The real philippe petit was inspired to attempt the feat, which he nicknamed the coup, after seeing an artists rendition of the twin towers preconstruction in a newspaper at a dentists office. Philippe petit planned and executed the perfect crime by walking on a high wire between the twin towers, and the whole world loved him for doing it. The perfect crime since well before his epic 1974 walk between the twin towers of the world trade center, philippe petit had become an artist who answered first and foremost to the demands of his craftnot only on the high wire, but also as a magician, street juggler, visual. Read more about the planning that went into the 1974 walk.
After twin towers highwire act, philippe petit walked above. In 1974, frenchman philippe petit walked across a tightrope stretched between the world trade centers twin towers. This book is as aweinspiring as his accomplishments on the wire. Mikhail baryshnikov said of petits book, he is an inspiration to all who dare to dream of the seemingly impossible. Written staccato style this book is a speedy but engrossing read it envelopes you in the anxiety and the secrecy and the almost insane necessity, as seen by the author philippe petit in his plan and execution of a high wire, unsecured, walk between the twin towers in new your in 1974. In this stunning book, petit tells the dramatic story of this historymaking walk, from conception and clandestine planning to the performance and its aftermath. Philippe petits crazy highwire walk between the twin. Inspired by the true story of philippe petit, a young french aerialist, and his daring 1974 high wire walk between the twin towers of the world trade center. The true story behind philippe petits world trade center. Books by philippe petit author of to reach the clouds. Oct 01, 2015 philippe petit, as played by joseph gordonlevitt, is very much the hero of the walk.
In an unforgettable memoir he tells the story of how he conspired, connived, improvised, and insisted his way to this coup, abetted by a motley crew of accomplices, the occasional miracle, and his own. Just for reference, this book is actually written by philippe and was previously published twice, under the titles. The walk replays philippe petits highwire act but was it art. What other highwire stunts had philippe petit performed before attempting his twin towers walk. Petit has performed highwire walks around the world, and a 2008 documentary based on his adventure, man on wire, won numerous awards and critical praise. This book is sheer magic we share each moment of phillipe petits obsession with the walk between the twin towers. His walk is known as the artistic crime of the century. Philippe petits historic walk between the twin towers of the world trade center in 1974. Sep 20, 2015 the walk replays philippe petits highwire act but was it art.
The man was philippe petit, the french highwire artist who walked between the twin towers illegally in 1974. Philippe petits most popular book is to reach the clouds. The walk book by philippe petit, robert zemeckis official. Philippe petit signed softcover the walk to reach the. The walk is based on a true story of philippe petit. In 1974, highwire artist philippe petit recruits a team of people to help him realize his dream. The 1,350fthigh walk was six years in the planning, and afterwards petit was. He was also the subject of a childrens book and an animated adaptation of it, released in 2005. Philippe petit became famous in august 1974 for his highwire walk between the twin towers of the world trade center in new york city. Philippe petits crazy highwire walk between the twin towers. The walk movie true story reveals that he indeed tore out the page under the cover of a sneeze and hid it beneath his jacket as he walked out. By bringing his visual mastery to bear on the story of philippe petit, the french daredevil who, in the summer of 1974. Later, he started to perform on the streets of paris juggling and doing tricks. I love to remember the world trade centre walk but it should not define me.
Philippe petit walks a tightrope between the twin towers in 1974. The film stars joseph gordonlevitt, ben kingsley, charlotte le bon, james badge dale, ben schwartz, and steve. The walk true story confirms that petit had already attempted and completed an illegal highwire walk at pariss notre dame cathedral in 1971 shown in the movie and another illegal walk at sydneys harbour bridge in 1973. The highlevel scheming behind philippe petits twin towers tightrope walk get our history newsletter. Calvin tomkins spends time with philippe petit, the highwire artist who. Philippe petit signed softcover edition of the walk world trade center nyc.
The walk, a movie based on petits walk, was released in. In to reach the clouds, philippe petit recreates a sixyear quest to realise his dream, an adventure as thrilling as the walk itself. Throwback thursday philippe petit walks tightrope between. Robert zemeckis is trying something beautiful, and perhaps impossible, in the walk. Petit s achievement made headlines around the world. This august marks the 41st anniversary since philippe petit accomplished his daring achievement of walking across a suspended wire connecting the twin towers. Aug 06, 2019 philippe petit s historic walk between the twin towers of the world trade center in 1974. With joseph gordonlevitt, charlotte le bon, guillaume baillargeon, emilie leclerc. The highwire daredevil the walk is based on loves the movie except for one part. The true story behind the walk reveals that the rope and cable did drop several hundred feet. A hundred thousand people gathered on the ground to watch in awe as twentyfouryearold high wire artist philippe petit made eight crossings between the allbutcompleted towers, a quarter mile above the earth, over the course of nearly an hour. Philippe petit books list of books by author philippe petit. After watching the video, i purchased the book in soft cover to have a memento of the incredible feat of mr. Book philippe petit for speaking, events and appearances.
Philippe petits reallife walk between the twin towers in. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. On august 7, 1974, a young frenchman caught the attention of jaded new yorkers by wirewalking between the. Twelve people have walked on the moon, but only one man philippe petit joseph gordonlevitt has ever, or will ever, walk in the immense void between the world trade center towers. Speaking of tentpoles, the walk takes its cues from the circus, where 8yearold philippe first laid eyes on a tightrope act, and from which his flamboyant performance style eventually. Published in 2003, the book recounts the heartstopping achievement of philippe petit, a french man who, on an august morning in 1974, walked, lay, knelt and. After perhaps 45 minutes of knee bends and other stunts, phillippe petit, balancing pole in hand, turned himself over to waiting policemen, the times reported. Apr 22, 2019 philippe petits passion for performances started from magic tricks at the age of 6. For his unauthorized feat 400 metres above the ground which he referred to as le coup he rigged a 200kilogram cable and used a custommade 8metre long, 25kilogram balancing pole.
Philippe petit walks a tightrope between the twin towers in. Sep 28, 2015 in 1974, philippe petit did the unthinkable. He lives in the catskills and new york city, where he is artistinresidence at the cathedral of st. The remarkable feat has been adapted into a childrens book. Philippe petit has 46 books on goodreads with 6160 ratings. The walk is a 2015 american 3d biographical drama film directed by robert zemeckis and written by christopher browne and zemeckis. He is known for his work on the walk 2015, man on wire. Petits achievement made headlines around the world. Philippe petit is a worldrenowned high wire artist who has performed all over the world. I couldnt help laughing it was so beautiful, recalled the 24yearold professional stuntman philippe petit as he took his first steps that gray morning. Philippe believes that he probably fed too much cable at one time, which caused it to drop quickly from its weight as they were unable to hold it. Philippe petit was born on august, 1949 in nemours, seineetmarne, france. Tozzoli, president, world trade centers association it was philippe petit who connected the twin towers of the world trade center, in an act of beauty and ecstasy.
Petit was arrested for this exploit and for others, but he always presented himself as a performing. Theres a battle behind the scenes of the walk about philippe petits midair balancing act between the twin towers with one of the movies subjects saying petit walked a. Harvard book store welcomes famed highwire artist philippe petit for a discussion of his new book creativity. Your new book, creativity, starts by stating i frown upon books about. It doesnt seem like it could possibly be based on a true storybut it is. After twin towers highwire act, philippe petit walked. Oct 01, 2015 in 1974, frenchman philippe petit walked across a tightrope stretched between the world trade centers twin towers. This biography profiles his childhood, family, achievements, and other facts. And after the jump, four more videos of petit doing what he does best. A 25yearold french daredevil did a tightrope walk across the top of new york in 1974 on a 1foot cable strung between the. Philippe petit, as played by joseph gordonlevitt, is very much the hero of the walk. After all, he is the person who crossed from one twin tower to the other on a wire. It is based on the story of 24yearold french highwire artist philippe petits walk between the twin towers of the world trade center on august 7, 1974. Sony robert zemeckis is trying something beautiful, and perhaps impossible, in the walk.
Above, watch photos of petit cheating death on his twin towers tightrope walk. A 25yearold french daredevil did a tightrope walk across the top of new york in 1974 on a 1foot cable strung between the 110story twin towers of the world trade center. Milos forman philippe petit is an artist whose theater is the sky. Born in 1949, french daredevil philippe petit became famous in august 1974 for his highwire walk between the twin towers of the world trade center in new york city. Aug 28, 2015 a 25yearold french daredevil did a tightrope walk across the top of new york in 1974 on a 1foot cable strung between the 110story twin towers of the world trade center. The walk replays philippe petits highwire act but was. Philippe petit is a french highwire artist who gained fame for his highwire walk between the twin towers of the world.
It is based on the story of 24yearold french highwire artist philippe petit s walk between the twin towers of the world trade center on august 7, 1974. Philippe petit is a french highwire artist who gained fame for his highwire walk between the towers of notre dame cathedral in paris, 1971 as well as his highwire walk between the twin towers of the world trade center in new york city, on the morning of 7 august 1974. Philippe petits passion for performances started from magic tricks at the age of 6. He is known for his work on the walk 2015, man on wire 2008 and mondo 1995. Sep 29, 2015 read more about the planning that went into the 1974 walk. Philippe petit, born august, 1949, nemours, france, frenchborn highwire walker who attained worldwide celebrity on august 7, 1974, with his unauthorized crossing between the newly built twin towers of the world trade center in new york city, about 1,350 feet 411 metres above the ground. Jul 23, 2012 above, watch photos of petit cheating death on his twin towers tightrope walk. Tozzoli, president, world trade centers association it was philippe petit who connected the twin towers of the world trade center, in. Joseph gordonlevitt, left, with robert zemeckis, who directed him in the role of philippe petit in a new film, the. In honor of his ambitious tightrope walk on august 7th, 1974, we have 7 lesser known, but equally epic facts about the man that inspired the movie, the walk.
Well before his epic 1974 walk between the twin towers of the world trade center, philippe petit had become an artist who answered first and foremost to the demands of his craft not only on the high wire, but also as a magician, street juggler, visual artist and writer. Highwire artist philippe petit takes you on an intimate journey from his first card trick at age 6 to his tightrope walk between the twin towers. Seventeen years on from the terrorist attack that led to the. Writing in english, phillipe petit brings alive his 1974 high wire walk between the twin towers of the late world trade center. The walk at the center of the new movie the walk in limited release wednesday is on a wire, between the towers of the world trade center. Oct 04, 2015 the walk is robert zemeckis new bigscreen narrative based on the story of phillippe petit s rigging and performance of a highwire walk between the twin towers. Philippe petits reallife walk between the twin towers. Philippe petit is a french born tightrope walker who became famous for making an unauthorised walk on a steel cable between the twin towers of the world trade centre in manhattan august 7, 1974. Stephen vossreduxeyevine you are most famous for your 1974 tightrope walk between the twin towers of the world trade centre in. He is a one off character who never even imagines failure and not only that he also manages to get the same obsession through to his helpers his writing is as exciting as his obsession and one can almost feel the air flowing around him as he lies on the wire mid walk. Philippe petit walks a tightrope between the twin towers. Philippe petits walk is the subject of the childrens book, the man who walked between the towers, 2003, by mordicai gerstein. Man who walked between the towers, the by mordicai gerstein.
Joseph gordonlevitt plays deathdefying highwire aerialist philippe petit in robert zemeckis the walk. While petits 1974 walk made him a celebrity, a whole new generation was introduced to his work in james marshs documentary man on wire, released in 2008. An animated film adaptation of the book directed by michael sporn was released in 2005. On august 7, 1974, a young frenchman caught the attention. Even a deathdefying magician has to start somewhere. The walk is robert zemeckis new bigscreen narrative based on the story of phillippe petits rigging and performance of a highwire walk between the. Explore books by philippe petit with our selection at. Philippe petits legacy will forever be linked to the twin towers.
930 437 1336 364 572 1370 968 702 269 1210 970 532 314 572 1171 532 647 867 1081 1302 934 330 397 1352 908 928 591 586 1237 582 1141 1511 197 520 852 475 1418 1287 56 697 552 202 495