Why Was Kirk Douglas Fired From 'Rambo'?

The first Rambo movie is kind of incredible. I'm not sure when you last watched it, but it really is an emotional look at a veteran with PTSD, seeking friendship, and then waging a war on a small town that turns its back on him. It's kind of a singular movie that really hits on emotional resonance while also feeling grounded enough to be something fantastical that could happen. One of the things that really stood out to me is the on-screen chemistry of Rambo's relationship with his mentor, Colonel Sam Trautman. And it turns out, that relationship almost looked really different. Let's dive in. - YouTube www.youtube.com Kirk Douglas Was In RamboHollywood legend Kirk Douglas was originally cast in the role that Richard Crenna would eventually make famous in the 1982 blockbuster, First Blood. However, just as filming commenced, Douglas and the production parted ways, a dramatic exit fueled by creative differences and a clash of strong wills.First Blood director Ted Kotcheff spoke to Filmmaker magazine, where he said he recruited Douglas. "Kirk Douglas was doing a play with Burt Lancaster up in San Francisco about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn later in life. I sent him the script for First Blood, and he liked it a lot. I watched the play, and we had dinner together, and he went on and on about how terrific the script was. I thought, 'Great!' Sylvester was all for it because Kirk Douglas’ film Champion was a great source of inspiration for him when he was playing Rocky."Everything seemed to be going swimmingly until the shooting began. Kotcheff said, "Kirk came to British Columbia the third week of shooting, and we put him up in this lovely lakeside cottage, and immediately he began quarreling with the lines. He had a very disagreeable habit of talking about himself in the third person, and he’d say, 'Kirk doesn’t say these lines. Kirk doesn’t like these lines.' Or he’d want somebody else’s line, and I would say, 'That’s a feeling the sheriff would have, not you.' He’d say, 'Doesn’t matter. It’s a great line. The sheriff doesn’t say it. Kirk Douglas says it. Kirk Douglas should have this line.'" It was at that moment that Kotcheff knew they were in a lot of trouble. And even though Douglas was a star, they couldn't take all his suggestions. But they tried. - YouTube www.youtube.com Kotcheff continued, "Now, Sylvester and I agreed that Kirk Douglas was a big star and would help our film, so we did everything we could to try to please him. We would shoot in the freezing cold all day and then work late into the night rewriting his scenes. But he was never happy with any of our changes, and I kept thinking, 'Why the hell did he accept this part?' Finally, I went to Andy and Mario and said, 'Boys, I know you want this guy. But he’s going to wreck our film, not only artistically but monetarily, because he’s going to slow production down. I’m telling you, he’s going to put two weeks on the schedule arguing about the lines.'" This was an incredibly bold choice at the time because Douglas was a huge star and one of the anchors of the film, even in such a small part. Still, Kotcheff knew that to make this movie work, and to make sure he got to make another movie, he had to part ways with the guy. As Kotcheff tells it, "So I went to see Kirk and his wife in the cottage and said, 'Kirk, here’s the situation. I gave you a script, and you accepted it and told me you loved it. We’re shooting the script that you loved. If you wish to act in that script, I’d love to have you, but if you don’t, you may leave.' He said, 'Kirk’s leaving.'" And that was that. Kirk Douglas was gone from the production, and Rambo was allowed to keep shooting. Knowing they were in trouble, he took a friend's recommendation and cast Richard Crenna, who showed up and got filmed out in three days, allowing them to save production. I love these behind-the-scenes stories because they show just what people deal with in Hollywood, and I also like hearing the triumph of a director like Kotcheff, who just wanted to make a good movie and succeeded, despite the roadblocks along the way. Let me know what you think in the comments.

May 7, 2025 - 21:37

Why Was Kirk Douglas Fired From 'Rambo'?

The first Rambo movie is kind of incredible. I'm not sure when you last watched it, but it really is an emotional look at a veteran with PTSD, seeking friendship, and then waging a war on a small town that turns its back on him.

It's kind of a singular movie that really hits on emotional resonance while also feeling grounded enough to be something fantastical that could happen.

One of the things that really stood out to me is the on-screen chemistry of Rambo's relationship with his mentor, Colonel Sam Trautman.

And it turns out, that relationship almost looked really different.

Let's dive in.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Kirk Douglas Was In Rambo

Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas was originally cast in the role that Richard Crenna would eventually make famous in the 1982 blockbuster, First Blood.

However, just as filming commenced, Douglas and the production parted ways, a dramatic exit fueled by creative differences and a clash of strong wills.

First Blood director Ted Kotcheff spoke to Filmmaker magazine, where he said he recruited Douglas.

"Kirk Douglas was doing a play with Burt Lancaster up in San Francisco about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn later in life. I sent him the script for First Blood, and he liked it a lot. I watched the play, and we had dinner together, and he went on and on about how terrific the script was. I thought, 'Great!' Sylvester was all for it because Kirk Douglas’ film Champion was a great source of inspiration for him when he was playing Rocky."

Everything seemed to be going swimmingly until the shooting began.

Kotcheff said, "Kirk came to British Columbia the third week of shooting, and we put him up in this lovely lakeside cottage, and immediately he began quarreling with the lines. He had a very disagreeable habit of talking about himself in the third person, and he’d say, 'Kirk doesn’t say these lines. Kirk doesn’t like these lines.' Or he’d want somebody else’s line, and I would say, 'That’s a feeling the sheriff would have, not you.' He’d say, 'Doesn’t matter. It’s a great line. The sheriff doesn’t say it. Kirk Douglas says it. Kirk Douglas should have this line.'"

It was at that moment that Kotcheff knew they were in a lot of trouble. And even though Douglas was a star, they couldn't take all his suggestions.

But they tried.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Kotcheff continued, "Now, Sylvester and I agreed that Kirk Douglas was a big star and would help our film, so we did everything we could to try to please him. We would shoot in the freezing cold all day and then work late into the night rewriting his scenes. But he was never happy with any of our changes, and I kept thinking, 'Why the hell did he accept this part?' Finally, I went to Andy and Mario and said, 'Boys, I know you want this guy. But he’s going to wreck our film, not only artistically but monetarily, because he’s going to slow production down. I’m telling you, he’s going to put two weeks on the schedule arguing about the lines.'"

This was an incredibly bold choice at the time because Douglas was a huge star and one of the anchors of the film, even in such a small part.

Still, Kotcheff knew that to make this movie work, and to make sure he got to make another movie, he had to part ways with the guy.

As Kotcheff tells it, "So I went to see Kirk and his wife in the cottage and said, 'Kirk, here’s the situation. I gave you a script, and you accepted it and told me you loved it. We’re shooting the script that you loved. If you wish to act in that script, I’d love to have you, but if you don’t, you may leave.' He said, 'Kirk’s leaving.'"

And that was that. Kirk Douglas was gone from the production, and Rambo was allowed to keep shooting. Knowing they were in trouble, he took a friend's recommendation and cast Richard Crenna, who showed up and got filmed out in three days, allowing them to save production.

I love these behind-the-scenes stories because they show just what people deal with in Hollywood, and I also like hearing the triumph of a director like Kotcheff, who just wanted to make a good movie and succeeded, despite the roadblocks along the way.

Let me know what you think in the comments.