James Bond and the Crocodiles: This scene was created without special effects and required 5 takes

This horrifying video is currently making the rounds on social media, and for good reason: it reveals how a stuntman filmed the famous crocodile scene in James Bond’s Live and Let Die by Guy Hamilton with Roger Moore, released in 1973.

Yes, fans were shocked to learn that one of the film’s iconic scenes featured real reptiles. The filmmakers previously revealed that no puppets or models were used during the filming, but these images show just how dangerous the stunt was.

In the final montage, James Bond is seen taking refuge in a body of water full of crocodiles with three of them strapped to his back. But behind-the-scenes clips show stuntman Ross Heilman, aka Ross Kananga, the venue’s owner, hooking up with the ferocious beasts. This is all the more impressive because Kananga’s father was said to have been eaten by a crocodile. Roger MooreAs he pointed out in the documentary Inside Live and Let Die.

Indeed, in 1972, while searching for a suitable location for a film sequence, a producer noticed a sign that read:They will eat the intruders“Near the swamp. After meeting with the owner, they were convinced that the location should be used in a feature film. The charismatic Kananga thus inspired screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz to name the film’s main villain Dr. Kananga, played by Yaphet Kotto.

Unable to find anyone to perform the dangerous stunt, it will finally be Kananga himself who does it in a video by PurePeople explaining the facts posted on Facebook. The scene took five takes and saw the stuntman fall into the water several times and even bite his leg. Indeed, in the first shot, Kananga quickly crossed the first two animals before the third tried to attack him. He then dives into the water and has to get up while the crocodile continues its wild fight behind him.

At two and three, the beasts are ready and immediately start attacking him when he falls again. Kananga at one point tries to restrain one of them by staying still for a few seconds.

The final defeat sees Kananga go all the way before his shoe gets caught in the last crocodile’s teeth. He then struggles to get out before finally succeeding, losing his shoe in the process – and getting a few stitches as the reptile bit his foot off the shoe.

The animals were still attached to the bottom of the water using weights, but as the images show, their powerful jaws and tails were not restrained. A dozen crocodiles were used in the filming, which were obtained from a farm in Jamaica owned by Kananga, who inherited the farm from his crocodile-wrestling father.

The breathtaking video can be seen below:

After seeing the footage, many fans said they hoped Kananga would be put in danger: in 1973, he received $60,000, which is equivalent to $450,000 today.

Live and Let Die can still be seen on VOD.