Development
editMarilyn Burns, a former University of Texas drama student, was working as a stand-in for Blythe Danner and Susan Sarandon in the drama film Lovin' Molly (1974).[1] Burns met writer Kim Henkel and director Tobe Hooper when they snuck on the set, and she witnessed them getting kicked off.[1] Burns knew of Hooper's previous work as a filmmaker, noting that as a young actress, she tried to make herself aware of as many filmmakers as possible.[1] Shortly after this incident, Burns became a member of the newly formed Texas Film Commission and was aware that Hooper and Henkel were developing a film.[1] Burns wanted to audition for them and ultimately got cast in the leading role of Sally.[1]
Burns stated, "I believed in this movie from the beginning."[1] Burns hoped the film would launch her career, and although she was the central character, she feared her scenes would get cut during editing.[2] The script describes Sally as a "striking blonde, bra-less under a thin t-shirt."[3] Due to her prior experience working on film sets, most of the cast assumed Burns was a screen veteran.[4] Filming was difficult for Burns.[5] Her costume was so drenched with fake blood that it was solid by the last day of shooting.[6] Within two days after filming finished, she received a call to come back on the set and reshoot Sally's escape in the truck as something went wrong with the original footage.[5] Burns was mentally and physically exhausted from the shoot.[5] Burns stated the thing that upset her the most was nobody on the set ever praised her performance.[5]
The original script for the 2003 remake was in flashback format, featuring an aged Sally recounting her experience with Leatherface to authorities; Burns had several conversations with the studio about reprising her role although this version of the film got scrapped.[7] Olwen Fouéré was cast as Sally in David Blue Garcia's Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022), a direct sequel to the original film, following the death of Burns in 2014.[8] Before being cast, Fouéré was unfamiliar with the series and was unaware of the popularity of the Sally character.[8] In preparation, she studied Burns' expressions and physicality, although she wanted to create her version of a character living fifty years after a traumatic event.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Hansen 2013, p. 30.
- ^ Hansen 2013, p. 31.
- ^ Macor 2010, p. 20.
- ^ Macor 2010, p. 24.
- ^ a b c d Hansen 2013, p. 163.
- ^ Jaworzyn 2004, pp. 8–33
- ^ "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre". Mania. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
- ^ a b c Logan, Gavin (February 16, 2022). "EXCLUSIVE: Olwen Fouéré Talks About Playing Sally Hardesty in 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'". The Fright Club NI. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
Works cited
edit- Hansen, Gunnar (2013). Chain Saw Confidential. Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-1-45-212950-1.