Keanu Reeves is one Hollywood star you can rely on to be a true gentleman, and it seems 30 years ago he was being just that by protecting Sandra Bullock’s modesty as they filmed stunts for the classic action thriller Speed. The pair recently reflected on the 1994 hit, settled the debate about whether there could ever be a third movie, and told some tales about how the production played out. Among the stories, the one about Reeves being in control of Bullock’s skirt during their stunt scenes is one to treasure.
Reeves and Bullock appeared alongside director Jan de Bont at a screening with Q&A session in Hollywood earlier this week. A particular scene that was given special mention was the one during which the two leads finally escape the bus they had been keeping at over 50mph for most of the movie. The stunt saw Reeves and Bullock dropping out of a hatch in the floor of the bus and sliding out onto the road.
While this seemed dangerous, the real danger was the chances of Bullock’s light dress flying up over her head in the middle of the dramatic moment. To make sure this didn’t happen, Reeves was required to be in charge of making sure Bullock’s dignity stayed intact and the skirt of the dress remained where it should be. Bullock recalled:
“I had this dress that was very light and I had a bodysuit underneath, and when we started rehearsing I noticed that the velocity of air would shoot the skirt over my head. So Keanu’s job for me, which was the most important thing, was to [place his] hand in a way where the skirt doesn’t fly over my head. So not only did he have to do the stunt [and] to keep me safe, he had to keep my integrity intact, keeping things that didn’t need to be seen on a 17-foot screen.”
Speed Remains a Classic ‘90s Action Thriller
Action movies don’t tend to age badly, provided they were done right in the first place. Speed is a movie that had audiences on the edge of their seats when it originally played in cinemas in 1994, and it remains one of Reeves and Bullock’s most-loved movies. That is something director de Bont appreciates, and completely agrees with. Following the screening, he shared his pride in the film, and talked about how the two leads brought everything required to their roles. He said:
“When I saw the movie here [tonight], I’ve never been so proud of those two actors. What they did for me — quite often unnatural to them what they had to do — is just unbelievable. The relationship that these two created together is absolutely amazing. Seeing them back on the screen tonight, it was so realistic. They were absolutely perfect. All the emotions were right, all the laughing was right, all the smiling, the little smooching. It was really, really cool. I had to tell them how great they both were.”
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Original Speed director Jan de Bont reflects on the epic action film he debuted with and which put him in the spotlight of genre films.
Of course, there are plenty of fans who were disappointed that Reeves did not return for Speed 2: Cruise Control, and even though that film sunk at the box office, those same fans would be more than happy if Speed was given a legacy sequel. Although that doesn’t seem to be on the cards, the movie’s anniversary is a perfect chance to give it a rewatch and experience the thrill ride all over again.