Christopher Lloyd reveals a lingering regret from filming Back to the Future Part III, admitting in his memoir In My Own Time that he wishes he had grabbed the train handle instead of letting a professional stunt double take over.
The Bottom Line
- Christopher Lloyd admits in his memoir In My Own Time that he regrets not attempting a high-risk train-chase stunt during the filming of 1990’s Back to the Future Part III.
- The 88-year-old actor was explicitly told by crew members not to grab the handle of the moving steam-engine train while riding alongside it on horseback.
The Train-Chase Sequence Behind the 1990 Regret
Released in theaters back in 1990, Back to the Future Part III is a film in the time-travel trilogy. Throughout the Western-themed sequel, eccentric inventor Emmett “Doc” Brown, played by Lloyd, and time-traveling teenager Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, navigate the hazards of 1885 Hill Valley. While much of the trilogy relied on practical effects and expert coordination, certain action sequences demanded strict adherence to studio safety protocols.
That's the gentleman's choice. To me I suffer burn out by the time I get to Pt III. It is the weakest of the three for me.
As detailed in his book released Tuesday (according to The Independent), one specific scene involved Doc Brown galloping on horseback right up against the side of a speeding steam-engine train. The train was supposed to carry Marty and the DeLorean back to the present day. The choreography required Lloyd to ride alongside the locomotive until he was close enough to reach for a handle on the car before a professional stuntman stepped in to take over the remainder of the physical sequence.
The actor recalled that he was firmly instructed not to attempt the actual grab. “The scene called for me to ride my horse right up next to the rear of the train, until I was close enough to grab a handle on the car,” Lloyd wrote. “However, I was plainly told not to actually grab that handle—in no way should I try to do that, or pull myself off the horse and onto the train.”
Weighing the Risk Versus the Impulse
Even though Lloyd agreed to step aside and let the stunt team handle the perilous transition, the temptation to complete the physical feat on his own stayed with him for years. At 88 years old, looking back at the production choices of his career, the actor confessed that the proximity to the prop created a false sense of security in the moment.
“I was within reach,” Lloyd noted in the memoir excerpt. “And I just felt, I can do this. It’s there. I almost put everything in jeopardy. But I didn’t, and that was a close call.”
While Lloyd acknowledged that ignoring the safety directive could have resulted in a serious accident on set, the unresolved question of whether he could have successfully pulled off the maneuver still lingers whenever he revisits the movie.
| Film Title | Release Year | Key Cast Members | Notable Stunt Element |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back to the Future Part III | 1990 | Christopher Lloyd, Michael J. Fox | Horseback train-chase sequence |
| Star Trek III: The Search for Spock | 1984 | Christopher Lloyd | Sci-fi combat |
| Who Framed Roger Rabbit | 1988 | Christopher Lloyd | Live-action and animation blending |
Why the Third Installment Remains His Favorite
Beyond the unfulfilled urge to grab the train handle, Back to the Future Part III holds a special place in the actor’s filmography. Lloyd ranks the 1990 Western adventure as his favorite of the trilogy.
That lingering frustration remains uniquely tied to the sequence precisely because the film means so much to him. “Who knows what would have happened next?” Lloyd reflected. “But whenever I watch the movie and see that scene, I still feel that pang in my heart: I should have done it.”
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