The Oil Derrick Fire, There Will Be Blood
Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2007 oily epic is laden with powerhouse performances and scenes. One of the most memorable is the explosion of an oil derrick, which fills the sky with fire and smoke. As you’d expect, it’s the kind of scene they wanted to be very careful in shooting, so a day was set aside for extensive pyrotechnic tests on location in Marfa, Texas. It resulted in a remarkable image for Anderson — and a big inconvenience for the Coen Brothers, who were shooting No Country For Old Men at the same time nearby, and had to halt production for a full day due to the thick black smoke that was filling the sky in the background of their shots. It's not often anyone can be a more explosive presence than Mr Day Lewis but even he con only sit by and marvel!
