movie whit me I was the only “gang banger” whit a nerdy side to me I was in my early teens so I ended up going by myself to watch this movie and in the theater there was this hot chick whit a fat loud friend around the same age there to I was hanging out waiting for the movie to start and me and the hot chick would make eye contact and smile and flirt but her friend was kinda cock blocking so it turns out there goin in to watch the same movie as me so im in there and they come sit in the same row as me but not right next to me but I can still kinda hear them so im enjoying the shit out of the movie and hot chick will look over at me every once and a while and the movie is about to end and im getting ready to make my move when I hear her fat friend say loudly ,..well if hes so cool why is he at

 the movies by himself !!!

..and im like fuuuuuuck …needless to say as soon as the movie was over I was gone ..ha ha.. By: Will_Solo 05.14.2014 @ 12:15 PM I know this is me being a jerk, but you constantly misspelled the word with, “whit” 4 times! SERIOUSLY?!?!? By: Roddy Piper 05.14.2014 @ 7:09 AM Not so sure about Johnny Depp or Christian Slater, but I bet River Phoenix would have been a really good Crow. By: TBW 05.14.2014 @ 11:33 AM River Phoenix is another person we lost way too soon. He would have been much more broody, if you can imagine that. But I don’t think the make up would have looked as good. By: assneck 05.14.2014 @ 9:28 AM Gotta disagree with the sentiment that this movie still holds up. It came out when I was a junior in H.S.

and for a while I thought it was the greatest movie ever, and remembered it that way. I ended up rewatching it hoping to capture that nostalgia again a couple years ago, and sat there thinking “how the hell did I ever think this was a great movie?” Sountrack is still legit though. By: TBW 05.14.2014 @ 11:37 AM This is a tragedy that should have never happened. I’ve been on a set with a dry fire f*ck up and I LOST IT. There is no substitute for safety. Brandon Lee was the next big thing. He would still be kicking around today, probably on some HBO show or something and we’d all take for granted all the action movie franchises or the completely different Matrix we would have had. I always get a little sad when someone decides to rehash this story. I’m glad we still have The Crow to remember him by. If you’re comic book movie isn’t at least this good, you’re not doing it right. By: John Barrett 02.03.2015 @ 1:34 AM I was the GM of the Holiday Inn , 4903 Market St.

, Wilmington NC and housed the Majority of he crew and cast of The Crow at my 234 room full service Hotel. in 1993 .. I believe that Brandon Lee was Murdered by Asian MOB . I had a guest the night before the shooting on the set that acted suspicious and refused us to enter room 203 ,his unit , to retrieve his room service dinner tray . The next day the tray was left outside and he never came down to check out . Call me paranoid . But to this day nobody has investigated any of my inquiries… Safe to say the Studio and City of Wilmington NC did not want this to Mar or hinder any business from making it the WILLYWOOD it is today . By: John Barrett 02.03.2015 @ 1:37 AM Forgot to mention the guest was Asian and did not speak English well and Paid Cash. And Back then we did not require Id to rent a room . Or a deposit or Credit Card on file . By: Katie Clary 11.02.2015 @ 4:02 PM I know when he die and it was on camera.he die when fun boy shot the second time.

You can tell by the blood slatter. Brandon Lee’s breakthrough, The Crow, was also his morbid swan song · Watch This · The A.V. Club Share Tweet Every day, Watch This offers staff recommendations inspired by the week’s new releases or premieres. This week: With the Paul Walker-led Furious 7 still doing gangbusters business, we look back at other final films from actors who died too young. The Crow (1994) The Crow is unusually morbid for an actor’s final film; it begins with a crime scene’s bloody aftermath, and the first time the audience gets a good look at Eric Draven (Brandon Lee), he’s clawing his way out of his own grave. However ghoulish, it makes a kind of sad sense: Lee, the son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, died during the making of the film, killed by a prop gun misfire on set. The film, which was only a few days away from wrapping principal photography, was completed using some rewrites, editing tricks, a stand-in, and special effects, and released in 1994, resurrecting Lee’s final film work.

Based on the James O’Barr comic, The Crow follows a story so simple it doesn’t generate suspense so much as an extended pulpy reverie. Draven, a local musician, and his fiancée Shelly (Sofia Shinas) are attacked in their apartment by a vicious gang; she’s raped and murdered, while he gets thrown out of a window to his own death. A year later, he rises from the grave, applies clownish makeup and, assisted by a magical crow, gets revenge on their attackers. It all takes place in a city that is supposed to be a version of Detroit, but more resembles a Gotham City long abandoned by its Batman. Director Alex Proyas would go on to create an even more intricate world with Dark City ; The Crow is a simpler and less imaginative movie, but a similarly otherworldly distillation of cinematic cityscapes. In case it didn’t look enough like a music video, Proyas actually has the resurrected Draven play electric guitar on the roof of a building overlooking the crumbling-gothic cityscape, notes wailing in beautiful agony.

And in case the movie’s teen-goth sensibilities were at all in question, Draven’s transformation via makeup is scored by a song from The Cure. Yet, despite the opportunity for truly epic self-pity, The Crow isn’t a complete mope-fest, thanks in large part to Lee. He shows great control of the character’s operatic comic-book physicality, not just in his rooftop leaping and fight scenes, but the way he carries himself. Lee uses the deep, enunciating voice of a rococo comic-book villain, and in his makeup looks a bit like the Joker, matching the production design that recalls Tim Burton’s Batman movies and that character’s ’80s and ’90s comics. Like a lot of Batman-related characters both heroic and villainous, Draven comes from a place of anger and despair, but approaches his vengeful tasks with showmanship, even charisma. Whether it was an artistic choice or one made by necessity given Lee’s tragic death, the “real” Eric Draven is more of a suggestion than a character; the resurrected version dominates the movie. The Crow makes it sadly easy to romanticize Lee’s real-life death, but it’s also a strange, affecting pop memorial.

Availability: The Crow is available on Blu-ray and DVD from your local video store/library. It can also be rented or purchased from the major digital services, and is currently streaming on Netflix. Paul Walker And Other Stars Who Have Died During Filming | TIME.com Follow @TIMECulture In the wake of Paul Walker’s untimely death in a car wreck on Nov. 30 at the age of 40, questions quickly began to circulate about the fate of The Fast and Furious franchise that made Walker famous. The action star was on brief hiatus from filming the series’ seventh installment when the accident occurred. The film, originally slated for release on July 11, could still go ahead, though studio executives at Universal are still trying to determine how to continue. Judging from Hollywood’s past examples, there are several key factors to consider once a film has lost its star mid-project. Here are five other notable actors who passed away during the shooting of a film, and how various studios and filmmakers handled the loss. Marilyn Monroe , Something’s Got to Give At the time of her death at age 36, Marilyn Monroe had just been rehired as the female lead of the comedy Something’s Got To Give.

Also starring Dean Martin and Cyd Charisse, the movie’s shoot was rocky from the start with Monroe frequently missing work and delaying filming. In June 1962, Monroe was fired from the project, which brought shooting to a halt, only to be rehired after Martin refused to work with any other actress. However, before the shoot could resume, Monroe was found dead in her L.A. home on Aug. 5, 1962, from an apparent overdose. Something’s Got To Give was ultimately shelved though a portion of the footage later appeared in the 2001 documentary, Marilyn: The Final Days Natalie Wood, Brainstorm While taking a production break from shooting the sci-fi flick Brainstorm in November of 1981, star Natalie Wood tragically drowned after falling overboard while on a boat trip. (Also onboard at the time of her death was her husband, Robert Wagner, and her Brainstorm co-star Christopher Walken.) Though the majority of Wood’s scenes had already been completed at the time of her death, production was temporarily stalled by MGM studios.

After director Douglas Trumbull partially rewrote the script and re-shot some of Wood’s scenes using a body double, the film saw a limited release in 1983, garnering mixed reviews and dismal box-office returns. Brandon Lee, The Crow During the 1993 shoot for The Crow — a supernatural thriller based on a comic book about a musician who returns from the grave to avenge his death — film star Brandon Lee, son of action hero Bruce Lee, was accidentally shot on set. An investigation revealed that a prop gun contained a partial bullet jammed in the barrel, which had been expelled when the trigger was pulled mid-scene and fired into Lee’s chest. He was rushed to the hospital where he died later that night at the age of 28. After Lee’s death, Miramax studio offered to pay additional money for rewrites in order to complete the film. The Crow opened in theaters on May 14, 1993 to critical raves. The film hit number one at the box-office, inspired a sequel and garnered something of a cult following.

River Phoenix , Dark Blood At the time of his death from a drug overdose at in 1993, River Phoenix, then 23, had nearly completed filming scenes for Dark Blood with Judy Davis and Jonathan Pryce. Unfortunately, the film was still missing several key scenes that Phoenix, the film’s star, had yet to finish shooting. Filming on the movies was abandoned but director George Sluizer, kept the completed footage. After nearly 20 years, he re-edited the material and added voiceovers to bridge any remaining gaps. However, when rumors spread in 2011 that Phoenix’s brother Joaquin would get involved with the project, the family released a statement distancing itself from the project, saying they would not “participate in any way.” Sluizer went ahead and premiered Dark Blood at the Netherlands Film Festival on Sept. 27, 2012, despite the lack of support from Phoenix’s family. It later appeared at a few international film festivals.

Heath Ledger, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus During filming of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus in January, 2008, star Heath Ledger died from a drug overdose in his New York City home at age 28. With only two-thirds of Ledger’s scenes completed, director Terry Gilliam initially thought that the project would be shelved, but then asked actors Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Ferrell to each take on filming scenes as dream-like versions of Ledger’s character in the fantastical movie. The movie was released in the U.S. on Dec. 25, 2009, and received generally positive reviews. However, the film was eclipsed by Ledger’s second-to-last performance as The Joker in 2008’s The Dark Knight, for which the actor was awarded an Oscar posthumously. A London-based correspondent, Megan Gibson has been with TIME since 2010. She covers society, politics, culture and everything in between. Subscribe Popular Among Subscribers Brandon Lee's Death in 'The Crow' : snopes.com - - Claim: The scene in which Brandon Lee was fatally wounded was left in the final cut of The Crow.

FALSE Origins: A number of rumors are associated with the death of actor Brandon Lee while filming the dark fantasy The Crow. Some suggest Lee was murdered by the same Chinese Mafia that supposedly caused the sudden death in 1973 of Lee's father, martial arts star Bruce Lee, as punishment for his exposure of ancient martial arts secrets on film. Others speculated that Brandon Lee was murdered by organized crime with ties to the Hong Kong movie industry, angered by his refusal to work in their films. The simple truth is that Brandon Lee was killed in a tragic accident, the result of carelessness and cost-cutting, and the scene was not used in the final cut. According to newspaper and magazine accounts, the scene in question was staged early in the morning of March 31, 1993, in Wilmington, North Carolina. The scene was the death of Lee's character, Eric Draven, at the hands of street thugs, and was a pivotal plot element to the movie. Lee was to walk in through a door carrying a bag of groceries. Actor Michael Massee, who played Funboy, fired a revolver loaded with blanks at Lee. To complete the illusion, a small explosive charge was to go off in the grocery bag.

Unfortunately, a fragment of a dummy bullet, used earlier in close-up shots, was lodged in the barrel, and the blank charge propelled the fragment into Lee's side, fatally wounding him. The Internet Movie Database claims that the film was destroyed without being developed. By some accounts, however, all film taken of the scene was confiscated by Wilmington police for use in their investigation. It's possible that investigators simply viewed a video used by the production crew for quick playback. Subsequent investigations found Lee's death to be accidental, and while it was attributed to negligence on the part of the film crew, no criminal charges were filed. Lee's mother, Linda Lee Caldwell, did file a civil suit, but the matter was settled out of court. In spite of the acrimony over responsibility for Lee's death, both his mother and his fiancé, Eliza Hutton, were supportive of completion of the film. Doing so required some rewrites, shooting remaining scenes with a double, and digitally "tricking" Lee's face into a few key scenes. The shots involving Draven's death were redone and nowhere is there a glimpse of him being shot through a grocery bag.

Instead, as Draven enters the apartment, a knife is thrown at him by Tin-Tin, played by Lawrence Mason. The wounded Draven is later dragged to the center of the room, shot by Funboy and another of the gang, and then tossed out the window to his death. This scene is done by a double; the only time Lee's face is seen in this series of shots is as he falls to his death. This was accomplished by digitally adding Lee's face to a double. Concern over how to market a movie in which the principal star has been killed prompted the original studio, Paramount Pictures, to bow out. Several other studios declined the film, until Miramax, which has earned a reputation for successfully marketing small, hard-to-sell films, took it up. Miramax has used controversy to its advantage in marketing films like The Crying Game, but took the high road in the release of The Crow. Very little was made of Lee's death in the advertising of his final film, and the closing credits carry the simple dedication "For Brandon and Eliza".

Last updated: 26 June 2012 Sources: Bruce Lee's Son, Brandon, Killed in Movie Accident - latimes Bruce Lee's Son, Brandon, Killed in Movie Accident April 01, 1993 |ROBERT W. WELKOS | TIMES STAFF WRITER Actor Brandon Lee, the 28-year-old son of the late kung fu star Bruce Lee, was killed Wednesday after a small explosive charge used to simulate gunfire went off inside a grocery bag during filming on a movie set in Wilmington, N.C. Lee, who many believed was on the threshold of stardom similar to that attained by his father two decades earlier, had been working on the $14-million movie "The Crow," produced by Edward Pressman and Jeff Most. Lee played a rock star brought back from the grave who adopts the persona of a night bird to avenge his own and his girlfriend's untimely deaths. For the scene, directed by Alex Proyas, Lee was walking through a doorway carrying the grocery bag as another actor fired blanks at him from 15 feet away, police said.

At that moment, according to a spokesman for the producers, Lee activated a toggle switch underneath the grocery bag and set off the small charge, called a squib, a device commonly used on movie sets to simulate the effects of gunfire. "It wasn't the first time they tried the scene," the spokesman said. But this time, Lee was struck in the abdomen by a projectile, which lodged in his body. It is still unclear whether the projectile came from the gun or the grocery bag or both. "When the other actor fired a shot, the explosive charge went off inside the bag," said Wilmington police Officer Michael Overton. "After that, we don't know what happened." Police released only sketchy details of the incident, declining to identify the actor who fired the gun or who else on the Carolco Studios set was a witness. Wilmington police Sgt. R.E. Norvell said detectives would have to wait for an autopsy--which is planned for today--to find out what kind of projectile struck the actor. Police said that the incident was being treated as an accident, but was still under investigation. Lee collapsed on the set at 12:30 a.m. and was rushed to New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Doctors said he showed vital signs when he arrived at the emergency room but was unresponsive. The actor died at 1:04 p.m. after surgery without regaining consciousness, a hospital spokeswoman said. Lee's mother was at the hospital when he died, the spokeswoman said. Surgeon Warren W. McMurray said Lee suffered intestinal injuries and major vascular injuries with extensive bleeding. He said the entry wound was the size of a silver dollar, and that X-rays showed a metallic object lodged against Lee's spine. A source close to the actor said Lee suffered two severed arteries. Filming, which began on Feb. 1 and had eight more days to go, was temporarily suspended. Proyas, the director, did not issue a statement after Lee's death. Spokesman Harry Clein said he believed that Proyas "was beside the camera or looking at the monitor" when the explosion occurred. John Soet, editor of "Inside Kung Fu" magazine, had known Brandon Lee since the actor was a child. "I've worked in films and directed a few low-budget features. As powerful as squibs are, I can't recall a single incident where anyone was (seriously) injured by them," he said.

"Generally, they are pretty powerful," he added. "They do carry a hefty explosive charge. If you are not well-padded, you can get a bruise even if it goes off correctly." The movie set had been the scene of a February incident, Wilmington fire officials said, in which a carpenter was severely burned by power lines. There was also a magazine report recently that a disgruntled sculptor went berserk on the backlot and drove a car through the studio's plaster shop. Lee's publicist, Alan Nierob, told Reuters in Los Angeles that Lee had a promising career ahead of him and was engaged to be married this month to Eliza Hutton, who works for a film production company in Los Angeles. "He wanted to take his career step by step," Nierob said. "He had a nice touch for both comedy and drama. I was just stunned." Lee's death came almost 20 years after the mysterious death of his father, who reached international superstardom in kung fu movies like "Enter the Dragon" and "Fists of Fury." Bruce Lee died of a cerebral edema on July 20, 1973, at the age of 32.

A handsome Eurasian, Brandon Lee was born in Oakland. He spent the first eight years of his life in Hong Kong and then moved with his mother, Linda, and sister, Shannon, to Rolling Hills Estates, Calif. Friends said Lee spent years trying to avoid living under his father's lengthening shadow. He avoided taking up kung fu. "He didn't want to step in his father's footsteps," said screenwriter Lee Lankford. "Eventually he gave up, to be an action star like his father. They were grooming Brandon to be a big star." His first professional job as an actor came at age 20, when he had a part in the CBS movie "Kung Fu: The Movie," starring David Carradine. He went on to make several low-budget action films overseas, including "Legacy of Rage" and "Laser Mission." In 1991, he teamed with actor Dolph Lundgren in "Showdown in Little Tokyo," his debut in an American feature film. Los Angeles Times critic Kevin Thomas called "Showdown in Little Tokyo" a "smart, fast-moving martial arts action-adventure" and said Lee was humorous in his role.

Last summer, Lee starred in 20th Century Fox's "Rapid Fire," the first in a three-picture deal the actor had with the studio. "The Crow" did not yet have a domestic distributor. Lee was known as something of a comedian to his friends. Some recalled how he once drove around Los Angeles in a hearse, while others said he could act "wild and weird." Instead of knocking on your door, Lankford recalled, "he would climb up the wall of your house and go in through your window just for the fun of it." MORE:

Question: Brandon Lee died during the making of which film?
Answer: The Crow