Thanks very much Jim.
I might have to pop in and have a quiet word in the Bankers shell like.



Aitch,

Now I've always liked to gamble since I was a kid but never thought I would end up playing poker with Tony Curtis and Roger Moore at lunchtimes during the filming of this tv series.
Mind you it was only for small amounts..But good fun....

THE PERSUADERS…Tony Curtis…Roger Moore…
Nearly another years work all down to Ricky Green the 2nd A.D. (Where are you Rick)?
I was booked to do a couple of days stand/in for Tony while his regular stand/in Alan (Butch) Meecham was off sick. I got on well with Tony because he liked my Cockney accent. (Well I was born N1/E1)
Now I would either stand/in for Tony, Roger or one of the guest Artists on that episode.(Including Terry Thomas)
Tony was the best to work for because he always had time for you.
He would come on the set early morning and ask how the wife and kids were.
He would tell me of his tough upbringing as a child in the Bronx and how he learned to be tough. He had to be he said.
(As a young man I was madly in love with his ex wife Janet Leigh but I thought it better not to tell him)
One day off set he was doing handstands and ask me would I like to join him. (By now you would have guessed that I’m not the fittest man in the film game)
So I declined saying ‘’Tone, I have trouble standing the right way up never mind upside down’’. He was a very fit man and so should be after working with Burt Lancaster on TRAPEZE.
As I said I was on The Persuaders for nearly a year thanks to Tony, Roger and Ricky Green. (I like the film business)


ONE EYED HARRY WITH TONY AND CREW. RICKY GREEN IS FAR LEFT WITH BEARD.
(I HAD A LARGE BEE GO IN MY EYE JUST BEFORE THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN)...
L-R. Ricky, Ken (Chippy) Tony, Mike (Hair) Sonny (Sparks) Brian (Props)
Aitch,

In life and DOND people some times get it wrong. I remember 30 years ago I got this guys name a bit wrong. (but we laugh at it now)

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 Bristol 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/v422/ ... r20053.jpg

Aitch,

It's brilliant to meet an actor on here. All we have is students and contestants but an actor is fantastic. How do you become a film star. I directed films but never starred in any.

Hiya jiveclive......

First things first,, I spent 32 years of my working life working in films and tv. I never starred in any show I was a bit player/extra.
But I used to work nearly every day because if you look at any film or tv show there is someone in the background adding to the scene.
In life we all have to do a job of work to get a living and I had the best job in the world and loved going to work.
On my WWW I tell how it all started and some of the great people I got to work with.
I'm retired now but still have the great memories...
This was just another day at work.....Sweeney....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v422/ ... ey/cb2.jpg

Aitch,

On Sunday 13th I'm off to Elstree studios to meet up with my old boss who I haven't seen for 32 years,,should be a fun day..

http://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/featu ... h_side.php

Aitch,

I noticed you said you hadn't applied to be on DOND - why not? I'm sure they'd get you on in a flash with your "actor" background - imagine all the jokes and programme-related offers the banker would make with you!

I could make the banker an offer he couldn't refuse..



Me dressed up as Marlon Brando...

Aitch,

I found you Harry in a early 80's sitcom called Girls On Top

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isu5-a752d8

You're one of the bouncers

We did that show in Nottingham I was there for a couple of days.
The good thing was I could peel the scar off at the end of the show



Aitch,

http://www.a-free-guestbook.com/guestbo ... rryfielder

Aitch,

I used to enjoy the odd pint (or three) but on this job I nearly reached my limit.. (I'd still be alright in the hotel bar of a night time)

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)
(Good game this acting game)

Aitch

Talking of drinking,, here's another...

1971

THE DEVILS…Director…Ken Russell…
Oliver Reed…Vanessa Redgrave…Dudley Sutton…
I worked for about sixteen weeks on this film standing/in for Dudley and doing every crowd scene possible..
From the first day on set I could not believe what I was seeing.
A bevy of young girls dressed as Nuns walking around the set topless.
Reg Prince, who was Oliver Reeds stand/in said to me ‘’Stop looking Aitch, or you’ll go blind’’
I said ‘’I’ll risk one eye’’.
After the first couple of days it was back to looking at the Racing Post.
I thought this film was Dudley’s finest performance. How he could remember all those very long speeches was beyond me.. (That’s the difference between an actor and a supporting artist)
As I said, I got involved in many of the crowd scenes. Some days we had six Crowd Artists and another time six hundred.
After a couple of months Ted Morley the 1st A.D. said ‘’Come in at six in the morning Aitch, Ken’s got a little job for you’’ (Be wary of Ken’s little jobs)
I’m in the make up room bright and early the next day standing in just my underpants. (Not a pretty sight at six in the morning)
I’m painted off/white and grey and have rags tied about certain parts of my body.
One of the make up girls pours some rice crispies into a bowl. (I’m thinking it must be breakfast time.)
Then glue is applied one side of my face, shoulders and body and the rice is stuck on.
After that they’re painted yellow, red and a few other colours and it looks like I’ve got the plague. (That was the plan in the first place)
It’s nearly eight o clock now and I’m told I can go over to the Pinewood canteen and have a quick breakfast then go straight onto the set which was on the back lot..
The canteen was packed when I entered but within seconds I had a table to myself. (I wonder why?)
Later on at the back lot they’ve dug a huge crater and filled it up with raggedly dressed dummies and I’m going to lay on the top.. This is the plague pit and I’m starring. Murrey Melvin was blessing our poor disfigured bodies.
I had a smoke while they were lighting the set and it reminded me of that cigar advert Where the man is all at peace with his lot.. I thought to myself ‘’Is this it Aitch, on the scrap heap at thirty one years old’’
Another of Ken’s little jobs was to dress me up as a giant crow and to get drowned in the Pinewood pond. (Under the supervision of Peter Braham, Stunt Director)
Now in theory it’s quite easy to do. You float in the pond then sink into three foot of water whilst holding a plastic bottle of air in one hand and another one of blood in the other hand…(Simple)
As you sink you squeeze the bottles and the air and blood rise to the surface.
(Now here’s the rub)
The giant crows feathers wont let me sink.
After about ten minutes the brains on the film come up with plan B.
They will drop a huge weight with a steel ring in it to the bottom of the pond, then tie a rope around my waist under the feathers then through the steel ring.
Pass the rope To the three prop men standing on the other side of the pond and they will pull me under the water. (It gets worse)
By now I’ve been in the water for nearly an hour and I’m getting cold. The fish in the pond have got the hump with me and have started nibbling at the feathers and certain other parts of my anatomy. A couple of large brandies help with the cold and we’re Ready for a take. (Let’s do it) (now here’s the plot.)
I’m floating on the top and on a cue the prop men will pull me down to the bottom
As I’m releasing air and blood.. (Big thought) What about my own air supply.???
How will the prop men know when I’ve run out of air to breathe so that they can release the rope. Another large brandy and it’s decided that when I pull on the rope they will release it their end.
Well to cut an even longer story short the idea worked and after about six takes (And Six more brandies) Ken got what he wanted.

The moral of this story is, don’t mix brandy and water. (Oh happy days)

The Devils was a great film to work on and I’d like to thank all the cast and crew for making it such a fun time.
I’d like to say a very special thanks to the wonderful 2nd A.D. Mr. Vincent Winters.
Vincent was a child actor and his great claim to fame was the film ‘’THE KIDNAPPERS’’ Made in the fifties. He played the younger of the two brothers who find a baby on the Scottish Moors and want to call it Rover... (A wonderful film)
I had a row with him twenty years later and never got to say sorry.
Vincent has since died and I’m still sorry. (God bless)

Aitch,

Some pics for the banker...

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v422/ ... 8e2026.pbw

The idea was that I go out and kill Leela...Face of Evil,

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v422/ ... ebeb0f.pbw

Aitch,

Do we know if the Banker smokes.....
I'll take him a light round....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v422/ ... Evil-1.jpg

Aitch,

Yes, might be an idea to burn him to the ground judging by his stingy offers of late.

When I was a young lad during the 1940s in London we were very poor and lived in a couple of rooms..
Mum and Dad did the best they could do for all the kids..3 brothers and 2 sisters
but at night time we all slept in the same bed Top and tail !!!!
Trouble was we all peed the bed and on my birthday for a treat dad said..
''What end would you like to sleep in tonight son ??

I said ''Please Dad,,could I sleep in the shallow end''

Aitch,
__________________
http://www.turnipnet.com/aitch/aitch/gallery.htm

Your 'aitch' saying sounds familiar for some reason...

I post on a few film and tv sites and where I was born in the East End of London if your name is Harry or Henry or Harold people call you H.
So what I did was spell it and it spells like Aitch,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v422/ ... derweb.jpg

Aitch,