Probably the “Noah’s Ark” disaster of 1929. Director Michael Curtiz had set up a reservoir with two million gallons of water. At his signal, the water was going to be released to destroy a Pagan temple, marking the beginning of the Deluge in the film. Dozens of extras were to be on the set as the water destroyed the temple. An assistant director asked Michael Curtiz about the safety precautions for the extras. Michael Curtz responded that the extras could look after themselves. He did not even ask if the extras could swim. As the Deluge destroyed the temple, all of the extras were swept away in the flood. The scene was chaos and disaster. Three extras drowned, and many others were injured with broken bones. Ambulances from every hospital in the area were sent to help the surviving extras. Warner Brothers had to pay off a lot of people to keep from being criminally charged. Michael Curtiz was not fired. After the incident, safety regulations were put in place to keep major accidents like that from happening again. Michael Curtiz went on to a successful career as a director, directing most of Errol Flynn’s best films, and topping his career with “Casablanca.” No word on what became of the survivors of “Noah’s Ark.”