Michael Caine Reveals Moment He Threatened To Knock Out Someone on Set

When arguments break out between top-tier actors and directors, the resolution rarely involves a standard HR meeting or a corporate training video. In the high-stakes world of 1960s cinema, disputes were often settled with much more grit, especially when dealing with a filmmaker as notoriously aggressive as Otto Preminger.

Fortunately, Michael Caine possessed the East End London toughness required to stand his ground against such a formidable personality. By the late 1960s, Caine had established himself as a dominant force in British film, known for his straight-talking nature and iconic roles in Zulu and The Ipcress File.

Standing over six feet tall and having lived through the Blitz, he was not a man to be trifled with. On the other side was Preminger, an Austrian director famous for a temper that could leave seasoned professionals trembling.

While he was nicknamed “Otto the Monster,” his talent was undeniable, having directed classics like Anatomy of a Murder and earning fourteen Oscar nominations across his career.

The two were brought together for the 1967 drama Hurry Sundown, which featured Jane Fonda and a young Faye Dunaway in her cinematic debut. Preminger, who had actually played a Nazi prison camp commander in Stalag 17, began employing his typical bullying tactics on the set, but Caine refused to be intimidated.

Looking back on the production years later, Caine noted that while the director was polite to him personally, he couldn’t stand the way Preminger mistreated the rest of the cast and crew.

Caine was particularly protective of Dunaway and eventually confronted the director about his behavior. He made it clear that while he wouldn’t tolerate the nastiness toward others, his personal line was even firmer, stating that if he says anything to me, I’ll f*****g deck him.

Given that Preminger was over sixty at the time and Caine was in his physical prime, the director wisely avoided a physical altercation. Dunaway was less fortunate, later describing her experience with Preminger as “awful” and even suing to be released from her multi-film contract with him.

Despite Preminger’s high hopes that the Southern epic would be a massive success on par with Gone With the Wind, Hurry Sundown largely failed to connect with audiences. Reviews were middling at best, and the movie struggled to break even at the box office.

For Caine, however, the film was just one chapter in a legendary career that would span another six decades. Now 92 years old, Sir Michael Caine is enjoying a well-earned retirement after decades of being a British cultural icon.

Outside of acting, Caine has transitioned into a successful second career as an author, having released his debut thriller, Deadly Game, in 2023 and his latest guide to life, Don’t Look Back, You’ll Trip Over, in late 2024. He currently lives in London with his wife of over fifty years, Shakira, where he focuses on writing and spending time with his grandchildren.

Do you think Michael Caine’s legendary “tough guy” reputation from his early London days is what helped him maintain such a long and respected career in the often-volatile world of Hollywood? Share your thoughts in the comments.