MovieChat Forums > Minder (1979) Discussion > Extras in The Winchester

Extras in The Winchester

posted 17 years ago by PrickWithAFork
6 replies | jump to latest

It always makes me laugh when they have a crowd in The Winchester - the extras all rhubarb away for all they're worth, the writers desperate not to give anyone a line they'd have to pay them for. Terry, Arthur and Dave stand there talking and everyone else in the club just reacts to them, looking surprised or whatever.

One of the best/worst examples was when everyone in the club had identical jackets on (Arfur had got a job lot or something) and the camera pannned along them, all admiring their jackets and talking animatedly to each other with not a single word intelligible!

My body makes no moan
But sings on:
All things remain in God.

[–] NothingButTheBest 17 years ago

In the Ray Daley episodes sadly there was usually no one in the club exept for the main characters, probably down to budjet cuts.

"The World is Your Lobster My Son!"-Arthur Daley, Minder.

[–] hugh1971 16 years ago

I believe that when scenes in pubs etc are filmed, the extras mime their conversations and a background 'hubbub' is dubbed on later, because it is easier to control the volume and ensure the main characters can be heard. They don't always get it quite right though and sometimes it looks like the characters are all whispering to each other!

I think the technique was harder to do in the old days (before computer technology) as it is often painfully obvious on old sitcoms etc that have scenes in pubs, crowds etc.

[–] PrickWithAFork 16 years ago

That's very true, now that you mention it - you see it all the time, characters in the background talking animatedly, holding their glass up to the light etc yet never making a sound!

It amuses me particularly when somewhere like the Winchester or the Rover's Return is involved - places supposedly full of character and characters yet only a small handful ever get to have a chat with the staff!

My body makes no moan
But sings on:
All things remain in God.

[–] hugh1971 16 years ago

It may be my imagination, but it also seems that the crowd in the Winchester changed. In the early episodes it was all middle aged/old men in jackets and ties, thick specs, smoking cigars/pipes; but in the later episodes it seemed to be a younger more casually dressed, mixed crowd.

[–] Stazler84 16 years ago

yeah but don't that happen in real life oldies pass on then they get the youngsters taking there place

[–] naseby 15 years ago

I noticed one of the extras in Dave's Winchester, played one of Frankie Barrow's 'heavies' in 'Steptoe and Son Ride Again', but can't remember which episode of Minder though!