1975
GREAT
EXPECTATIONS…
Director:
Joseph Hardy
Writers:
Charles Dickens (novel)
Sherman Yellen (writer)
Cast
Michael York ... Pip
Sarah Miles ... Estella
James Mason ... Magwitch
Margaret Leighton ...
Miss Havisham
Robert Morley ... Uncle
Pumblechook
Anthony Quayle ...
Jaggers
Joss Ackland ... Joe
Gargery
Rachel Roberts ... Mrs.
Gargery
Andrew Ray ... Herbert
Pocket
Heather Sears ... Biddy
Simon Gipps-Kent ...
Young Pip
James Faulkner ...
Bentley Drummle
Peter Bull ... Wemmick
Sam Kydd ... Scarred
Convict
John Clive ... Mr. Wopsle
I worked
for a few weeks on this
production at Shepperton
Studios.
I met up with one of the
nicest Assistant
Directors in the
business, David (Tricky)
Tringham 1st A.D.
He would always look out
for me if there was any
bits of business to be
done on the scenes. In
one scene I’d be
dressed as a rogue and in
the next I’d be done
up in top hat and tails.
(I did look a prat)
David and I have remained
friends for all the years
we stayed in The Business
and he put plenty of work
my way. Thanks
David…
Some scenes stand out in
my mind on films and I
suppose the one in this
film is where Magwitch
(James Mason) is trying
to escape in a boat near
the end of the film.
We’re filming in the
studio tank and Magwitch
is floundering in the
water (All three feet of
it)
I am one of the twelve
policemen in another boat
who has to save him from
drowning. We pull
alongside of him.
David shouts
‘’Reach over
and drag Mr Mason in
Aitch’’
Well I reach over and
because all his clothes
are soaked I can’t
move him.
‘’Hurry up
Aitch Mr Mason’s
cold’’(Well
I’ve got a bit of a
sweat on.)
I try again but he weighs
a ton.
(Plan B) : The other
policemen hold onto my
police uniform and I
reach right over the side
of the boat, then I
manage to get my hands
right under his crotch
and what with me pulling
him and the boys pulling
me we land him on deck.
He lays silent for a
couple of seconds then
opens his eyes.
He looks at me and says
in that wonderful James
Mason voice,
‘’Thank you
very much’’.
It was a pleasure Mr
Mason. It’s not
everyday I get my hands
around a top actor’s
'Niagaras'. (Funny old
game this acting game)
HENNESSY…Rod
Steiger…
I’m sent to a
racetrack by Central
Casting, on an evening
call, dressed quite smart
as a plainclothes cop.
I might have a line or
two to say. (They’ll
tell me them when I get
there)
Some of the boys are
chatting about the work
(or lack of it)
they’ve been doing.
Then I get a shout from
the 2nd A.D. to stand in
a certain position.
There is another guy
(stand/in) already there
waiting for his Artist.
I don’t know this
man so I’ll say
nothing as he’s
reading a book while
he’s standing/in
there.
I’m watching them
light the set and half
chatting to some of the
boys that I know.
Ten minutes passes and
they’re ready for
the artist.
I finish my chatting with
the boys and turn to see
who I’ve got the
lines with.
(now, you’re in
front of me here)
It’s only the top
man himself. (My bum has
just fallen on the floor)
We eye one another for a
second and the top man
sticks out his hand.
‘’Steiger’’
he says.
‘’Harry
Aitch’’ I
croak.
The Director gives me my
lines (easy) to say and
it’s all over in ten
minutes.
Now when working with
someone like that it
never leaves your memory,
it’s part of my
life. When I tell my
grandkids about it they
say,‘’Who’’.
I wonder who I’ll
meet next?
BRANNIGAN…John
Wayne…’’THE
DUKE’’ Director
Douglas Hickox…
Cast Inc…Richard
Attenborough…Judy
Geeson…
I only worked a few days
on this production but to
work with the big man was
a treat in it self. I
have now worked with the
greats of Hollywood and
we are not to see the
likes of them again. (Or
are we?)
‘’THE
DUKE’’ was an
unassuming man and got on
well with the cast and
crew.
When the grandkids watch
an old Western with the
man in it I tell them
‘’I worked with
Big John’’.
THE LAND THAT
TIME FORGOT…Director…Kevin
Connor…Pinewood…
Cast Inc…Doug
McClure…
I was in one scene
doubling for the main
artist and all I had to
do was put my foot into a
Dinosaur’s mouth.
(It beats working for a
living.)
RETURN OF THE
PINK PANTHER…Director…Blake
Edwards…Shepperton…
Cast Inc…Peter
Sellers…Herbert
Lom…
I’m standing in for
various artists and
it’s always going to
be a laugh just being on
set with this company.
Joe Dunn is the stunt
director on the Panther
films and I’ve known
Joe since The Avengers
days. (Hello Joe)
I watched a Panther film
on TV recently and it
still holds up after
nearly thirty years.
(They don’t make
them like this anymore)
I have just looked on the
WWW and found someone has
put a page of some
Of the Doctor Who’s
and other bits and pieces
on ‘’The Harry
Fielder Page’’
I wonder where they got
all the information from
because I had forgotten
Most of the jobs that
they mention… (Have
a look) Plus IMDB…
ADVENTURES OF
SHERLOCK HOLMES SMARTER
BROTHER…
Director Gene Wilder.
Cast Inc…Gene
Wilder…Marty
Feldman…
A few days here and there
playing an assortment of
characters in this
Victorian saga.
There was plenty of work
for all of the Supporting
Artists on this.
I am skipping many film
and TV jobs as it’s
only 1975 and I’ve
got twenty three years
left to write about.
You can always read the
full list compiled by
Scott Palmer at the
beginning of this story
and I will try to answer
any questions by email.
LISZTOMANIA…Director
Ken Russell. Shepperton
Studios…
The first
‘’POP’’
idol, Franz Liszt played
by Roger Daltrey.
A couple of days on this
with Ken Russell doing
what he does best.
THIS WAS ANOTHER OF
KEN’S LITTLE JOBS.
‘’Just get up
the ladder Aitch,
You’ll be
alright’’.
The man in the centre of
the top picture is Jack
‘’Kid’’
Berg an ex boxer.
On the right is Stuart
Myers and on the far left
Tony Allen.
MAHLER…Ken
Russell…Robert
Powell…Georgina
Hale…
Another Ken Russell
musical but not in the
same vain as
‘’Singing In
The Rain’’
DOCTOR
WHO…Director
Douglas Camfield…Tom
Baker…
Episode…The Seeds Of
Doom…
In this
six part story I’m
playing a Guard and have
some words to say.
I meet up with Tom Baker
again as we film in the
BBC Centre and on
location down in the West
Country…
I had worked with Douglas
before but only as a
Supporting Artist, this
time I’m a cast
member.
Another man I meet for
the first time is John
Challis…(Later to
make his name in Only
Fools And Horses) We are
still friends today.
The most praise on this
show must go to the
Director Douglas
Camfield…
He had time for Extras
and Artists alike. He
would listen to all the
moans and groans from
cast and crew and solve
the problems.
Douglas used me many
times over the coming
years but died suddenly
at an early age... I have
nothing but respect for
this man...
DOUGLAS CAMFIELD…A
TRUE GENTLEMAN OF THE
PROFESSION…
From Dr.
Who episode
DEADLY ASSASSIN
There's that
Doctor Who on his
own..I'll get my mate
Steve..
That's him, that's the
man we want...
Now come along
quietly now sir or I may
have to call for a
Doctor!
No,
I haven't been for a pee
in the bushes..I'm
looking for the bad guys.
NEXT
- 1976
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