Graciously admitting her appearance was "only small", Susan Campey ("a well-known drag") has nevertheless seeped into Beatle legend...
And, of course, she was the envy of every 1964 teen (and many since), flirting with John in the earlier club scene...
Though I'd attended a similar event in 1999, in which Dick Lester was interviewed by fellow director Steven Soderbergh, it was a pleasure to have an unexpected take two 15 years on - although I shared host Mark Lewisohn's disappointment that he wasn't able to stay for the film itself.
A considerate prompt for the estimable and unassuming Lester, Mark's accompanying slideshow revealed a mass of 'new' photos and clippings, which bodes well for Book Two, whenever it appears. And the buffed-up film looked and sounded great, even if George's once famously ear-shredding crusty roll (well, it was on my mid-80s video) has now been reduced to a whisper.
(In hunting around for AHDN pics online I came across this amazingly detailed page, in which character actors and bit players have been forensically identified. But not, it seems Sheila Fearn, ex-George and Mildred, etc, who has a fairly prominent role as one of the studio make-up artists. And is that really Susan Hampshire? I'm sceptical. And Phil Collins? I don't recall him ever being officially identified before...Still, it's always tickled me that David Janson ended up as Hyacinth Bucket's postie...)
It was a great night, my first time seeing/hearing Dick Lester : whom I could have listened to for a lot longer.
ReplyDeleteThe remastered film was a joy on the big screen, again a first for me, and even though it was on BBc4 last week I shall be getting the DVD.
Bonus of course was the brief chat and picture with Edina Ronay : although I wouldn't have been so bold if I'd known quite how famous she was/is … I mistakenly thought we'd made her night be recognising her (well you recognised her) … to think I got my picture taken with Susan Campey : we turn the sound down and say rude things!