Veteran actor Cary Elwes recently shared fond memories of working with Tom Cruise on the 1990 film 'Days of Thunder', particularly recalling a memorable incident on the very first day of shooting. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Elwes chuckled while recounting how Cruise, known for his role in the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise, crashed the race car he was supposed to drive into a wall.
Cary Elwes on Tom Cruise's First Day Driving
Elwes revealed that Cruise's first day behind the wheel on set ended with a crash. 'Tom put a car into the wall, actually, on his first day of driving. And these things aren't cheap. And he was so funny. On film, his last words before crashing were, 'Hello, wall,'' Elwes shared. Despite the mishap, the 63-year-old actor had nothing but praise for Cruise, calling him a 'terrific guy' who is 'so fun to work with, so professional and so supportive of everybody.'
Cary Elwes' Own Challenges with Race Cars
While Cruise came prepared with prior racing experience, Elwes was a complete novice when it came to handling NASCAR vehicles. 'I had to learn how to drive NASCAR, and it was a challenge, because we had three cameras on the car,' he said. Elwes further explained that driving with stuntmen added to the difficulty, as he had to perform multiple tasks on camera after reaching speeds of 120 kmph. He described it as one of the hardest things he had ever done.
Plot of 'Days of Thunder'
The 1990 film 'Days of Thunder' follows Cole Trickle, a young, reckless, yet talented race car driver. After being selected for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, he initially clashes with his chief and crew but suffers a near-fatal crash. Following his recovery, he falls in love with his doctor and returns to racing to defeat a new arrogant rookie competitor.
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