Julie: My Favorite Things
First aired: April 18, 1975 on ABC
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“[...] in early 1975, we turned our attention to the next television special for Sir Lew, to be called Julie: My Favourite Things. Blake was to direct, and we began coming up with ideas based on that title. The Muppets were to be my special guests.
We shot in February, at Elstree Studios in London. [...] but unbeknownst to me, Blake had arranged for a surprise visit. I was shooting a scene in front of a giant jar of peanut butter-definitely one of my favorite things!-when suddenly, my adorable daughter emerged from behind it, riding her unicycle. She circled me once, waved, and cycled offstage. I was simply thrilled to see her, and she stayed with me until taping for the show was complete.
We spent a delightful day filming at the estate of the great artist Sir Henry Moore. I have always adored his beautiful sculptures, and Blake had asked him whether we might borrow one as a set piece for me to sing to. Sir Henry was reluctant to send a piece out to Elstree, and suggested instead that we come and film at his estate in Hertfordshire.
I will never forget shaking Sir Henry’s hand as I greeted him. He was a diminutive man, yet his gentle strength made me wish my hand could have rested in his, safe from the problems of the world, forever. [...]
The plan was for me to sing Harold Arlen’s “Out of This World,” while gazing at a massive Moore sculpture in the Sheep Meadow on his property. It took Blake forever to choose his setup, since every angle was so superb. Although the scene was unfortunately cut from the final televised special-it seems I have too many favorite things!-that day has stayed with me.
Thankfully, I received a copy of the scene on tape, which I cherish."
Excerpt From: Julie Andrews. “Home Work.”
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[...] Next morning, a Saturday, the crew started to arrive at 0630. A huge filmic camera crane had already been delivered and eventually Bill Brown, the senior cameraman, sat atop this giant with Blake Edwards alongside. They were looking for shots. We played bits of the track on loudspeakers while Julie traversed the huge statues singing first one line, then stop, then move the camera and equipment to another location, another statue, then another line of song, then stop again while another shot was searched for. The haste with which the shoot had been put together had not allowed for a cohesive camera plan.
This went on until well after lunchtime. Apart from the usual bacon sandwich breakfast, a catering truck had prepared lunch for something like sixty people. At half past three in the afternoon, Julie was looking fragile. After trekking yet another two hundred yards to a possible site, then that site being rejected, she turned to Blake and said ‘Blake, I'm bushed'. Blake turned to floor manager Richard Holloway and said ‘Call a wrap, Richard' We wrapped with half the sequence unfinished. Arrangements were made to have a couple of the statues low-loaded to Elstree the following Monday where it was discovered the studio floor was unable to take the weight. The statues were placed on the lawn outside the office block, and that afternoon Julie finished the sequence.
Bizarrely, the item was never used. [...]
Source: Ted Scott, via www.tedscott.co.uk/id8.html
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Thank you, ‪@abagelmuppetstuff‬ for sharing!
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