For the big Michael Todd movie, David Niven led as Phileas Fogg. The best accounting of that film was written by Niven in his books, THE MOON'S A BALLOON, and BRING ON THE EMPTY HORSES. Niven remains among the most loved and respected actors, one who was known to make film extras and airport redcaps feel like kings. His books are among the most readable of filmmaking history, due to his incisive observations, innate kindness and sparkling wit. All his books are works you can enjoy for a lifetime.
If the 2nd title needs explaining, so did the English language to Director Michael Curtiz. During production of THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE, he needed a panorama of riderless horses roaming aimlessly after the 600 soldiers were slaughtered in the final charge. Curtiz could not explain what his wranglers needed to do, and at last shouted "Bring on the empty horses!"
Smokey Jones once told me that he worked on a stage version of AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS that starred Michael Rennie. (Smokey was undoubtedly involved in those scenes where an elephant appeared.)
Michael Rennie starred in my all-time favorite sci-fi movie, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. This was out of 20th Century-Fox, in 1950, where the interiors were shot on Stage 8. In 2004, I worked on an episode of BONES, and our set was on that stage. The studios all post big plaques on their stages, proclaiming what films or TV shows shot there, and there I stood, finding the title of Mr. Rennie's starring picture. A young Patricia Neal got her start in this one. Other interiors shot on Stage 8 were those of one of my favorite Westerns, THE GUNFIGHTER, which starred Gregory Peck, Millard Mitchell, and Karl Malden. Richard Jaeckel and Skip Homeier portrayed the challenging young gunslingers.
9 comments:
I had the opportunity to attend
a performance of this touring
production from the Young Vic
Theater in the UK that currently
is being presented by our Asolo
Theater here in Sarasota today
It was far beyond my expectation
This very simple yet marvelous
show relies on great imagination
& precision of every element as
well as every performer
Being a crusty well seasoned
Broadway Stagehand I am often
extremely critical but this
show was excellent totally
I wouldn't change any of it
nor add anything at all
I am grateful to have seen it
This wasn't a musical version
unlike the tremendous show of
the same title back in the 60s
performed in the Jones Beach
Marine Theater on Long Island
That joint built by Bob Moses
as part of the State Park system
seated about 6500 in an outdoor
setting that was operated under
contract by "GCL Productions"
Guy Carmen & Lebert Lombardo
I was fortunate to be head of
frontlight operating a DC arc
Genarco Metrolite with about
a 320' throw to the mainstage
A sneeze could throw you off
by 20' (so I didn't sneeze)
Chic,
Is the company going on tour elsewhere in the U.S. or are the New York and Asolo dates the only performances?
John
It looks like the US tour is short, from this website:
http://www.80dayslive.com/tickets-and-tour/
Tony
For the big Michael Todd movie, David Niven led as Phileas Fogg. The best accounting of that film was written by Niven in his books, THE MOON'S A BALLOON, and BRING ON THE EMPTY HORSES. Niven remains among the most loved and respected actors, one who was known to make film extras and airport redcaps feel like kings. His books are among the most readable of filmmaking history, due to his incisive observations, innate kindness and sparkling wit. All his books are works you can enjoy for a lifetime.
If the 2nd title needs explaining, so did the English language to Director Michael Curtiz. During production of THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE, he needed a panorama of riderless horses roaming aimlessly after the 600 soldiers were slaughtered in the final charge. Curtiz could not explain what his wranglers needed to do, and at last shouted "Bring on the empty horses!"
I found the NY Times review of
that Jones Beach version from
June of 1964 that mentioned it
was the 2nd year of that show
Very nice story indeed
Smokey Jones once told me that he worked on a stage version of AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS that starred Michael Rennie. (Smokey was undoubtedly involved in those scenes where an elephant appeared.)
Michael Rennie starred in my all-time favorite sci-fi movie, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. This was out of 20th Century-Fox, in 1950, where the interiors were shot on Stage 8. In 2004, I worked on an episode of BONES, and our set was on that stage. The studios all post big plaques on their stages, proclaiming what films or TV shows shot there, and there I stood, finding the title of Mr. Rennie's starring picture. A young Patricia Neal got her start in this one. Other interiors shot on Stage 8 were those of one of my favorite Westerns, THE GUNFIGHTER, which starred Gregory Peck, Millard Mitchell, and Karl Malden. Richard Jaeckel and Skip Homeier portrayed the challenging young gunslingers.
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