Jill Langley

BEHP transcript Disclaimer

This transcript has been produced automatically using Otter.

It provides a basic, but unverified or proofread transcript of the interview. Therefore, the British Entertainment History Project (BEHP) accepts no liability for any misinterpretation of the content of this interview.

However, the BEHP wants to make every effort to improve the quality of these transcripts and would welcome any voluntary offers to proofread this and/or other interviews. If you want to help, please contact BEHP Secretary,  sue.malden@btinternet.com.

Unknown Speaker  0:00  
the copyright of this recording is vested in the British entertainment history project. The name of the interviewee is Joe Langley. The interview our is Mike deke. On camera is our CO show. The interview number is 415. The date is the 28th of April 2022. And we're filming at her daughter's Claudia's home in Wimbledon.

Unknown Speaker  0:23  
Okay, Joe, can you tell me where when you were born? I was born in Battersea in on the 21st of July 1936.

Unknown Speaker  0:33  
What are your earliest memories?

Unknown Speaker  0:36  
And nothing really about then because I was three when we left, because that's when war broke out. So really, my earliest memories are coming down towards non Tim's when my father was born. And he thought it would be a good idea to get us out of London obviously didn't work out that well, because that was one of the targets there at Walton or near Walton, because they were making aircraft there. So, but we had a quite a lot of bombing, in fact, but I think it was safer than London. So they're, they're really, they all began then. And I do remember well, being three years old and coming down to autumn.

Unknown Speaker  1:15  
Describe Bolton and administrators.

Unknown Speaker  1:19  
Oh, well, we weren't in the best part of what

Unknown Speaker  1:23  
to say.

Unknown Speaker  1:24  
We stayed with my grandmother, the far end of Walton.

Unknown Speaker  1:29  
It was very quiet compared to London, obviously,

Unknown Speaker  1:33  
until the bombs came.

Unknown Speaker  1:36  
And I remember playing in the street playing round the corner at what we called the bumps or, or the feet of the hills. And it was just a bit of rough ground really. Were outside a lot. Because people work their children were much more outside in those days. And I remember the schools I remember going to school. That's a bit later when I was five.

Unknown Speaker  1:58  
Is that what you call earlier? That's fine was fine. Tell me a bit about your family background. What did what did your parents do? My father worked on aircraft during the war. Before that he did various things. He was a grocer in Walton, where he met my mother and Brighton when I think she was 14, and he was 17. And then he pursued her. And he did end up working for my mother's family's company in London. Eventually, that was after the war. So during the war, he was working on aircraft and my mother went out cleaning houses for the rich Americans who had come over

Unknown Speaker  2:36  
for the war. And they had these wonderful big houses and she went and cleaned them and we've got little tip bits. Those are sent home. I had my first banana ever, which I hated. And sweet potato and various some candy bars as a special one that they like.

Unknown Speaker  2:54  
And I didn't like any of it. So that was over very quickly. My cravings. I wasn't I wasn't terribly impressed, though. But I was impressed with their houses very much. So yeah.

Unknown Speaker  3:04  
That was my ambition to live in one of those houses I never did.

Unknown Speaker  3:09  
So where did where did you go to school. I went to school at the local Infant School, which was very near to where we where we lived.

Unknown Speaker  3:19  
And then to the local junior school, which is still there. The middle school now called the first school in Walton.

Unknown Speaker  3:27  
Ashley first school.

Unknown Speaker  3:30  
And I went for some reason a year earlier than I should have done never found out why.

Unknown Speaker  3:36  
So I was very young when I took the what's it called the 11 plus 11 plus. So I ended up from there, which was probably a year or two. I'm not sure how long going to a school called a grammar school called Saul in Perkins Chertsey and I was the youngest or was the youngest. It was a huge disadvantage actually. So when I pass 11 Plus I was actually nine but I started the school at 10. But I peaked early after that it wasn't so good.

Unknown Speaker  4:06  
So what

Unknown Speaker  4:08  
what we have been interested in those days when you were young.

Unknown Speaker  4:13  
Just normal things like skipping,

Unknown Speaker  4:16  
skipping playing, we play cricket, would you believe outside my brother's younger than me. And but of course I was taller then. So I used to fight his fights. Look after him. He was also the beauty. I've just got one of the one sibling and he inherited from my mother's side of the family. The lovely curly hair, the curly eyelashes, good, looks good looking. But luckily I wasn't jealous of him. I just was proud of him. My gorgeous baby brother. So I looked after him. And I got lots of friends. We just as I said played in the streets.

Unknown Speaker  4:52  
And we did things that I don't think I think they'd be against the law now and my father used when he could used to take us hunting for what they call it

Unknown Speaker  5:00  
Um, for eggs, you know, birds, birds, birds eggs. And that was one of the things we did and then you collected things you collected stamps, postage stamps, all that sort of stuff. I like knitting crochet was very good at that. When my cousin was born and I was eight. I did the whole late. I don't think I could do it now. In fact, I'm certain I couldn't. I tried to teach my grandchildren but they couldn't even do a scarf. They weren't that interested. I don't think

Unknown Speaker  5:27  
a lot of all those different things then doing bits of cooking with my mother, in between, a lot of it was about being interspersed with the air Regency, we went out to the Anderson shelter. Sometimes across the road, the neighbours had a Morrison shelter, because in those days, you probably know that you had a choice and understand shelter. And you might well Anderson was the outdoor one. So they had to dig a pit. And it was sort of corrugated. And that's what we heard. And it got very wet at the bottom two bunks. And the other was just like a great big kitchen table. I don't know if it was made of iron, I guess. So that was that was the best next best thing. And you just shocked yourselves underneath there or under the stairs, we did a lot of that. Because that's what was going on with the rains come down.

Unknown Speaker  6:16  
Well, every day, every day, probably two or three times a day. It was a target that area. And

Unknown Speaker  6:25  
we used to and at school, we would go down into the shelters there in the crocodile to the to the school, it was fun. I was the right age to regard it as an adventure. But my older cousins of course realise the seriousness of it all. So it was it was very different for them. Great shame for the teenagers like it has been recently.

Unknown Speaker  6:47  
And at home, it was whichever you could do most quickly. And of course, you'd get woken up by your parents and dragged off a shelf somewhere other. But we did spend a lot of time starting the nights off at the Anderson shelter. And we had one of my girl cousins to stay with us for a long time during the war. She was very naughty.

Unknown Speaker  7:08  
So then we'll move into the post war period. But But But what was well, the post war came

Unknown Speaker  7:16  
1945 When I was coming up for 10 coming up for nine actually, and

Unknown Speaker  7:26  
not have been the year after that. I then started at Sir William Perkins.

Unknown Speaker  7:32  
That sort of teenage things. I wasn't a very good teenager to be honest. I wanted to do what I'm supposed to do. I was told and do all the sort of dating and boys and that kind of stuff. But I didn't. Didn't want to was the intro I like to read a lot and right. Did a lot of writing with my brother.

Unknown Speaker  7:52  
What about cinema? Yeah, love for cinema. Yeah. What are you What are you I was done recently, going to movies going to the cinema. I went with my father to see War of the Worlds don't know which version that was. And somebody told me I've got it wrong. But I think I know it was the War of the Worlds and I went with my mother to see a film called My foolish heart, which I think was

Unknown Speaker  8:17  
so named Susan Hayward and Danner Andrew Andrews, probably. And lovely crying film. Aside from that, when I was slightly older teenager, I used to go to what I think everybody has, or did then have a bughouse. And it was I didn't know about bugs was pretty Ropey and it was called the reagent. And I'd go either with my best friend then called Julian, who was also with me, it's William Perkins. And we used to see French films, we should love going to see French films, or sometimes a film with Frankie lane. You know, I used to be a great fan of Frankenstein. And no, I just did that a lot went on my own. But I was I suppose a bit of a loner, really.

Unknown Speaker  9:04  
So what into the sort of 50s though? Yeah, yeah. So when you left school, what what? What happened after school? Well, I'm afraid I was rather naughty at school because of my age. That particular school, I've insisted that you had to be 16 to take your own levels, or whatever they called, oh levels, their money. And I wasn't old enough. So they said I had done the whole course. And in the upper fifth, and they said, Well, you can't do do your own levels. The lower fifth will come up and join you. And I said No, thanks. So I left school since when I've been self taught, I suppose. And my father was devastated because he had ambitions right from the time I pass the exam, the scholarship as we call it.

Unknown Speaker  9:58  
He has great ambitions for me to do great

Unknown Speaker  10:00  
Things don't go to Oxford. Claudia did for me much later. And

Unknown Speaker  10:05  
so

Unknown Speaker  10:07  
he said, you're getting a job straight away.

Unknown Speaker  10:11  
And in those days, one of the best ways of getting a job was to look in the Evening Standard. So I duly looked in the Evening Standard, and saw this thing that said, Bond St. Atkinson's perfumers. I thought like the sound of that. And I went up there. And they said, Well, you're a bit young. So how come you went to school in Perkinson haven't got I said, Well, that's all Yes. It's all here. Yes. But it's pretty good. Because I've done my mocks. You see, they will good.

Unknown Speaker  10:37  
So they said, well, we can't take you because our company stipulates that you would have to start you have to be 16. And I was just 1515 and two months. So do you mind if we send your stuff to Unilever? I've never heard of Unilever. So I said, I don't mind. So a couple of weeks later, I suppose I got this letter saying Would I go up for an interview to Unilever, which I did. And and they pass me or whatever it was accepted me and I then did a course in every morning you did shorthand typing. Every afternoon, you will put your allocated to one of the many things. I mean, it's huge, or it's a Blackfriars massive building, wonderful building, I loved it walking across the bridge, and there is and the and I was allocated to the one I wanted, which was the United Africa company. And there I met the lady who became became my best friend for the rest of my life until she died six years ago. And I was allocated to drugs and perfumery. That was just luck. And she she was very upset. She was a tall girl. And she didn't couldn't stand short men. And her boss was short. And not only that he did grocery and provisions, which wasn't half as glamorous. And then we had a lovely two years there. So by this time, I'm 17. And I went, I thought, well, she left and I it wasn't the same. So I thought I'd find something else. Preferably in London. I love London. I still do. And

Unknown Speaker  12:08  
once again, the Evening Standard. And this one said

Unknown Speaker  12:13  
something about Secretary to firm of architects. And they were in Piccadilly. So I liked the sound of Piccadilly, and I knew it anyway. So I went to Piccadilly. I went interview, got the job, and started there. And within a week, they said, we're all moving to Manchester square. And I thought, well, Manchester, oh, go to Manchester. But you know, it's Baker Street. So and it was lovely. It was a big house, and we had access to the what's it called? The art collection there begins with W not work. Not Welbeck forgotten what it's called. But there's an art collection there in Manchester square. And every resident or company that's around in all the various properties are given a key. So it's more or less well, yeah, well, this collection. So we went though, well, ostensibly, when it was raining, but we went there anyway, you know, it's a handy place to go. Didn't look at the pictures. And so I then had three years there, three are very happy, very, very happiest. And it was really kind of before its time, because it was very multicultural, all sorts of nationalities there. Pretty well, all men, I think, are the architects. Delightful people very interesting. And I know we had day trips to properties, places they'd been working on one was Coventry Cathedral, which was just just delightful. And I met another Joan there who was also became a good friend. She's also sadly gone.

Unknown Speaker  13:49  
And then she decided after lots and lots of trouble to have a baby. And so she left and I thought, I'm a bit tired of London or the commuting. So I'll, I'll have a look in the evening set. So I looked at the Evening Standard by now I'm nearly 20. I don't know if I'm rushing ahead too much.

Unknown Speaker  14:07  
And it said Secretary required for sorry, film studio. And I thought, I think we've got a studio in both Nan Thames where of course I lived. So I thought. Wouldn't it be great if I just had to go there. So the interview was in cardigan square. And it was an American company called sapphire films. And the interviewer was a charming American who gave me the test. I was I'm sure I was useless. I was so nervous. I couldn't take gave the shorthand was okay, I got that down. Really bad. But the mechanical couldn't do. I didn't think I could anyway, but then. But you said have you heard of metal fold studios. They were about to become Walton studios. So I said, Yes. And he said, I said in fact I live in Walton. Now. I think that's why I got the job. Because when I got back to the office

Unknown Speaker  15:00  
I saw somebody speak it was only half an hour away. And so I gave my notice in but it was over anyway because don't had left and I knew it was time to move on. So I joined sapphire films the American company and as the

Unknown Speaker  15:18  
tell just told me about suffer from sci fi films was run by a lady called Hannah Weinstein merican a whole company was American. But they of course didn't overhear, employed British people, but, but she brought her entourage with her. And very clever, very talented lady, who I didn't realise till later, however, I was in the store department with this nice American who'd interviewed me. And we had our own little sort of shack there. And all these scripts for Robin Hood and his Merrie Men were coming in.

Unknown Speaker  15:54  
And I didn't know I was really green, very naive. I didn't know until I'd left the company a long time later, that these were the blacklisted writers from America who couldn't work there. So we're working here. absolutely charming. I had a wonderful time. And of course, Robin Hood was very successful described Robin Hood because that was Robin Hood is the legend of Robin Hood, what his whole thing in life was to rob the rich to help the poor.

Unknown Speaker  16:26  
Judge the TV series How important was that? I think it was very important was certainly very popular. But she then also did others like for Jasmine sort of freedom,

Unknown Speaker  16:39  
which was she did at the Buccaneers that was at Twickenham Robert Shaw so he became a big actress you know?

Unknown Speaker  16:46  
I don't think any any from Robin Hood did for just men, the four just men were Jack Hawkins

Unknown Speaker  16:55  
young, most people don't know these names, but you would know them Vittorio De Sica, who was actually a director, who wore and I must say, I wasn't be mean.

Unknown Speaker  17:04  
Vittorio De Sica, Richard Conte and Dan Daly. Dan Daly was a musical actor. So that was quite an eclectic Foursome, you know, and they went off to do their bit. So what are your first impressions when you when you when you when you went there, when I went to Alton studios, just loved it, fell in love with it instantly. And love the story department.

Unknown Speaker  17:27  
We work very hard, and often we had to work very late. So and I think that continues throughout my time in the film business that your, your social life and your working life are pretty well, one in the same. You know who you were working with them. I was working with our Rubin, who was the story editor. And then he went back to the states and there was a, an Australian called Raymond boughs. And he was also very nice, very different. And then a an Englishman called Louis marks, who I don't know if he's still around. I know my son Adam worked with him, but it wasn't 10 years ago. Maybe it's 10 years.

Unknown Speaker  18:08  
And he was still working then who's English. And he married the boss's secretary, Sonya marks. And so when that happened, and then she became pregnant, and the doctors said, If you don't spend all your pregnancy on your back, you will not have this baby. So she had two babies like that. So Hannah Fisher said, I want her me out of the office. So I was then had to decamped to her house in Byfleet. Beautiful house, but I didn't want to go because I loved it where I was. And I suppose these days you would say I was her PA? Because I she gave me lots of letters to write to these writers and all that sort of stuff. But also, she would, she would ask my advice on what she should wear. And she'd come out of her boudoir and say, What do you think?

Unknown Speaker  18:58  
But she was very nice, actually. Fisher is Hannah Weinstein. Yes, she's her a second second husband. She was then Hannah Weinstein. And then what happened was this gentleman called John Fisher. I don't know whether you already knew him. But Rumour has it that he came over to this to England to see Hannah. And he brought with him a huge sausage, which was her favourite type of sausage apparently, from the States. And anyway, she fell in love with him. And they got married. And then she became she said, I'm Hannah Fisher. And

Unknown Speaker  19:36  
I can't remember how much longer that went on.

Unknown Speaker  19:42  
Well, it went through the roof financial problems, I think. Yes. I don't really know what went on there. But

Unknown Speaker  19:50  
I mean, the franchise I mean, it was

Unknown Speaker  19:53  
Luke rates company things were made wrong, you know, Vegeta was Richard Green. Richard Green was

Unknown Speaker  20:00  
was played Robin Hood. Yes, it was. I mean, I remember as a child, you know, such a success was a lot of money was made. She did make a lot of money. And but after she got married, I don't know the ins and outs of what happened with John Fisher. But I, it wasn't good for her. And she just was so enamoured, you know. And then so I then left. Because I was then I think Sanyo came back her her previous secretary, and I, and then I heard while I was still with Hannah in the house, that somebody at Walton Studios, which now was wanted a production secretary, and was I interested, and I said, Well, I don't really know what a production secretary is, you know, I've only ever really worked in with Hannah and with the the writers. So anyway, I did nothing against her. I, I really enjoyed it, but I wants to get into the studio. And so I said, Yes, I'll I'll come in and give it a go. And I came over and the production manager was Fred gun. And it was a film that was being shot in France primarily. So I always remember the assistant director would ring me up the second assistant who was in France and say, Well, I presume you speak French. I said, Well, I did French at school. And he said, Well, I assume you can take the call sheet and in French, I said I'd rather take it in English. Then he sort of climbed down a bit and was alright. I thought I'm not going to risk trying to take her call. She didn't flinch. And yeah, I mean, it was okay, I did need a lot of help. I spent a lot of time crying. Because I was presented with a camera sheets and continuity. And I've never seen anything like it. And they were just sort of put on the desk and you know, get on with doing the progress report. But the accountants saved my life really saved my whole thing. The two weeks was tough. And then it was fine. That was fine. And so I stayed on that film, which was originally called destruction test, and then became circle of deception. And that was a lovely actor called Bradford Dillman. I don't know if he's still around. But he was I know, only a few years ago, and he looks wonderful. He hardly looks any older. Really nice man. And the the lead lady was a lady called Suzy Parker, who was really a model. But they married anyway, and went to the States, I think very, very happy as far as I know. And then, well, she's now a friend, another production secretary, as we would call them, rang me and I didn't know her really. And she said, Would you Are you ready to come over and do a film in Shepparton?

Unknown Speaker  22:38  
And I said, Oh, well, I don't drive. And she said all that's all right. Because she was rages everything. She said, Oh, that's all right. Because I said, Well, what is all this? And she said, what it's, it's a comedy film, and the production manager Jacqueline Lee. So

Unknown Speaker  22:55  
I thought I like the sound of that like the sound of the French I love French. You see, I've always loved French and things fringe. And so I thought Yeah, okay, well, why not? I know what I'm doing now, you know? So that I went over to Shepparton and yes, car picked me up brought me home, nor that unit car. And did this film called a weekend with Lulu. And Jack was delightful. And isn't that one of those photos? That was his birthday there? And

Unknown Speaker  23:25  
and it was lots of fun. It was surely eaten and Bob Monkhouse I believe and that Leslie Phillips says the Phillips was still around. Yeah. Great collection. Yes, yes, that's right. Tell me about your first impressions of coming to Shepperton because that was bigger.

Unknown Speaker  23:44  
Yes, it's bigger. But I like to I love all that. You see, I just love the whole atmosphere.

Unknown Speaker  23:50  
And by then I was really loving being in the production office, I always have. I've never keen to go on the set really. And except initially, with any film, the new crew, the new, the new setup, the new actors and so on. But that pulls because there's, you know, there's loads of repetition and hanging around, and it's just not for me, never wants to move to work and anything like that. I like behind the scenes. And so I yeah, I just loved it. And we have been back to Shepparton since a couple of times, but more recently, about five years ago, because our other daughter got married there for her second time around. Yeah. And I went into the office, I was in on something else. Yeah. Would you have much contact with the actors then at all? Not a great deal. To be honest. You could if he wants to go out of your way to get on the set, whether or not you needed to, but I didn't. I wish I had quite honestly.

Unknown Speaker  24:46  
Most of them I met were very nice. They would occasionally come by the production office. Sometimes just because they were bored just for a break to have a chat sometimes because they wants to ask you if you wouldn't mind doing something very nicely, you know, so. So yes, but I

Unknown Speaker  25:00  
Other than that,

Unknown Speaker  25:02  
I didn't really get to know any particularly well

Unknown Speaker  25:06  
because the next one I've got for you is 1961 dentist on the job which was roughly the same the same same casket was well it wasn't sorry people who made it but and I don't know whether it was popular or not, but Bob Monkhouse was in that. Now Bob Monkhouse I'm sure you know was was not at all like his public persona. Well, he was a bit like it, but he cultivated that persona. And I'm sure it did him very well. But he was a very, very talented, very good writer, charming man was extremely close, he would come down and say, darling, do you have time? Could you possibly I know you're very busy, but and I was delighted. I think Nevermind the production office work. I'll do this for Bob Monkhouse. He's very, very nice. They're all nice, actually. It was fun, but it was. I don't know what happened to a dentist on the job. I'm not a title. I remember it. I think I think they changed it two or three times before they got to that.

Unknown Speaker  26:00  
But um, yeah, it was great fun. I'm sure we've got next. I've got the days the earthquake. Oh, yes. Very interesting film that was directed by Valve guests. Our guest written with vowel and Wolf bank have it? Yes. So it was a completely different ultimate science fiction. Yes. And it was something about bear in mind that I didn't acquire nearly as much technical knowledge as I should have done. Mostly because I was always interested in the stories and the script, but not the technicalities. And I'm not to this day, I mean, I do technology, because you have to get by these days, but it's not. It's not my bag, as they say. And so I didn't learn as much as I should have done and I regret it

Unknown Speaker  26:47  
to a degree, but it was about I believe the sun for some reason. It's something that's happened, that throne, it's slightly off its course, therefore it was going to come much more rapidly towards the Earth. So the temperatures were going up and up and up and up. So all the actors were on screaming, I'm going around dripping and Janet Monroe was it you've got there and Ian Hendry. And the big one, of course, it was supposed to be Britain's answer to but Paul Newman, Eddie George, Edward Gerard. And I did. I met him in the bar a few times. I don't think we talk to each other. That's, and I know he's sadly gone now because I've seen him

Unknown Speaker  27:30  
on screen more recently. And I also hear that he was a great friend of Michael Caine's, and I'm a fan of Michael Caine. So I thought he must be all right. It was just a bad timing on both both parts, I think, you know, but it was a very, it was a good film. And also, I'm now watching on talking pictures. Leo mckern has Rumpole of the Bailey. And it was Leo mckern was in that film. And the other thing we had the other person was Arthur Christiansen, who was actually the editor of the Daily Express. So there was a lot of night work. And I was hated it when they did not work. Because not that I had to go and do it. I didn't but I was in the studio. With nobody around in the day. Very boring. I couldn't wait for them to come back and do a show much more. Yeah, because you've got that will the atmosphere and everything.

Unknown Speaker  28:17  
9060 to gun on the boat, which none of wisdom, Millicent Martin, Sheila Hancock, again, some good names. There was a powerful thing going on there with this man in your life, to be the man in your life. Love and wisdom was that was the connection between you and your husband? Well, only that we've both worked on films with him. But separately. Yeah, not that's not the same film. And I don't know what Ken said to you. But

Unknown Speaker  28:51  
I'm not. Let me put it this way. Let me be as discreet as I can.

Unknown Speaker  28:58  
Not discreet, no polite.

Unknown Speaker  29:01  
I'm not a fan of slapstick. Anyway, I'm really not sipping up on a banana skin. I laugh at the things that nobody else laughs

Unknown Speaker  29:10  
I can laugh. And I don't sell anyway. But yes, it was fun. We went down to Southampton to the boat. And Richard Briars was Fisher Price in that. That's awesome. So beyond that, this, Richard Breyers. Sheila Hancock, as you said, an actor called Philip Locke, who had a close eye but he's still he still worked while he was working in that. And I think the in fact, I know the art director on that was Tony masters who married the girl and it was Heather says

Unknown Speaker  29:43  
and it was fun. And of course most of the time I was in the hotel in the production office. I mean, I did get on the boat a couple of times, but

Unknown Speaker  29:54  
I mean it was it was all to me. It was all fun. It was I'm always interested in the initial call

Unknown Speaker  30:00  
exceptive the script, but once it's underway, you can only do so much with the material you've got. So then it was about, you know, just just enjoying the whole process of making the film.

Unknown Speaker  30:12  
We've got same year, the main attraction. Yes, Pat Boone, Pat Boone and Nancy Kwan Moser settling my settling and Karen more. Was it caramel? Not sure. He's a yes. Now that was yes, that was a very crucial time in my personal life. And

Unknown Speaker  30:37  
I very nearly didn't do that film. I was out in Spain,

Unknown Speaker  30:42  
with all the crew and everybody on Lawrence of Arabia already, but I wasn't working on it. I was just out there in Seville, because it was all over the place, you know. And

Unknown Speaker  30:55  
as I said, it was a bad time for me. So my parents, I had my I was living in my own flat. It wasn't mine, but I rented it in my flat then in Weybridge and my parents were still in Walton, and my dead mom was ringing me up saying all this production manager is desperate to get hold of and I was not going to do anything. I'm not gonna do anything. Anyway, of course, I knew I had to. So I came back and met Roy Parkinson and started the film. And we were all going to Italy. I like asleep very much. I thought yeah, this sounds good. But there was some scare going on with smallpox. So we all had to have the vaccination. And so we do really had a fascination. And then of course, you know, when it's like in the film industry, we're not going to see anymore. Our band goes, however, we are going to Austria. I thought what is alright, but you don't need the vaccination. We're too bad because we've all had it. I don't think you can see the mark now, but you could for a long time. And in those days, I cared about that. And so we were in Shepparton. And we went off to Austria to a place called could tie up and I also they said the production manager Roy Parkinson said, and now, darling, you can catch yourself out completely when I said but I'm not gonna ski. He said no, no, no, but you can have them anyway. You know, get yourself a jacket and the boots and I thought, well, this is wonderful. And they were great. So I had all that. And could I was a delight. I've never been anywhere like that. And, and I saw and slept in the first doovy I ever had, because they weren't, you know, commonplace like they are now. Everything was white, the snow and all the bedding. Oh, it was just wonderful. And we're all up there. Having a great time, no sleep whatsoever. And then the, of course, I did go out a couple of times. For you poor things. I'm so glad I'm going back to the office. And it was cold. And and they say oh, you know, as you do in the production office now, you've got to keep the soup going in the winter. And you've got to keep all the cold drinks going in the summer, obviously. And of course you did. You've got to, and that was lovely. And then Pat Boone I spoke to a few times he was a really lovely man. Nancy Kwan fell in love with her skin started because I don't think she'd ever skied before when she was required to. And she married him. I think they went to live in the States. I think he was Austrian or Swiss or something. And I saw her on screen the other day in something that's made relatively recently. But I don't know what's happened and I didn't get get to know her. And I think she got that on the strength of the world have Suzie Wong or something like that? Yeah. And, and then at the end, at the end of the shooting crew tie, all the unit went down to innsbrook.

Unknown Speaker  33:48  
Because we were flying back from Innsbruck, you know, that's a terrible airport to fly into, because we flew into Innsbruck. And when we flew in, I didn't know that how dangerous it was considered. So we're going in like that. I'm thinking, Oh, well, you know, the pilot must network is doing then after I think, actually, I think they closed it didn't there some years later, they were closer completely anyway, so.

Unknown Speaker  34:09  
So anyway, we went down after that. So of course, I'm in the production office with Roy. And we're lost naturally got to clear everything, I think, although they've all gone, and we're law. So as we went down to innsbrook, suddenly, all that lack of sleep, and you're like, Oh my God, what's happening? We're ill No, we're not ill. It's just the fact that it all because of the change in the altitude. So anyway, we got to get to that.

Unknown Speaker  34:35  
Went into that and it's still only mid morning and there's all the crew with all the empty champagne bottles, like this is all around the restaurant.

Unknown Speaker  34:44  
And I thought oh, you rotten lot. You've drunk all the champagne. You're all plastered, and you're all just flopping around because they weren't shooting that day or anything. And anyway, that was it. And then we flew back. I think that was the end of or before that we had one night

Unknown Speaker  35:00  
Pinku tie where we all went out to a disco, I suppose. And it was the twist. And the director Dan Pete Petrie was doing the twist. And he said, Oh, come on, come on. I can't do that. I can't I love dancing. I can't do that. But I thought, well, you're not great. I'll have a go. So we did the twist on in the nightclub, nightclub, the whatever it was, before we came back. It was a it was a happy film. Yeah, it was a happy film. For me anyway, but I they were all happy for me because I didn't get involved. Luckily, with all the with any scraps that went on on the set, and the problems? Of course,

Unknown Speaker  35:36  
not I mean, the problems of personalities and stuff, you know,

Unknown Speaker  35:42  
again, the same year, I think you've you worked as a production coordinator on the Barbara Stamford Hill. Yes, that was a little film with Pat green, the production manager and other things you say?

Unknown Speaker  35:56  
People said other production people said to me, that shouldn't secretaries. Oh, well with a woman. I said, Well, why not? I don't. They said, Do you know her? I said, No, I've never met her. But you know, she was fine. We got along fine. You know,

Unknown Speaker  36:13  
there's always these prejudices that people don't ditch don't know. They've never tried it. And who was that? Ben RB productions, I think. And

Unknown Speaker  36:25  
you know what, I can't tell you much about that film. I think it was pretty uneventful. As far as I'm concerned. It was a it was a small film. I think it sank without trace, as far as I know, I couldn't find out much about

Unknown Speaker  36:37  
the next film was quite quite an interesting one. That was in 1963. Was the small world of Sammy Lee. Was until Julie Julie, Julia foster or Mitchell Wilfred Bramble, Robert Stevens.

Unknown Speaker  36:55  
and directed by Ken can use Yes, yes. But what was originally called the small sad world of Samuel is a TV programme to begin with me can use a thinking written as a treat. I didn't know that. That became obviously

Unknown Speaker  37:15  
a big screen. I don't know. All I know, know is that of course, as the newly was huge as a music. Musical started not musical as a theatre style really musical pop stars. Yes. Absolutely. And she married Joan Collins. Didn't he want one? Yeah. And so yeah, that was some. Yes, it was it was a good cast and interesting cast. Let me think who who did you mention Robert Stevens who, who married Maggie Smith.

Unknown Speaker  37:45  
Yeah, he was there. And Julia Foster.

Unknown Speaker  37:49  
She, you probably know, this is the mother of Ben Fogle, who does all the nature's and animal stuff and everything else. And

Unknown Speaker  38:01  
well, it was, I suppose really, you could say the whole concept it was about sleazy life. I mean, Robert Stevens paid a really sleazy role. It was very,

Unknown Speaker  38:11  
it was it was not I mean, they're all nice enough, because as I said, I didn't I didn't get close to them. I mean, I don't know what they were like. I'm told, I know, in fact, the difference in working with somebody on the set, obviously, than just when you occasionally see them, and they're always pleasant to the same to me. So they take it out on the production manager, but not on production. So better not

Unknown Speaker  38:34  
know, but we've got we've got inventory 64 and a comedy man. Yes. Which started kind of more Edmond permanent. Pardon. Frank Finley? Dennis price. Yes. And Billie Whitelaw, yes.

Unknown Speaker  38:51  
Again, from I don't know particularly. Well, it was about Kenneth Moore and Edmund Purdom. Were kind of not very successful actors sharing a flat, basically what it was about, and trying to get work and rushing to the phone and all that sort of stuff. And Edmund Purdom was the star of sort of freedom. But I don't know if he remembered me at all, I think probably does, but anyway,

Unknown Speaker  39:20  
and Billie Whitelaw was ill during that film, she was very, very nice. She used to come in the office, she had back problems and used to come in the office and say, and there was a big sofa for anybody for visitors. And do you mind if I lied at all please, and she was in a state poor girl. She must have been doped up to the eyeballs so she could get through the work that she was real troopers they say and

Unknown Speaker  39:48  
kind of more. I'm, I didn't get to know him, you see, but I think my brothers worked with him a few times and skin.

Unknown Speaker  39:56  
I can't remember. But anyway, he is very, very nice and

Unknown Speaker  40:00  
thing about that film. At the time, which everybody was talking about, as they all do, was that the girl in it was Angela Douglas. And Kenneth Moore was married with a family. And he fell in love, they fell in love with each other. But it wasn't just a light hearted thing. It was really, really serious. And he left his wife ultimately, but it was all going on men, it was all wonderful. It was all in the early days of everything. And, and I know for a fact, I've seen her interviewed recently, she she did remarry after kind of more died, or sometime after, I think he's an American anyway, she lives in the States. But she said, I've been so lucky. I've had two men in my life, both of whom are wonderful. And I've adored both of them. So you know, they it was, that was what the topic of conversation was, I remember the production secretaries to come in and say you want to hear the latest little bit of scandalous, not really, because I'm trying to get this. But I'll listen anyway, till the day, I was at Ken's work with Tony David, who said most of the continuity goals were nice, you know, I, I, that I remember, I got on well with them. Because I looked at women, I liked men as well. But I mean, you know, everybody, you take to some people, some people you don't take too, and as I said, I got on with them. They were always nice to me. But of course, I never wanted to do continuity, because I didn't want to be one of the boys on the set never appealed to me. So there you go.

Unknown Speaker  41:27  
Also, I wanted ultimately, to have children. I didn't know that I ever wants to get married. But I always knew I wanted to have children. And I do know that lots of continuity. Girls never got around to getting married and having children. And that's their loss, isn't it?

Unknown Speaker  41:43  
1964 same year.

Unknown Speaker  41:48  
The system, etc. And the system starting Oliver Reed? Ah, well, I wasn't actually on the film to work on that. I did. I worked with Michael Weiner, right? Because another lovely production Secretary who'd obviously had enough, rang me up and said, Did you fancy or would you come and work for Michael wiener? And I said, I don't know. I've never met him. And she said all you know, he's really nice to his production secretaries. I said, yeah. So she said, It's only for three weeks. And it was post production. They were doing post syncing and all that sort of stuff. So

Unknown Speaker  42:27  
I thought, Well, I'm not doing anything. Sometimes when that happened, because it was so busy in those days, you know, it really was the golden age. I mean, people say this is another golden age. But that was the golden age. Shepparton was wonderful. I haven't got on I'm digressing. I know, but I even got onto the road to Bali set once. And they were shooting the road to Hong Kong. And I thought I've heard that Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin are visiting today. And my production manager had heard Bob Stern, lovely Bob Stern. And he's he said, I suppose you want to go over to that set and see if you can find them. And I said, Well, I wouldn't mind. So off you go. Lovely. And so I got there and the red light was on, come on, red light came off. And these two blokes came out into the in between the safety door.

Unknown Speaker  43:16  
And suddenly, oh, my God, it's Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. So we literally collided. And they both said simultaneously, I'm so terribly sorry. And I thought, Oh, my God. So I didn't want to go on the set of that, because it left me with Dorothy Lamar and Bob, I don't want to know, I'm not bothered. But I did, of course, and Bob Hope was always you close it in, in the restaurant. That's where I saw a lot of the actors because they'd always be in the restaurant as opposed to the cafeteria.

Unknown Speaker  43:42  
So I would see them but not to get to know them. But anyway, I'm sorry. I went interruption. So where were we with? Oh, the system, the post?

Unknown Speaker  43:52  
Yes. So that really was not from my point of view, it was Twickenham. And it was about discovering what Michel Weiner was like from just from my point of view now. He was perfectly okay for me.

Unknown Speaker  44:08  
As I said earlier, as they all were. And so, one day, I was very naughty, and I, to be honest, wants to go and get my hair done.

Unknown Speaker  44:19  
Because as I said, we never had any time even then, even though they weren't shooting, there was never any time to get your head. And those days, I was having bouffant hair and back combing on the lawn. It was my I had to have it. I went to a very early appointment and got in late. And this is awful, but it is a confession. And he's ha what's going on you. Oh, you knew that I had served her coming. And I said, Oh, because I had I knew this man was coming. This other man wasn't that important, but it was to Michael. And I thought, I said, Well, I'm sorry, but my lift was late. And he said, No, it wasn't. He said I rang up the person that gave me a lift, and he said he dropped you off down the road at eight o'clock. Oh my god.

Unknown Speaker  44:59  
So at

Unknown Speaker  45:00  
Oh, I'm found out. So I said, I'm terribly sorry. He said, You've lied to me. I said, Yes, I have. And I'm really sorry. And it will never happen again. Right. All right. Well, we'll carry on. I'm so glad I did. Because some considerable time later, he rang me when I was on something else towards the end before I got married, and said, was I interested in doing casting? And

Unknown Speaker  45:25  
a bit of me wishes I'd taken him up on it, because it would have been starting off as doing some assistant casting probably, or maybe not. But I love all the sort of actors and things, you know, and I'll say to Ken, from watching, talking pictures, you know,

Unknown Speaker  45:41  
I know who that is. And he'll say,

Unknown Speaker  45:44  
never seen them as young, you know, because these are films from absolute disco. And I'll say, I guess, look at the credit. That's why we watch it half the time because some of the films are okay. And some of them are not. And, and Don 99 times out of 100. I just love the whole thing about the actors and and the parts they've played and what where they are now, if anywhere I get the interesting offer from from Michael widow was on a specific project or not that I know of, he just he obviously had a gap, one of his he obviously couldn't get the cost indirect he wanted. And I may have mentioned when I was with him, by the way, that three weeks turned into about three months. But it suited me and as I said, I got on with him. And I think we understood each other. I was out of order. And I admit a bit like Boris Johnson. No, not like Boris Johnson. I don't think he confessed immediately, but I did. What could I do? I was caught out I'd live that was it. And I did regret it. I mean, I think if I'd said well, actually, I want to have my head on. It was very nice. Something like that. I don't know. But anyway, yeah, we got on fine. And the only the only time I saw Oliver Reed was in the posting theatre when Michael said can you go along, take these extra things and all that so I didn't really meet him. Instead thought this wonderful, wonderful moment with Mike Michael Weiner adore you and see same services. Well, somebody I know well, I know that they've done this a couple I don't know whether you did it with the marshals Brian and Dory Marshall. Could be it was a few years Dorians no longer with us. Brian is 92 Or three. He's a sound mixer, and he's coming out he's come out now of hospital. And in fact I owe him a call and I'm gonna ring when I get back because he's been through this to

Unknown Speaker  47:41  
another interesting thing, again, is a proposal system was was shot by Nicolas Roeg. Yes. Yes. Who obviously went on to? Yes, I think I in fact, I know I first saw Nicolas Roeg at Walton studios, but Hannah's parts the Sapphire films part was separate. So while the studio was functioning, making independent films, with their own staff, Walton studios, staff and then all the the, you know, the franchises and people coming in

Unknown Speaker  48:14  
to make each production that was you know, is is a separate production usually. And during that part, we were running completely separately. So just by chance, I got to know the girl that Meredith is the head of sound on on for woodland studios, who was allocated to whichever film came in, and they married and they live around the corner of Moscow. There's just all there.

Unknown Speaker  48:41  
That was the sort of romance of Wharton students for what it's worth. But anyway, Yes, Nicolas Roeg was there and John Gilman was was directing on something there. But when those films come up, for example, on talking pictures, sometimes I Oh, yeah, I remember that. But I wasn't there that long. And of course, you're very tied up with what I was doing. I was working for sci fi films. So I never worked for Walden Studios, which she just had her her own. There's some interesting people work there as well. Lindsay Anderson was yes, yeah. And John paddy casters he did. I've got a book that he wrote that he's signed inside to me on them on that. And she Yeah, she got a lot of interesting people, because Nicole was the producer. on them all. Basil Appleby, whom I mentioned earlier, I think he'd given up the idea of acting, he was casting director, stroke associate producer, and then he went off to emo he remarried and went off to live in Austria, I think, married a German lady. And he went on, he lived in Australia too. But anyway, and then the production manager was Harold buck.

Unknown Speaker  49:52  
Now that was a lovely time, but I wasn't I wasn't even connected with them because I was in the script department, which is useful to

Unknown Speaker  50:00  
To make these sort of links, though, I think that's it's, you know, it's an intro. It was an interesting time, you know, of the small small studios. And then obviously we moved to Shepperton when that closed when Walton closed Yes, well after. Once I got into Shepperton on weekend with Lulu.

Unknown Speaker  50:20  
It suited me very well to look at the films that were coming up. And obviously if they were at Shepperton, I lived at Walton. I never went to L Street or Boerum barnwood or or any of that I didn't need to I didn't want to and the only even when they said

Unknown Speaker  50:40  
you know we're Buccaneers is going to be made at twit my home I don't go to Twickenham, but I mean, I had the unit car. So you know, I've been a bit, you know, bit some hoity toity

Unknown Speaker  50:51  
doorsteps, really. And of course, when I got there, it was nice, nice little studio. And in fact, one of the editing department John Glenn, he went on to do the bonds, some of the bonds. Yeah. I remember sitting in the cafeteria with John Byrne. Yeah. So 1964

Unknown Speaker  51:10  
And you were Production Coordinator. Ballad and blue. Yeah. and Ireland?

Unknown Speaker  51:17  
Because that was rituals. Yes. Tom Bell. Yes. What are your memories of? Oh, my memories of that a very mixed because the production manager was Matt Davidson, known as Mac lovely man. Absolutely, sweetheart. He was. And

Unknown Speaker  51:39  
Rachel, Rachel, I did I could get to that later. So we're all in London doing pre production. And Max said all the directors over from the States. And he's got some script changes. And he'd like you to go over to the Nether words, you're going over to the Dorchester to 10 dance. I said, Oh, I'm such a sticking the guy wants to stay in abduction. So anyway, he said,

Unknown Speaker  52:04  
Oh, you might have heard of him. Paul Henry read. Now pour him read was one of my idols. You know, Bette Davis, what was it called that film? That famous famous film now Voyager.

Unknown Speaker  52:18  
So I thought I'd be more nervous now. Anyway, over Oh, what a delight. He was. Notice my illusions were not shattered at all. He was he was so charming. I even relaxed enough to take all this stuff back and get it tight back later and all that stuff. I think I went there two or three times, and it's nice going to the Dorchester too intimidating but nice. And then we all went out to Ireland. And I didn't want to go I was in another bit of a turmoil, personal life thing. And it was part of where we were in Bray, shooting embrace studios. Staying in Dublin. No staying in Bray, flew into Dublin. Yes. And we flew out from Belfast because we couldn't fly out from Dublin. I can't remember why. And

Unknown Speaker  53:06  
so the film itself was was okay. I, as I said, I was in a bit of a complicated personal situation then. So it wasn't ideal, but

Unknown Speaker  53:18  
and then again, it's similar thing. Mac said, Oh, we want you to go into the Intercontinental Ray Charles would like you to take Scripture.

Unknown Speaker  53:30  
Now, I don't know if I was a fan or not of Ray Charles. Music. But yes, of course, he was a legend. You know, Trump, to some people still is. So.

Unknown Speaker  53:42  
But I thought, oh my god, you know, I'm not gonna be able to do it. I don't have much faith in myself at all. And anyway, I went there. And he was in this lovely, lovely suite with a white piano, huge white piano. There. He was, his usual swaying around bit playing away as I entered, and I thought I was even if I couldn't say, I'm here, who taught me to do and but actually, I think it was about half a dozen lines. And I said, Oh, is there anything else? I just took this down. He said, that's all so they sent me over there just to take down this slight change to the dialogue. And that was it. But I met him so you know, that was an experience. Tom Bell was okay.

Unknown Speaker  54:28  
But I was I did

Unknown Speaker  54:32  
you not listening? I didn't know. I didn't like Ireland because I wanted to be an infant. And as I said earlier, I love the sun. So and it was glorious here. It was a real heatwave. and Ireland was very pretty, very green but it was grey. And I thought ah, this is going to I get very affected by that by the weather. So anyway, and what with everything else combined I just wanted to get home and

Unknown Speaker  55:00  
And of course I couldn't. So

Unknown Speaker  55:03  
anyway, and to me, and I know people will say it's charming, and in a way it is. But when I tried to get things done, and I'd say to the one of the unit car drivers, you know, I shouldn't I used to say we needed it to when we need you to do it for a while. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker  55:21  
Of course, it wasn't there at four was it?

Unknown Speaker  55:26  
Yeah, and so it was like, everything was slow bit like Spain. And Spain still is. But anyway. And also, it was his own time, it was like in a time warp. And not only that, I couldn't get my head. I couldn't get my hair done, not in the way to which I was accustomed. And the did nice hairdresser lady said, Oh, don't worry, I'll do it for you. And she's very sweet. But I wanted all the full works. And she hadn't got time to do that. For me. She was looking at the others.

Unknown Speaker  55:54  
And there were some nice people on that film. I'm sure Ray Charles was nice. I never heard that. He wasn't that I only had that brief encounter with Him. And

Unknown Speaker  56:04  
so, you know, I, Mary, Mary, Mary Paige was in it. Don Adams, John Adams was the same size as me. And they bought all this wonderful wardrobe and luxury. And everything gloves, kid gloves, and God knows what didn't use most of it. So I was given it all.

Unknown Speaker  56:25  
I was gonna say fit like a glove. But that's

Unknown Speaker  56:29  
but it was it was okay. And then we came back and that was all right. Next up was 1965 was

Unknown Speaker  56:39  
repulsion. Oh. Polanski

Unknown Speaker  56:43  
starring Catherine de nerve.

Unknown Speaker  56:46  
Who a guy that had just finished lip. Air. We did shut boom.

Unknown Speaker  56:53  
From the sublime to the Yes, absolutely. Tell me about working on repulsion.

Unknown Speaker  57:02  
How did how did that happen? And how did that come?

Unknown Speaker  57:06  
Hang on now. repulsion was connected to Compton films. Bobster was a production manager I worked with a lot that was one of competence films. And, and they had another one going on at the same time called called a sec. And Bob said, Well, I'm doing repulsion, Twickenham. I can't remember whether so they had to have to, to a production to have everything.

Unknown Speaker  57:30  
And so I said, Well,

Unknown Speaker  57:34  
what's it about? Of course, it's got French lady in it. So I thought, I know. I knew Katherine. And of course, of course. And then and Bob said, you may have heard of the director REM Polanski and I said, knife in the water. Bob said Well,

Unknown Speaker  57:47  
of course he was famous in his own country for that. That's, you know, he was known for that. Anyway. So, off we trotted over to Twickenham. And

Unknown Speaker  58:00  
I didn't have a lot of connection with a set, but I heard a lot of stories. I don't I think Katherine was finding it hard work. Because it it was such a gloomy down part to play. I actually, when you think about it, shades of what was that one that Kirk Douglas did with? Glenn Close where she Boyle's the kind of shades of that red. Maybe they got that? From that? Who knows? What Yes. Yeah, it was after, wasn't it? Yes. And

Unknown Speaker  58:31  
anyway, and then Roman arrives.

Unknown Speaker  58:36  
Now, Roman. We all know about Roman Polanski. And

Unknown Speaker  58:43  
he loved to eat. He came to I don't know how long he'd been in England. But I do know that he was he learned English virtually from scratch. He hadn't needed to about him. Very clever, talented man. No doubt about it. And he, I don't know how long it really was. But it was not long, maybe a month they did an intensive query must have done because he came to the production office. And I was introduced. And then he said, right, can we get started? And I thought, Oh,

Unknown Speaker  59:16  
of course. He's the director. And he liked to dictate with you typing straight on as he said it, which I hate. I hated that. And I still would. Because you know, in those days, if you made mistakes, you've got all these carbon copies, you've got to put the things in the shield, rub it out and try and get it back in the same place. And it was just so different now. But anyway,

Unknown Speaker  59:38  
but his English was impeccable and so fluid and fluent and extraordinary. What could you describe his demeanour style at this point as well? Roman. He was very, very courteous, very confident, very confident in himself. I mean, he knew he was good and he was

Unknown Speaker  1:00:00  
Good. And I think he was reasonably popular as far as I know. But he knew exactly what he wanted. And one of the things he wanted was real blood on the set. And of course, we all went.

Unknown Speaker  1:00:15  
Why? Because you can have sham blood artificial blood. No, no, he wanted real blood. And it was, I'm sure it was hot. And the continuity girl said, I'm not going on the set of they've got real blood. You know what that's gonna be like. Anyway, we said, Bob said you, was it? But yeah, it was Bob.

Unknown Speaker  1:00:35  
Always in that picture.

Unknown Speaker  1:00:37  
Oh, you'll never get it. Never good. But he did get it. Because he had friends in high places shot in black and white as well. Yes. Yeah. So but do you see? And maybe it was just to prove a point that he had connections, and he could get what he wanted. And, you know, the film is, I think, quite highly regarded.

Unknown Speaker  1:00:58  
But it was more very downbeat. And it sort of it did communicate throughout the thing. But I mean, I always had a nice time, because it was always, you know, I mean, around the production office, it was always fun, because it's all cool. The Brahmas literally is going on over there on the set, and they'd triple back to us all now. There's just no okay. Well, carry on.

Unknown Speaker  1:01:18  
But, yeah, I mean, to be honest, some of those films.

Unknown Speaker  1:01:24  
In fact, I would have said, when I when I finished in the business that I hadn't really worked on anything of note at all, but it was great fun, you know, but actually, some of them have sort of belatedly

Unknown Speaker  1:01:37  
I wouldn't say become cult films, but maybe some people would but you know, they've they've acquired something else. One or two of them, but the rest haven't.

Unknown Speaker  1:01:46  
Wanted to we need to go go on to Yeah.

Unknown Speaker  1:01:52  
65 I'm not sure about the chronology of all this. You had the pleasure girls with from Francesco. Honest. Yes, you machine and close. Kinski. Yes. What are your memories of that? Well, we shot that in a house in Kensington. And of course, Francesca is still very much around, and I've seen her on stage quite a bit too.

Unknown Speaker  1:02:14  
She was gorgeous. She was a gorgeous young woman. And now I think she's a gorgeous older woman. And

Unknown Speaker  1:02:22  
I mean, it was a pretty I suspect it was a light hearted but it was a light hearted film. It was what it says the pleasure girls and Francesca is was only name really that I think you'd remember now which the other actors because shame what he's done very well since he went to the States class. Krinsky, I think, possibly came in on a on a English German deal thing, because that happened a lot didn't it?

Unknown Speaker  1:02:49  
Probably still does.

Unknown Speaker  1:02:51  
Yeah, he's the blonde. So square it. Yeah. Yeah. And, but it was different because we were in the house. So it is you are in closer contact. But I got on very well with the production. The continuity, girl de Vaughn. And the cameraman, I think was called Taylor. And they ultimately married I mean, he had been married, but they did marry. And as far as I know, but I don't I don't think he's around. I don't know she is. But it was fun. Because it was. They were all fun. They were all fun. So that's why I love it so much. I always did always will. But I think it was the times, you know, and being young, in 1965. I mean, that was an important year in your life is personal. What do you mean meeting Ken? Yes. Well, I

Unknown Speaker  1:03:43  
I think we I think he he says he met me. Before I say I met him.

Unknown Speaker  1:03:51  
I guess he was around and I know I don't I don't know what happened, really. But it was Oh, my difficult relationship before Kim was That was when I was in Ireland, and that the person involved was over here. And all that not all the time, but a lot. I was with that person for two years. Ken was the second year was rang me up every night. Wherever I'd been whatever time it was. It's all over. It's all over. And I said no. And it's never going to be what it is to be sought after. Oh my god. And oh, well, you know, I said, but please don't because you're not like to go to bed. No. And that went on for a long time. And then lo and behold, the day comes when he rang me up and said what is it what it is doesn't make any difference? I just want to be alone great Garbo thing.

Unknown Speaker  1:04:43  
And I was very Yeah, it's all experience, isn't it? And then yeah, and then then we worked on studying terror. I don't know if you've come to that yet. But and then we worked on that together. But I think my brother was on that it was my brother's

Unknown Speaker  1:05:00  
and assistant was assistant director. And

Unknown Speaker  1:05:04  
yeah, so, and I thought he's so different from all the others, like a breath of fresh air, thought I, and he turns out to be just like

Unknown Speaker  1:05:14  
you all are.

Unknown Speaker  1:05:17  
But, so yeah, what were your first impressions of him? Ken? Well, for a start, he was younger. He's younger than me. And, and my all my other boyfriends weren't low told me but older than me. And he, I thought he's, oh, he's a nice young man. His laugh is nice looking. And, you know, so much was it take me out? That's very nice, and very persistent and so on. And as I said, a bit bit more lighthearted, you know, and, as far as I know, well, light and good at his work, you know, it gets reemployed and everything else so it must be all right.

Unknown Speaker  1:05:55  
So our first date was I was working then on

Unknown Speaker  1:06:01  
Pardon us? No, that was that was that he was telling me it was only with the writer. All right, even Ivan Ivan Moffat. Yeah, Georgia, golden. Georgia was the film. I mean, the other one, he was telling me I did pre production in London offices. And above us were Dudley Moore and Peter Cook. And they used to come down and say, Oh, hi, everybody. All right. Anybody want a coffee? So that was that was just a side thing. That was nice. But um, Ivan Moffat was working on the script and who was the director on that? I can't remember. But it's big stars Kirk Douglas. And

Unknown Speaker  1:06:39  
the other one another big star anyway, Richard Harris, it might have been anyway, I was just doing pre production. But Georgie girl, I did the pre production. I did the whole film. And I then met the production manager was Clive Reed. And Clive Reed was the first assistant director whom I scarcely saw on the first film I ever did, which was circle of deception. But he was out in France. And when moves back, he was on the set. So

Unknown Speaker  1:07:06  
very nice looking man. And when we when I went into the production office, the first I met him, and he said, Ryan, got to make something really clear here. I don't hold with this long lunch hours for production secretaries. cyfle. Right. He said, all this going off and getting your hair done. And I thought, all right. And he said, so you know, I believe in an alpha launch. And I said, Yes, fine, fine, fine, Clive, you know. So, anyway, we got on like a house on fire. He was it wasn't difficult. It was a lovely man. But he obviously had had some unfortunate experiences and been left in the lurch. I don't know who know names, I don't know. And we got on very, very well. But I had a dear friend who used to ring me up in office hours, and he just say, Who is this ring office where it was Ken? Who is this focus puller ringing you up? And I said, Oh, he's just some young lad, you

Unknown Speaker  1:07:58  
won't last long. You know, he won't bother you for long. That was one and the other one was this friend of mine and darling. Anyway, she's no longer with us. She died very young. Very, very sad. And anyway, so he went on about her. So I said, Look, you should meet her client. You might like her? No. Anyway, one day I said, By the way, I was coming over for lunch. And we were by then down in sheperson. Oh, God, how long is that gonna take? I said, Oh, not the usual hour. You know what I'm and those days they had a production managers meeting for all the production managers in the studio on all the productions at two o'clock. So when she coming I suppose she'd be here before one. Okay, well, don't be long when you're Muslim. Do you know

Unknown Speaker  1:08:42  
incomes at her now she's blonde. I knew she was everything that Clive loved. came, and I could hear him saying to herself coming down the corridor See stage. So she arrives at that thing. And I said, Oh, and this is Clive Reed and he looks up.

Unknown Speaker  1:08:58  
And she looks him anyway. So he said, Well, off you go. Then I said, I'm not going anywhere. He said what I thought you were going to lunch with your friend here. I thought you're being really rude to her anyway. He said. I said no. Clive, I said, I've got a good door these things for your meeting at two o'clock. AC. Isn't that done? I said You already gave it to me 10 minutes ago, it'll be ready at two o'clock though. I promise you. Oh, so as it's well. We're going off then Clive. Or she goes with him cut it short. Once he was married, but his marriage was over. And that and during that pre production by the way, he made me try on a whole succession of fur coats to try and make things right with his wife until we found one that was my first date with Ken the same night. Anyway that's going back and

Unknown Speaker  1:09:45  
anyway, they fell in love. They got married and they did have 10 years very happy years together. I believe is now in France, I think is with a wardrobe mistress or something but she was the love of his life with a both for both.

Unknown Speaker  1:10:00  
Isn't she had a bracelet that said clan, which was CL for Clive and a and Fran? It was wonderful. So he was very glad that I'd introduced them. Yeah, that was GA girl. Just a bit more of a Ga Ga girl, James Mason. I've always been a fan of James Mason from the early days when he was the odd man out with often with Margaret Lockwood and whoever very good looking man. And of course, as you know, Yorkshire, so is that Yorkshire accent in Georgie girl was very easy for him because it just he just uses. He just came back. And he did come into the production office a few times. And he was very, very nice. I liked him. He didn't. He didn't. He was all the things I'd always thought about him. And Lynn Redgrave, I didn't have a lot to do with.

Unknown Speaker  1:10:46  
I think pretty sure she had to put on weight for that she was meant to be very plain. Oh, and the other thing might find slightly interesting. They couldn't find the girl to play Meredith. Now, in those days, I was already getting on a bit compared to the one they wanted. But I think I was. Yeah, it must have been 2829. And I had long dark hair. Anyway, auto plush kiss came into the office one day and said

Unknown Speaker  1:11:12  
you ever had a screen test? I said, No.

Unknown Speaker  1:11:15  
Would you do a screen test? I said, No, thanks. No, thank you. Well, you know, we wouldn't mind. I said, I said, I once did.

Unknown Speaker  1:11:25  
What was it the thing? I can't remember if it was

Unknown Speaker  1:11:29  
studying terror or

Unknown Speaker  1:11:31  
not. That's right, studying terror, where they asked me to stand in for Donald Houston just saying the lines didn't even have the camera on and I was so nervous. I'm not made for in front of the camera, she'll find out. And he said,

Unknown Speaker  1:11:46  
Oh, well, you know, we can't get this this. I said, Well, you must be able to find an actress to play that. You know, have you thought yeah, we've tried that. No, that's that's that was no good. You show it? And I said, No, I definitely don't want to do it. And I wouldn't be any good. I promise would be a waste of everybody's time. I know. I can promise you and I can get witnesses. So I will be useless. So anyway, so they found Charlotte Rampling. And she was very good in the role. And as you know, it's, she's still around, and she's matured into a very good actress. And I like I like those sorts of women not chocolate box, but you know, I admire them. Yeah. And that was that was nice. And

Unknown Speaker  1:12:25  
Otto of course, has I mean, they've nearly all died.

Unknown Speaker  1:12:28  
as well. Alan Bates. Yeah. Now, he's not he was very nice man. And, but having now looked back on the films he did, I think there's, there's something a bit stylized about the way he's acting, I mean, is a must be good. And nice, because he's been.

Unknown Speaker  1:12:49  
It's been some very successful films, like women in love, for example. And that was Oliver Reed was the art of reading and boots. And,

Unknown Speaker  1:12:58  
you know,

Unknown Speaker  1:13:00  
he just had that sort of the way the way maybe it's method acting, I don't know, really, but And who else was in that contract? gusta. Yeah. And then Redgrave, Alan Bates, Charlotte, Charlotte and James Mason, of course, the interesting thing I found when I was doing some research on it was the fact that cost four $400,000 to make, and it made $70 million. Yeah, so it's a hit all over all over the world. Yes. I think it really symbolised, you know, Swinging London. Yeah, exactly. That that right time did that feel? Yes, yeah. Yeah. Because 65 must have been it was near the end, wasn't it? And yeah, I mean, it was swim. 60s, wasn't it? So? I mean, I was, so it was can really a bit old for the swimming 60s Because it's supposed Well, it is supposed to be about, you know, the teens or your late teens, early 20s, but not about your late 20s. But nevertheless, we thought, No, we're here. So, you know, we're gonna sort of what we didn't know at the time, to be honest. And we we didn't know it was well, you weren't there. But, um, but it was great. I mean, the film industry was just so exciting. And I mean, I think we were incredibly lucky. I'm ready to do

Unknown Speaker  1:14:12  
it next year. 67. No, I can't be 6766. As you said in the Yes. This is where the dates get a bit mixed up because of recent women were released.

Unknown Speaker  1:14:25  
Another classic 60s 60s movie was to Sarabeth log. Well, that was the last one I worked on.

Unknown Speaker  1:14:31  
And yeah, just describe that working on.

Unknown Speaker  1:14:36  
Well,

Unknown Speaker  1:14:38  
I was pregnant when I started that film, but I did.

Unknown Speaker  1:14:45  
And it was my first child, this one, so I thought my god oh my god.

Unknown Speaker  1:14:52  
You don't know. You just don't know. And you know, you're very lucky you're not because you don't. You don't have to find out but I thought

Unknown Speaker  1:15:01  
Anyway, luckily I stay slim and all that. So that's just a personal thing. And

Unknown Speaker  1:15:07  
we got into a nice, I said, What's it about and, and I read

Unknown Speaker  1:15:12  
a book about a black person come there's another book who was the writer of that. Hoover isn't about what Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, you know? No, no another book about a black person coming to the UK as a teacher. The book was well, I don't know, I thought it was a different. That's incident anyway, we forget that.

Unknown Speaker  1:15:37  
So are they said Sydney party? Well, of course I will not, of course. But it's not surprising. I'd always loved Sydney party. And but anyway, we were the only film I ever did a pinewood. And so there we were at Pinewood. And of course shooting in the studio. And Lulu was in that. Judy, you said, Judy, Jason and Susie Kendall, Susie Campbell. Susie candidum. She married Dudley Moore think she did? Yeah, she did. Because when?

Unknown Speaker  1:16:11  
Yes, because on that film, Dudley Moore, who, who wasn't as well known as he then became was hanging around se se. And on semi Lee, Joan Collins, as far as it's funny how it goes different ways. And

Unknown Speaker  1:16:28  
yes, he was. And so there we are in Pinewood. And then

Unknown Speaker  1:16:34  
John Sloane, the producer, or the writer was James Carville, who'd who'd had who did wrote Shogun and various others. And I didn't have a lot to do with him. But John Sloan was a nice man. And my production manager was basil Rayburn. And he was also he was married to a casting agent or accusation, I'm not sure. And Joy Jamison. Her name was and anyway, we went. He said, Oh, you've got to go to whopping

Unknown Speaker  1:17:00  
with shooting, we've got a shooting this school in Wapping. So I said, Where's optic?

Unknown Speaker  1:17:06  
I don't think I can go. He said, Well, why is that? I said, Wow. And I've never pulled that trick before in order for I would never dream of it. In fact, I go on, when women say, Oh, should I sell for God's sake? You know, yes. So yeah, everybody's most people. Women have had babies. So I thought, what else can I do? I so could you have a word with James and see if you know if he would mind if I stay here? And John did Dr. John basil pass it on to John and John tried with James. And of course, they said, No, she's perfectly fit, she can go.

Unknown Speaker  1:17:37  
But didn't work. Anyway, it was fine. Because I had the unit car driver picked me up with my took us out to walking. And then where I was never been before or since. But. And that's when I saw more, because it was kind of like more closely confined of Sydney party in particular, who is an absolute charmer, such a delight, as just as everybody says about how nice he was how he had, he was very much a forerunner of all the moves for black people and everything else. And then we went to

Unknown Speaker  1:18:11  
after that, we went to Windsor barracks. And

Unknown Speaker  1:18:16  
it was then her claws in early, very early October. So it was a hot summer. And I was getting quite noticeably pregnant. And so I'm sitting in the production office, in in this heat, with the door production office door open, which usually goes anywhere, and a huge crate of beers in the corner, or running with condensation because they're supposed to be cut with all the ice all around them for the crew, or anybody who happen to or they used to come off if they'd run out where they were. And anyway, as Sidney Poitier happened to walk past the door, if you if they told you the story happened to walk past the door of the production office. I don't know I'm not a scientist. So something exploded. And glass is suddenly coming towards me and I'm sitting like, no, hang on, I was sitting like this.

Unknown Speaker  1:19:12  
And a shard that they call it of glass straight into my leg and then shatters everywhere. Sydney party comes in,

Unknown Speaker  1:19:21  
down on his knees, moves a bit of glass out and start sucking out the bits that a tiny bit and spitting, sucking, spitting, sucking spitting. I had never heard of that before, nor since until quite recently, and I was reading an article and it said, Oh, yes, well, there is this and I thought, Oh, my God, I've never heard that. I swear when I've told this story to people before they thought A likely story. And I thought Yeah, to die. Imagine it. No, I didn't. It was true. Anyway, and then somebody gave him a beer or something to make sure because I would have thought that was very dangerous, but he knew what he was.

Unknown Speaker  1:20:00  
doing exactly what to do. So I'm carted off to to Windsor hospital somewhere. And but I mean when I think Sydney potty is is, that's the relationship I had with Sydney potty. So I got home that night and we were still living with my mother. There's Ken pacing up and down. What's going on? What's going all I suppose you've been drinking with? I have a drink with a crew. I said, No. I've been to hospital. That's the likely.

Unknown Speaker  1:20:27  
He's like that. I said, my God. Look, have you seen I've got stitches? Yeah, well, alright. So disgruntled. He was jealous in those days.

Unknown Speaker  1:20:38  
Yes, yeah. I don't know if he believed me. But it but he knows now that it's true. So that was that and yeah, that was something that was fun. And I think Lulu was known then, wasn't she?

Unknown Speaker  1:20:53  
Yes, yes. With a song to serve with love. Yeah. And that's become recognised. Now that song a lot to do with the Black Lives Matter stuff and all of that, I think but but, and to do with Sidney Poitier, really, because he's just he just recently died, didn't he? But so, so lovely. I mean, the whole every woman on the unit was in love with him. But in the nicest possible way, because he was he had a wife and family. I think he's happily married a couple of times, loads of daughters anything he ever had some.

Unknown Speaker  1:21:24  
Just so lovely, very dignified. He was very courteous, charming, and just genuinely nice, you know?

Unknown Speaker  1:21:35  
So, that's important.

Unknown Speaker  1:21:38  
Did you ever get the chance to sort of sit down and talk to him? No. Well, no. What did you know? That story?

Unknown Speaker  1:21:48  
I think I was still recovering.

Unknown Speaker  1:21:51  
Yeah.

Unknown Speaker  1:21:53  
No, I was gonna say to sit down and watch the completed film was was was the crew know, I could go to rushes, obviously. One, obviously, but I could go to rushes. But I didn't really enjoy going to rushes. And also, it was part of my precious lunch. Ah, you know, so I didn't, I did go to get invited to screenings, and certainly to the premieres. It's a grand title, such as they were.

Unknown Speaker  1:22:21  
Yeah, I did get to those. And they were Leicester Square or somewhere later on, because they give premieres. I did then to films, whether they're whatever they are really, but screen credits.

Unknown Speaker  1:22:34  
And I don't think I got credits on anything. The only reason I'm on this thing that they all are, is because my eldest son said,

Unknown Speaker  1:22:44  
oh, you should be on that. And I said, No, I shouldn't be on it. I'm not a technician, are you? Oh, no. There's I said, No, because I'm not in that. I'm not really a proper technician, you know, I'm just just in the production office. Anyway, he went through all this. And that's why I've written up that list.

Unknown Speaker  1:22:59  
Because he said, Oh, no, I think this is because I suppose is quite sweetly sort of saying here with your son completely. I mean, the thing is that you're working as a team you're working is contributing something. Yeah. To the finished finished film. Oh, don't get me wrong. I think, of course, I argued with Ken about this, but we'd argue about everything. You know, the script is so important, the writing is so important. And, you know, even the best actor or actress in the world, I know, they will call themselves actors, but can't make, you know, was I say, a silk purse out of a sow's ear or something.

Unknown Speaker  1:23:37  
You know, you need the material and, and that's where Bob Monkhouse was such a good writer. In my view, he couldn't he couldn't save dentists on the job. Nobody could. But um, you know, so that is, that is the part that's always been really important to me. Obviously, absolutely vital. But cam will always say being camera crew. I mean,

Unknown Speaker  1:24:00  
I've no I'm of course, I know, lots of technicians. Many of them are camera people. And some are nice, someone else who like all people, but

Unknown Speaker  1:24:09  
you know, what used to say, Oh, they're the arrogant section of the of the unit, you know, because they'd say, Can't make film without us, which is true. They're going to do, they're going to film the film. So they're going to shoot the film and all of that, but everything that goes on before and afterwards all the editing and everything as you say, it's a real composite seeing all these different things coming into it. And that is why one of the main reasons the two main reasons why I love the production office is a I started off in stores and I'd always been interested in writing essays and stuff before that I always loved English and everything and written with my brother. So that was that thing and then I got into the story department as well and all of that. And secondly, because that means that

Unknown Speaker  1:24:57  
you know the next thing after that is going to be

Unknown Speaker  1:25:00  
Seeing this emerge as what then happens. So that's the thing that I just love about it that everything I've sort of been typing up sometimes registering it and sometimes not, is there on the screen, and then that's when you particularly notice whether it's working or not whether especially dialogue, because, you know, this is why Bob Monkhouse unless it was seconded, or can we just say something? Because to see if it's funny, and if it made me laugh?

Unknown Speaker  1:25:30  
We're, you know, it's all about storytelling. Yeah, it's a good story well told. Yes. Yeah. I mean, of course, you've got to have the actors in the direction, so that it's put over. I mean, it's not always put over as the writer intended, of course. And that's why so many writers get very upset. Although I'm told these days, especially because my son's working with Netflix and has been for a while now that they have the writers on the set. Now, in the old days, it was who's that writer, get him off, get him off the set, see so disparaging about where it all came from. The other thing I was going to say is that, initially, of course, you've got to have the producer, you gotta have all those people, whether they're artistic or not, because you've got to get the money. And you know, these days, if you want to do something yourself, you've got to find the money. And if you can't find it, then you kind of need a name. And you really need a name to get the money and you need the money to get the name and, and a good script, because any decent actor will say, Yeah, I liked this script, you know, or it's rubbish. And I sometimes they're wrong, of course. But yeah, all and that's what I was going to say. My second point was that what I loved about it was that when you've production office, you first go in right from the word go. So you've got the art department, the construction, and all of that going on. You're doing you're working on the script, you're doing as many causal revisions happen, usually throughout a production but anyway, and you've got all of that. The best part is the shooting of it, of course, because you've got the actual reality of it all coming to live. And then afterwards, bit of an anticlimax, that's the editors. I like editors a lot but you know, it's kind of all winding down and I don't really need to go over there and they're bringing some stuff to type up and it's all over. It's happened. Roll bring on the next one. That's how I used to feel Yeah, till it was all over.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai