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A life in films and tv....
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Re: A life in films and tv....
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Harry Fielder
Re: A life in films and tv....
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Apr 27 07 1:35 AM
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I've gotta ask again, Aitch, how'd you find us in our little remote Cyberland?
I've been a member of Ezboard for a few years now and belong to a few boards..Well I was looking around and there you were.
Another tale from the past.......
1971
THE DEVILSDirectorKen Russell
Oliver ReedVanessa RedgraveDudley Sutton
I worked for about sixteen weeks on this film standing/in for Dudley and doing every crowd scene possible..
From the first day on set I could not believe what I was seeing.
A bevy of young girls dressed as Nuns walking around the set topless.
Reg Prince, who was Oliver Reeds stand/in said to me Stop looking Aitch, or youll go blind
I said Ill risk one eye.
After the first couple of days it was back to looking at the Racing Post.
I thought this film was Dudleys finest performance. How he could remember all those very long speeches was beyond me.. (Thats the difference between an actor and a supporting artist)
As I said, I got involved in many of the crowd scenes. Some days we had six Crowd Artists and another time six hundred.
After a couple of months Ted Morley the 1st A.D. said Come in at six in the morning Aitch, Kens got a little job for you (Be wary of Kens little jobs)
Im in the make up room bright and early the next day standing in just my underpants. (Not a pretty sight at six in the morning)
Im painted off/white and grey and have rags tied about certain parts of my body.
One of the make up girls pours some rice crispies into a bowl. (Im thinking it must be breakfast time.)
Then glue is applied one side of my face, shoulders and body and the rice is stuck on.
After that theyre painted yellow, red and a few other colours and it looks like Ive got the plague. (That was the plan in the first place)
Its nearly eight o clock now and Im told I can go over to the Pinewood canteen and have a quick breakfast then go straight onto the set which was on the back lot..
The canteen was packed when I entered but within seconds I had a table to myself. (I wonder why?)
Later on at the back lot theyve dug a huge crater and filled it up with raggedly dressed dummies and Im going to lay on the top.. This is the plague pit and Im starring. Murrey Melvin was blessing our poor disfigured bodies.
I had a smoke while they were lighting the set and it reminded me of that cigar advert Where the man is all at peace with his lot.. I thought to myself Is this it Aitch, on the scrap heap at thirty one years old
Another of Kens little jobs was to dress me up as a giant crow and to get drowned in the Pinewood pond. (Under the supervision of Peter Braham, Stunt Director)
Now in theory its quite easy to do. You float in the pond then sink into three foot of water whilst holding a plastic bottle of air in one hand and another one of blood in the other hand(Simple)
As you sink you squeeze the bottles and the air and blood rise to the surface.
(Now heres the rub)
The giant crows feathers wont let me sink.
After about ten minutes the brains on the film come up with plan B.
They will drop a huge weight with a steel ring in it to the bottom of the pond, then tie a rope around my waist under the feathers then through the steel ring.
Pass the rope To the three prop men standing on the other side of the pond and they will pull me under the water. (It gets worse)
By now Ive been in the water for nearly an hour and Im getting cold. The fish in the pond have got the hump with me and have started nibbling at the feathers and certain other parts of my anatomy. A couple of large brandies help with the cold and were Ready for a take. (Lets do it) (now heres the plot.)
Im floating on the top and on a cue the prop men will pull me down to the bottom
As Im releasing air and blood.. (Big thought) What about my own air supply.???
How will the prop men know when Ive run out of air to breathe so that they can release the rope. Another large brandy and its decided that when I pull on the rope they will release it their end.
Well to cut an even longer story short the idea worked and after about six takes (And Six more brandies) Ken got what he wanted.
img.photobucket.com/album...er2002.jpg
OLIVER REED IN KEN RUSSELLSTHE DEVILS.
The moral of this story is, dont mix brandy and water. (Oh happy days)
The photo was signed to my wife Mary.
The Devils was a great film to work on and Id like to thank all the cast and crew for making it such a fun time.
Id like to say a very special thanks to the wonderful 2nd A.D. Mr. Vincent Winters.
Vincent was a child actor and his great claim to fame was the film THE KIDNAPPERS Made in the fifties. He played the younger of the two brothers who find a baby on the Scottish Moors and want to call it Rover... (A wonderful film)
I had a row with him twenty years later and never got to say sorry.
Vincent has since died and Im still sorry. (God bless)
Aitch
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