| Archive for U.K Chat A U.K General CHAT FORUM,For the people of the United kingdom, X-pats and friends |
| harryfielder |
Films and tv....Hi folks I got to work on many film and tv shows in the UK. 1966-1998.Well it was better than working 9-5 for 32 years... 
Aitch, |
||||
| popi25 |
Hi Harry so what shows did you work on. 
|
||||
| harryfielder |
Check the siggy...
Aitch, |
||||
| popi25 |
Oooo ok will do, welcome to the forum by the way, hope your here to chat and have fun.
|
||||
| popi25 |
Well had a look, thats a good C.V., have you retired or are you still on the books, and what was your most memorable part.
|
||||
| harryfielder |
I'm retired now, or should I say ''just resting''
I did clock up over 800 productions some small parts and some extra work but it was a great way to get a living....
I HAVE A LOT OF STORIES TO TELL.. 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… Aitch (H) |
||||
| popi25 |
Hehehe, must be great to act and still be a big kid at heart, if you know what I mean, takes you back to your playground days shooting germans, or being cowboys and indians, looks like you have had a fantastic life meeting all the greats, I notice you were in the sweeny, John Thaw was one of my favourite actors, if he was alive today he would have been knighted in my opinion, superb actor. | ||||
| harryfielder |
THE SWEENEY…John Thaw…Dennis Waterman…
It arrived with a bang. A British cop show that pulled no punches. No more ‘’Evening all’’ from Dixon of Dock Green this was the ‘’Muts Nuts’. A couple of good friends of mine were standing/in for the two main leads. Whenever they could they’d stick my name up to the various 2nd A.D.’s and get me a couple of days work. Thanks Barry and Tony. I can’t remember the number of episodes I was on but it always seemed to be when it was a bit quiet on the outside. I got on well with John and Dennis and on some episodes I’d be a plain clothes cop helping them out of trouble and on other episodes they’d be roughing me up. (I never get to play Vicars or Doctors, is it something to do with my face) Aitch (H) I'm off out now for a drink, Back tomorrow with more tales...
|
||||
| popi25 |
Ok Harry, great to chat to you, just about to watch new tricks, have a nice drink, catch you tomorrow.
|
||||
| lil eva |
Welcome to UK Harry,great to have you aboard
|
||||
| Baldrick |
Hi Harry....good cv that!! | ||||
| popi25 |
It is, nearly as good as popi's
|
||||
| Baldrick |
In your dreams Bluto!! |
||||
| harryfielder |
Morning all,
On some of the jobs I did you get screen credits but not on every job. Take this job many years ago and I get to work with the main man. 
1972 FRENZY…Director…Alfred Hitchcock… I am now working with the Master of filming. Where I was born in Islington London, there was a huge warehouse type building on the corner of the Grand Union Canal in New North Road. (Very near the North Pole Pub) It was in fact a film studio. As a kid in the forties I used to swim in the canal as it cost nothing entrance fee. (You had to watch out for the large Mocking birds floating on top of the water) I think the studio was called Gainsborough and as a kid I remember strangely dressed people popping into the pub on the corner of New North Road and Elizabeth Avenue. (Supporting Artists of the past) Anyway, that’s where Alfred Hitchcock made many of his films. (I could have bumped into him while I was going swimming and he was popping in for a swift half. It’s a small world) ONTO THE FILM… I was now the not so proud owner of an old Bedford van and was booked by the 2nd A.D. on Frenzy to report to Covent Garden fruit market for the start of a weeks work... There must have been fifty supporting artists working that week as market porters. It was thirty years ago but some people still come to mind, like Big Mo Dunster who was stand/in on films for Donald Sutherland. Jimmy (the crow) Hammilton, Eddie Dillon And Bill (the body) Hemmings. I remember the day that Donald Sutherland came down to speak to Mo about a private matter and got into one of the shots.(Everyone wants to be in a Hitchcock movie) Mo has done well for himself and now lives in the U.S.A. looking after the Sutherland clan. Best wishes Mo, love Boysie. Mr. Hitchcock was not very well while he was directing this film and would line up all the shots he wanted and leave the running around to his 1st A.D. (Colin Brewer, I think) We filmed all around the market for the next week or so loading vans and unloading vans (Including my old Bedford) but I was more interested in watching the Master at work. Then near the end of the shoot in the market it happened. The Master looked at me then at the 1st A.D. and said… ‘’Tell that man to climb up on that lorry and start unloading it’’ (‘’That man’’) he said my name, I was being directed by the great man himself. We shot a lot of the inside of the film at Pinewood. Then some stuff with the Bedford Following a potato lorry up and down major roads and that was it. I was sorry to see the end of the filming but it’s one film I will never forget. If you’re looking down from that great studio in the sky Mr. Hitchcock ‘’That Man’’ will say hello when he gets there. Aitch, 
|
||||
| Chrissy Canadian |
hi harry, nice to meet you
|
||||
| harryfielder |
Hiya C.C.
It's always nice to meet new folk and talk..
Aitch, |
||||
| Chrissy Canadian |
yes, you seem like a real interesting person 
|
||||
| Chrissy Canadian |
you should have linked to http://www.harryfielder.co.uk not just that imdb site. so, you were in fawlty towers? lol | ||||
| harryfielder |
Hiya C.C.,
I thought that would have been too long for folks to read, but if they read it and want to ask questions I'll try and answer them. ??? I did go and meet up with my old Star Wars boss (Darth) a few weeks ago at Elstree Studios and we had tea and cakes...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums...yfielder/Elstree/daveandharry.jpg Aitch, |
||||
| Chrissy Canadian |
lol, here's what you said about fawlty towers...
FAWLTY TOWERS…BBCTV…John Cleese…Connie Booth…Andrew Sachs…Prunella Scales. Joe Santos and I booked to do one day on location and one day in the studio… On location we filmed the exterior of the hotel. Aitch and Joe loading a huge basket Into the back of a van and driving off. A fortnight later in the studio we enter and pick up the basket which contains a dead body. (But we don’t know that) . I met John a few years later and he ask how I was doing. (Nice man). |
||||
| Chrissy Canadian |
cool, i never actually saw star wars lol, who played darth vader again? |
||||
| harryfielder |
Chrissy, here's what happened on Star Wars.....
STAR WARS…DIRECTOR GEORGE LUCAS… After finishing a couple of Doctor Who’s Central Casting sent me to E.M.I. Studios to work on another space film for seven days. I did ask them if they had any other work because I was fed up with wearing space outfits and the like… (Little did I know about STAR WARS). There must have been about fifty Supporting Artists gathered on the first day, some putting on white space type suits, some being fitted out in weird make up and costumes and the rest of us waited around to see what we were going to be. We had plenty of time to sit around chatting and playing the odd game of cards. When myself and a chap called Ronnie Conrad got a call to go to the wardrobe dept, They dressed us in black space type suits but without a facemask…(Were they telling us we were ugly enough to look like aliens). When we were dressed we sat at the back of the set and waited to do our bit. I got talking to a giant of a man (Dave Prowse) from the West Country and he told me he was playing a character called ‘’Daft Ada’’. I found out later that day he was playing ‘’DARTH VADER’’ (It must have been Dave’s strong Cornish accent that made it sound wrong). Ronnie and I did some odd bits during the week and then the 2nd A.D. called for us to do a bit of business with our old mate ‘’DARTH’’. We were going to arrest Princess LEIA (Carrie Fisher)… Carrie’s parents were Eddie Fisher (singer) and Debbie Reynolds (singer/actress). Debbie starred in the film ‘’Singing In The Rain’’ in 1952 and I, as a twelve year old, was in love with her... (It soon passed). Anyway lets get back to ‘’DAFT’’. Darth, Ronnie and I walk along some corridors and then into the cell where The Princess was being held. Darth had all the lines to say while Ronnie and I stood there looking ugly. (Typecast) In between lighting the set Carrie was very chatty and asked what else we had done in films. (Has she got that much time to spare?) I also met Harrison Ford and was to work with him again over the next few years. Star Wars was the highest grossing money film that I ever worked on. Some say it took a Billion Dollars at the box office and video sales… I earned £11 per day for seven days. Total £77. What’s the % ?… Twenty five years later I am held in deep respect for being one of "DAFT ADA’S" men, by my Grandchildren… Thanks Mr Lucas… http://img.photobucket.com/albums...fielder/Space/harryfielderweb.jpg Aitch, |
||||
| Chrissy Canadian |
haha cool. hey were you by any chance in any episodes of doctor in the house? i loved that show when i was a kid
|
||||
| harryfielder |
No, I didn't get onto that show but I did a few Carry Ons....
Aitch, |
||||
| Chrissy Canadian |
yeah, i see that... and on the buses too, that was a funny show
|
||||
| harryfielder |
Chrissy,
I'm off out now to buy the papers, be back at Lunchtime....xx Aitch, |
||||
| Chrissy Canadian |
okay bye bye, gotta go to bed soon i guess lol. take care harry | ||||
| popi25 |
I notice you mentioned the Mackintosh man, I was in Malta on HMS BULWARK and there was a yacht moored by customs house Valletta, and that was were they did the shoot of Paul Newman having a fight and going overboard, we actually met the great man, he had a chat with us, we were on our way to the GUT for a few bevvies hehe,when we sailed they stopped filming and and waved us off. | ||||
| Evie |
Hi harry  to UK Chat, iv'e only just joined myself and it's a lovely place.
|
||||
| popi25 |
Thats because I am here Evie, how you doing and hows the kid's, hope all is well
|
||||
| Evie |
hehe hi popi, the kids are fine but Ben my little baby boy has a teeth coming through already and he's not stopped screaming for days, i can see a bottle or 2 of wine coming out tonight hun.
|
||||
| popi25 |
Your starting him off young Evie  wont warm milk do the trick or bonjela, I am just about to pour a glass of wine myself mind 
|
||||
| Evie |
Got bongela, calpol and a teething ring but he's still not happy, poor little thing, well he couldent' wait to be born now he can't wait to grow up nooooooo i want him to stay a little baby for as long as possible funny thing is my sister's baby got his first tooth at 2 months as well, it's not fair lol.
|
||||
| popi25 |
Hehehehe, bless him, have you had a look at harry's history, very interesting, you will have seen him on T.V. possibly.
|
||||
| Evie |
Yes i've had a quick look and he's done some amazing stuff, very intersting chappie. | ||||
| popi25 |
Your O/H will be well interested him being a film buff, still into his war movies is he.
|
||||
| Serenity |
Welcome to the forum Harry  Interesting reading 
|
||||
| popi25 |
Thats funny, someone from Norfolk who can read
|
||||
| Baldrick |
OI!!! |
||||
| Serenity |
OMG you brat!!! lmaoooo well if you know that much about us Norfolkers, you will know we pack a hard PUNCH too!! |
||||
| Baldrick |
You tell him ren, I'll be there with you!! |
||||
| popi25 |
And eat loads of carrots too ooooooooarrr
|
||||
| Baldrick |
Those carrots will be disappearing up your jaxie, right pronto...mr toon. |
||||
| popi25 |
Hello Baldrick, nice to see you, ohh I only take organic up my jaxie by the way
|
||||
| Serenity |
lmao...i'll run him over with my trac'oooor | ||||
| popi25 |
Oooo no wonder you like it down there, do You know Max Mosley
|
||||
| Serenity |
vroom vroom isn't he from London? | ||||
| popi25 |
Dunno, but apparantly he likes a good whip round
|
||||
| Serenity |
Till he got caught apparently lol | ||||
| Baldrick |
by the testimonials apparently. |
||||
| popi25 |
Eyup Harry were are you, got some questions I want to ask
|
||||
| harryfielder |
Hiya folks, my PC crashed to day and took a lot of stuff with it.
There could be a delay..... Aitch, |
||||
| popi25 |
Hi Aitch did you ever meet Jimmy James and Eli Casey his stooge by chance
|
||||
| Chrissy Canadian |
that's okay, we'll wait, i have a ton of questions to ask you too aitch, i'd love to hear all your stories
|
||||
| harryfielder |
Hiya folks, it seems my hard drive went down (painful ) and I need to get a guy round to help me.
I've got bits of the site back up but there's a lot of writing and pics lost. Meanwhile here's a drinking story.....
STRONGBOW COMMERCIAL…TWICKENHAM STUDIOS… Now I never write too much about Commercials but this one really stands out from the others in the fact that by now you will have gathered that I do love to drink the odd swift half of the black stuff. This advert is for cider. The night before I do this job I’m compering and singing in a pub in Islington. (I can still hack it) and as I haven’t got a car at the moment a good friend of mine who is on the job with me the next day said he’ll give me a lift to the studio in the morning. (Good old Jerry Judge, a non drinker.) After a good night (and early morning) in the pub I grab a few hours sleep before Jerry’s banging on my door and we’re off on the twenty mile trip to the studios. Now I don’t feel to clever so when I get on the set I’ll just hide my face at the back of the other thirty or more Supporting Artists knowing I’ll feel better as the day goes along. (It’s called a hangover) However this is not to be and as the director searches through all the faces of the crowd, he comes across mine and decides that I will be the star for the day. I’m sat directly in front of camera and a large pint of cider is placed in front of me. Another couple of the boys are also placed at the bar. Now the director tells us the plot. Simon Williams will come into the bar with a pretty ex page three girl and order a couple of funny drinks.. (Pink Gin or Dakari or some silly name). That’s my cue to give him a look, turn back to my cider and take a good swig. After about ten takes the cider tastes a lot better and I’m beginning to feel better. Now I’m only drinking a mouthful of cider on every take so it’s not that much. As the crew move the camera to a new position for different angles I have a chat with Jerry Judge who is standing just along the bar from me. I lean onto the bar to take the weight off my body and a prop man tells me to be careful because that’s where the arrows will be hitting the counter.. (Arrows?, what f***ing arrows!). Of course this is the commercial where the arrows thud into the counter at the end. The crew have set the camera for a different angle and it’s ‘’ First positions, we’ll go from the top again’’ Now this time I’ve got my eye on Simon Williams, ex page three girl, my cider and any signs of ‘’Injuns’’… We do another ten takes on that set up and it’s time for lunch (I popped over the pub for lunch as I’ve now got the taste). About six o clock we’re onto the last shots and the arrows are about to fly and by now I’m in the land of the don’t care.. All goes well and we finish about seven o clock and I’m asked to sign a form as a featured artist and would get repeat fees. (I made nearly £2000 for a days work and that was over 20 years ago.) (Good game this acting game) Aitch, |
||||
| Evie |
hehe cool story. | ||||
| Baldrick |
Not wishing to steal Harry's thunder but on the subject of fees, while I was working at Heathrow, I met Frank Carson who'd flown in from Belfast to do a voiceover for a commercial. When he flew out later that day, he turned round and said he'd made £5000 for 20 minutes work..nice work if you can get it. | ||||
| harryfielder |
THE MACKINTOSH MAN…Director John Houston… Paul Newman… We were at Pinewood for a couple of weeks filming the prison escape scenes. There must have been a couple of hundred Supporting Artists on the set everyday. Central Casting were at their best for this casting. Broken noses, scars, cauliflower ears, pug ugly (And that was just the women).
Some of the best known ‘’faces’’ from north and south of the river (Thames) were teamed up in a mock up of a prison yard. Let me mention some that I can remember. The Cardews, the Tippets, Bobby Ramsey, Jack Kid Berg and many many more. I wish my memory was better. (I’d better remember Gypsy Tom) Hello Tom. I’m sure we’ll get a full list of the people in these scenes when we read Scott Palmers book. Some of the quieter faces Eric Kent, Trevor Wedlock, Gordon Hann and myself would find a quiet corner and play cards in between set ups. Trevor and his dog Yogi went to Ireland to hunt for Mr Newman. Yogi was a BIG Rottweiler. (And I mean BIG) Aitch, |
||||
| popi25 |
Evening Aitch, yup I watched the movie it was a pretty good movie, and what makes it even better, I got to see some of the cast in action.
I met Ty Harding once in Gibraltar, of Rip Cord fame, he had just done time for drugs , and was staying in Gib while his wife had their child as she wanted it to be born on British territory, he was some big geezer. 
|
||||
| harryfielder |
Hiya guys, I've had a very busy week this week trying to sort my PC out and ended up buying a new stack. 
Also found a cousin on Genes Reunited that I havent seen for over 60 years and she sent me a photo of me when I was only about a year old sitting in a push chair.
Right story time. AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON…Director John Landis… Central Casting must have sent 200-300 people down to Piccadilly for a night shoot on this production. None of us knew anything about the scenes we were going to be involved in so we just hung around coffee bars (Or other bars) chatting and having a night out in The West End. About 1 o'clock in the morning the production team gathered us all together and told us the scenes they were about to do. (You ain’t gonna believe this). A WEREWOLF is going to be running out of a cinema in Piccadilly Circus straight across Eros causing cars to crash and have people falling out of bus windows. (I’m thinking this will do the tourist trade the world of good) On a cue from the 1st A.D. the real police clear the roads of all late night Joe Public. The Central Casting crowd are all given places to stand and out of the woodwork comes our buses and cars and stunt people. We’ve got permission to hold up traffic for half an hour and John Landis had multi camera crews covering every angle. It was over as quickly as it began and as soon as the camera’s stopped rolling the wrecking crews were in there clearing the wrecked cars and sweeping the streets clean again. An hour later it was like we’d never been. (See the film just to see this sequence) Well done, John Landis… Aitch |
||||
| popi25 |
I loved the cover song for this movie, fantastic it was. How you Aitch hope you are keeping well
|
||||