cully

I have just watched the Bryan Forbes film, The Wrong Box, yet again as it always makes me laugh. There are so many well known actors in it in small roles it is difficult to recognize everybody.

However, I wonder if anybody can solve a query for me. Towards the end of the film in the scene where the hearses are dashing about, you see several quick glimpses of a little girl and boy seated on the grass laughing at the hearses going by. Is the little girl Bryan Forbes' eldest daughter, Sarah..now Sarah Standing, wife of the actor, John Standing? I THINK I read in a biography of Nanette Newman's years ago that her children did appear in little non speaking roles in some of their films as they took them around the world with them when on location but, of course, she is not credited at the end of the film. I reckon you can recognize her even at that age as the Sarah Standing of today but....can anybody confirm this by some clever method. The internet does not reveal any info, likewise the IMDB and I can't find any websites for any of the family to send them a message.

Steve Crook

The times when they do get a mention on the internet is usually when they mention in an interview that they were in the film. Like Sarah being one of the children at the end of Whistle Down the Wind (1961).

It's possible that she was also used in The Wrong Box

Steve

cully

Hey, Crooky, I recognize you from the IMDB Contributors Help Line, what are you doing here??
I'm member no 8 on that forum and you've solved several queries for me there!
Thanks for the WDTW info, I'll look into that.

Steve Crook

Just helping out where I can

Steve

Rennie

Dislike name dropping, but as it now seems the vogue on this discussion board here is the answer straight from the horses mouth. Bryan Forbes, who is always on hand to help me in my research. He has kindly e-mailed the answer:-

".................The answer is that there are two little girls (not one girl and a
boy) sitting by the bandstand in The Wrong Box. One is our daughter Sarah and the other was a school friend. Hope this answers you. Bryan Forbes"

Steve Crook

Thanks Rennie,
We'll get Sarah's full filmography eventually

Steve

smudge

Curious....

What's the object of your research Rennie ? If it's a book on Mr. Forbes, I'd love to know more about his spell managing Elstree...

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

Rennie

Sorry Smudge, I am not researching Bryan Forbes. Over the years he has assisted me on bits and pieces, and I have always found him to be one of the most approachable and helpful actors I have ever contacted. I am sure if you wrote to him, he would willingly assist you on any queries. I am sure you will understand that I am unable to divulge his contact e-mail address.

Steve Crook

A lot of famous people are very nice really

Steve

Geoffers

Fascinating! Yes, I, too, have written to Bryan on occasions and always got a prompt and helpful response.

I watched the film on Sunday and was very impressed with the print quality - far better than my video, and in widescreen. I wondered if a DVD might be on the way?

Geoffers

Indeed they are! Talking of Bryan I just received the disappointing (though not unexpected) reply from the NFT:

Dear Geoff

Thank you for contacting us with your proposal regarding the possibility of a season celebrating the work of Bryan Forbes in his 80th year: we were able to discuss this at a recent forward planning meeting.

I am sure you appreciate that we have many seasons to consider for potential inclusion in our programme, all with merits and with a variety of audiences to consider. On this occasion we are not able to take up your suggestion to follow through in forward planning.

Thank you for approaching us. I trust that you will discover other seasons of interest at the NFT in the coming months.

Steve Crook

That's the NFT for you. They'd much rather put on a series of films made in Outer Mongolia or somewhere equally obscure, than put on a series showing the best of some home grown talent.

They do some good work - but could do a lot more.

Steve

cully

Thanks very much, Rennie, it was my query and I'm very grateful that you've solved it at last!
HOWEVER, I'm SURE that was a little boy next to young Sarah!! Now I'll have to check the film next time it comes on ....again!

Geoffers

I've just had another look and I agree it *could* be a little boy wearing a sailor suit and boater, but on balance I think it is a little girl with shortish hair. I could post a screen grab here if that is possible.

cully

Thanks, Geoffers, but I realized I had the snippet on tape as well . I and one other looked at the little scene on freeze frame and, like you, we now believe it is a girl. It mainly looks like a boy because of the sailor suit and the hair which is much shorter than Sarah's but once you are told it is a girl you can see it.

The important thing is knowing I was right about La Forbes!