Michael Sporn Animation – Splog

– As reported in yesterday’s NYTimes, and in many other papers, James Whitmore died at age 87 of lung cancer. This is an actor I had a lot of respect for and got one brief, and embarrassing moment to talk with on the phone.

Back in 1987, I was doing Abel’s Island. Tim Curry had brilliantly voiced Abel’s role, but I was lacking someone to play “Gower”, the older frog who was stranded with Abel for a short period on the island. James Whitmore was appearing off-broadway at the time, and I thought I’d ask his agent if he was available. I did a lot of calling around and wasn’t able to find an agent for him. SAG, AFTRA, EQUITY – none had agents on file. This was a bit odd. I decided to call the theater box office, and see if they could put me in touch with a representative. They told me they’d find out and call back. I left my phone number.

A couple of hours later, James Whitmore called me. Curt and gruff he demanded, “Who IS this! What do you want?” I told him I had been trying to locate an agent, that I had a part I thought he’d enjoy performing and wanted to find out if he was available. He angrily started shouting at me. Obviously, I’d caught him at the wrong time and had jumped protocol. I was all apologies, and he snapped loudly that I should send the script to the theater, and he slammed down the phone in my ear.

Lionel Jeffries was in town doing Pygmalion with Peter O’Toole. He was a delight to work with and a perfect voice for Gower. Sometimes things happen for a reason. I’m sorry I never got to work with James Whitmore, a great actor and an important icon in my youth. I squirm a bit remembering this but am glad for even this small contact and experience.

Too few are the photos I have of the recording sessions done for my films. On Abel, I have just two. Both are of Lionel Jeffries who played Gower, the frog.

Mr. Jeffries is a very big name in England and deservedly so. Americans probably remember him best for his performance as “Grandpa Potts” in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or as Pellinore in Camelot. In England, his reputation as a director was sealed with The Railway Children, an overwhelming success in that country. In this film, he directed Jenny Agutter in her first role. (I worked with her on my short, Max’s Christmas.)

Mr. Jeffries, like all of the Brits I have worked with was extraordinarily professional. The session was relatively brief, and the performance was more than I ever imagined.
_______(All images enlarge by clicking on them.)

My biggest regret, on this film, was that I didn’t take a camera to London to snap shots of Tim Curry. His performance as Abel was the rock on which the rest of the film was built. Lionel Jeffries‘ voice worked well with Tim Curry‘s. The only other voice heard in that 1/2 hour show, was Heidi Stallings‘. She also gave a solidly first rate performance as Abel’s wife, Amanda. (No photos of that session either!)

Sterling vocal performances from all three actors really pushed the film off on a good journey.

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