I worked for 32 years in the biz as an extra/bit player 1966--1998. I was lucky to work on over 7oo production and now tell my story on my web page. I'm still updating my IMDB page but it takes a long time. http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0276092
TOP SECRET…Directors…Jim Abrahams…David and Jerry Zucker… Cast Inc…Val Kilmer…Peter Cushing… I was booked for a couple of days to play a straight faced German and a very good actor (Warren Clarke) was to be my boss. The directors of this film had already shown their comedy worth with all the Airplane films in the USA.. So it was gag after gag in this film too. I don’t know if this was Val Kilmer’s first leading role but he certainly went to the top in his later films..
The scene I’m in goes something like this. Warren is checking Val’s papers on a train and this is set during WW2. After the dialogue scenes between them Warren and I get off the train and wait for the train to pull out.. We stand on the platform. The train doesn’t pull out, the directors think it’s funnier if the platform pulls out instead. (British Rail should make note of this as it saves on crowded trains.) Warren and I did work together again over the years
Aitch, (H) If you've any questions please ask...
[ 30. August 2009, 04:21: Message edited by: harryfielder ]
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Hi and welcome to the Rewind! wow, you got a long career.
Top Secret is one of the best comedy movies ever. I love it! Nice to read some behind the scenes info.
Please tell us something about the Highlander experience. I know that you were only one day on the set but i love that movie too and would like to hear some more.
Posted by There'll be no morning for us (Member # 5804) on :
Very cool, welcome aboard Aitch. Did you get to meet Peter? Posted by harryfielder (Member # 8189) on :
I think we filmed these scenes in an old hospital in South London. I was dressed as a U.S. Cop guarding a guy who had been beating up. Not a lot for me to do on this....
Aitch,
Posted by P a u l (Member # 1022) on :
Hey Aitch,
Good to see you here as well as over on Teh whippet Inn forum! I'm Doctor Pavingstone over there!
Hope you're well!
Posted by harryfielder (Member # 8189) on :
Hiya Paul, I'll be telling the folks a few true stories of my life in the biz...Happy days..
Aitch,
Posted by P a u l (Member # 1022) on :
Listen to what what Aitch says, guys - he's the real deal, and a thoroughly good bloke to boot.
Posted by Kash (Member # 297) on :
Welcome to the Rewind. What a CV! you retired just as Guy Ritchie was taking off; you could've been a geezer in one of his earlier films or part of Malcolm McDowell's crew in 'Gangster No. 1'
Anyone who's played both a death star trooper in Star Wars and a German in Raiders Of The Lost Ark, must have some great stories.
Posted by harryfielder (Member # 8189) on :
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK…Director Steven Spielberg…Elstree Studios… Cast Inc…Harrison Ford…Karen Allen… A great joy to watch Mr Spielberg at work.. The whole sequence was set out on storyboards. A master of his craft… There’s about twenty of the chaps dressed up as (It’s that word again) GERMAN’S. And it’s near the end of the film where the bad guys find The Ark and all us bad guys are going to get our just desserts.
When The Ark is opened strange things start to happen and strong winds and sand are blown all over the set. Steven tells us to react to strange ghost like creatures coming out of the Ark. He’d point at us and shout above the noise of the wind, ‘’It’s coming for you now react, now it’s got you round the face, react to it.’’ George Lucas was standing next to Steven at times and seemed to be enjoying the action. Harrison and Karen were tied to a stake at the time so I couldn’t get any help from that quarter… Of course all the special effects are put onto screen months later as is most films these days… I read Steven Spielberg’s life story and he didn’t always have it easy. (Read it) And the last word on this tale must go to Harrison Ford’s stand/in… Jack (Chalky) Dearlove, who is still working for him…Hello Jack…
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