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Sunday, April 10, 2016
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12 comments:
Me next! Does that ever look like fun!
Didn't Mark Gebel ride the Giraffe that Ringling Brothers?
Our two Jungleland giraffes, named--get ready for it--Hi-Boy and Low-Boy, were trained for Rex Harrison to ride in DR. DOLITTLE. This was in 1966, and Harrison had won his Oscar by then. He was arrogant and petulant about getting his way, and quickly disdained his animal co-stars. Amazingly to those of us who observed him daily, he at last agreed to mount a giraffe--and the moment was captured for a LIFE magazine cover. As you see from the slope of the giraffe, the saddle was beefed up in the back to achieve a certain level for the rider. Rex was sport enough to get the shot, but refused re-takes. Giving credit where it's due, Rex also rode our mature female rhino, Mary Beth. Otherwise, if Mr. Harrison had to be respected, he was generally cold and rude to everyone, and disliked by cast and crew.
I recall Okie told me the same thing about Rex Harrison. Roger, did you ever get to ride the giraffe? I can't remember if Okie said he did or not. Was that giraffe trained to ride when he was little? er, shorter? And by whom?
I'm pretty sure the trainer is Freddy Knie Snr.
As I recall, both Hi-Boy and Lo-Boy were mature when trained, chiefly by David Hall.
The one Rex is on for the LIFE cover is certainly an adult. I'll see if I can scan it. I took care of all background cats on set and location, and the general rule was, you never impose yourself on another trainer's work--especially in the picture business. Two exceptions were emergencies--when Charlie Allen's zebra stallion, Zulu, wranged up, and when our Cape buffalo cleared her fence, both incidents on Stage 22 at Fox. For these, it was all hands on deck.
thanks for your reply, Roger
Forgive me. The near-threatening animal incidents were on Stage 21, where Fox had our jungle set. Stage 22 was next door, and housed the Great Pink Sea Snail, which the studio and producer Arthur P. Jacobs figured would give the picture its big finish. Nothing doing. DOLITTLE flopped right behind CLEOPATRA, and damn near tanked the studio for good.
Bob...
I remember watching Gunther lead a giraffe, with young Mark riding, up to the center ring in the Garden. Unfortunately the giraffe started to act-up.. and was led away before performing. Don't have a year in my memory!!
klsdad
I don't understand why Dr. Dolittle was such a flop.
I loved it! Still do. Sheepishly I will admit I know all the songs... speaking of the Pink Sea Snail, while discussing the places they could go, Samantha Eggar wistfully asks, "Couldn't we go...couldn't we go to Monte Carlo?" Um, when I finally made it there, ok I confess I smiled to myself as I thought of that line. Shees. More coffee. Fewer true confessions.
Samantha Eggar told me many production stories, which underscored the talk around Jungleland during filming: Harrison was consistently uncooperative, even ruining his shots by refusing to wear makeup. I heard him tell the still man, "I'll have you get a photo of me directing the director." He demanded the entire company uproot from California and shoot both in England and on far-flung British territories. We shot the circus sequences at Disney's Golden Oaks Ranch, out here in Placerita Canyon, but when Rex threw the seal to the sea, when it could have been shot anywhere on the California coast, he insisted the location be the British West Indies. Rex was barely 2 years from his Oscar win, and the studio and producer Jacobs were intimidated by his star power. He got everything he wanted, and literally gave Jacobs a heart attack. Critics agreed Rex was tepid at best, the musical numbers lame, the editing inconsistent, and the production as a whole less than well-crafted. No amount of promotion by Fox could win an audience that met the nut.
If you look up Harrison on the Internet you will find a long sting of articles describing how totally obnoxious he was.
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