Imagine Burt Reynolds, on the cusp of superstardom, faced with a choice that could make or break his career. He turned down a role in what would become a cinematic phenomenon – MAS*H – for a film so obscure, it's practically vanished from memory: Skullduggery. But why? And did he ever regret it? Let's dive in.
In the late 1960s, Reynolds was gaining traction. His stint on "Gunsmoke" gave him visibility, filling the void when Dennis Weaver considered leaving. Reynolds juggled TV and film, searching for that breakthrough role. Then came the offer to play Trapper John McIntyre in Robert Altman's dark comedy, "MASH," set during the Korean War. The film became a massive hit, ranking as the third highest-grossing movie of 1970. *But here's where it gets controversial...** Reynolds wasn't in it. Instead, he chose "Skullduggery."
For Reynolds fans, "Skullduggery" is often skipped. Its reputation precedes it: a bad movie, but not in a "so bad it's good" way. Reynolds plays a man searching for phosphorus in New Guinea with his buddy (Roger C. Carmel). They join an expedition led by an archaeologist (Susan Clark) and discover a tribe, the Tropis, who might be the missing link between apes and humans. The expedition's financier wants to breed the Tropis for slave labor when word of their discovery spreads to the United States. The film then shifts into a courtroom drama where the expedition team argues for the Tropis' humanity. And this is the part most people miss... the film attempts to tackle complex themes of human evolution and exploitation, but seemingly misses the mark.
Critics slammed "Skullduggery," and Universal Pictures lost a fortune. So, what drew Reynolds to this project? Did he regret passing on Trapper John, a role that went to Elliot Gould? It's a question that haunts cinephiles to this day.
"Skullduggery" served as a career wake-up call for Reynolds. The film was based on the French novel "Les Animaux dénaturés" (variously translated as "You Shall Know Them, Borderline" or "The Murder of the Missing Link"), which had garnered critical acclaim. Otto Preminger initially considered directing the adaptation, but when he withdrew, the rights went to Saul David, known for producing genre hits like "Our Man Flint," "In Like Flint," and "Fantastic Voyage." Production of "Skullduggery" began poorly. David fired Richard Wilson after the first day and replaced him with Gordon Douglas, whose work didn't impress Reynolds.
In a 1976 interview with Gene Siskel, Reynolds admitted he initially liked the script but quickly realized the production was failing. He told Siskel, "Badly directed, kind of sloughed off. Susan Clark was good; she's a good actress. But nobody knew how to sell the picture. Any time you have Pat Suzuki dressed as a small ape, I think you're in trouble." That last comment is particularly biting, suggesting the movie's visual choices were fundamentally flawed.
After the film's release, Reynolds knew he needed to be more careful about his roles. In 1970, he told the Chicago Tribune that after several "wonderful, forgettable pictures… I suddenly realized I was as hot as Leo Gorcey." (Whether this was a joke about Gorcey's career decline or his recent death is unclear.) Reynolds then starred in the popular crime film "Fuzz" and took Marlon Brando's rejected role in "Deliverance" as an outdoorsman hunted by hill people. The rest of the 1970s saw Reynolds become one of Hollywood's most sought-after stars.
So, was "Skullduggery" a necessary misstep on the path to superstardom? Could Reynolds have achieved the same level of fame had he taken the role in MASH? What do you think? Was it a bad decision, or did it teach him a valuable lesson about choosing the right projects? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
