arthur_of_the_britons | Entries tagged with rolf

This call sheet was kindly donated to this archive by Barbara Hatherall, who was an extra on the series. The episode concerned is “The Penitent Invader.”

Call sheet Penitent Invader 10 Aug 1972 small

Call sheet Penitent Invader 10 Aug 1972 small

“The Penitent Invader” was episode ‘G’ - the seventh episode to be filmed.

The call sheet is No.36, and is dated 10 August 1972, which was a Thursday, so this would have been the fourth day of filming.

Filming took place at Woollard, and it was an early start at 6:30 for the Make-up/Wardrobe department, and extras, who were preparing for the two main battle scenes which were to be filmed starting at 7:30, while the main actors were in make-up.

For the first scenes to be filmed, between Arthur’s Celts and the Picts, there were 13 Picts, 20 Celts – as well as two stuntmen dressed as Celts - and 20 dead Picts. Herward’s three companions during his dramatic intervention were also stuntmen. Presumably the stuntmen were the “two bodies in river” listed amongst the props.

Also listed along with weapons and shields, and underlined, as if they were of high importance, are towels – presumably to dry off the extras or stuntmen who had been in the river – and brandy, which the wisdom of the time said would warm them up afterwards!

Though there is no obviously female rider among them, “Maria” is mentioned as a member of Arthur’s Cavalry. This is thought to refer to Maria Tolwinska, the niece of Ben Ford, who supplied the horses.¹

Oliver Tobias, who had moved, since 4 August, from Ben Ford’s to a closer lodging, St Mary’s House, Wrington, was brought by taxi, to join Michael Graham-Cox in Make-up/Wardrobe at 7:15, with Jack Watson arriving at 7:30, to be ready to film their parts in the battle. Clive Revill was collected from the Unicorn Hotel ² at 07:00

Altogether, the earlier scenes were 1 to 6e.

Jack Watson only took half an hour in make-up, as did Michael Gothard, but it took 45 minutes to make up Oliver Tobias and Michael Graham-Cox; Hedley Goodall, who played the abbot, took an hour and a half.

To simulate Arthur’s knife wound, artists from the Animation department, a chest-pad, blood and a knife were needed.

Michael Gothard, who was not needed in Wardrobe/Make-up until 10:30, was allowed a lie-in.

For scenes 41 and 42, filmed at 11:00 – the fight between Rolf and the Picts, and the arrival of Arthur and his men upon the scene – a total of 16 horses were required.

At 2 pm, scene 43, where the abbot goes about the battlefield, blessing the dead, was scheduled to be filmed, as well 40a, which was a shot of Llud talking to himself as he watches Rolf and his men ride out. Filming schedules and scripts supplied by Peter Thornton show that the scene with the abbot was not in the original version.

Food for morning, lunch and afternoon breaks for the cast and crew –110 people - was laid on, by George Cook (or Cooke) on location.

¹ See this article from the Western Daily Press, 11 September 1972: "Back to school for King Arthur’s knights"

² Possibly The Unicorn Hotel, West Street, Somerton TA11 7PR England – this would have been about an hour away by car.

This call sheet was kindly donated to this archive by Barbara Hatherall, who was an extra on the series. The episode concerned is “The Penitent Invader.”

Call Sheet Penitent Invader 9 Aug 72 small

Call Sheet Penitent Invader 9 Aug 72 small

“The Penitent Invader” was episode ‘G’ - the seventh episode to be filmed.

The call sheet is No.35, and is dated 9 August 1972, which was a Wednesday, so this would have been the third day of filming.

Filming took place at Woollard.

Jack Watson and Fred Wedlock had their own transport, and Clive Revill was collected from the Unicorn Hotel ¹ at 07:00. Along with Roy Carne, they were required in make-up at 7:30 for an 8:30 start.

Firstly, Jack Watson (Llud), Clive Revill (Rolf), and Roy Carne (Blacksmith) were scheduled to film scenes 35, 36, 36a, 37 and 38 - which had evidently not been completed the day before, when first listed. This is where Rolf walks on hot coals, and Llud is called away by a Messenger, then Rolf sets out to raid a fictional caravan carrying tribute to Arthur.

Also required in make-up at 7:30 for an 8:30 start were folk singer Fred Wedlock (Rolf’s Minstrel), Peter Derbyshire (Herward’s Messenger), Sean McCauley and Ben Ford (Llud’s companions), along with 24 extras (12 Celtic men, 8 Celtic women and 4 Celtic children).

The scenes involving these actors were 9, 9a, 30, 12, 32 and 32a. Given that a large roast boar is listed among the props, these must have been the banquet scenes, featuring Fred Wedlock, playing a dulcimer covered in animal skins. The scenes in Rolf’s bedroom were also on the schedule, as the blacksmith, and Herward’s messenger, who appear in those scenes, are required for the shoot, as well as beds, a candle, and Rolf’s spiked hide shirt.

Horses were required for Llud, Rolf, and Llud’s messenger, for the completion of other scenes from the previous day.

Breakfast, lunch and afternoon break for the cast and crew – about 75 to 80 people - was laid on, by George Cook (or Cooke) on location.

¹ Possibly The Unicorn Hotel, West Street, Somerton TA11 7PR England – this would have been about an hour away by car.

This call sheet was kindly donated to this archive by Peter Thornton, who was employed as Clapper/Loader – a role now known as 2nd Camera Assistant – for much of the series. The episode concerned is “The Penitent Invader.”

Call sheets_0008.jpg

“The Penitent Invader” was episode ‘G’ - the seventh episode to be filmed.

The call sheet is No.34, and is dated 8 August 1972, which was a Tuesday, so this would have been the second day of filming.

The scenes scheduled for this date were to be filmed at Woollard.

Jack Watson (Llud), Clive Revill (Rolf), Roy Carne (Blacksmith), Sean McCauley (Llud’s Messenger), and Hedley Goodall (Abbot Morpeth), along with 25 extras (12 Celtic men, 8 Celtic women and 5 Celtic children) were required in Make-up/Wardrobe at 07:30, to begin filming at 08:30. Jack Watson had his own transport, and Clive Revill was collected from the Unicorn Hotel ¹ at 07:00.

Scenes 10 and 10a, with Llud, Rolf and the Abbot, for which filming began the day before, were to be completed.

New scenes scheduled to be filmed were 8, 11, 13, 25, 33, 35, 36, 36a, 37 and 38.

Scene 8 was Llud's arrival at Rolf's village. Scene 11 was a short scene of Llud and Rolf talking while walking along. 13 was Llud and Rolf on Horseback, with Llud thumping Rolf on the back. 25 was Rolf being flogged. 33 and 35 - 38 were the scenes where Rolf and Llud stand by the fire pit and discuss the punishment - walking over hot coals - then Llud is called away by a Messenger. Rolf walks on the hot coals – and then sets out to raid a fictional caravan carrying tribute to Arthur.

An additional breakdown of the scenes, also from Peter Thornton, shows that it had been intended that Llud's being called away would provide a reprieve for Rolf from the fire-walking, but in the show as filmed, he actually walks across the firepit before telling his men to douse the fire.

An additional cruelty from the Director, or an act of self-sacrifice for his art, from Clive Revill? Was Clive utterly determined to show Rolf as a crazy, mixed-up chap?

Props listed include “practical” (ie. real) fire, blacksmiths’ tools, whip, rope for tying, burning logs and “chaffe to throw on fire.”

Horses were required for Llud, Rolf, and Llud’s messenger, with an additional three “for carts”, and – somewhat confusingly – 3 donkeys. The intended use of these donkeys is unknown – nowhere in the episode do we see more than one (baby) donkey.

The weather prospects must have been uncertain, as Fred Wedlock (Minstrel) was on standby, in case indoor banquet scenes 9, 9a, 30, 32 and 32a were to be filmed instead.

Breakfast, lunch and afternoon break for the cast and crew – about 70 to 75 people - was laid on, by George Cook (or Cooke) on location.

¹ Possibly The Unicorn Hotel, West Street, Somerton TA11 7PR England – this would have been about an hour away by car.

Episode 1.4: The Penitent Invader

Writer: Terence Feely

OPENING SCENE

Arthur and Llud are fighting the Picts; seriously out-numbered, they are losing. One of the Picts throws a knife, which hits Arthur in the back; it looks serious. Llud catches Arthur as he falls. In the nick of time, Herward the Holy and two other mounted warriors come to the rescue, putting the Picts to flight.

Arthur: Herward the Holy. To say that I am pleased to see you –

Herward: No need to put your gratitude into words. But put it into action. I have helped you. Now you must help me.

[OPENING CREDITS]

PART 1
( Read more... )

“The Penitent Invader” was episode ‘G’ - the seventh episode to be filmed.

The call sheet is No.33, and is dated 7 August 1972, which was a Monday, so this would have been the first day of filming.

The scenes scheduled for this date were to be filmed at Woollard.

The day's filming involved extras, Barbara Hatherall and her husband; Gabrielle Doody, and three as yet unidentified extras, two of them horsemen. They were required in Make-up/Wardrobe at 07:30, to begin filming at 08:30.

Jack Watson (Llud) and Clive Revill (Rolf) were required in Make-up/Wardrobe at 08:30, to begin filming at 09:30. Jack Watson had his own transport, and Clive Revill was collected from the Unicorn Hotel ¹ at 08:00.

A number of scenes were to be filmed, starting with 14, 15, 16 and 24, then 17, 23, 18, 22, 19, 20 and 21.

The scenes in which we see Mr Hatherall as a jeweller at his work, and then being tended by his wife (Barbara Hatherall) following an attack by Rolf; a maiden (Gabrielle Doody) relaxing on the river bank, then in distress after an attack by Rolf, and a couple of men tending two horses, then the empty corral and the injured horsemen, would have been filmed first.

When Llud and Rolf were ready, they shot the scenes where we see Llud testing Rolf's reaction to the various temptations, and Llud hitting Rolf each time he appears tempted! Then there was the scene where Rolf and Llud stop to rest, and Llud falls asleep, wakes and finds Rolf missing, and then retraces his steps and observes the results of Rolf's depravities. Some of these were referred to as "pick-ups", being simply reaction shots.

At 12:30, Hedley Goodall (Abbot Morpeth) was required in Make-up/Wardrobe to be ready to film at 14:30. That allowed two hours to get him ready; perhaps as this was the first day of filming, they needed extra time for a suitable costume to be found and fitted.

Jack Watson and Clive Revill were also required, to film scenes 10 and 10a – the scenes where Llud goes to speak to the Abbott, Rolf’s “scourger” - and relieve him of his burdensome duties. One of the prop requirements was “Lots of baby animals”, presumably so that Rolf could demonstrate his villainy by abusing them! In the end, only a baby donkey was involved, tied up outside the Abbot’s hut, for Rolf to villainously shove with his foot.

The weather prospects must have been uncertain, as Fred Wedlock (Minstrel) was on standby, in case indoor banquet scenes were to be filmed instead of those scheduled for the morning. A crowd for these scenes was to be rounded up if needed!

Breakfast, lunch and afternoon break for the cast and crew – about 65 people - was laid on, by George Cook (or Cooke) on location.

¹ Possibly The Unicorn Hotel, West Street, Somerton TA11 7PR England – this would have been about an hour away by car.

In, in response to a request in the Chew Valley Gazette, Mrs Barbara Hatherall offered these memories.

Barbara Hatherall knew the Maxwell family who owned Woodborough Mill Farm, where much of "Arthur of the Britons" was filmed. The "Giant’s Dam" - seen in the episode, "In Common Cause" - is the weir at Woodborough Mill Farm, where they used to play when they were kids.

Barbara’s son Robert helped his uncle to build the village on a field near the River Chew, dragging logs and such like from the nearby woods to make the buildings, etc.

In the summer of 1972, Barbara would go up to the shooting location nearly every day, for one thing or another. She appeared as an extra on many occasions, and they all thought the pay they got as extras was brilliant.

The family had a caravan in their back garden and the production rented it from them for the summer, for one of the crew who had to be there early. It came back spotless.

She had a shop that sold odds and ends in her front room. The cast and crew would come in to buy chocolate, etc. Patrick Dromgoole, the Executive Producer who also directed five episodes, used to come in and sit in her chair, and put his cup of tea on the arm (there was a little wooden stand to put things on) and say what a nice chair it was. She got it for £12!

He’d ask her to recommend people who lived in the area for particular parts. At one time, he wanted a man of a certain age. She said, "Well, my husband’s free that day," so Patrick had a look at a picture, and cast Barbara and her husband as the jeweller and his wife in "The Penitent Invader."

Well, her husband went into the make-up caravan, and when he came out she didn’t recognise him! They put him in a wig and a beard, and – later on, after he was supposed to have been robbed by Rolf – Patrick gave them some dirty old rags to bandage his head. Patrick kept screaming at her because she was laughing so much at silly things her husband was saying to her while they were trying to film.

In the scene where Rolf had attacked a young girl on the river bank, Patrick was telling the victim to spread her legs out, and look like she’s been raped, but she said "I can’t, there’s all stinging nettles there!"

Barbara was also in a banquet scene as a serving wench, and they had to do the scene over and over, because she had to take a tray of food to where Oliver Tobias was sitting, and he would stab a dagger into the table, making her jump back.

In the scene in "The Penitent Invader", where Clive Revill, as Rolf, has to walk across hot coals as penance, he was supposed to put his feet in gaps which had been left between the coals, but ended up actually walking on hot coals because he kept missing the gaps. And he had to do it again, because Patrick shouted out "someone’s got a watch on!" and that was Barbara, with a watch under her hessian dress!

Hot coals (31)

Barbara’s daughter also appeared in a scene,¹ walking across a bridge.

One day, Patrick Dromgoole had asked the agency to send a lot of dark (meaning "dark-haired") extras, but when the transport turned up, it was full of black people! They couldn’t be used for filming, but they got a free meal at the canteen.

The production really brought the village to life, with all the horses coming in, in big wagons, and all the cast and crew. There were a lot of people involved. It was good fun, and the actors would all chat to you. Barbara couldn’t remember anyone being stand-offish – everyone mucked in and worked together.

¹ Possibly in “The Gift of Life.”