A deliberate decision
After deciding the song, Jamie Lee Curtis actually rehearsed the iconic dance scene extensively with director James Cameron before shooting it.
During these rehearsals, the idea for Helen’s fall in the middle of the dance was conceived — not as a spontaneous accident, as many have believed, but as a deliberate decision made ahead of time. Arnold Schwarzenegger, however, wasn’t informed about the planned fall before filming.
In the scene, there’s a subtle moment when Harry (Schwarzenegger) briefly sits up in shock, quickly realizes he’s breaking character, and then relaxes. This reaction wasn’t planned, making it clear that the fall was a surprise for him.
For example, Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn’t supposed to drop the tape recorder, but James Cameron liked the moment so much that he decided to keep it in the film.
When they filmed another take of the same gag, Schwarzenegger’s response didn’t feel as genuine, which highlights the true spontaneity of the moment.
This behind-the-scenes insight adds a layer of magic to the scene, proving that while the comedy was carefully crafted, the surprise for everyone — especially Schwarzenegger — was very real.
”I hated every hour of it”
Speaking of that iconic scene, which is arguably the most famous in the whole film, did you know that the bra and matching panties worn by Helen Tasker during the striptease scene were actually Jamie Lee Curtis’s own? Bet you didn’t expect that!
Another fun detail is when Arnold Schwarzenegger was asked in an interview if his wife was bothered by him sitting there watching Jamie Lee Curtis strip, he humorously replied that she did ask him about it.
Arnold reassured her, saying, ”Honey, I hated every hour of it!”
Less revealing underwear
Although Helen is still wearing the same outfit she had on when she was kidnapped after her striptease for Harry in the hotel, when she’s in the back of the limo during the bridge demolition scene, she’s suddenly wearing less revealing underwear.
Looks like a quick wardrobe change somehow slipped in during the chaos —definitely not something that happens every day! It’s a small but funny continuity hiccup in all the action.
