"Either I had the shortest toga or the longest spear...." Roger Moore, Barbican Q&A
Place:
The Barbian - Pit Level
Date: Thursday 21 October
Time: 7.30pm
Reason: To see The Man Who Haunted Himself on the big screen and a Q&A with Sir Roger afterwards, chaired by Gareth Owen.
So, upon arrival (just in time - I got sent the wrong way by some flower seller) the Pit level (-2 incidently) was heaving with people. I forgot just how many this cinema could hold - it had been a few years.
Located near to the front in order to see the film clearly - and I was not disappointed. This film grows on me more each time I see it. If you dont know the story - as it's not often shown on TV - it is based around Mr Pelham, a Marine Engineer who is rigid in his routines. Until one day he is - it appears - spontaneously hit with a streak of madness resulting in a terrible crash. During his operation Pelham dies on the table, resulting in the release or rather division of his personality into 2 human beings - or is this a schizophrenic episode caused by extensive brain trauma? As the audience we are left guessing just what is truely behind this apparent doppleganger who walks into Pelham's life, takes his job, his wife and family, friends and ultimately something has to be done - who is the real Pelham? - keep your eyes peeled on the snapping match...
Following the excellent print of the film - I would love to know if they used the original reel or if it was the digital transfer used in DVD releases (compared to the very original reel for TSWLM as shown on the Saturday in the Conference Suite - Cinema 3 - someone had not looked after that print) - Gareth Owen appeared with Roger Moore for the Q&A session.
After a long applause, the two men sat, comfortably. It was clear Roger was touched by the volume of people in the cinema and - I got the impression - surprised by the variety of ages.
Starting back when he was just a lad - being evacuated from Stockwell (SW London) during the war up until his more recent work with Bond we significantly, and quickly, ran out of time if the audience were to participate. A number of the anecdotes I had heard before from previous interviews, but the animated, cheery manner in which he told the stories, ran onto a variety of tangents and circled back onto track again was wonderful to watch, and listen to. With roles such as Trottie True and Diane mentioned it was a treat not to discuss primarily the Saint, The Persuaders! or James Bond. Obviously these were mentioned, and in good form also - especially when Roger did a number of impressions ranging from Tony Curtis to Noel Coward - "My dear boy, if you are offered 2 jobs on the same day take the one that pays the most!" when Roger questioned Noel about taking the contract from MGM or staying with RADA and the stage.
Following an engaging 35 minutes the floor was open to the audience. Did I dare to ask a question.... no! is the simple answer - I couldn't either put into words what I wished to ask, or frankly was too shy. However this did not apply to a host of young and old members of the audience with questions reaching a number of subjects including the daft (swapping of dialogue and the request to hear "My name is Bond...") to genuinely interesting (why Roger didn't do any further directing beyond the occasional episode of The Saint). In response to that last question Roger responded basically that he hadn't been offered the scripts, it was something I felt he regretted not doing more of but also glad he hadn't persued it - mixed emtions I believe.
Having not taped the event it is difficult to write this now 4 days after the event and recall every detail. Anyone who has any recollections from that night please contact me from the link on the primary navigation bar or Click Here.
At £11 this was definately a bargain event, I used it as an excuse to take 2 days off from work and head down south for the weekend - what with a host of Roger events at the Barbican I selected to go to the SWLM screening - the less said about the print quality the better I think. Heaven knows where they got the reel from but I would complain severely to the library about it, especially as a clearer copy is doing the rounds (as seen at the Bradford Bond season the other year).
I hope this has given you an insight into just what you were unable to attend (whatever the reason) or hopefully triggers memories from the night.
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