The new Canadian film The Stunt Driver tells the story of Ken Carter, a Montreal-born stunt driver whose mid-1970s attempt to jump the St. Lawrence River in a rocket-powered Lincoln became one of daredevil history’s most famous failures. Jay Baruchel and Ed Helms star in the movie, which opens September 25.
A stunt that never took flight
Carter—born Kenneth Gordon Polsjek—worked as a professional stunt driver for two decades before planning a one-mile leap across the St. Lawrence, from Ontario into New York. His design included a 1,400-foot ramp, a yellow Lincoln Continental fitted with a rocket engine and wings, and what he called courage.
A television broadcaster originally funded the project but withdrew after Carter missed the scheduled jump date, blaming construction delays with the car and ramp. Later attempts were canceled or stopped at the last minute, usually because of weather. One effort ended seconds before takeoff. The final try involved a backup driver, but the jump failed due to low speed and mechanical problems.
Though the St. Lawrence attempt never succeeded, Carter kept planning dangerous stunts, including one over a pond near Peterborough, Ontario. His story appeared in the 1970s National Film Board documentary The Devil at Your Heels and the 2014 musical docudrama Aim for the Roses.
Filming where the stunt almost happened
Michael Dowse directed The Stunt Driver, shooting parts of the movie along the St. Lawrence River between Boucherville and Varennes, Quebec. Baruchel plays Carter, while Helms appears in a supporting part. Ben Support plays Evel Knievel, the American daredevil whose jumps made him famous.
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The film recreates Carter’s failed attempt while examining the obsession behind it. For years, his name stood for bold stunts, though none matched the St. Lawrence jump’s scale. His career unfolded in Knievel’s shadow, yet his ambition was just as large. The movie shows why someone would risk everything for a stunt that might have been forgotten quickly.
Carter’s story covers years of preparation, backers who lost faith, and the public spectacle of a dream that kept fading. The release comes as stunt-driven blockbusters fill theaters, though few viewers know the real people behind the wheel—or what happens when things go wrong.
Production faced challenges, including recreating the 1970s look and filming near the river where the original jump was supposed to happen. Early descriptions say the result mixes humor with the tension of chasing an impossible goal.
The Stunt Driver opens in theaters on September 25. For those drawn to high-speed risks, the film echoes the urgency seen in racing against the clock with limited time.
