Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is often remembered for its charm, humour, and vintage Hollywood flair. But behind the stylish costumes and nostalgic sets lay one of the most intense and nerve-wracking experiences of his career. To bring authenticity to Quentin Tarantino’s vision, DiCaprio was required to perform a dangerous flamethrower sequence using real fire — not visual effects — under carefully controlled safety conditions.
DiCaprio portrayed Rick Dalton, a fading television star navigating the changing film industry of the late 1960s. In the movie, Dalton stars in a fictional World War II film titled The 14 Fists of McCluskey, where his character wields a flamethrower against Nazi soldiers. Later in the story, he uses the same weapon to defend his home during the chaotic Manson family invasion scene. These moments became some of the film’s most shocking and memorable sequences — and also the most demanding for DiCaprio personally.
In an interview with TIME, DiCaprio recalled the surreal experience of torching a room full of elite stunt performers. “I remember taking a real flamethrower and burning the greatest stuntmen in cinema history,” he said. “Quentin brought them together to play Nazis, and I burned them three days in a row.” The repetition and intensity of the scene made it one of the most physically and mentally challenging shoots of his career.
Stunt coordinator Robert Alonzo later revealed that DiCaprio was genuinely nervous about performing the scene. Despite years of experience handling dangerous stunts, Alonzo understood the actor’s hesitation. DiCaprio didn’t want to risk harming anyone, especially since he was required to aim real flames at multiple stunt performers and hold the fire for several seconds. Usually, such scenes are performed by stunt doubles, but Tarantino insisted DiCaprio do it himself for realism.
To ease his anxiety, Alonzo demonstrated the stunt first, stepping into the fire setup to show exactly how safety measures would protect everyone involved. Even then, the scene demanded intense focus and emotional control from DiCaprio. Alonzo later shared that such moments can be mentally exhausting, as actors must overcome natural fear while ensuring precise execution. DiCaprio’s commitment and professionalism ultimately earned him deep respect from the entire crew.
Beyond the action, DiCaprio also spoke about Tarantino’s unique approach to filmmaking. He compared the director’s dedication to authenticity with that of filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, noting how real locations and immersive sets helped actors fully embody their characters. He recalled driving through seven fully transformed blocks of 1969 Hollywood, calling the experience “mind-boggling.”
Alongside DiCaprio, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood features standout performances by Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie, rounding off a film that combined nostalgia, danger, and cinematic magic.
