Diaries 1969-1979_ The Python Years - Michael Palin [272]
Thursday, March 9th
Nancy rings in the evening. Evidently it’s the first day of spring in New York and she’s in very high spirits. Once again she puts a little pressure on to get me to do Saturday Night Live. Once again I resist, but then Helen shouts from the kitchen that we need the money. On reflection I certainly could do with a break. Promise to ring Nancy after next week’s movie decisions.
The Delfont story is out. A restrained piece in the Evening Standard which could help us.
Friday, March 10th
Eric rings – normal waking hours for him, late for me – at half-past eleven. Mainly to let me know how well Rutles is going to do in the States. He urges me to get over there and, via Saturday Night Live, try and emulate this success. ‘Stop piddling around with the BBC, Mike … get over there … it’s the next step,’ and this sort of talk.
The trouble is that I know that the American ‘success’, in our line of work almost certainly involves a constant compromise with quality and with personal, individual control. If we accept their terms from the start, we will never produce something which, like Python, was truly our own.
Still, I must admit Eric plays the American game well. He has flair, intelligence, skill and style – and is shamelessly good at using them. But I fear he is in danger of becoming the victim of his own image – of believing that the shimmering reflection is the reality.
Sunday, March 12th
In the evening drinks with our next-door neighbours, who are leaving to work in Brunei for ten years. He’s a lawyer, middle-aged and, having missed great attainment, is left with something of a chip on the shoulder – elegantly carried, though. I think Brunei will suit him. He says it is almost fanatically Anglophile – which will make a change from Kentish Town.
Monday, March 13th
At 9.30 Python, less Graham, assembles to contemplate the wreckage of the EMI deal. Surprisingly little vindictive comment or post-mortem gloom – though we all feel that EMI should be pressed as hard as is legally possible to provide some recompense for pulling out of a deal after hands were shaken and firm commitments given verbally and literally.
Meanwhile all potential money sources are to be tapped – and Eric suggests that he and J Goldstone go to New York together and try to rifle the pockets of heavily solvent record companies. Anne is to investigate the legal and commercial likelihood of raising the money by shares from the public (fans, etc). Meanwhile Python (Monty) Pictures is left with a near £70,000 bill to pay for work on Brian so far. It looks as though all our income through Python will have to stay there for at least six months. Times look hard again.
Tuesday, March 14th
Nancy had rung several times to try and force me into a decision on Saturday Night Live. Finally I agreed to host the April 8th show. Nancy sounded overjoyed.
At half past ten drove round to Eric’s to watch a couple of Saturday Night tapes and talk to him about his experiences of the show. He didn’t make a great deal of sense.’They love Python, be yourself. Enjoy being King of New York for a week.’
Wednesday, March 13th
Lay in bed around eight and decided that if this was to be a fragmented ‘sorting-out’ week, I should try and clear the decks of tasks and duties which lie in the back of my mind – such as visiting Shepperton.
The place is overflowing with work. Portakabins are being hired to accommodate everyone – it looks like a Yukon town at the height of the gold rush. Odd Job and Pink Panther are shooting. Alien, needing three stages, is building. Thief of Baghdad is in pre-production too.
Chat to Ford for a while, then walk over to the canteen. It causes me great personal distress that in my year on the board of directors I’ve been unable to make any discernible improvement in the catering at the studio. It sounds a small point, but the service and the surroundings are appalling by any standards, and this can only reflect badly on Shepperton’s reputation. I have pushed and pushed for some improvements, but,