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Whip length and crack in TOD behind the scenes clip

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2017 2:37 am
by Satipo
In the classic making of TOD documentary, there is a clip of Ford practicing his whip cracks in Sri Lanka. Basically, he is facing a ground height camera and manages to hit a paper cup that is on the grass in the foreground. Does anyone know what type of crack he did and the length of whip used?

Re: Whip length and crack in TOD behind the scenes clip

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2017 9:31 am
by WhipDude
Do you have a link to the video? Can it be found on the DVD collection bonus disc? I don't recall this scene at all.

Re: Whip length and crack in TOD behind the scenes clip

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 2:40 am
by Satipo
Yes, here:

https://youtu.be/0mh1YBN711c

At the 7.10 mark. It's a very brief clip.

It's been about thirty years since I last watched it, so it's not exactly as I previously described. The cup is not on the grass, but on a very low twig. Funny how memory changes details over time.

Re: Whip length and crack in TOD behind the scenes clip

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 9:25 am
by WhipDude
Are you sure that is Ford to begin with? The hair down the sides and the face leads me to believe it may be a stunt double?

Based upon that video, it's hard to determine the length of the whip. If the video was from the side, it may be easier to determine. However, that crack is the overhead crack. It's not the most precise overhead crack because of the way he moves his arm and hand.

Re: Whip length and crack in TOD behind the scenes clip

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 10:46 am
by Mike
It is Ford. Hard to tell with the quality of the video, but he's wearing headphones, not having hair hang down the side of his face.

Re: Whip length and crack in TOD behind the scenes clip

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 10:53 am
by backstagejack
Pretty sure that's Ford. Either way what a great BTS video thanks for the links

Re: Whip length and crack in TOD behind the scenes clip

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 3:28 pm
by Satipo
You're welcome, backstagejack. And thanks for the analysis, WhipDude. I used to watch this over and over when I recorded it off the TV in the 80s. I was always impressed with Ford's accuracy in that brief clip (and amused by the groans of his audience), but couldn't tell what the crack was. I'd always assumed the whip was a ten footer, but now I'm thinking it moves more like an eight.

Re: Whip length and crack in TOD behind the scenes clip

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 9:29 am
by WhipDude
If I had to guess, I would agree and say 8 footer based upon the movement.

Re: Whip length and crack in TOD behind the scenes clip

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 7:04 pm
by lankywookiee
I have no idea about the whip length but thanks for the video link, can't believe I haven't seen this behind the scenes doc before