Bernie Newnham
(Sept 2015) I have been watching “The Largest Theatre in the World: Heart to Heart”, by Terence Rattigan, starring Kenneth More. It was made in 1962, and the first ten minutes or so watches the production of an edition of “Heart to Heart” (based on “Face to Face”). I didn’t recognise any of the crew until I saw Jim Atkinson a few minutes in.
What really caught my eye was this track – Track from TC4
(Click on the picture below to see a larger or clearer version of this picture:
Click the “X” button (top right) to close the newly opened picture.)
How did you do that in 1962? Anyone work on the show?
John Hays
Yes, I worked on this as a rod op. in the corridor outside TC4. It was a nightmare, the TOM allowed recording to continue well past midnight in spite of protests from the crew.
Peter Hider
I had the privilege of being Jim Atkinson’s cable basher on “Heart to Heart” and the production itself was, by any standard, an amazing achievement. The new European Broadcasting Union were involved in setting up numerous productions of the Terence Rattigan play across Europe all of which were to be transmitted on the same night. Alvin Rakoff directed and if I remember correctly involved a Transatlantic Crane for coming from the Gallery to the floor for the opening sequence of the show within a show. I can remember how cold it was shooting round the TVC fountain in the early hours of the morning.
I believe the programme was made in November 1962 and I’ve attached the front cover of Radio Times which, unfortunately doesn’t show the date!
(Click on the picture below to see a larger or clearer version of this picture:
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[Transmission date Thursday 6th Dec 1962: 20:25]
I found Kenneth More to be one of the most charming, accommodating and funny actors I’ve worked with. The radio mike he wore in the sequence referenced above was breaking up during rehearsal. As it was being replaced by a sound assistant Kenneth said, “It should work, it’s earthed to my balls.”
Unusually the crew were invited for drinks in one of the actor’s dressing rooms and getting there after the derig I had the door opened for me by Peter O’Toole who said “Would you like a drink dear boy?” and went and poured me one.
Graeme Wall, John Cavaciuti
It was a Vinten Lightweight OB dolly. Given the very slight sway on the corners, the tyres were underinflated! If John recalls correctly, Geoff Feld was the cameraman.
John Cavaciuti
The play used two studios, TC4 and TC5, with TC5 control rooms being the in vision ‘set’. My 1962 diary confirms it was recorded on 17/18/19 November and transmitted on 6th December. The corridor sequence was recorded on Sunday 18th. There was an over-run on Monday 19th until 03.45 on the Tuesday!
Dave Mundy
Amazingly well planned, lots of cable-bashers one presumes! Reminds me of “Poor Bitos” in Riverside when Shot 1 filled the first 17 pages of the script – Mike Bond’s finest, (and longest) shot!
David Carter, Bernie Newnham
“Heart to Heart” appears as part of a Rattigan tribute DVD Box Set with a load of other plays. Other suppliers may be available.
http://www.bbcshop.com/drama/the-terence-rattigan-collection-dvd/invt/bbcdvd3475
Pat Heigham
Kenneth More is my least favourite actor.
Why?
A play at Riverside – set during the First World War.
Me – on Grams.
A sequence of receiving a letter triggers a memory, played in as an audio track.
Shot of letter opened
CU More’s face
CU Letter opening
CU More’s face (2)
Cue audio track.
I got it wrong and cued the sequence on the first cut to his face. It was not assembled as a prerecorded sequence but was a mixture of tape/grams, so it could be modified as required.
More stopped the take, and announced that Grams had made a mistake.
I knew I had made a mistake.
My Sound Supervisor knew I had made a mistake.
The Director knew I had made a mistake.
But More didn’t have to tell the whole *** studio.
(Lucky I never worked with him again).
You could say that Grams had to go on Director’s cue, but timing wise – by the time that’s said, reaction time for Grams, and the delay for the tape machine start – it’s going to be late! So, many cues were taken independently. By instinct. That’s what made us good operators.
(Except then!!)
