As one of the best films of its era, Brokeback Mountain has maintained a unique legacy in the film industry. Starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, the film wound up finding a large audience that was fascinated with the incredible story that was bring brought to life by the talented team.
While the film was being made, things got a little rough on set, and during one scene in particular, Heath Ledger nearly broke Jake Gyllenhaal’s nose in an incident that quickly caught the attention of the media. Thankfully, everything was okay and filming continued, but the story behind this potential injury is not what some would think.
Let’s take a closer look at what happened on the set of Brokeback Mountain between Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Ledger And Gyllenhaal Were Cast In ‘Brokeback Mountain’
Back in 2005, Brokeback Mountain was making its way into theaters with a lot of attention being placed on it. Not only was the movie going to be a major blockbuster featuring a relationship between two men having an affair, but it was also featuring to young stars in Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal who were poised to deliver some memorable performances.
Prior to being cast in the movie, Ledger was putting together a solid career in Hollywood while showing his range and a penchant for thriving when the lights got brightest. Ledger already appeared in films like 10 Things I Hate About You, The Patriot, A Knight’s Tale, and Monster’s Ball before securing a role in Brokeback Mountain. He turned out to be perfect in the role.
Starring opposite of Heath Ledger was Jake Gyllenhaal, who came from an acting family and put his talents to good use when the cameras were rolling. Gyllenhaal had been in the game for years before landing Brokeback Mountain, and he previously appeared in projects like October Sky, Donnie Darko, and The Good Girl.
A number of prominent performers had the chance to star in Brokeback Mountain, but when the dust settled from the casting process, Ledger and Gyllenhaal proved to be exceptional choices for the lead roles. Eventually, filming got underway, and things got a little rough.
Things Get Too Passionate
Actors will always do their best to make their scenes look and feel as real as possible, which can lead to some unexpected moments. While shooting a scene, Ledger and Gyllenhaal went a little too far with the passion being shown on screen, which ended with Gyllenhaal getting hurt.
According to Gyllenhaal, “Heath almost broke my nose in a kissing scene. He grabs me and he slams me up against the wall and kisses me.”
“And then I grab him and I slam him up against the wall and I kiss him. And we were doing take after take after take. I got the s*** beat out of me. We had other scenes where we fought each other and I wasn't hurting as badly as I did after that one,” he continued.
Most people would have assumed that a fight scene would have caused something like this, but the passion displayed by both actors wound up being a bit more than expected. Nevertheless, filming continued and eventually wrapped up, leading the actors to a waiting process to see the final product on the big screen. Thankfully, all of their hard work paid off majorly.
The Film Becomes A Classic
Released back in 2005, Brokeback Mountain, which already had a ton of coverage surrounding it, quickly became a success at the box office. After making a whopping $178 million, the film would continue to generate an exceptional amount of buzz, which made it a serious contender during awards season.
The film wound up being nominated for some of the most prestigious awards in all of film, including the Oscar for Best Picture. It wound up winning several Academy Awards, including Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score. It was a true triumph for all involved, and since then, the film has been added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
Through the years, the movie has maintained an exceptional legacy for not being afraid to push boundaries and for being a modern classic. Ledger and Gyllenhaal really delivered the goods on screen, and the actors that missed out on the movie must be kicking themselves for turning it down.
It was a difficult process bringing Brokeback Mountain to life, but with the way things played out, we can’t imagine Gyllenhaal not thinking that it wasn’t worth it.
