You know the one. It was shot near the Woodall Shoals section of the Chattooga. This spot is famous for its gnarly rapids and shallow rocks. It’s also where Ned Beatty got a crash course in acting under pressure.
Fun fact: the water was freezing cold. The actors actually shivered. No special effects needed. Bill McKinney, who played the mountain man, was a gentle giant off-camera—he went to church every Sunday.
Quirky Fact #3: The Canoe Scene Wasn’t Fake
Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight really shot those rapids. No stunt doubles. The insurance company nearly had a heart attack. Reynolds joked it was scarier than any NFL game.
The river’s hidden rocks sliced their canoe in half. Production had to buy three backup boats. That scene took weeks to film because the river kept flooding.
Where Was Deliverance Filmed? Every Major Location Explained
