MovieChat Forums > The World of Henry Orient (1964) Discussion > Needed!! More Henry Orient Trivia

Needed!! More Henry Orient Trivia

posted 20 years ago by cblinstrub
47 replies | jump to latest

I've been fascinated by this movie ever since I first saw it. I went to England in Sept. of 1963 and came back in June of 1964. This movie seems to be pre-Beatles and pre-assasination of JFK. This is very key to the movie, I think. Was it indeed filmed before these two major events?

There seems to be not a trace of Beatlemania in the movie.

To me, it freeze-framed the America I left before going to England.

So, please help me.

1) When was the actual filming started (month, year) and ended (month, year)?

2) When was it first released in New York City?

Thanks much whoever can help me out with this.

What a wonderful movie!!

Camille

[–] whitedogandharriet 20 years ago

It was very sixties, filmed in part in the east village, and just the whole tenner of it was sweet, freed up and flat out romantic. We started it in June 1963 and finished well into the school year, I think it was late October, there were just a few weeks before Thanksgiving vacation I remember when I returned to school.

It was released the following Spring at Radio City Music Hall, no big opening but we went with our friends to some kind of event soon after it came out and Merrie and I spoke to the audience with the producer and director there.

Are there any other questions? I played Val so know alot about the film.

[–] cblinstrub 20 years ago

That is so amazing to actually have you answer my questions!! Thanks so much!!

Here's a few more:

1) Was the concert Henry Orient played actually filmed in Carnegie Hall?

2) The friendship of you two girls made the film so very special. Were you really friends at the time or just acting?

3) What about the snow scene? When was that filmed?

4) What about the Beatles? You had never heard of them while filming. How did the British Invasion impact the film when it came out?

Just a note. My husband and I got your film by interlibrary loan and loved it so much. There has been nothing to come close to it so far. There should have been a sequel to it. One with just the two girls and not so much adult mischeif.

[–] whitedogandharriet 20 years ago

we filmed for nights at carnegie hall, luckliy I had spent many a friday afternoon there trying to listen to concerts with my mom and other family members. It was hard when I was nine.

Merrie and I met because of the film, we are quite different people and were a year apart which when you're fifteen-sixteen can seem like alot, so I guess we were acting, though to be thrown into such a situation together like that makes you fast friends, no matter what. And that we were living such different lives at the time and were so different, made our reditions of friendship easier due to the avoidance of untimely feuding....?

The snow scene was done during Christmas vacation. They weren't expecting the girls to be so important and the film undrewent a litle overhaul in the editting room, from something solely about henry to about the girls too, which made it into a family picture, so more about Val had to be added, so more to be done at Christmas, so fun.

And I didn't know a thing about The beatles til that Christmas when my English cousin sent me the 45 thst rocked the world. I listened to maybe ten seconds of it before I knew I was listening to the biggest rage in music since never before.

more later...

[–] whitedogandharriet 20 years ago

Had to run out before answering completely last time...I think the Beatles and their popularity had alot to do with the success of the film, that kind of abandonment was in the air and when it became embodied that just added to it. I believe I got the role as part of a spiritual flow of that time.

[–] cblinstrub 20 years ago

I am getting messed around a bit (probably due to my own ignorance) on this web site. Let's see, now I can read your last response. By the way, I can't tell you how grateful I am to get this info from you, above all.

Where were you from before the film? Were you a New Yorker? From NY state? The country? Exactly how old were you at the time (if you don't mind saying). Like many of your female fans from the 60s, I identified with you so much. Where was Merrie from? How old was she? I know you said there was a one year difference, but I don't know who was older. You say you avoided untimely feuding, does that mean there ever was any feuding?

Was Merrie's parents together?

I'm glad they made the movie more about you girls than originally planned. It would have been deadly boring otherwise!! And I do love Peter Sellers. So that must mean that the whole scene where you girls disovered your "film" mother (Angela Lansbury?) cheating on your film dad was created to expand the movie?

How did you get along with the mother figures (Merrie's two film moms and your film mom)? Were they all sweet to you? How did you come up with the pain you exhibited when your film mom was treating you so abominably? Accusing you of immorality when she was the immoral one? That was great acting I thought.

I'm sure Angela Lansbury is a very nice lady in real life, but she was such a villain in the movie.

Did you work long hours? Mon. - Fri.? Did you like Rachmaninov? What about your wardrobe? Those looked like high quality plaid skirts and so forth.

I take it that you don't have children (neither do I). If I did, I certainly wouldn't send them to boarding schools. The movie is such an indictment of messed up families. I know so many kids like your role of Val.

[–] whitedogandharriet 20 years ago

I was 16 and spent most of the time growing up in Rye, New York, close to the Connecticut border. Merrie was 15 and from Philadelphia. We didn't feud really except that we were so different, Merrie was the conservative and I the bleeding heart liberal, so there were just roughnesses, but Merrie and I were at the stage where we were too nice to actually fight. Poor Merrie had to stay in a motel with a lady companion, don't know how she managed that, many unhappy nights and mornings. Merrie was the more diciplined one, the better student, but she was also younger so that she had to endure more harsh circumstances was tough for her and I was not the generous older friend being grossly insecure during the shooting.

Merrie's parents visited occassionally from Pennsylvania, neither of our parents were divorced.

The scene that was cut from the film to make it more of a family film was one with a blond actress whose name escapse me at the moment, Barbara something and there was a scene with Hermione Gingold and the Miss Universes of that year that was cut, so really only the stuff with me in the park at Christmas time was added. Angela's scene with Henry was part of the original script. It was based on a true story, the original Henry was Oscar Lavant. The adult actors were all kind of aloof from Merrie and I, we were not to be trusted to act evenly or with any conscienciousness with regard to them. Kids are notorious in the acting world and for good reason. So they weren't overly friendly, but Peter was fun to talk to sometimes.

We worked long hours 5 days a week when we were at the studio, and 6 when on location. I had a ride-my mom hired off duty policemen- pick me up at 6 am to drive me from Rye to Roosevelt Field on Long Island and take me home at 6 pm or 7. I loved Rachmaninov, though wasn't all that framiliar with the section Val played. The wardrobe mistress was a very tough lady who always made me feel like I was doing something wrong, Ann Roth was her name and worked for George Roy Hill on The World According to Garp too. I thought the clothes were kind of boring, I was 16 not 13 so was abit disppointed in the look.

The upper middle class world is no picnic. Have had a good chance to look things over and agree that there's alot to be desired in the parenting and education realms, but that's across the board unfortunately. But the upper people usually believe they have got it right having met some of the material quotas, but it is those material quotas that screw everything up.

Angela was kind of cool, but tried to be friendly. She had just come out in or was about to come out in The Manchurian Candidate a very sophisticated film where she plays a particularly murderous lady so the scenes where she threatens me are pretty scarey in context, and this wasn't lost on her.

There s alot to talk about with regard to this film....

[–] cblinstrub 20 years ago

Yes, there certainly is!!!

Thanks again so much for the tremendous detail on The World of Henry Orient. Now your parents were not divorced, so that is one major difference from the character that you were playing. Were either of you two girls attending schools like the one in the movie or were you attending regular Ameican schools. (I attended both sorts of schools and there was a tremendous difference between them, believe me.) I seem to remember reading that while your family was cultured, you were not from an upper class family. If that's true, then the two of you were placed in this upper class settings like two diamonds.

And were both of you already formed in your political opinions back then? Surely not very sophisticated at that age. Did you even disagree in the early 60s about politics?

It sounds like Merrie probably really loved being with you every day if she was stuck in a hotel with a non-relative. It shows in the movie, or at least it seems to me to show, that she really loved you as a friend. Maybe in real life!! Or else it’s excellent acting!! What happened to your relationship in real life? Did you stay in touch?

What did you mean that you were not "the generous older friend being grossly insecure" during the shooting?

Fascinating the stuff that was cut. Pretty boring compared to the finished masterpiece starring you two!! Angela’s scene with Henry did seem to be original, it was very well written and gave the story a twist that really drew out a lot of compassion for Val which was much deserved. Thanks for telling the name of the original story, Henry Lavant. I am going to get the book that the movie was based on and read it. Do you know anything about the author?

What did you mean you were not trusted to act evenly or with any conscienciousness with regard to them. Do you mean that child actors and actrresses steal the show? I’m sure that’s true ...

I think you told me this before, but I’m beginning to get a really good understanding of the movie: you worked long hours from 6 am to 6 pm. What was Roosevelt Field? When did the filming begin and when did it end? What day and month I mean.

Where did you eat lunch each day? What did you do to break up the monotony of hard work filming?

What happened to your school year? You were 16, so that meant you should have been in your sophmore year? Did you go back to school?

The Rachmaninov piece is called Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, opus 18. One writer says of it “I believe the Second Concerto, together with most of the other piano and orchestral works of Rachmaninov’s prime, have embodied for the rest of human time both an ample mirror of our universal craving for love and, in love’s frequent absence, an almost perfect consolation: a solitary feast, but a feast all the same." (Reynolds Price) That's a pretty good description of the concerto, I'd say.

Angela Lansbury: “The scenes where she threatens me are pretty scary in context, and this wasn’t lost on her.” Wow, does this mean she knew she scared you? Did she scare you? She would have scared me!! And how about the way she put you down?

Had anyone in your life put you down so unfairly to that date? It seems unlikely. Even though it was only a movie, I wouuld imagine that her treatment of you was so real that it would have really hurt!!!

And what a wonderful, happy ending when your screen father saves you from her. And you are re-united with Merrie and her two good moms. I’ll have to see the Manchurian Candidate to see what you mean about it. It must be really scary. Did she play a villainess?

Thanks so much.

[–] whitedogandharriet 20 years ago

My family is upper class but not rich. I went to both public and private schools, in the town I lived in alot of the kids did that. Merrie was more confident and more uncomfortable during the shooting with her living situation, I lived at my parents house but was more uncomfortable with what I was doing as an actress, less secure about it all. Merrie was firmly selfconfident with her craft.

I don't remember the exact day we started filming or working as we rehearsed for two weeks before filming began. It was sometime in June though and we worked through til the middle of October, I had to get special permission to comeback so far into the year. The whole thing took about 4 1/2 months. George Hill and I had lunch on boxes in the airplane hanger movie studio. I loved the making of the movie, forcing me to do homework was torture I remember, any distraction. Though I was not so comfortable when the camera was actually going, it was years before I became comfortable with that impenetrable eye.

I'm sure Angela was playing off her new evil persona, there was alot of crazy stuff going on then and now. Yes, she played the arche villainess. Tom Bosley wasn't so comfortable either, there was always the idea that we kids were out to steel all the scenes we were in, snigger snigger, Phyllis Thaxter and Bibi Osterwald were the nicest to us, and Paula Prentiss, she was very very sweet. But we were the wunderkind the wild indians, wildcards, we were busting out, doing what we could to be amazing, sensational, mesmerising, as children will. So deserved the aprehension.

Roosevelt Field was the name of the converted Airport where we filmed the interiors of the film. Lilith was also being filmed there at the time, there was all sorts of stuff going on about the closed sets because of the nudity, and oh there's Peter Fonda. It was tough to get back into wanting to do the little family movie with all the romantic aura glittering nextdoor. But Val needed to be vindicated. We barreled on.

[–] whitedogandharriet 20 years ago

thought I'd add some more...Merrie and I remained friends for many years, we didn't see each other much though. Our life styles and politics finally drove the final wedge and now Merrie is way beyond my reach, so important and successful, coachs the president and other enormous wheels. I'm so not anywhere near that kind of importance, though some day maybe I will be respected as a poet-author-artist-------we're still finding out.

And yes I think Angela knew she scared me.

The author of the book is Nora Johnson, Nunelly's(sp?) daughter, she visited the set during the filming abit. She was Gilbert in reality. I worked for a professor at Columbia who had hired the real Val as well as Diane Varsi, an actress I was compared to alot at the beginning. He said she(Val) married a defrocked priest, as did Diane, that's all I know about her, should have asked him for more details.

I went back to school well into the fall semester, but soon before the Kennedy assasination, that was very dramatic, totally unexpected, not at all reflected in the film, a world apart. Life was very dramatic and hasn't let up much since.

Sorry about typos and spelling errors, I'm het up alot these days, plus lost the gift for spelling it seems, apologise alot for it, though I often like the mistakes.

[–] shepardjessica-1 20 years ago

Did you get along with Peter Sellers?

[–] whitedogandharriet 20 years ago

yes he and I liked each other alot. He was shy and nice, liked my reserve. We didn't work together much though so didn't really hang out, but when we did it was very very wonderful.

[–] klimogogula 20 years ago

I read somewhere that you lived in New Haven, Connecticut (my former home town, before I moved to New York as a documentary filmmaker). If true, do you still live there?...and how do you keep your hand in acting, there? Yale? The Shubert? Local theater?

I recently saw Henry Orient for the first time, and thought your show-stealing performance was par excellence! Talent like yours shouldn't lie dormant, and I hope someone somewhere gets a chance to appreciate it today. If you haven't already mentioned it somewhere on this difficult site, do you think you'll ever return to movies - Hollywood or otherwise? Have you ever received any bad reviews? I've just read some early reviews about you, and some written years later. They were mostly raves. Although I didn't actually read this particular review itself, someone said that even John Simon ("the meanest of all critics"), wrote favorably of your performance in Henry Orient. Now That's a coup!

I haven't seen your other two(?) movies, but if Henry Orient is any indication, I think I'm in for a big treat. Good luck.

[–] cineguy-3 20 years ago

And regarding Tippy Walker's other two movies ("The Jesus Trip" and "Jennifer on My Mind"), they appear to be impossible to find for rental anywhere! Any ideas?

[–] whitedogandharriet 20 years ago

Friends of mine have found them for sale on the internet somewhere, this was some years ago now like 98, but I'm not sure where this was. They turn up, but not for rent. They aren't so good I'm afraid so can't really be too encouraging. Sorry. Wish I had done a better job, wish they had been better films, wish I had more to show for. hhhhhhh

[–] whitedogandharriet 20 years ago

Only Kenneth Tynan didn't like Henry Orient, said we were phoney or something. I got lots of bad reviews for Jennifer on My Mind and the Jesus Trip I think was panned pretty badly, though it got such little exposure I'm not sure where I read anything on it at all. But John Simon mercifully liked Henry, and when we met years later on a radio talk show he was very deferential, so nice as I was quite bruised by the whole scene by then.

I do still live in New Haven and might get up an act for the circus this June some people I know do here twice a year. I've done about five mystical musical clown acts for them, I love it. I read my poetry and stories at a place called The Neverending Bookstore sometimes and sing there too. I want to get up a documentary of the homeless scene here which I work around a fair amount now, am on a committee that funds a shelter for 6 months. I have some celebrity from just having ridden a bicycle for 20 years, this blond lady madly pedaling around apparently has been a strong image for people. Only lately have I found out that very few people know about my former life. I thought everybody knew. So funny. Now it's coming out, NOW, hm, I guess I'm more ready for some sort of re-emergence. Taking it all very very carefully, or my version of carefully. Frankly I love the stories I've written and my paintings, they are definitely as important as any acting I ever did, and my acts are coming along. It's all inspirational, the true bent of my life, not to say anything isn't, but I like to stand on the up side of the spiritual vision. Need to get up a website, yesterday, hh, so much to do.

[–] cinedude-1 20 years ago

A documentary on the homeless scene sounds like a great idea. Perhaps with Michael Moore?

[–] whitedogandharriet 20 years ago

That's a thought, hadn't been thinking of him as a collaborator. He's probably unapproachable by the likes of me at this point though, also has big plans for himself no doubt, but I'll try him, sure. I thought I would just break out the video camera and take off on my own. I've been involved with the activist scene here for years now, well, since '02 in a big way, been talking and hanging out as encouragingly as possible since I got to New Haven. Ran a soup kitchen summer of '85, one of my favorite jobs. Not to mention having been kicked out of numerous apartments for various reasons, so know the homeless condition fairly well, though avoided the shelters like the plague. Want to post everywhere, Homelessness is a circumstance, not a disease. Whatever happened to There but for the grace of God go I. It's so tough to manuever in this world, this world we've made,I guess it has been for so many thousands of years now, with windows of sweetness here and there. Why or when we changed from the enlightened folks we truly are to these strange fearful backbiting little hovering creatures I wish I knew. And I'm not excluding myself from this picture, no, I can be provoked. Just had to ask a guy to move out because of the fury of the neighbors...I was putting him up while he resituated himself. And he was no picnic, very stingy and critical, so tough to deal with the humans and maintain the fine generous character I'm aiming to be, I ended up letting him know how upset I was in a fine spun-out tirade, never a good way to deliver information. In those (auto)biographies, when they tried to describe how hard it can be, there's nothing like experience to let you know just what that might have been like. Oi. Patience, I forget we have oh so much time to find ourselves again, and every little bit helps, tiny step by step, we'll make it. Meanwhile, oh my goodness. But a little better than last millenium, eh?

[–] rslawta 20 years ago

"There but for the grace of God go I" - so important to remember.

"Why or When we changed" - I submit, the Garden. Unlike our first parents, we are not innocent when we enter the world - but with a bend and a twist toward selfishness, all inherited...yes, I am a seminary graduate : )

It would be nice to have a chance to see what you have drawn/painted, or read some of the things you have written. Is there a chance or a way of ever doing this?

Also, not long ago, I bought the World of Henry Orient CD. It was one of those PLEASANT surprises where I wasn't expecting much, but got a great deal! Sounds great and includes a 12-page booklet with 15 photos (or thereabouts). If you don't have a copy (and would like one) please let me know. In gratitude, I would not only be happy to buy and send you a copy, but would feel honored to. Let me know...

[–] whitedogandharriet 20 years ago

I've been into a book, or series of books for many years called A Course in Miracles which is a tremendous reference for us here on this plane-plain? Anyway, it reiterates we have all the capabilities we had before the we went for the knowledge of good and evil, despite the karma of so many lives to deal with. In Native American teachings, Buddhism and Hinduism they handle it mostly pretty well and Jesus teachings deal well, but too many paths or followers just can't see beyond the pain. Wish it was more uplifting here at the moment in a more over all way. No reason to condemn us altogether though, eh?

In fact I lost the copy I inherited from my dad of Henry Orient back in 02. But I don't have a dvd player at all and my vcr is in storage!! Have to get better set up in general. It would be great to have a copy of it again.

[–] tonys2 20 years ago

Hello! I'm in Australia and I finally saw HENRY ORIENT on cable TV tonight for the first time after trying to track it down for years (I'm a fan of the musical), and I specifically came onto this site to find out more about YOU! I thoroughly enjoyed the film and your wonderful work in it, and I can't tell you how excited I am to find you here, bringing us up to date with all that has happened in your life. It's moments like this that make me appreciate the glories of the internet! Thank you for all the details about the making of the movie, and I shall now follow all the new developments in the continuing adventure that is your life with great interest. Peace, joy and fulfilment to you always.

Tony

[–] whitedogandharriet 20 years ago

It's one of my recent pleasures to check in here and read the latest questions or comments from people who liked the film. When it came out I was so young and shy I couldn't deal at all with letters and people commenting about me or the movie. Like alot of actors I don't like to watch myself, usually I like everyone but myself. Saw the first episode of Peyton Place lately and spent two days lying around in a huge depression, but finally saw the courage and intensity and revived. Can you imagine seeing yourself as a young person going through your changes on film, no picnic but big lessons can be learned by it.

As the years go by it becomes harder and harder to maintain that drive for excellence, or excellence gets more and more illusive or combined with something like softness, less a hard edge clear structure. I want to impress the world but can't be impressive in the way of showing anybody up, don't like that stratified version of things that lets some feel better than others, though don't like being made to feel less than either. It's tough and worth it, a tiny path through that is mine alone. Am learning to see the value of everyone-everything. The swaggerers are my most difficult group, the "successful", though I don't like being so broke all the time, I don't like the idea of having too much. Right now I just want to hold onto my apartment and feed my cats and complete the projects I'm working on for the homeless guys and become a better writer and artist and spiritualist and friend, and get healthier in every way. It would be nice if something came of my writing and art. Not sure how that will can happen, hate hustling, hate won't do it for money, though won't do it under a hat.

[–] HAL6400 20 years ago

Thought of showing, selling paintings on E-Bay? An E-Bay store, if near by, will handle posting and transition for you.

[–] whitedogandharriet 20 years ago

I will only sell prints. It's a thought, not sure, don't have a credtit card which is usually a must on the net, yes?

[–] gosh717 20 years ago

I can't believe I stumbled across this message board! What good luck! I have a part-time job "moonlighting" as a clerk in the very best independent video store in the state of Connecticut--Video Visions in Storrs. I noticed some gaps in our stock, and one of the movies I asked the owner to order is "The World of Henry Orient". I have since recommended it to many customers. None of them had ever heard of it, and all who took it home came back and raved about it. I'm a couple of years younger than you--born in 1950--and I remember when the movie came out when I was in 8th grade. Up until then, there wasn't much for teenagers in the way of movies outside of Sandra Dee pictures. Two girls in my class--Bonnie and Kathy--were very quasi-sophisticated (not unlike the characters you two played). They saw the movie, and told me it was just about the best thing they had seen. They were right. You young actresses captured perfectly the way bright girls talked and thought back in the early '60s. (I think what we refer to as "The '60s" really only covers the last few years of the decade; the rest of it was just an extension of the '50s.) Merrie was good, but you were so real and compelling, you should have received a Best Supporting Actress nomination. Anyway, it's been a pleasure reading your comments, and I thank you for taking the time to post them, for all of the film's fans. If you're ever in Storrs, please stop in and autograph the slipcase of the movie for us.

[–] Cubachik 19 years ago

I have loved this movie for as long as I can remember, having been born (1959) and raised in Manhattan. Still there, yay! It's a "Val"entine to a time and place and innocence and the creative intelligence of teenage girls that I think we will never see the likes of again. Newer fare about young people is way too cynical, apathetic. But the world is so different now. That's for another post on another website! Meanwhile, I'm glad that the storyline of the girls was put front and center, with Henry as icing on the cake - that's as it should be. (the whispered "B Flat" from the conductor at Carnegie Hall is priceless!) In so many ways it's just a truly satisfying film that works on so many levels, performances, cinematography and script. Very obviously done with great care, it really shows. There were light and being-young-in-New-York things I related to complete and loved about it as a kid that over the years were added to by the aspects a grownup appreciates in a good story - the betrayals, change, heartbreak, new growth. Just like life! I want to add what an honor it is to have you giving so generously of yourself on this site, it has been wonderful reading and you have many fans who think of you and your exquisite performance in this movie with much fondness. If you have any computer-savvy friends who could help you with a web site for you to advance your art as well as your social concerns, I am sure many people would stumble across it and be interested in learning more. Good luck - your heart is definitely in the right place on all levels (IMHO) which sometime can make for a stressful life, but a life well-lived. Val would be proud.

[–] whitedogandharriet 19 years ago

Right, want so much to make a site. Thanks so much to you for your generous and kind remarks from here under my rock. I'm feeling kind of squashed today, sorry. Hhhh, I know it's all worth it, but the controversy of all the choices gets abit much sometimes, my old truck and unneutered cats are under siege at the moment....on and on. So frigging broke. Will recover.

I guess it bears, might bear mentioning I'm a Harry Potter fan, and am reading the sixth book for the second time as we speak. I relate to this orphanned kid lost at sea battling the Lords of Darkness. Can you dig it? Can't we all. Did she have to do away with one of my favorite characters after doing away with Sirius last time. [But then we all need to know grief is common and terrible and does wear off somehow......] Sorry if this is anathma to most here, I love it, They are so rich and sweet and filled with great challenges, depictions of coming to terms with tremendous imbalances. Love that "magic" is taken so for granted. To me Atheism is such the intellectual conceit, or the product of religious abuse.

You know there is a real Val somewhere, I wonder what she's up to.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] rtmarkiv 10 years ago

Tippy might be interested to understand that Kenneth Tynan had a daughter her age, Tracy Tynan, and about three years her junior in real life, who looked just like her (except she really was a brunette) and he, having just gone through an ugly divorce where all sorts of the usual horrible things had been splatted out on the gossips (he was queer, he liked to be spanked, etc., etc.), was all in an uproar. Anyway, he identified and that made him a little crazy, nasty and personal in his reaction to the director, Roy Hill. There was supposedly some other personal stuff between them as well.

Tippy you were marvelous, simply because the camera loves faces that show the thoughts going on beneath the surface and yours does. I also recall that the gifted Arthur J. Ornitz, was the cinematographer for the exterior scenes, and made them definitive NY in a way that captured and updated a "Catcher in the Rye" teenager's perception - iconic work. It was very funny that Ken said you were "phoney" it was as if he was jealous of Holden Caulfield (the fictional protagonist in 'Catcher'). At any rate he was far nastier about Vivian Leigh to whom he was even more attracted to and jealous of (Larry - who became his boss).

[–] Ddey65 19 years ago

Are there any other questions? I played Val so know alot about the film.

Absolutley. For starters, the scene where that drunk woman walks out onto the balcony -- was that Claudia Moragan, or someone else?

[–] whitedogandharriet 19 years ago

yep, claudia morgan, frank morgan's daughter, ie the daughter of the wizard of oz. George had worked with her on a playhouse 90 where she played a haughty proper lady and had to curb her coarser tendancies, which came out he said when she asked for a piss of toast and stared panic stricken into the monitor, grh was convulsed. live tv was very very funny.

[–] mrsyoungie 19 years ago

Oh my gosh! this is amazing that you are here answering questions. I was the age of your characters when the movie came out. I always thought that you were both based on my best friend & me; we were both into music, and both obsessed about all kinds of things. It is a movie that, although I haven't seen it in years, I would watch again in a heartbeat. So many wonderful moments: lying in your room on the floor surrounded by the H.O. albums; snarking about H.O. needing to work on his scales; you shaved your legs!!!! I'm starting to laugh & cry just thinking about them. Those goddam Chinese hats. A mouth like a scarlet gash.
Thank you for taking the time to chat here with your fans. Good luck with your art & poetry. Do you have a web site?

[–] whitedogandharriet 19 years ago

Really really want a website yesterday, need to find the wherewithall- expertise and $ to put it up, exboyfriend just isn't ok. As usual so great to read the comments-reactions and apreciation of those who love the film. So great you had a best friend like Val and Gilbert, I agree present depictions are so raunchy. But this story was about misanthropes so why can't somebody get into a real friendship? Writers now seem like such antisocial cynics all they want to do is poke at and stick it to everybody. Wish someone in the mainstream had the guts to write about really uplifting stuff, without the usual disclaimer where the good guy has to revert back to being retarded or ordinary or disappear. And honestly the crap I get for being and doing what I do is a scandal, and often from the heart of the left(!). My stories are about miracles. At the moment, I'm writing about a group of people called the Frau Brothers, shouldn't give away my stuff, so won't, but they are cool and very far out people, trust me. People who might well exist somewhere, hope so, why not?

I'm in the process applying to Extreme Makeover:Home Edition to build an emergency shelter here in New Haven for us-the committee I'm on, Inside at Night, and the people of New Haven and the world. 17 page application form and video-two versions, going for three. So I might get to be on tv next year. 58 now, so please don't be shocked, though I thought I looked good for me, still blond and have my teeth( oh joy)and ride a bike alot, so am in goodish shape. Had a dream about them and one day in my kitchen a face appeared in the center of my mind, this man's face with a stubble beard looking very serious, it scared me, so I stared at him and thinking who is this guy, why is he trying to scare me. Then it hit me, he was Paul, the Sicillian carpenter, so I thought that was a really big encouragement to apply. So I am, with the approval and encouragement of my committee. It is one of my favorite shows, love that they do so much to help good folks. And we need a shelter very badly.

[–] vladimir-137 19 years ago

Thank you for a wonderful performance in a wonderful film. It would be worth watching just for the look of rapture on Val's face at the end of the (hilarious) concert piece.

I just watched the film again, for only the second time, this afternoon (on dvd). It was screened on Australian free-to-air television about twenty years ago in the middle of the night; I stayed up very late to watch it on the strength of Leonard Maltin's recommendation, and have never forgotten it.

Now that I have watched it again, I'm struck by how many of the scenes between Val and Gil are shot in a single long take, without cutting. You don't often see that in the movies.

Two questions, if you don't mind my asking: who played the girl on the bus who gossips about Val seeing a psychiatrist? And was there much, or any, improvisation in those 'long take' scenes, or were you both sticking to a strict script?

[–] whitedogandharriet 19 years ago

Her name is Jane Buchanan(sp?) she was a great person, very self assured and calm and funny; they hired her out of a cattle call where hundreds of people show up for uncast roles. And, no we weren't allowed to improvise at all, in fact George would give me line readings, very specific directions, very controled stuff. I thought acting was much freer and when I saw what it was like it freaked me out, all those tapes on the floor to keep you from straying from the lighting paths and to make sure you were in focus( there's a camera assistant who sits on the dolly, has his hand on the lense turning that dial at every move you make to keep you in focus)...you'd run through a scene once and then they'd freeze it in aspic. The camera man would come in and direct the lights for hours and you had to hit your marks every time. No, no improvising.

[–] vladimir-137 19 years ago

Thank you for that; your description of Jane Buchanan is exactly how she struck me on-screen. May all your dreams come true (except the ones about Sicilian carpenters staring in your window) and keep on cycling!

[–] whitedogandharriet 19 years ago

cycling is my life....and don't worry about Paul, the carpenter, it was a good visitation.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] darkorion98 19 years ago

I think it's great that you applied to the 'Extreme Home Makeover' I hope they pick you and help you build the emergency shelter.I think it's a great idea.

Have you thought about using www.angelfire.com ? It doesn't cost nothing I am not sure if you can have a store or anything like that on angelfire but I know you can at www.geocities.com it doesn't cost very much. Both these sites have these templates if you are not good with HTML 'Templates' basically it's all done for you all you do is fill in the blanks..

Nice to see you again Elizabeth

Hope all is well with you..

[–] whitedogandharriet 19 years ago

I hope they pick me-us, too. The application is 17 pages long with release forms that sell your soul, it's freaky, and the form deals with homes so the address section is kind of inapplicable and difficult to get straight for the project I'm doing, but we must-will blunder on.

Thanks so much for the encouragement.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] whitedogandharriet 19 years ago

At the time I was told he had just starred in The Most Happy Fella, a musical about Fiorelo(sp?) La Guardia, a big hit. He was very much the way he appeared in the film. He was quiet, seemed abit nervous and nice, shy. I liked him, but was also nervous, so we didn't really get to know one another, always a barrier there. He was very professional. There was always the banter among the "adults" about acting with kids with lots of nervous laughter.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] whitedogandharriet 19 years ago

Thank you for the correction, right Fiorelo, so right. And Al Lewis was fine, unfortunately had to keep that cigar in his mouth so when he spat-talked tobacco juice would hit me in the face and it stung! [That scene was tough but Merrie knew just how to pull it off, she was the experienced one. It is pretty funny.] Al was very very sweet, very nice as everyone of the actors were on the film, including Angela. Peter Duchin was nervous and nice, very gentle and soft spoken. It was a plum for him and I thought he was just right in the film. George made it all workout for everybody comfortably. He had a cash of character actors in his head having done so much live tv and theater. They would all show up with such a friendly attitude. The film was cast so well no one had much of a stretch. Maybe Peter was abit uneasy but was worldly enough to glide through gracefully. I saw him later at a party he was doing with his band, shook him up abit, but he bravely said a nice hello.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]