Dirk Bogarde

[theuofc]

I'll try and find a composite poster for the Rank General Release for February 26 of 1967 and subsequent weeks around the country. I might even turn up a cinema somewhere showing the double-bill.

I've got a PM coming you way in the next few days, Barbara. No drama-just need to do a bit of rummaging archive wise beforehand.

Hi, Rick,
Until my PM system here is fixed, feel free to reach me at dirkbogarde1921-at-Yahoo

Best,

Barbara

[theuofc]

Here's a charming article on Dirk in 1950 when he'd just finished filming THE WOMAN IN QUESTION. As one friend has commented...'doubt Dirk ever read Teen Age magazine' yet, it's a positive interview by Joe Geta, and Dirk was new to the interview circuit.

With many thanks to Micky.

[Rick C]

Hi, Rick,
Until my PM system here is fixed, feel free to reach me at dirkbogarde1921-at-Yahoo

Best,

Barbara

is that com or co.uk Barbara?

[theuofc]

Hi, Rick,
Until my PM system here is fixed, feel free to reach me at dirkbogarde1921-at-Yahoo

Best,

Barbara

is that com or co.uk Barbara?

It's com.

Glad you saw my note.

Best,

Barbara

[theuofc]

The BFI Southbank Mediatheque's Bogarde offerings are a wonderful companion piece to the Bogarde retrospective screenings in Aug.-Sept.

Bogarde on the Box: "With our two-part restrospective of Dirk Bogarde's later cinema career starting this month [August], this new collection takes a look at the mercurial actor and writer's less celebrated but no less interesting work fo the small screen. Bogarde was never a huge fan of television, making his few credits all the more intriguing.

His work both in front of and behind the camera is represented by his 1986 Graham Greene adaptation May We Borrow Your Husband? and the feature-length 1993 version of his novel Voices in the Garden, while his most prominent TV starring role, in sic-fi drama The Vision, has hardly been seen since its only broadcast in 1988.

The man himself can be seen in conversation at the NFT in 1983, and is profiled in unprecedented depth in the major two-part Arena documentary The Private Dirk Bogarde (2001), drawing on previously unseen home movie footage and photographs to get under the skin of a star who went to considerable lengths to control his public image.

Elsewhere in the Mediatheque, Bogarde fans who miss the chance to see his career-defining performances in Victim (1961) and The Servant (1963) on the big screen can catch both, along with earlier features The Blue Lamp (1949) and Simba (1955).

Two of Special Note:

The Epic That Never Was (1965)
Bogarde tells the fascinating story of the unpublished epic I, Claudius and its troubled production at Alexander Korda's Denham Studios in the 30s.

Dirk as narrator: with thanks to Francine.





Voices in the Garden on "Screen Two", TV, 1993:

South of France-set drama adapted from Bogarde's 1981 novel, directed by Pierre Boutron and starring Anouk Aimée (Justine) and Joss Ackland. Voices in the Garden was on the long-list for the Man-Booker that year.



Anouk Aimée


Joss Ackland


Samuel West, Voices in the Garden


Note that Simba and The Blue Lamp are also available for viewing in the Mediatheque.

[theuofc]

Dirk and Bette:

In 1971, Bette Davis told Bogarde's pal Penelope Mortimer, screenwriter and novelist, that her "last remaining ambition was to act with Dirk Bogarde."

Sixteen years later in 1987, when Dirk was awarded a Fellowship by the British Film Institute, Ms. Davis turned up as a surprise guest, her admiration for Dirk undimmed. Greeted with warm applause, she turned to Dirk and said, "You should make more films. I miss seeing you up there on that screen." No shy lady Ms. Davis when it came to Dirk Bogarde.

Bette with Dirk at the BFI proceedings:



Barbara

[Elaine]

The Wind Cannot Read. That melting look.

[billy farmer]

I watched Once A Jolly Swagman last night, a very enjoyable film, Dirk Bogarde gave a great performance as Speedway Rider Bill Fox, there were also great performances from the rest of the cast which included Sidney James (one of my all time favourite Actors), Bill Owen, Renee Asherson, Thora Hird, James Hayter, Patric Doonan and Moira Lister, there was plenty of great Speedway action in the film.

[Elaine]

One of my screen caps from The Wind Cannot Read. Red certainly suits Dirk.

[theuofc]

I watched Once A Jolly Swagman last night, a very enjoyable film, Dirk Bogarde gave a great performance as Speedway Rider Bill Fox, there were also great performances from the rest of the cast which included Sidney James (one of my all time favourite Actors), Bill Owen, Renee Asherson, Thora Hird, James Hayter, Patric Doonan and Moira Lister, there was plenty of great Speedway action in the film.

Hello, Billy,

Thanks so much for this clip. I've always liked Once a Jolly Swagman. A good b/w film that doesn't get the attention it deserves. Great speedway atmosphere and excitement plus some excellent performances by Dirk and Sid James who showed quite a different side in the film vs. let's say Sid with Dirk in Campbell's Kingdom. Bonar Colleaneo, Asherson, and the rest were also good. Even to today, speedway enthusiasts like the film and the scenes of actual speedway racing and the real-life riders.

All the best,

Barbara



Dreaming of big time speedway racing:


Thora Hird as Bill's worried mum:



Bill gets the okay to race:



Sid James tells Bill he has a great future:



Speedway racing leads old-time racers to drink and self-destruction:




Dirk and Renee Asherson star gaze:



Dirk as Bill Fox makes it big, but fame has a price:

[Steve Crook]

I watched Once A Jolly Swagman last night, a very enjoyable film, Dirk Bogarde gave a great performance as Speedway Rider Bill Fox, there were also great performances from the rest of the cast which included Sidney James (one of my all time favourite Actors), Bill Owen, Renee Asherson, Thora Hird, James Hayter, Patric Doonan and Moira Lister, there was plenty of great Speedway action in the film.

It is great drama, but it's not very realistic speedway, even for the 1940s.

  Spoiler:

Dirk didn't like motorbikes. New Cross stars Ron Johnson and Ron Howes acted as doubles for the action shots.

  Spoiler:

They were only riding slowly and then the film was speeded up. You can tell because their front wheel is in line as they corner.

This is how speedway riders go around a corner, in a controlled skid

The first thing a young rider is taught is how to lay his bike down so that he doesn't crash into another rider (or the fence) at full speed like they did in the film.

If someone started a race like Dirk did with that massive wheelie then they wouldn't have caught up with the pack by the first corner.

If a speedway rider rode a race with his mouth exposed then he'd come back in with a face pock-marked by cinders & shale.

But it is a great drama

Steve

[Freddy]

Hi Barbara, not sure if you have seen this, looks interesting regarding OAJS

SpeedwayPlus | Once A Jolly Swagman


Regards

Paul

[theuofc]

It is great drama, but it's not very realistic speedway, even for the 1940s.

  Spoiler:

Dirk didn't like motorbikes. New Cross stars Ron Johnson and Ron Howes acted as doubles for the action shots.

  Spoiler:

They were only riding slowly and then the film was speeded up. You can tell because their front wheel is in line as they corner.

This is how speedway riders go around a corner, in a controlled skid

The first thing a young rider is taught is how to lay his bike down so that he doesn't crash into another rider (or the fence) at full speed like they did in the film.

If someone started a race like Dirk did with that massive wheelie then they wouldn't have caught up with the pack by the first corner.

If a speedway rider rode a race with his mouth exposed then he'd come back in with a face pock-marked by cinders & shale.

But it is a great drama

Steve

Hi, Steve,

Thanks for the very interesting notes about young riders laying down their bikes to avoid a crash; also why they shield their faces from "cinders and shale." I hadn't realised the actual composition of the track although I've since found a comment from one speedway fan that when he was walking along the track fence when the riders were rounding the bend, cinders would get thrown up into his face.

Re: the film and reality, another fan made this point: "Whilst it was good to see the New Cross track it was certainly not good to see the St John Ambulance men seemingly rushing headlong onto the track whilst the riders were still riding at some speed.... By doing so the men would be putting themselves and the riders in danger."

Despite lapses, the speedway riders and fans on the speedway sites seemed to like the film. One report includes Jack Cooley and Ove Fundin, the Swedish champion, as stuntmen in the film along with speedway stars Ron Howes and Ron Johnson.


Team Captain Ron Johnson, New Cross:







Ron Johnson at New Cross:





Ron Howe on the right:




Ove Fundin:





New Cross 1938, Ron Johnson back row, 2L:

[theuofc]

Hi Barbara, not sure if you have seen this, looks interesting regarding OAJS

SpeedwayPlus | Once A Jolly Swagman


Regards

Paul

Hi, Paul,

It's always nice to hear from you. Special thanks for the link to the SpeedwayPlus website. I had seen it quite a while ago and I especially liked its positive focus on Once a Jolly Swagman. When my laptop crashed, I lost the link, so I am glad to have it again, thanks to you.

Here's another found recollection from speedway days: I have no idea how much of this is true, e.g. Bonar's breaking his leg, but it's a good story:

< Jack Cooley and i were good friends. Jack was chief advisor for the speedway scenes in Once a Jolly Swagman....as far as i know the two real speedway riders in the film were Jack Cooley and Ron Howes the Raliegh rider. The scenes where Bonner Colleano is racing, the bikes were on a trailer. The tow truck had a pile of tea leaves on the back with a huge fan which blew the tea leaves onto bonner to make it look like cinders. i believe they built a track at Pinewood Studios when the film ended and Bonner had a go on a speedway bike and broke his leg. >

Dirk and Bonar follow a racer on the track:

[Steve Crook]

Hi, Steve,

Thanks for the very interesting notes about young riders laying down their bikes to avoid a crash; also why they shield their faces from "cinders and shale." I hadn't realised the actual composition of the track although I've since found a comment from one speedway fan that when he was walking along the track fence when the riders were rounding the bend, cinders would get thrown up into his face.

My Mum & Dad were big speedway fans and used to take us kids from when we were about 5. We used to have to have a sleep in the afternoon so that we could stay up late enough

The Wimbledon Dons were always our team, with Ronnie Moore & Barry Briggs as the star riders. Although I saw some of the other riders, like Ove Fundin, when they came to visit. My attendance tailed off in my mid teens but I've always been interested in it and have kept a distant eye on the sport. So when one of our clients got us a job for Swindon Speedway a few years back I just had to go there to meet everyone to see exactly what they wanted - and of course I arranged to go on an afternoon when there was a race meeting that evening. I was given the tour around the pits, meeting the riders including the then world champion. During the meeting itself we started off in the restaurant overlooking the track but soon migrated track-side to mingle with the fans. Back in the restaurant we met up with the real guest of honour for the evening, Barry Briggs

I had a nice chat with him & his wife about his time at Wimbledon before he moved to Swindon and his eventual retirement. But he's still a big supporter of the sport, helping a lot of young riders.

Speedway on film or TV can be very exciting but it isn't as good as being there. You don't get the smell of the burnt methanol fuel or the shower of cinders as they go round the corner.

It was hugely popular here in the 1930s-50s. The second most popular spectator sport after football. Although so many tracks have closed now that it's dropped down the popularity stakes. But it always attracted a wide range of people, a real mixed bag, and they were always very friendly and helpful with fans of opposing teams swapping badges and stories. Speedway is the sport where if you see a big hairy biker going up to a little old lady he's almost certainly doing it to ask if she got the timings of the last race

Unlike other motor sports where the riders/drivers are out of sight for much of the time and are spread out from each other, with speedway you see all of the action all of the time and they're all usually up close battling their way around the track. Especially if you stand right by the edge of the track, which you can still do at a lot of tracks.

The idea is very simple. You take a 500cc motorbike and strip it of all non-essentials like brakes or gears, then you find a suitable young idiot who's willing to hang onto it as the bike hurtles around a short track, about the size of an athletics oval track, as he races against 3 other idiots.

Actually the bikes are all custom made and the rider select the one gearing for the whole race based on the conditions - the weather & the state of the track. Riders often take a tumble but serious injury or even death is very rare



I'm not a sports fan, but if I was to get really interested in any sport, this would be the one

Steve

[theuofc]

My Mum & Dad were big speedway fans and used to take us kids from when we were about 5. We used to have to have a sleep in the afternoon so that we could stay up late enough
The Wimbledon Dons were always our team, with Ronnie Moore & Barry Briggs as the star riders. Although I saw some of the other riders, like Ove Fundin, when they came to visit. My attendance tailed off in my mid teens but I've always been interested in it and have kept a distant eye on the sport. ........................

I'm not a sports fan, but if I was to get really interested in any sport, this would be the one

Steve

I can well understand the appeal. When I first saw Once A Jolly Swagman a long time ago I thought it a rather off-sports topic for a film. Little did I know. After some reading up on the sport, I realised just how big speedway racing was in England in the 40s, 50s once the UK got bitten by the bug from Australia. The speedway racers probably equaled the popularity and fans mobbing film stars, with cigarette cards, magazines, annuals, etc. It hit home why there would be a 1948 film on speedway racing.

Barbara





If Dirk actually were a Bill Fox, he'd be in this Speedway Stars 1948 magazine:





Or Dirk would be featured on a cigarette card vs. a Rank card:




All Speedway racing fan magazine equaled a film magazine back then




Rank understood the appeal. Their ad for the film resembles the All Speedway cover above:

[theuofc]

It is great drama, but it's not very realistic speedway, even for the 1940s...........

The first thing a young rider is taught is how to lay his bike down so that he doesn't crash into another rider (or the fence) at full speed like they did in the film.

If someone started a race like Dirk did with that massive wheelie then they wouldn't have caught up with the pack by the first corner. .........
Steve

A few random comments and photos. Here's one of Ron Mason laying his bike down:








Below: Dirk and Dudley discuss his misaligned bike, the one he did the wheelie on. Yes, that move would have lost him valuable time, but it certainly looked flashy. In line with looking flashy, note how Mr. Cool uses the blow torch to light his cigarette.





A 1949 Excelsior JAP bike. Was this a racing bike commonly used? I don't see the side tubing of Dirk's bike.





Dirk in the 'pits at New Cross'. Is it a set in the studio?




The real pits at New Cross:




Great fun talking speedway racing. Reading about it has given me much more insight into the film and its appeal.

Barbara

[Steve Crook]

A 1949 Excelsior JAP bike. Was this a racing bike commonly used? I don't see the side tubing of Dirk's bike.

It's on the other side

As they go round the track anti-clockwise they lean their bikes to the left - so things like the exhaust pipes (the tubing you mention) are on the right

Dirk in the 'pits at New Cross'. Is it a set in the studio?

That could well be real - with real fans (of speedway rather than of Dirk)

Great fun talking speedway racing. Reading about it has given me much more insight into the film and its appeal.

Barbara

It was, and still is, very popular across much of northern & eastern Europe. Many of the best riders have either come from Australia & New Zealand, Scandinavia, or places like Poland and the Czech Republic.


And this is still all just for dirt-track speedway. We haven't mentioned ice speedway yet where they ride with stonking great spikes sticking out of their tyres to grip the ice

Steve

[theuofc]

Hi, Steve,

Many thanks for the info on the bike and also the pits at New Cross. I'm glad you're well informed about speedway racing. What's really interesting is that you were at the track as a boy and have that experience watching the development of the sport over the years. I only came on board with Once a Jolly Swagman. I've attended race car events but not speedway racing.

Ian, one of the other members of a speedway racing group, told me this when I asked about rider Jack Cooley's part, if any, in Once a Jolly Swagman:

< "I can confirm Jack Cooley was a racing scenes adviser and racing double for the late Bill Owen's character Australian Lag Gibbon in Once A Jolly Swagman. Speedway Gazette editor Basil Storey gave him the nickname Crash-a-Day." >

Barbara


Boss Rowton (Sid James) and Lag Gibbon (Bill Owen) size up the riding of young Bill Fox (Dirk):





Lag helps out newcomer Bill Fox:



Lag is on a downhill road:




Lag's performance shows the effects in a tragic last ride :




Tension rises at the tapes:




Lag is down:



Lag's sister fears the worst:




Rowton consoles Bill about the race and Lag:




Bill hesitates outside the surgery before he sees Lag:




It's Bill's turn now on the empty road to glory. Will it destroy him the way it did Lag?

[Steve Crook]

Hi, Steve,

Many thanks for the info on the bike and also the pits at New Cross. I'm glad you're well informed about speedway racing. What's really interesting is that you were at the track as a boy and have that experience watching the development of the sport over the years. I only came on board with Once a Jolly Swagman. I've attended race car events but not speedway racing.

That article you found, "How the Speedway Gripped England" said that it was invented as a sport in Australia in 1923 and the first race in England was in 1928. I may be getting on a bit, bit I'm not quite that ancient

When I used to go regularly as a lad, in the 1950s, it was still very popular but it started to decline through the 60s. That's when a lot of clubs had to close and when riders started riding for lots of different teams in each of the various speedway countries around northern & eastern Europe.

It's picked up a bit again recently with speedway being shown regularly on TV, but that's mainly the world championships, not the team meetings.

Steve