Burt Reynolds turned down a big role in this forgettable adventure film

Burt Reynolds’ star was on the rise as the 1960s came to a close. His profile has been boosted by Its 50 episodes aired on the CBS Western series “Gunsmoke,” Who joined during its eighth season because star Dennis Weaver was making noises about leaving the show. When Reynolds left the series, he split his time between television and films as he searched for that role that would launch him into full-blown stardom. His ship finally arrived in the early 1970s when he was offered the role of chest surgeon Trapper John McIntyre in Robert Altman’s Korean War comedy “M*A*S*H.” The film would become the third highest grossing production of 1970 (after “Love Story” and “Airport”), but, as you may have noticed, there was no Reynolds in it. This is because he turned it down to star in the unusual adventure film “Skullduggery”.

As a Reynolds fan, “Skullduggery” is one of those pre-stardom films I routinely ignore because I hear it’s lousy and not in a fun way. Reynolds plays a man searching for phosphorus deposits in New Guinea with his friend (Roger C. Carmel). When they join an expedition led by archaeologist Susan Clark, they make a startling discovery that may just be the missing link between apes and humans. They call this tribe of people the Trupis, and when news of their discovery is transmitted to the United States, the expedition’s financier seeks to raise the Trupis to enslave them. From there, “Skullduggery” ultimately becomes a courtroom drama as the members of the expedition make a case for the Tropis as humans.

“Skullduggery” was critically panned by critics and lost a lot of money for Universal Pictures. What did Reynolds see in the film, and did he regret giving up the role of Trapper John to Elliott Gould?

“Skullduggery” was based on the critically acclaimed French novel “Les Animaux dénaturés” (which translated as “You Shall Know Them, Borderline” or “The Murder of the Missing Link”). Otto Preminger toyed with the idea of ​​directing a film adaptation, but when he backed out, the rights to the project went to “Logan’s Run” producer Saul David, best known for the hits “Our Man Flint,” “In Like Flint” and “Fantastic Voyage.” The production of “Skullduggery” got off to a bad start when David fired Mercury Theater veteran Richard Wilson after the first day of filming. Then prolific studio hand Gordon Douglas replaced Wilson and, well, he didn’t exactly impress Reynolds.

In a 1976 interview with Gene Siskel, Reynolds said he researched the script. But he knew early on that production was heading south. As he told Siskel:

“It was poorly directed, and somewhat ham-fisted. Susan Clark was good, and she’s a good actress. But no one knew how to sell the movie. Anytime Pat Suzuki dresses up as a little monkey, I think you’re in trouble.”

At the time of the film’s release, Reynolds knew he had to be more selective in his choice of material. As he told the Chicago Tribune in 1970, after so many “forgotten great pictures… I suddenly realized I was as sexy as Leo Gorci.” (I have no idea whether that was a joke about Gorcey’s late career decline or a reference to the actor’s recent death.) Reynolds responded by starring in the popular crime thriller “Fuzz” and Taking the role of Marlon Brando that would have been in the movie “Redemption.” As an outdoorsman he and his friends find themselves chased by hillbillies. For the rest of the 1970s, Reynolds was the most sought-after movie star in Hollywood.