The Utah sun beat down on a dusty stretch of farmland designated as the location for one of 'Footloose' early, high-tension scenes: the dangerous game of chicken played between Ren McCormack and local tough guy Chuck Cranston, using farm tractors as their weapons. Two large tractors were positioned at opposite ends of a long dirt track cutting through a field, engines rumbling. Director Herbert Ross conferred with his Director of Photography and stunt coordinator, while crew members checked cameras and safety rigging.
Nearby, Alex Hayes (Ren), Diane Lane (Ariel), Robert Downey Jr. (Willard), and the actor playing Chuck Cranston listened to Ross's final instructions. This scene was pivotal in establishing Ren's nerve and escalating the conflict with Chuck over Ariel.
Alex recalled the discussion about this scene from months earlier. The original script had Ren winning the game almost by accident – his shoelace supposedly gets caught on the tractor's foot pedal, physically preventing him from jumping off as Chuck veers away. It was a slightly comedic, lucky escape. But Alex had argued against it. He felt it undercut Ren's character. "Ren needs to win this because he chooses not to flinch," Alex had maintained. "It needs to be about his courage, his refusal to be intimidated, not just dumb luck. That makes his defiance meaningful." Herbert Ross and Dean Pitchford had agreed, revising the scene so Ren wins through sheer, fearless determination, forcing Chuck to lose his nerve first.
Now, it was time to film it. Alex climbed onto his tractor, settling into the driver's seat, his face set in Ren's determined expression. The actor playing Chuck mounted the opposing tractor. Diane Lane and Robert Downey Jr. took their positions off to the side, ready to react as Ariel and Willard – Ariel watching Ren with a mix of fear and fascination, Willard looking on nervously for his new friend.
"Alright, places everyone!" Ross called. "Sound speed! Camera rolling! And... ACTION!"
On cue, both tractors lurched forward, picking up speed, rumbling directly towards each other down the narrow track. Dust billowed behind them. The camera focused on the drivers – Chuck looking increasingly panicked, Alex holding his gaze steady, focused, utterly unflinching. The distance closed rapidly. The engine noise grew louder.
Just as a collision seemed inevitable, the actor playing Chuck yanked his wheel hard, swerving violently off the track, leaping clear just before his tractor careened towards a ditch near a small pond at the field's edge. Alex kept his tractor moving straight ahead for a few more yards before bringing it to a controlled stop, the victor through sheer nerve.
"CUT!" Ross yelled. "Excellent! Got the stare-down, got the swerve! Perfect!"
Now came the practical effect. The actual tractor Chuck had been driving was moved safely away. The stunt team brought in a stripped-down tractor shell – mostly frame and body panels, with the engine and heavy components removed. Wires were attached. On the next call of "Action!", as cameras rolled from multiple angles, the empty tractor shell was expertly pushed and guided by the stunt crew, bouncing off the embankment and tumbling dramatically into the murky water of the pond with a satisfying splash.
"And CUT!" Ross called again, clearly pleased. "Alright, people, that's the tractor sequence wrapped!" Combining the actors' intense face-off with the safe, practical stunt would create the thrilling, character-defining moment they needed.
The adrenaline from filming the tense tractor chicken sequence slowly subsided as the Utah sun beat down. Alex Hayes, Diane Lane, Robert Downey Jr., and Sarah Jessica Parker found some shade under a large canopy set up near the edge of the field, grabbing bottles of water. The successful completion of the stunt, even using the modified tractor shell for the final crash, left an energetic buzz among them.
Robert Downey Jr. took a long swig of water, then looked over at Alex. "So, the 'Risky Business' premiere is, what, in two days? Friday night? You heading back to LA for it?"
Alex shook his head, wiping sweat from his forehead. "No, I'm staying put here. We've got that big night shoot for the drive-in scene coming up. Honestly, there's no real advantage to me being in LA for the premiere now that we're deep into filming here. The movie will open how it opens; me being there won't change that." He added, "I don't think 'Risky Business' is going to fail just because I don't walk the red carpet."
Diane Lane frowned slightly. "But won't there be gossip?" she asked. "You know how it is. People will say you're not satisfied with the film, or you had trouble with the director, or you're mad at Warner Bros. Your absence will start rumors."
Alex offered a knowing smile. "That's why I'm not just skipping it. While I'm not attending the premiere in LA, I've planned a little event right here in Utah."
The other three looked at him curiously. "What kind of event?" Sarah Jessica Parker asked.
"Publicity, mostly," Alex explained. "For us. For 'Footloose'. I figured, since my other movie is opening, why not leverage it? I've arranged for a private screening room near Provo for Friday night. I was thinking of asking the main cast – the four of us, plus John [Lithgow] and Dianne [Wiest] if they're free – to attend. We watch 'Risky Business' together. I've also invited a few key journalists and photographers from the entertainment press – Variety, Hollywood Reporter, maybe People magazine – to cover us, the cast of 'Footloose', having a night out together coinciding with my other film's release. It generates good buzz for this project, shows cast unity, and gives them something to write about besides my empty seat in LA." He looked around at them. "What do you think? Are you guys okay with that?"
A beat of silence was followed by enthusiastic agreement.
"Yeah, definitely!" Robert Downey Jr. said immediately.
"That sounds like fun!" added Sarah Jessica Parker.
Diane Lane smiled, relieved. "That's actually brilliant, Alex. Kills the negative gossip and spins it into something positive for us. Yeah, count me in!"
"Great," Alex said, nodding. "I'll have Nancy's office coordinate with everyone's schedules. Should be a good night." He had effectively turned a potential PR negative into a calculated positive for his current production.