Stretch (2011 film)

Stretch
Directed by	Charles de Meaux
Screenplay by	Charles de Meaux
Produced by	Charles de Meaux Charles Gillibert Nathanaël Karmitz Xavier Douroux David Wenzel
Starring	Nicolas Cazalé Fan Bingbing David Carradine
Release date	12 January 2011 (2011-01-12)
Running time	90 minutes
Country	France
Language	English

Stretch is a 2011 English-language French sports film directed by Charles de Meaux and starring Nicolas Cazalé, Fan Bingbing and David Carradine. It marks Carradine's last screen appearance, as he died during filming in Bangkok. After his death, his widow Annie Bierman sued MK2 Productions, the film's production company, for negligence.^[1]

Synopsis

After failing a drug test in France, young jockey Christophe moves to Macau, where he becomes involved in the city's fast-paced racing world. However, his luck seems to be running out when his trainer asks him to lose a race. With the help of beautiful Pamsy, he must find a way to avoid antagonizing the Chinese mafia.

Cast

• Nicolas Cazalé as Christophe
• Fan Bingbing as Pamsy
• David Carradine as Monteiro
• Nicolas Duvauchelle as Thierry
• John Aryananda as Big John
• Lowell Lo as Way Way
• Christophe Pieux as Jockey #1
• Romain Banquet as Jockey #2
• Yannick Foin as Athletic Trainer #1
• Joël Remy as Athletic Trainer #2
• Cédric Ségeon as Cédric
• Patrick Teoh (a.k.a. Mr. Teohlogy) as The Man
• Pete Teo as Mr. Thong
• David Firestar as Nightclub dancer #1
• Peter Mossman as Nightclub dancer #2

Production

De Meaux used his experiences as a former jockey while making the film.^[2] For his role as a jockey Cazalé was forced to lose a large amount of weight. Stretch was shot in France at the Longchamp Racecourse and the Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse.^[3] Other scenes were filmed in Bangkok, Thailand and Macao. In Bangkok, three days before shooting wrapped David Carradine was found dead in his hotel, apparently from accidental asphyxiation. After Carradine's death, his widow Annie Bierman sued MK2 Productions, the film's production company, for negligence and wrongful death.^[1][4] Meaux rewrote the script and reduced his screen time to around three minutes although the characters frequently talk about Carradine's character and David is heard off camera.^[5] The film's release was delayed due to Bierman's lawsuit.^[1]

References

1. David Carradine's Widow Files Wrongful Death Suit
2. Charles de Meaux: «Le milieu des courses génère tout un imaginaire de fantasmes» (in French)
3. Stretch - Film dans l'univers des courses et du jeu (in French)
4. "David Carradine, Actor, Is Dead at 72 (Published 2009)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023.
5. Stretch: David Carradine and a phantom (in French)

External links

• Stretch at IMDb