Crimes of the Times — "Death on the Set of the Twilight Zone Movie"

Host: Christopher Goffard (L.A. Times Studios)
Date: November 11, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode examines the infamous 1982 on-set tragedy during the filming of Twilight Zone: The Movie, where actor Vic Morrow and two child actors, Myca Dinh Le (age 7) and Renee Chen (age 6), were killed by a crashing helicopter. Host Christopher Goffard, together with key witness and lead investigator Thomas Budds, guides listeners through the accident, subsequent criminal trial against director John Landis, and the long-term impact on Hollywood safety.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Night of the Accident

• Thomas Budds' Arrival:
  • Former LA County Sheriff’s Sergeant Thomas Budds described arriving early morning at the Indian Dunes set.
  • The site appeared as a scorched mock Vietnamese village, with remnants of the overturned helicopter and evidence of massive pyrotechnic use.

    “I had been informed that it was the final shoot for the film ... they had picked up some body parts and put them in a garbage bag.”
    — Thomas Budds [01:34]

• Initial Impressions:
  • At first, the crash seemed like an industrial accident rather than a crime.

    “It smelled like gasoline. It was permeated with the smell of gasoline … it didn't seem like anything nefarious.”
    — Thomas Budds [02:14]

2. Red Flags and Early Warnings

• Prior Dangerous Incident:
  • Hours before the fatal shot, a similar explosion singed the face of a crew member inside the same helicopter.

    “That didn't seem right right from the start.”
    — Thomas Budds [03:02]

• Decision to Pursue Manslaughter Charges:
  • The pattern of ignored risks led Budds to consider criminal charges.

    “Had that not happened, I wouldn't have probably considered manslaughter charges at all.”
    — Thomas Budds [03:15]

3. Directorial Choices and Safety Violations

• Landis’ Pursuit of Realism:
  • Director John Landis insisted on real children for authenticity, violating child labor laws.

    “It was just unconscionable that they would go forward with that for cinema verite.”
    — Thomas Budds [04:35]

• Working Conditions:
  • Children placed near dangerous materials; a failure to ensure safety protocols.

    “It would have only taken a spark to ignite the gasoline and kill the kids.”
    — Christopher Goffard [11:50]

4. The Accident: What Happened

• Scene Details:
  • Morrow, carrying the two children, was caught beneath a low-hovering 3-ton helicopter as explosions were set off nearby.
  • A fireball engulfed the helicopter’s tail rotor (effect man not looking up), causing it to spin out and crash.

    “Standing on the embankment, I mean, the helicopter's coming down and kills their children right in front of them … they were screaming, this isn't supposed to be like this.”
    — Thomas Budds [09:31]

5. Aftermath and Initiation of Legal Case

• Investigation and Pushback:
  • Budds compiled a “murder book” and pressed for criminal charges despite resistance from the DA’s office.

    “You got two dead kids and a famous movie actor. Maybe you want to take a closer look at this.”
    — Thomas Budds [12:26]

• Case Taken to Grand Jury:

  “If you don't want to file this thing...let's just take it to the grand jury. You're off the hook.”
  — Thomas Budds [12:54]

6. The Trial of John Landis and Co-Defendants (Summer 1986-87)

• Charges and Legal Arguments:
  • Landis and four others (production, effects, pilot) faced involuntary manslaughter.
  • Prosecution (Lea d'Agostino) painted Landis as negligent and tyrannical.

    “He had ignored common sense and sacrificed safety in service of ‘a lousy motion picture.’”
    — Christopher Goffard [15:29]

  • Defense argued the tragedy was unforeseen and not criminally negligent.

    “Not one of these gentlemen intended to hurt anyone ... not one of these gentlemen is guilty of criminal negligence.”
    — James Neal, Defense [16:36]

• Memorable Court Moments:
  • Parents’ wrenching testimony; Mark Chen and Daniel Lee articulate their shock and devastation.

    “No, he replied. He said he had agreed to let Renee do the picture so that she would have a lot of memories when she grew up.”
    — Christopher Goffard narrating Mark Chen [17:41]

  • Lack of empathy perceived from jury as mother testifies.

    “I just couldn't understand that these people had showed no sympathy to this woman … I was just trying to get justice for those children.”
    — Thomas Budds [18:14]

7. Verdict and Immediate Impact

• Acquittal:
  • After a ten-month trial, the jury acquitted all five defendants.

    “You don't prosecute people for unforeseeable accidents.”
    — Jury Forewoman [20:52]

  • Budds’ dismay at the outcome, blaming celebrity influence on the jury.

    “I was very, very disappointed in the acquittals. We felt we had a really ironclad case.”
    — Thomas Budds [21:39]

• Landis' Reaction Post-Trial:
  • Landis denied dishonesty, called the accident “felt very strongly”; compared outcome to a Frank Capra movie.
  • Some jurors invited to Landis’ film premiere, raising ethical eyebrows.

    “I wonder if he invited the parents of the children, because they were part of the case too.”
    — Harland Braun, Defense Attorney [22:46]

8. Cultural and Industry Fallout

• Tightening of Set Safety:
  • Directors Guild reprimanded Landis, industry safety rules strengthened.

    “In the end, the case forced Hollywood to tighten security protocols on set.”
    — Christopher Goffard [27:15]

• Moral vs. Legal Responsibility:
  • Film critic Stephen Farber underscores moral accountability for directors, even when legal guilt is unproven.

    “How many technical crew people are going to challenge that person and try to overrule them?”
    — Stephen Farber [23:16]

  • Outspoken condemnation from other filmmakers, like Brian De Palma and William Friedkin.

    “I would never have attempted a shot with two children and a helicopter flying that low.”
    — William Friedkin, quoted by Stephen Farber [25:26]

• Landis’ Legacy and Symbolism:
  • Anecdotes of crew openly reading Farber’s book on set to confront Landis.

    “Landis became frustrated and began yelling at the teamster with the book. The teamster did not flinch. Instead, he asked, ‘Can you sign it?’”
    — Christopher Goffard [27:50]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Filmmaking Culture:

  “It became real apparent that there was this big deal going on in Hollywood at the time to see who was going to be the heir apparent to Steven Spielberg.”
  — Thomas Budds [07:10]

• On Parental Trust and Hollywood’s Image:

  “They saw the movie E.T... they thought it’s all imaginary… they had no idea obviously how the Hollywood industry works.”
  — Thomas Budds [08:33]

• On Jury Behavior:

  “The jurors didn’t seem to be paying attention. They were looking out in the audience at all the celebrities coming in. I just thought, this is really... This is really something.”
  — Thomas Budds [18:14]

• On the Limits of the Law:

  “If you have a case that’s non-intentional harm, it’s always an uphill battle to prove criminal responsibility.”
  — Stephen Farber [22:46]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Arrival at Accident Scene — 00:07 – 02:33
• Early Red Flags & Manslaughter Considerations — 03:02 – 04:14
• Casting and Safety Violations — 04:14 – 08:56
• Accident Details — 08:56 – 09:43
• Investigation and DA Reluctance — 11:50 – 13:38
• Trial Proceedings & Testimony — 15:05 – 21:39
• Verdict, Reactions, and Industry Impact — 21:39 – 27:15

Conclusion

This episode goes beyond sensational headlines to detail the tragic Twilight Zone accident, the flawed power dynamics on film sets, and the challenges of securing justice for preventable on-set deaths. It spotlights an era’s industry attitudes, the limitations of the legal system, and the seismic effect the disaster had on Hollywood safety protocols—against a backdrop of lasting moral questions about accountability in the pursuit of cinematic spectacle.