Something I did not know – and it comes as a surprise about that wonderful Television Series  The Avengers.

Diana Rigg  was not the original choice to play Emma Peel in The Avengers. The original actress cast for the role was Elizabeth Shepherd who, most unusually, had not been screen-tested.

ABOVE:  Patrick Macnee as Steed and Diana Rigg as Emma Peel in The Avengers

ABOVE:  Diana Rigg as Emma Peel in The Avengers

Julian Winkle was executive producer. and he made the choice of  Liz Shepherd who had done some things on television and she was undeniably very beautiful but it wasn’t until after one and a half episode that the decision to drop her was made.  She was  not a bad actress, but apparently didn’t have a sense of humour at all and that was essential in The Avengers.

So those episodes were scrapped and her services were dispensed with – and out of the tests came Diana Rigg. Other actresses were tested such as  Moira Redmond  and one or two unknowns like Sarah Brackett – sadly she died many years later in 1996 in Westminster – but Diana Rigg was head and shoulders above everybody else.”

ABOVE: Elizabeth Shepherd

Brian Clemens worked for a total of six years on various Avengers series and then, when Diana Rigg left the show, he was suddenly thrown out.

Cliff celebrated his 79 th Birthday yesterday 14 October 2019 – and his is still Rockin’

Next year he embarks on a major tour – as he says ‘ the word Retirement does not exist in my vocabulary’

ABOVE – Cliff with Andrew Ray in Serious Charge 1959

ABOVE – Cliff surrounded by young girls in Serious Charge 1959

ABOVE – Cliff with Andrew Ray in Serious Charge 1959 on Location for ‘Serious Charge’ in Stevenage

This  was Cliff’s first film –  ‘Serious Charge’ with Anthony Quayle and Andrew Ray and Sarah Churchill. Cliff did not have a very big part but did get to sing his hit ‘Living Doll’

His very next film released in 1961 was ‘Expresso Bongo’ along with Laurence Harvey and Sylvia Sims  – so here he is again alongside  another top actor – or top actors. As we see above he sang for me – one of his best songs of the period ‘A Voice In The Wilderness’

Then onto one we all know – the delightful – and colourful ‘Summer Holiday’ in 1963. We all flocked to the cinema for this one

Cliff above – with his friends setting off on the great adventure which we all shared. This was a good film

Cliff in Summer Holiday ABOVE

He later made another hit ‘The Young Ones’ alongside none other than Robert Morley

Bernard Braden and Barbara Kelly play a young couple who are forced to take drastic measures to raise money because a large gift is coming their way from a distant relative – however it is dependent on them not being in debt – and so the wife takes drastic action and pawns her husband.

However his new family seem to really like him, particularly daughter Jeannie Carson  who does what she can to seduce him. Soon the situation becomes a national sensation, as Barbara Kelly is reluctant to retrieve her now confused husband. Farcial situations abound as you can imagine.

ABOVE:  John Laurie offers legal advice.

I have featured this film before on the Blog when I said that, as a young boy, my brother and I were taken to see it 

There is lots of sharp, punning dialogue, presumably supplied by “additional” script writers, Frank Muir and Denis Norden.

Husband and wife team Bernard Braden and Barbara Kelly – those Television stars of the 50’s – fitted well into this  family-friendly comedy –  the type that the film industry churned out throughout the decade. 

They play a pair of bohemians living the artistic life on a houseboat in Chelsea.

Among the cast  is Reg Dixon who had succeeded George Formby in the West End in  the hit musical ‘Zip Goes a Million’ when George had a heart attack.   He played one of the pawn shop partners, perpetually harassed by his family.

He never really made it in films,  He had been a big Radio Star as well as having the West End hit.

ABOVE – We see Reg Dixon with Bernard Braden and Jeannie Carson

John Laurie is well cast a stuffy lawyer who gets caught up in the couple’s schemes.  Laurence Naismith is also cast

Script: Guy Morgan, Frank Muir, Denis Norden

Director: Charles Saunders

Other actors: Jeannie Carson, Walter Grisham, Avice Landone, Tom Gill, Alan Robinson, Dorothy Gordon, Benita Lydell, Hal Osmond

Love in Pawn is a pleasant way of spending an hour and twenty minutes and it is quite good fun entertainment.

Well, I don’t know anyone who has ever seen this film – and I do know that even the star of the film Richard Todd never saw it.

There seem to be no pictures or film stills for us to use from this film

It starts out in a curious fashion in October of 1967.  Richard Todd was staying at his flat in London one evening when a knock came at the door and he opened it to quite a forlorn looking character who was Peter Everett. He had written a script for a film and was producing and directing it. He begged Richard Todd to read the script which Richard did later that night.  

The following evening Peter Everett came round again and was almost in tears and imploring Richard Todd to take the leading role in his film – he explained that Richard was vital to the film.

Richard Todd had , however been very impressed by the script that Peter Everett had written – they story centred on a former RAF fighter pilot who had seen much action in the War, and now the War was over seemed unable to adjust to the realities of post war life. He became more and more engrossed with memories of those finest hours and about the colleagues who had perished – he became lost in a hideous dream world much to the contempt of his son and the agony of his long suffering wife.   He had in the story, taken on a Pub close to a Wartime airfield in Kent – and proceeded to cram it with memorabilia of the conflict.

Finally almost deranged he dons his RAF uniform and wanders on to the airfield, surrounded in his mind by ghosts of the past.  His son finds him and at last seems to understand his inner turmoil and quietly talks him back to safety.    This is a touching scene that bridges the generations.

Richard Todd was profoundly disturbed by the script – however he found it beautifully written by Peter Everett who was a novelist and poet.

Richard Todd agreed to do it – he had by this time been told that filming would start in a few days time down at Hawkinge in Kent – and he learned that quite a strong cast of well-known British actors had been lined up including Patrick Barr, David Markham, Sonia Dresdel, Sue Jameson and Malcolm Tierney.  Then a  new cast member Gillian Raine was brought in to play the Airman’s wife – on Richard Todd’s recommendation. He said that he loved working with her.

The first day’s filming proved a nightmare of incompetence and chaos – a young cameraman had been assigned who had been a still specialist and no experience of this type of work.  That evening Richard Todd phoned up contacts he had and an experienced film cameraman and crew arrived on set  the next day.

Scenes in the local Pub at Paddlesworth went well –

Other studio scenes were done in a converted Hangar at Panshanger, a former RAF airfield Nr Welwyn.

This film was finished in November 1967. Richard Todd thought that they had managed to produce something really good.

However, he added ‘ What happened to ‘The last of the Long Haired Boys’ I don’t know’ 

Apparently he was out of the country when it was due for release – and he never saw any share of the profits from the film – if indeed there were any.

However one day some time afterwards he was sitting in a Restaurant in London when an old acting friend Trevor Howard came up to him and said ‘ Just seen your film Ther Last of the Long Haired Boys.  Bloody marvellous, Dicky old boy’

As Richard said ‘ I could not have asked for a finer accolade than that from my screen hero’

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If anyone out there knows of – or has seen this film please let me know. I have searched around for years for it – but to no avail. There must be a 16 mm or 35 mm copy somewhere.

Betta St John came over to England in  1952 to play one of the leading roles in South Pacific at The Theatre Royal Drury Lane – and here she met one of the male leads in the production – Peter Grant.

They fell in love and were married shortly afterwards on 27 November 1952 in London at the Caxton Hall Register Office. Later they settled in California – he dies there in 1992.

Betta St John is still alive and living in California, I am pleased to report aged 89

Actor and singer Peter Grant of Longwell Green , Gloucestershire had been in  the R.A.F. – he had been on the chorus of a company at the Bristol Hippodrome and I suppose that it was there that he was spotted – after all it is a big jump from Bristol to such a huge  musical  as ‘South Pacific’ at The Theatre Royal Drury Lane.        Peter Grant’s  parents lived  in Longwell Green, Bristol – Peter had at one time worked Messrs W. D. and H. O. Wills.   He acted in Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s musical, “South Pacific”, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London, England with Mary Martin, Wilbur Evans, Muriel Smith and Larry Hagman in the cast.   A BOVE:    Muriel Smith,  Betta St John and Peter Grant 1952 Theatre Royal Drury Lane – in South Pacific     Peter Grant was also an Opera Singer and also sang in musicals. He mostly performed in London, but his company also toured Australia, New Zealand and the United States.” In this Production Larry Hagman played one of the seamen – he was, of course , Mary Martin’s son. In a later programme in 1953 a young 22 year old Sean Connery had a small role. ABOVE is a rare November 1st, 1951 programme (playbill) from the Original West End production of the RICHARD RODGERS and OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II musical “SOUTH PACIFIC” at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London. (The Original Broadway production opened April 7th, 1949 at the Majestic Theatre in New York City and ran for 1925 performances. The London production opened November 1st, 1951 and ran for 802 performances.) This Production  starred MARY MARTIN as “Ensign Nellie Forbush”, the role she had originated on Broadway and featured WILBUR EVANS, RAY WALSTON, MURIEL SMITH, HARTLEY POWER, BETTA ST. JOHN, JOHN McLAREN, PETER GRANT, GERALD METCALFE, ARCHIE SAVAGE, WALLY PETERSON, BILL NAGY, MICHAEL MELLINGER and LARRY HAGMAN Music and Lyrics by RICHARD RODGERS and OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II     Betta St John had played the same role in South Pacific on Broadway before coming to England with the show. – See above with Juanita Hall as Bloody Mary

Husband David (Tony Wright) is an unsuccessful writer –   His wife Jean Linton is played by (Patricia Dainton).  The pair live in a succession of boarding houses, suffering from a  lack of money.

Their luck suddenly changes – or seems to – with the death of Jean’s auntie who has left her a house in the country.

ABOVE – Patricia Dainton and her husband David 

David is all for selling the house and a good offer is made

When Jean refuses he finds alternative entertainment in the form of local girl Mrs Stockley (Sandra Dorne ) supposedly employed as his typist.  Jean, meanwhile, is comforted by local estate agent Derek Aylward.  

Gradually David comes round to the idea of murdering his wife for her inheritance.

The film is  75% domestic murder story, 25% supernatural thriller. Jean inherits a house, moves her drunken no good partner David in, and he meets someone else, a voluptuous blonde, Valerie Stockley. Valerie persuades David to kill his wife, but Jean is protected by a poltergheist,  named Patrick by the potty Irish maid Mrs O’Brien.

It’s unusual to say the least.  Patricia Dainton appeared in some good  films in the 50’s and 60’s, including The Third Alibi, and once again she’s pretty good. Sandra Dorne too is really good in her role.

Directed by veteran Montgomery Tully, The House in Marsh Road  is an interesting theme in combining a crime drama with a supernatural one

When I remember Peter Sallis, it is not for Last of the Summer Wine or indeed ‘Wallace  and Gromit’ – it is for this BBC TV series which only ran for one season and 14 episodes.

Peter Sallis as Pepys  in this portrayal plays the role of Pepys with humour – as the picture above indicates – but also conveys  first and foremost that he is a devoted public servant.

This was Peter Sallis’ very first television role – and it was a starring role.

Also cast was Douglas Wilmer – who later played Sherlock Holmes – who played King Charles II with all the requisite charm and style we imagine, aided and abetted by  a well-trained spaniel.

Also cast was Paul Eddington as Sir William Coventry and Wensley Pithey who had played Friar Tuck in a BBC Robin Hood serial with Patrick Troughton as Robin Hood – I do remember that one.

Others cast were Bernard Archard and a very young Nannette Newman

Whatever do we make of James Robertson Justice. Was he for real ?

The claims he made about his country of birth- which was not the case – and many of the stories in his youth which seem to be almost too preposterous for words. Did he live in this fantasy world all his life or was that just to get him the fame he eventually was successful with – I just don’t know.

He did have a very good career in films and a long one at that.

He was a perfect ‘Little John’. He remains a fascinating character in some ways and maybe those characters are needed – even if they embellish their stories a bit too much.

I suppose there is just the chance that some of these stories are true of course.

ABOVE:  Here he is in ‘The Sword and the Rose’ another Walt Disney picture – playing Henry VIII – and looking very much the part.

James Norval Harald Robertson Justice – he added ‘Robertson’ himself, in an effort to appear more Scottish  was born in London although his father was originally from Aberdeen.

He claimed to be able to  speak as many as 20 languages.

He unsuccessfully contested the North Angus Constituency for the Labour Party in the 1950 election

Before acting, he had a supposedly varied career which included being a journalist for the Reuters along with James Bond creator, Sir Ian Fleming; teaching in Canada; playing professional ice hockey for the London Lions; racing motor cars at Brooklands; and finally, upholding the law as a policeman for the League of Nations in German, when the Nazis came to power.

He was good friends with the Duke of Edinburgh

Tragically his only son died in a drowning accident in 1949, aged just four

He apparently had  countless affairs during his first marriage. His second marriage took place just three days before he died.

He adored Scotland and claimed to have been born there.

He died penniless in London, – a long period of ill health had led to him being  forced to sell his beloved Scottish home. His final resting place was in Scotland close to his home below.

Postcard showing the Dornoch Firth at Spinningdale, including the old mill and James Robertson Justice’s former home.

Maybe I have been unkind to him here – he was ‘larger than life’ – and there is something about him that I admire but much I don’t. To have forged a good acting career starting at the late age of 37, and continued it for a great many years is some feat.

I will leave you with one thought I have just had – Wouldn’t he have been perfect, and very successful in the Harry Potter films – not sure of his role but he would seem to fit I think

Please don’t miss this one – such a charming British film telling a simple story of two children running away from home to see the Coronation in 1953 in London – and the adventures they have on the way – and we too with them

Below I have located a set of Front of House Stills from the film which are perfect – and fit the mood and the era so well.

ABOVE: I really love these – the colour is slightly faded and the printed words belong to another time – but aren’t they good

Thanks Goodness for Talking Pictures – who have given this film a number of showings and judging by the visits to the pages of this Blog -covering the film – it must have been watched by a great many  people.

Also BELOW I have managed to copy some pictures from Reel Streets giving the locations  around Beaconsfield where filming took place.

Beaconsfield ABOVE

Waterloo Station ABOVE

ABOVE – Near Amersham

Beaconsfield and other locations ABOVE

Although I can’t remember much of this serial, it seems that it was an expensive production for those days and – as was the case at that time – it went out ‘live’ from the Ealing Studios that the BBC had taken on.

It is as though the BBC were trying to take on ITV who had had great success with ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’ later ‘Ivanhoe’ and ‘Sir Lancelot’ .     However ITV were much cleverer here – they made these on film and so were able to sell them to America which in the case of ‘Robin Hood’ proved a great move.

With ‘Sir Lancelot’ some of the episodes were filmed in colour – had that happened with ‘Robin Hood’ then even greater success would have come their way.

It does seem that the BBC were a step behind here – surely it would have been obvious to them that on film it had much more potential

The Adventures of Ben Gunn tells the story of how Ben met Nick Allardyce, son of a local parson, who yearned for a life of adventure.

Nick had finished medical school before gaining his full qualifications, but he managed to get the job as  surgeon on a transport vessel, the Walrus (later to become Captain Flint’s pirate ship)

Nick and Ben meet John Silver and others from Treasure Island. We learn where  the buried treasure in Treasure Island came from.

The story also tells how Ben came to be marooned on the island years after he had fled the ‘Walrus’ pirate ship

The television series, which starred Peter Wyngarde as John Silver and John Moffat as Ben was a six-part serial which began at 5.35 pm on 1 June 1958 with The Parson’s Son. 

The last episode was broadcast on 6 July.

The BBC spent a large amount of money on this production

 They even had a giant wave machine and a Spanish galleon for the scenes on board the ship.

During a sword fight between Peter Wyngarde and Olaf Pooley,  Peter sustained an injury but luckily only in a rehearsal.

This as we have said was done ‘live’ so had this sort of thing happened, I really don’t know what would have been done.

Peter Wyngarde was taken to hospital with the  sword still protruding from his leg which to say the least must have been pretty alarming at the time.

Peter Wyngarde played John Silver as a young man. He did say that “I played Long John absolutely straight. In this series he was a young man – about 30 years before the Long John of Treasure Island.”

He was also played as a quite well to do type from a good family who later fell into bad ways.

One role I well remember from Peter Wyngarde was in the 1961 film ‘ The Innocents’ with Deborah Kerr