On occasion, this year's "Backlot Film Festival" proved to be a comedy of errors, unfortunately.
For example, on the festive evening the Festival chose to screen "All of Me" and "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" on a double-bill.
After "Dead Men" sputtered to a close on the silver screen - Carl Reiner lingered to chat with Lily Tomlin - who was scheduled to appear for a Q & A.
As filmgoers took their seats, a couple of staffers proceeded to set up a couple of chairs and a mic on the floor to the left of the main stage.
Then, Ross Hawkins (founder and director of the Festival) appeared in the dark at the front of the Veteran's Memorial Hall and urged the audience to rise from their comfy seats to relocate to the other side of the Theatre to make for an "intimate" setting for Lily's scheduled intro.
A groan went up from the throng - who were anxious to meet and greet Lily - as they reluctantly uprooted themselves and trotted over to an uninviting darkened section of the auditorium. Not exactly a trained dog by nature, I remained seated where I was in an enviable spot center main stage.
Once everyone was settled in - someone got the brilliant idea to set three chairs on the stage "above the audience" - and fire up a handful of spotlights to capture the zany comedienne in the light.
So, Mr. Hawkins shuffled back and instructed the now disgruntled masses, to move back to their former seats!
Oi veh!
The fiasco could have been lifted right out of an episode of Carl Reiner's popular hit - "Show of Shows" - I tell 'ya!
But, the lunacy did not stop there.
One gentleman - with a claim to fame as a former Mayor of Culver City - chose to get up and tell a couple of anecdotes which summarily dropped to the floor like lead balloons.
In fact, both parties the ad-libs were directed at (Lily and Carl) were baffled by the recollections which they couldn't make hide or tail of.
When the speaker jokingly laughed that he was one of the first officials in Sacramento to get "canned" by Schwarzenegger when the film actor took office, I suddenly heard my inner voice cry out,
"Occasionally, the terminator hits the target, alright."
At this juncture, Mr. Hawkins returned.
Gosh, he loves to get into the thick of things, doesn't he?
At this juncture, he invited Lily (standing in the dark on the sidelines) to step forward for the much-anticipated question and answer session.
Another awkward moment.
Clearly, someone should have led their star speaker up onto the stage. Surely, Mr. Hawkins wasn't suggesting the feisty comic cross the floor to stand by his side in the shadows below the stage?
Ms. Tomlin was forced to spring into action after sizing up the pregnant moment.
"Should I go up on the stage?" she graciously quizzed the befuddled Hawkins.
"Oh, yes, please do," responded Mr. Hawkins - who had obviously not even fathomed the dilemma until it was resolved before his eyes due to the quick thinking of a true pro.
As Tomlin stepped up onto the stage, Mr. Reiner was left behind in the dark, so he returned to his seat. Had they forgotten about one of their star attractions?
At this juncture - as if they heard my inner thoughts - Mr. Reiner was asked to join Lily; so he scrambled up the stairs and crossed the stage to take a seat next to the award-winning actress.
A third man, who suddenly appeared to be the host of the chit-chat session, joined them from out-of-the-blue. But, the awkward moments persisted with him at the helm. For example, there was only one large hand-held mic and the off-putting fellow began to hog the spotlight.
Geez!
Finally, guests started to ask the key speakers insightful questions and that got the ball rolling in Reiner and Tomlin's corners.
Much to the crowd's delight.
It's interesting what tid-bits are dredged up in innocent moments of recall.
For instance, Mr. Reiner underscored what a perfectionist Lily was in preparing for her role in "All of Me". At her behest - for example - quality jewels graced her neck to lend authenticity to the scenes in which her wealthy character appeared.
Right you are, Lily. On camera, real gems sparkle like no other; while fakes dangle without any true dazzle.
Then, Lily noted that Steve Martin was so tight with a buck that she sprang for the cost of the security guard to deliver the gems to the set each day.
"What," Reiner asked incredulously, "He told me he paid for that."
The crowd roared.
Yes, Lily noted for the record that she put up the 10,000 smackeroos to cover the cost of insurance and the services of the security guard who surreptitiously appeared each day with a metal suitcase containing the jewels handcuffed to his wrist.
Just like in the movies!
Now, the conversation drifted to their personal lives and the old-world charm of Los Feliz.
"Lily lived in the W.C. Fields mansion," Reiner gushed to an amazed crowd who oohed and aahed among themselves in the footlights at the prospect.
Ms. Tomlin noted that W.C. disliked Deana Durbin's vocalizing (the legendary star was a neighbor, after all) so - to get back at her - he was inclined to gleefully shoot bee-bees at her Swans in the lily pond when she was out of sight.
Apparently, the De Mille house was down the street as well, next to Chaplin's.
Talk about synchronicity! After the discussion about the De Mille house, I picked up the newspaper on the weekend and noticed an article on the history of the home which is currently up for sale.
The restored Beaux Arts estate where the legendary Studio head resided for forty years is 9,700 square feet, sits on 2.1 landscaped acres, and is listed for 26.5 million dollars. Out of my league, to say the least.
On a negative note, Mr. Reiner noted how disgruntled he was with Ronald Reagan in his heady glory days.
The comic noted with disdain that he was at the fateful meeting where Ronnie cast a deciding ballot that resulted in actors being barred from receiving residuals for roles performed in projects prior to the sixties.
"I was shocked by his actions," Reiner recalled.
The veteran performer went on to note that in spite of the fact there was not any legal requirement to do so, his office sent out checks in the sum of $10,000.00 to each actor that was still alive to compensate each for "film clips" the producers facilitated for key scenes in "DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID".
Admirable, huh?
When asked if he made any efforts to "preserve" his work over the years for posterity, he laughed out loud and quipped,
"I don't have enough time to do my peach preserves."
Apparently, Mr. Reiner has resided in the same home for fifty years. He confesses the interior is jammed to the rafters with letters, memorabilia, old photos, tapes, reels of film, you name it.
"One day, I'll invite historians in and they can take the whole lot," he promised.
There was a roar of approval from the rapt audience who hung on every word.
Carl fondly recalled that during the filming of the feature film - "DEAD MEN" - Edith Head (the celebrated costumer designer) - came to the set each day and rested on a cot in a back room to keep abreast of things. Sadly, she passed to spirit - a shadow of her former self - a week after the project wrapped.
A great lady, surely missed by Mr. Reiner and a host of others.
Mr. Reiner made one astonishing admission on stage.
He turned to Ms. Tomlin and noted for the record that he originally wanted to cast "Lily" for the role of Rob's wife on the "Dick Van Dyke Show".
Boy - that will surely raise eyebrows to a handful of TV Historians - and shock the sensibilities of Mary Tyler Moore, no doubt. After all, if I am not mistaken, part of the folk lore of the show includes reminisces about a frantic search by producers to locate the perfect actress for the role.
Until now, "Ms. Moore" was known to have been the chosen one.
Wonders never cease!
In spite of a sputtering start, the talk fest ended up on a positive note.
Ms. Tomlin proceeded to say a few kind words about Mr. Reiner and the longevity of his remarkable career - in view of his pending "Thomas Ince Award" - to be presented at a formal award ceremony on the weekend at a Backlot Film Festival Gala event.
Will they work together again?
God willing, you bet.
