Diaries 1969-1979_ The Python Years - Michael Palin [212]
At present he’s not steady enough to be at home – so sits in this strange silent world, of grunts and occasional indecipherable ramblings from the other patients – one of whom, Percy, tries to push himself out of his chair and, as he does so, pees all over the floor. Silence. No nurses rushing to him, he cheerfully sits down again.
Monday, September 27th
This morning back at familiar Shepperton. A short scene with Harry H (full of doubts again, but I’ve grown very fond of this strange, self-critical, introspective extrovert). Then a strange and uncomfortable series of shots of me being flung around on the end of Bernard Bresslaw’s legs and picked up and hurled out of the Queen’s Haemorrhoids – a harness of quite unbelievable awkwardness for this shot – and finally into the rain-soaked woods in the back lot for a scene of wood-gathering, when I’m surprised by Terry Gilliam (playing Patsy from the Holy Grail again). Much crouching and being savagely attacked.
Terry is very sick today and keeps having to retreat to the bushes to throw up. But he battles bravely on. How he will shape up to the week, I don’t know. It’s going to be hard and they’re already behind. I must finish Sunday – I start Ripping Yarns on Monday – but it’ll be a hell of a push.
Tuesday, September 28th
No Jabberwocking for me today, but my last day off, apart from Sundays, until late October. Letters, visit Anne Henshaw. She has her head down in the labyrinthine affairs of Python as usual. She reports that the sooner we start writing the Python film the better for some in the group – she says Graham especially seems to be at a loose end and drinking more, with several of his projects, TV series and his film of Bernard McKenna’s script, having collapsed.
Shopping in the King’s Road – have to give brief run-down on Python plans in almost every shop – the assistants all seem to recognise me and want to talk.
To BBC to meet Don Henderson – T Hughes’ selection for the RSM in ‘Across the Andes’. I’m in trepidation for this is a major role and I don’t even know the guy.
Fears allayed – he looks good – with a rather fierce, red face and a good sense of humour. He’s easy company and seems to understand the role well. Still no Dora – as Michèle Dotrice turned down the role (the first artist to turn down a Ripping Yarns role this time around!).
Out to dinner in the evening with Robin S-H and Barbara.1 By a strange stroke of coincidence a Peruvian is present. I tell him about ‘Across the Andes by Frog’ – and to my amazement he tells me that the biggest frogs in the world live in Lake Titicaca, Peru, and that the frog is a common motif in old Peruvian carvings!
Thursday, September 30th
At Shepperton – on waste ground behind the Oliver set – our little unit struggles through the day. Terry G is even more terrier-like than usual – leaping around with the camera, building sets and taking time off only to curse some particular piece of inefficiency.
I just grin and bear it. Much walking with banner and pack after a morning spent under the belly of a horse being prodded by bandits.
Away on H Stage they are on the first day of shooting Julia.1 There are 300 extras in beautiful ‘20s costumes and a huge ocean liner set to go with it. Meanwhile, on the rubbish tip, Jabberwocky works on!
Monday, October 4th
Slept well, and was at Pinewood for the first day of’Across the Andes’ shoot, feeling quite fresh. In the village our cameraman Peter Hall was directing a lighting rig the size and scale of which made Jabberwocky look like home movies, a track was being laid, flags being nailed up, statues erected. A feature film atmosphere of bustle and preparation.
Terry H and I stood in the square – me in my Snetterton shorts and helmet – and surveyed it. Terry must have read my thoughts. ‘D’you ever feel responsible for all this?’ he asked with a half-smile.
Denholm seemed to relish his part as the seedy Vice-Consul. An