Hollywood Bulldogs: The Rise and Fall of the Great British Stuntman (M, 105mins) Directed by Jon Spira ****

They were the unsung heroes of the James Bond series and the original Indiana Jones and Star Wars trilogies.

The guys who put their bodies on the line to generate the thrills and thrills that made blockbuster movies at the end of the 20th century such a thrilling experience. But as this riveting documentary details, they certainly didn’t share the glamorous off-screen lives of the actors they often doubled for.

Bringing together a group of now septuagenarians and octogenarians who lit up cinemas with their fights, jumps, swerves and other daring, while “action” films were gaining importance from the 1960s, documentary filmmaker Jon Spira (including the 2015 documentary Elstree 1976 watched the making of George Lucas’ Star Wars) allows them to regale viewers with their often vivid, posturing-laden memories of famous footage, working conditions, and even stunts gone wrong.

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Yes, it does not fear the most painful side of the profession. There is the Superman 3 ‘Russian swing’ crash that left Richard Hammatt with broken ribs and a punctured lung, Rocky Taylor’s horrifying experiences on Death wish III which left him with severe burns, a broken pelvis and back, and the sad story of David Radcliffe’s Harry Potter double, David Holmes, who was paralyzed from the chest down while filming a flying sequence for the movie final.

Vic Armstrong, whose Harrison Ford-like appearance even fooled Steven Spielberg at first, also recalls a near miss involving a rope ladder while working on Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. A performer who eventually became one of the world’s most respected stunt coordinators and action directors (he even recently worked here on Amazon the Lord of the Rings series), he offers plenty of insight and even advice on his craft, lamenting the overuse of CGI in modern movies and warning never to trust anyone who says “they’re fearless”.

Equally fascinating is how this avant-garde of British stuntmen has transformed a decidedly amateur (perspectives drawn from the worlds of taxi driving, bartending, bouncing, prizefighting and general dealership), dangerous and chaotic (instead of proper padding, foam-backed newspapers and mats were often the only protection they had) vocation in a well-paying profession with a union, registry and reputation that made them jealous of their peers American and sought after for productions worldwide.

Each of Spira’s interviewed scholars details their background, how they got into the profession, and their favorite gigs. My favorite was Reg Austin, the former PE instructor who became Cary Grant’s driver after his inability to teach other subjects ended his teaching career. Through his friendship with the actor, he became a stuntman and then an arranger who helped bring kung fu to British television through a beloved 60s spy show. The Avengers.

Naturally, the interviews are complemented by plenty of famous and less famous film clips that might inspire you to seek them out, while the appropriately chosen Ray Winstone accent from London’s East End adds his growl to the discussion. , even if all its sometimes pat, the scripted “wisdom” seems essential.

Hollywood Bulldogs: The Rise and Falls of the Great British Stuntman debuts on Sky TV’s Rialto Channel at 8.30pm on Wednesday January 19. It will also be available to stream on Sky Go.