Philippe Petit's real-life walk between the twin towers – in pictures
In 1974, Frenchman Philippe Petit walked across a tightrope stretched between the World Trade Center’s twin towers. The 1,350ft-high walk was six years in the planning, and afterwards Petit was arrested and taken for a psychiatric evaluation. A film of the event, The Walk, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt was released in the US on Wednesday
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Petit begins his walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center
Photograph: Jean-Louis Blondeau/Polaris/eyevine
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He looks back at the photographer as he rests between walks across the cable.
Photograph: Alan Welner/AP
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Petit balances as he crosses the tightrope
Photograph: Alan Welner/AP
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Petit at midway point between the towers
Photograph: Alan Welner/AP
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The tiny figure of Petit seen from 1,350 feet below.
Photograph: New York Post/Shutterstock/Rex
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Petit holds a specially constructed 25-foot balancing pole
Photograph: AP
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Petit is seen on the tightrope strung between what were then the second tallest buildings in the world
Photograph: Jean Louis Blondeau/Polaris/eyevine
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At one point Petit lay down on the steel cable.
Photograph: Alan Welner/AP
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Philippe Petit answers reporter’s questions as he is arrested after the stunt
Photograph: New York Daily News archive/Getty Images
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