The Pyramid (1976)
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He was Tarantino's inspiration for Cliff Booth, the stunt man character played by Brad Pitt in Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood. He once faced down Charles Manson over a broken dune buggy until "Charles got under the dune buggy and fixed it right away."
He doubled for Jack Nicholson. He worked for Peter Bogdanovich and Brian De Palma. And in 1976, Gary Kent, the toughest man in exploitation cinema, stepped behind the camera to write and direct THE PYRAMID (1976) - a gentle, searching, hippie-era spiritual odyssey.
A Dallas television news cameraman grows sick of covering death and disaster, shootouts and school-bus wrecks, and wants instead to film more positive stories. A man who walks on fire. A pig sanctuary. A woman photographing auras. Told there is no money in truth and beauty, he is fired, and sets off to look for meaning.
Before Gary Kent ever fell off a horse for a paycheck, he studied journalism. The one time this daredevil made a film entirely his own, he cast a disillusioned reporter as the hero.
The film was pulled from theaters in a distributor fight. It sat lost for thirty years, surviving on a single 35mm print until it was restored by the American Genre Film Archive (AGFA).
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As a low-budget, regional production, The Pyramid was funded through private backers and grassroots efforts secured by Gary Kent and producers Lou Bludworth and Michael J. MacFarland. It was distributed through regional, grassroots theatrical bookings starting in San Antonio in 1976, playing as a late-night cult film.
Physical Media
DVD
a member added 9/25/2026
About the Film
A Positive Mystical Experience
- Directed By
- Gary Kent
- Runtime
- 90 minutes
- Released
- September 24, 1976
- Certification
- PG
- Country
- United States of America
- Starring
- Charley Brown, Ira Hawkins, Tomi Barrett, June Christopher, John Parker
More Credits
- Genres
- Drama
- Language
- English
- Origin
- US
- Written By
- Gary Kent
- Produced By
- Michael J. MacFarland
- Cinematography
- Bill Weaver
- Music
- Mauro Bruno
- Also Starring
- Michael Ashe, Carol Cassella, Diana Corto, J. Daniel Dusek, Steve Ferry
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Nick Concorde Check this out.
Hunh, would like to see that.
I recently spotted a “Rick Dalton” in the credits of TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A., so I guess it’s no surprise that Rick’s stunt double, Cliff Booth, is also a real person.
I asked Brad if his character was based on Terry Leonard the legendary stuntman, second unit director, rodeo cowboy, and real life tough guy. He said the character was based on Hal Needham, also legendary stuntman, director of Smokey and the Bandit, and long time friend of Burt Reynolds. Brad also described Booth as an opportunist. Not sure I would categorize Needham or Leonard as opportunists. Can’t say if Kent fits his characterization either.
Robert Johnson Loved Kent in the Thrill Killers and Satans Sadists
Robert Johnson I think Brad decided who to base his portrayal on – but the character was created by Tarantino was based on a real person (and perhaps the final character was a combination of more than one person) – however the real person that the character was based on was 100% Gary Kent, whom Tarantino even interviewed in his film development. Gary Kent was the stuntman who lived on the ranch, the one who was in the Hollywood scene – interacting with Manson during that time…
Robert Johnson maybe he was referring to the opportunity to take out his wife on the middle of the ocean with a harpoon… that was an unresolved scene.
Rebecca’s Gayheart definitely played it up like someone that youd want to get rid of.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=THE+PYRAMID+1976
Dawn Forney ❤️🔥 its on youtube
Perfect companion film for THE SECRET LIFE OF PLANTS…no, that’s pseudo-documentary.
THE KIRLIAN WITNESS, aka THE PLANTS ARE WATCHING 👀 🪴 🌿 👁 🧐 lol
On second thought, I’m almost sure they do try the grow plants under a pyramid experiment in SECRET LIFE OF PLANTS, the one with the Stevie Wonder soundtrack…and one of Warner’s prestige releases that year, nominated for Best Documentary I think.
The Myth Busters did a few episodes on pyramids also.
My mistake, it wasn’t even nominated, I must be thinking of a really impressive one, THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PLANTS hosted by David Attenborough…I have the book too.
The Stevie Wonder album actually was a hit though.
Saw it on TV as a kid
This is quite a good film! Sincere, spontanious and it has a naturalistic, contemporary feel even today. Watch it!
Some interesting info