Remark by Landis Recalled: ‘We May Lose the Helicopter’

A cameraman on the “Twilight Zone” film set maintained Wednesday that when he warned director John Landis of the possible dangers of filming a mock Vietnam battle scene, Landis replied, “We may lose the helicopter.”

But the cameraman, Stephen Lydecker, 45, gave various interpretations of Landis’ remark inside and outside the courtroom as he concluded a two-day appearance on the witness stand in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Landis and four associates.

Lydecker, who had testified Tuesday that he was “a bit shocked” by Landis’ statement, told reporters outside the courtroom later that day that the director appeared to be joking at the time he said it--the night before a helicopter, struck by special-effects explosives, spun out of control and crashed on top of actor Vic Morrow and two child actors, killing them.

“It was a joking situation,” Lydecker said to reporters, adding that he thought Landis was implying that it was not his business as a cameraman to offer opinions about helicopter safety.

However, during cross-examination before the jury Wednesday, Lydecker proceeded to deny having told a reporter that Landis was joking. Yet later in the day, outside the courtroom again, Lydecker conceded to reporters that he had indeed told reporters Tuesday that the remark was “a joking situation.” Lydecker then added that he personally had not taken the Landis statement as a joke.

Attorneys for both sides sought to use the testimony of Lydecker, the 59th witness called by the prosecution since September, to buttress their cases.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Lea Purwin D’Agostino told reporters that Landis’ remark provided additional evidence that “anyone that warned Landis about something dangerous, he was flippant to.” Lydecker’s seemingly conflicting answers, she said, were no more than semantics.

Landis’ attorney, James F. Neal, countered that Lydecker’s account was “absolutely untrue . . . we deny the (Landis) statement was ever made.” Neal added that, if anything, the conflict served to undermine Lydecker’s credibility as a witness, which he termed “pretty pitiful.”