Re: The War Lord ... Location Audio

Ahhh .... the "wonderfulness" of our own Jimmy Mitchell!!

A good while back Jimmy posted a part of this War Lord audiotape ... and here is my response from then - reprinted.

Thank you so very much Jimmy - hearing these segments again is truly VERY special to me!!

Tatia







Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy ....

Thank you SO MUCH, Mr. Mitchell, for posting this "WAR LORD" audioclip on the FORUM. As some of you may know, "The War Lord" cast his spell over me a long while ago, and I've been hanging suspended somewhere over the "Hi-MAL-yas" ever since. This extremely evocative "I SPY" story was the epitome of (as Mr. Culp so perfectly described in his commentaries) a mix of medieval, legend, fairy tale, and poetry (set in a "Terry and the Pirates" exotic Asian temple) .... The interactions of the doomed lovers are so much more than they appear on the surface. There is an intriguing balance between these poignant characters, and their tragic love story is portrayed with perfection! This episode has always been pure magic and enchantment for me, a powerful combination of drama and romance and mystery, and it always keeps me totally spellbound every time I see it .....

As I wrote to Jimmy when he first told me about this "War Lord" audioclip being in that "Audio Treasure Trove" he discovered - there was one haunting scene in particular in Mr. Culp's exquisite script that fascinated me, but was not included in the aired version. I had always wondered if this scene was ever filmed or if it was cut early on in the production process??

I had tried to imagine what these lines would have sounded like when spoken by Chuang-Tzu and Catherine. And thanks to Jimmy, we are finally able to hear this scene!! It is one of the very few times we are able to see any interaction between just the two of them - and this exchange helps give us a glimmer of understanding into the strong bond between the doomed lovers.

In the script, this scene ends with "She is serene. He is not." Neither of them is under any illusions as to their fate.





Any thoughts as to why this scene in the audioclip was cut? It certainly is beautifully written and explains alot about their relationship. It may have been a time factor, but I'm betting the censors were not too thrilled with the "You took me by force" line. And I find that line very puzzling and rather unsettling. It is certainly out-of-character for the noble and powerful and sophisticated Chuang-Tzu. Though Catherine follows it by saying that Chuang-Tzu has "created a woman where there was before only a running child." ....

I have to add that I loved hearing Jean Marsh's different "takes" on the "I speak and I am understood after a fashion in seventeen countries. All the words of the earth, now they are gone. Finally. What a relief you are, my lord." It was fascinating hearing the different nuances of her delivery and how small changes in inflection make such a big difference.

As I mentioned before, the enchanting episode as finally delivered to us was a product not only of Mr. Culp's vision and talent, but also of Alf Kjellin's elegant directorial touch, and Ms. Marsh's exquisite portrayal of Catherine Faulkner.


Thank you, Jimmy ... thank you!!!!!


As always,

Tatia



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