What was it like for Sergiu Nicolaescu to lose a leg in “Mihai Viteazul”? “He was minutes away from amputation”

What was it like for Sergiu Nicolaescu to lose a leg in “Mihai Viteazul”? “Few people know that the director was the voivode’s first interpreter, before the name of Amza Pellea appeared in the discussion. But, during the filming, Sergiu Nicolaescu suffered an accident as a result of which he was only a few minutes away from having his leg amputated.

What was it like for Sergiu Nicolaescu to lose a leg in “Mihai Viteazul”? “He was minutes away from amputation

The well-known director and actor was a man who threw himself into his job with all his energy. He didn’t shy away from danger on the sets, but he demanded the same from the artists in his films.

His debut as a major director happened with “Dacii” in 1966, which was a smashing success and showed everyone that a new big “player” had entered domestic film production.

It should be mentioned that together with the filming of this film, remade in 1965, Nicolaescu also laid the foundations of the first stunt school in Romania and of the stunt profession itself, according to cascadorii.ro.

The director was a man full of strength, a product of his time at the Naval Institute, but he knew how to ride his horse very well

Read also: Sergiu Nicolaescu, a tormented and lonely man. “I don’t think I’ve ever loved.” He had three marriages

When the “Mihai Viteazul” film project started, not many people know that, for about eight months, the filming was done with Sergiu Nicolaescu in the role of the voivode, not with Amza Pellea.

This, after Ceaușescu had decided that the historical film should be made with Romanian artists, although Nicolaescu had almost cast the big world stars of the moment, Richard Burton and Elisabeth Taylor.

But, somehow, even the party and state leadership did not like Nicolaescu for the main role, so a sarabande of auditions for it began.

Sergiu Nicolaescu on a horse, during the making of the film “Mihai Viteazul” – Photo: Facebook/Buftea Studios

“I remember that it was filmed at a fast pace until around the Holidays, and after the winter shots were finished, they called Sergiu to the “High Gate”, so to speak. “You don’t look good in this role,” Ceauseasca told him.

She didn’t like it. So other trials with actors followed, the whole search process was resumed, until we reached Amza. Sergiu took over the character of Selim and he even got an excellent role. But he suffered a lot because he was disembarked from the ship he had conquered like a pirate!”, said the stuntman and actor Paul Fister, years later.

Sergiu Nicolaescu himself described that episode in his memoir “Life, destiny and film”. He chose an infallible method to quit the role when he learned that the “Comrades” did not want him in the role of the ruler.

The director also revealed that he was the one who cast Amza Pellea for the role of the voivode.

Read also: Why was Sergiu Nicolaescu convinced that he had a son? “I chose to be the father of her child”

“After the winter filming was over, the frenzy of changes began. Every day there were two or three options for who would play Mihai, until one spring day when I got very angry, I went to the barber and shaved my beard, I cut my hair short and then I entered Ion Brad.

Mitică Fernoagă nr – the director of the Bucharest Film Studio) and Titus Popovici (nr- the screenwriter of the film) were there. When they saw me they were stunned.

Some probably breathed a sigh of relief, others just marveled. Being extremely angry, I said to them: “Gentlemen, not only am I no longer acting, but I am imposing on you Amza Pellea in the role of Mihai, if you want me as a director”, Nicolaescu wrote in the book “Life, destiny” and film”.

In the end, Nicolaescu took over the score of Selim Paşa, the Turkish general close to Mihai Viteazul, and things went beyond everyone’s expectations.

“Mihai Viteazul” became one of the most viewed Romanian films in history, and the image of Amza Pellea perfectly overlapped that of the great voivode.

Read also: What was the great pain of Amza Pellea in “Mihai Viteazul”? The truth about his movie voice

In “Mihai Viteazul”, Nicolaescu played, after all, the role of the Turkish general Selim Pasha – Photo: Facebook/Studiourile Buftea

But during the filming, Sergiu Nicolaescu, who was the first to set an example of how some things should be done, including the stunts, was one step away from losing a leg.

And this, after the horse he was riding overturned, the director-actor seriously injuring himself in the fall. If medical intervention had been delayed just a few minutes, his leg would have had to be amputated.

The incident was recalled by actress Ioana Pavelescu, who worked with Nicolaescu and Amza Pelea on another memorable film, “Osânda”, where she had to go through many difficult scenes imposed by the director.

Read also: VIDEO Ceaușescu about Mihai Viteazul: “I agree that he made love, but let’s know what to play

“The dangers he (no – Sergiu Nicolaescu) went through during the filming had become legends. All for the sake of the authentic. Everyone, and especially the actors, were extremely impressed.

For example, in “Mihai Viteazul” the horse overturned, and in the fall, the calf of one of the legs was cut to the bone. The shooting continued, which could not be postponed for objective reasons that there is no point in mentioning.

When, hours later, he got to the doctor, he was told that he was minutes away from having his leg amputated.

We all knew that, and when he asked us for something, you couldn’t “change”, that it was too cold or dangerous”, said the actress, according to adevarul.ro.

Strong spirit, Sergiu Nicolaescu was far from a perfect man, but from the point of view of professionalism, he remained a huge benchmark for all those he worked with throughout his prestigious career.

Otherwise, as he described himself towards the end of his life, he was “a lone wolf”.

Read also: 40 years since the death of Amza Pellea. What was it like to lose the role in “Nea Mărin billionaire”