In the pile of location audio tapes I acquired from the I Spy TV show
http://www.network54.com/Forum/172251/message/1165777770/I+Spy+Location+Audio+Tapes
there were several good examples of the improvisatory nature of the interaction between Culp and Cosby. The audio excerpt I’m linking to below isn’t necessarily the best one, but it’s the first one I came across, and it has a lot of interesting points. It’s from the very end of “Let’s Kill Karlovassi”. All the drama is over, but Kelly and Scotty happen to encounter the guy who hit them over the head with a wrench on Dennis Karlovassi’s boat earlier in the show. They decide to go over and have a talk with him. Recalling the end of that episode, Kelly and Scotty go over and verbally accost the guy. He kicks both of them in the shins and strides off. The episode ends with Kelly and Scotty soothing their wounded egos with ice cream.
“Karlovassi” was known as production 62. This is scene 108 in the numerology of that particular episode. First there are three takes attempting to run through the entire scene (Kelly and Scotty see the guy—they accost him—they get kicked). Then there are three takes of scene 108b which is just the accosting and kicking part, though the third take continues on to Kelly and Scotty buying ice cream. Then there is one take of scene 108a which is just the initial discussion again.
Aside from the variation in the dialogue from take to take, there are a few interesting things. The director is Christian Nyby and we get to hear him screaming at Fouad Said to get out of the shot. I don’t believe he’s upset with him, he’s just trying to get his attention. We also hear Nyby expressing his displeasure with the work of some of the extras. The guy who is supposed to kick Kelly clearly is missing his cue, and in one take Kelly goes on and on, inventing dialogue, waiting for the kick that never comes. Finally Culp expresses his annoyance (fairly mildly). The final take of 108b continues beyond the point where the episode ends, so we get to hear some additional dialogue. I think Cosby, hearing the cry of a seagull, is inspired to ask Culp if he’s still crying. And Culp is ready with a response. Damn, these guys are good! The voice announcing the scene and take numbers belongs to, I believe, Brad Trask
The recordings I have for “Let’s Kill Karlovassi” extend from 11 to 23 May 1967. This scene was shot on 16 May. When we get to this episode in our review rotation, which should be very soon now, I’ll detail the order in which scenes were shot, at least as far as the stuff I have goes, which certainly is not the entire episode. Below is the so-called “Sound Report” which was in the tape box. It lists the location as Hydra. At the top the date is incorrectly written as “5/16/64”. It should read “5/16/67”.
Here are my standard instructions for listening to an audio link on this forum:
A link to an mp3 file does not show up when it is posted. So I have disguised the link in two different ways: first by putting an ‘x’ at the end, second by putting an ‘x’ at the beginning. You will have to cut and paste the link without the ‘x’ to listen to the file.
http://www.mediamax.com/jimmymitchell/Hosted/karlovassi1.mp3x
xhttp://www.mediamax.com/jimmymitchell/Hosted/karlovassi1.mp3
Jimmy
