Space1999.Net Forum Archive

The Catacombs

Discussion about The Catacombs.

Behind The Scenes: Martin Landau

Interview During Filming of Y2 ep MofB

   Page 1 of 1   

Author	Post
moonbasealpha_s1 01 Nov 2003 03:03:28	Hi Martin, I saw your except on the behind the scenes interview, particularly ML interview when they appeared to be making the Y2 episode Matter of Balance. I found your comment that the ML interview was "oddly cut" interesting. I have seen this interview on the DVDs but also on the Space:1999 Documentary put out by Fanderson (1995 or 1996?) I find that he is not really being "genuine" in his interview. From other interviews I have seen, this is the only time he has made any positive comments about Y2. Of course, I am a bit biased anyway when I view it (NO!! REALLY?!?! LOL) but I do try (and it is difficult) to be objective. The interview to me appears to be insincere. Then, the realization hit me. He was being interviewed ON the set, probably within earshot of FF. To say negative comments would be akin to saying "My job sucks" when the boss is in the next cubicle over. No one in there right mind would do such a thing (unless, I suppose one already had another job lined up...but...still) What I want to point out is that in the Fanderson video, he was interviewed recently (1996?) and clearly did not have the same positive comments about the changes of Year 2 as he did in that MofB set interview. I too, found that interview odd...but for perhaps, a different reason. Sincerely, Suzette
Martin 01 Nov 2003 10:56:50	It was part of Landau's contract to do promotional interviews- he was paid to promote the series. It's standard for most stars- look at the promo interviews for any recent crap movie. At the time of the interview, Landau wrote his real thoughts on the cover of his script. See the Matter Of Balance episode guide page for extracts. To be fair, other memos and notes reveal Landau was equally brutal about some year one episodes, and towards the end of year 2 he thought they did a string of good episodes. Martin
moonbasealpha_s1 01 Nov 2003 16:47:04	QUOTE (Martin @ Nov 1 2003, 05:56 AM) It was part of Landau's contract to do promotional interviews- he was paid to promote the series. It's standard for most stars- look at the promo interviews for any recent crap movie. At the time of the interview, Landau wrote his real thoughts on the cover of his script. See the Matter Of Balance episode guide page for extracts. To be fair, other memos and notes reveal Landau was equally brutal about some year one episodes, and towards the end of year 2 he thought they did a string of good episodes. Martin Thanks for your response. Your first paragraph was a wonderful response to my thoughts both straightforward and "read between the lines". I believe ML would have been critical of a few Y1 episodes as well as Y2. There are a couple in Y1 that are terrible as you sit there scratching your head asking "what happened?" To sit back and be critical and (attempt) to be be objective about something one likes very much, is a person who has insight and wisdom, recognizing that nothing is perfect.. However, in the Fanderson video, ML was quite clearly disappointed over the "changes" of Y2, getting rid of Victor, which (and I didn't know this) he says he fought very hard to keep him, and overall preferred Y1. Hmmmm....hmmmm... Are you thinking of adding MLs Fanderson interview script to the site? Or, is it already there and I just haven't found it? The part about fighting to keep BM was really interesting. Thanks, Suzette
Martin 01 Nov 2003 18:19:52	The last Fanderson magazine had a new Martin Landau interview which was very interesting- Landau says... QUOTE We had a wonderful group and it was such a shame that we lost so many of them in the second season. I mean, I hated losing Barry Morse and, again, I fought like a tiger to keep him. Barry's a special man, a terrific actor and wonderful character. There was almost a point where he was going to join us for the second season and I was a big supporter of that. you know, but we lost that one. There's a lot of his thoughts on year 1 and year 2 QUOTE I loved a lot of the shows that we did in that first year and, of course, it's very hard to do a weekly series and continue to bat a thousand, as we say in America. In baseball, if a batter hits 300, he fails seven out of ten times, but it's still a wonderful record. I think we actually did better than that in our first year
moonbasealpha_s1 01 Nov 2003 20:46:58	QUOTE (Martin @ Nov 1 2003, 01:19 PM) The last Fanderson magazine had a new Martin Landau interview which was very interesting- Landau says... QUOTE We had a wonderful group and it was such a shame that we lost so many of them in the second season. I mean, I hated losing Barry Morse and, again, I fought like a tiger to keep him. Barry's a special man, a terrific actor and wonderful character. There was almost a point where he was going to join us for the second season and I was a big supporter of that. you know, but we lost that one. There's a lot of his thoughts on year 1 and year 2 QUOTE I loved a lot of the shows that we did in that first year and, of course, it's very hard to do a weekly series and continue to bat a thousand, as we say in America. In baseball, if a batter hits 300, he fails seven out of ten times, but it's still a wonderful record. I think we actually did better than that in our first year Heeey...That first quote sounds an awful lot like the Fanderson video. I remember the figting like a tiger line; in fact, I'm almost sure it is the same but I'll have to check. Do you suppose Fanderson mag just quoted that 1996 interview? The second quote, however, is a new one. Never heard that one before..Interesting analogy.
Martin 02 Nov 2003 14:53:33	QUOTE That first quote sounds an awful lot like the Fanderson video. I remember the figting like a tiger line Martin tends to use the same phrases in all his interviews- he's an actor, he learns his lines
moonbasealpha_s1 06 Nov 2003 01:12:31	Heh..heh..heh..heh..heh.. Understood.
Shaqui 08 Nov 2003 00:19:49	QUOTE (moonbasealpha_s1 @ Nov 1 2003, 12:46 PM) Heeey...That first quote sounds an awful lot like the Fanderson video. That's because the 'new' interview in the recent Fanderson magazine is actually the full transcript of the one that edited highlights appeared from in 'The Space:1999 Documentary'... In order to present a balanced overview of the series, quite full interviews were recorded but obviously not all of these could have been used in the video. So Fanderson tend to publish the full transcripts in the magazine over a period. The same thing happened with Keith Wilson's contribution, and I think for writer Johnny Byrne too.

   Page 1 of 1