So far we've presented six articles on the BBC's filming in Paris and to try to bring it to life we've followed every lead and taken it as far as we can. We know that we've found an audience, not least in France and we're sure that we must have jogged a few memories. Maybe someone in Paris remembers the filming on Rue du Lieuvin.
We've discussed the direction of Simon Langton. Considered the cinematography of Kenneth Macmillan and even introduced Remy Julienne, the most famous stunt arranger in the business.
If only we could just go back in time and watch them film it.
Well, incredibly we can!!!
You see, not only was Remy Julienne's work filmed as it happened but also that film has survived all these years and is available to watch on the internet. If you know where to look.
We are indebted to Mémoire les image d'archives en Centre - Val de Loire for the film that we present above. It's a silent film lasting 13 minutes and 18 seconds from July 1981 and after you've watched it, no doubt several times, we're going to devote this entire article to its examination.
Wow. There's really so much going on. Every time I watch it there's something I hadn't noticed before. We're going to look at three things: later the equipment used and the stunt itself but first we're going to put some names to the faces in the film.
At 2:41, from the left: Simon Langton (Director) Stuntman number 2, Official Number 1, Remy Julienne (Stunt Arranger), Jeremy Silberston (Production Manager) and Kenneth Macmillan (Cinematographer).
His team, L'Equipe Remy Julienne provided a comprehensive service to the production. We see here how Julienne directs his part of the accident and presumably on another day, what Julienne directed would have been matched by Simon Langton with Eileen Atkins to ensure a seemless episode. We can speculate which was done first.
It appears that Jeremy was especially highly regarded. Along with his personal qualities, his obituaryrefers to to his suitabilty for the job. Fluent in French, we see him translating for Julienne and Macmillan. And then there's his French cooking and excellent parties. You can be sure that Guinness approved of that.
For his work on Smiley's People, he won the British Film And Television Arts award for Best Film Cameraman.
At 00:22 I think that's Malcolm Webberley. BAFTA Nominated for best film sound for Smiley's People as he had been three years earlier for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. See how he bumps the mic for cueing purposes on the soundtrack.
And what about this one. Anti-clockwise from bottom left. Kenny Macmillan in the back seat of the Peugeot 504, Jeremy, Roy Russell (Chief Grip), Simon, Remy, Official Number 1 and Stuntman Number 2 now attired as Madame Ostrakova on Rue du Lieuvin at 6:31
In Paris Locations Part Six, I remarked how Madame Ostrakova's clothes were chosen for reason.. Le Carre's screenplay may have suggested stout boots, a coat and scarf because of her concern for the intentions of the officials but they also afford protection for Remy Julienne's two stuntmen.
Here's Stuntman Number 2 being bandaged by the unit first aider. If only we could identify her.
There was a big crew, some of them came down in McGuinness's van.
Now, how was the stunt performed?
We're going to look at four aspects, starting with how Stuntman Number 2 mounted the bonnet of the Peugeot.
The aim, for safety's sake, was to minimise the relative velocites at any point of impact and accordingly, in addition to padding, a wooden platform has been fitted to the front of the car at 5:42.
Official Number 1 makes it look as though he has thrown Madame Ostrakova, but really the stuntman steps onto the platform before jumping onto the bonnet. In the foreground, Official Number 2 reacts to the battering received from Madame Ostrakova's flat iron (5:54).
In Smiley's People Paris Locations Part 6 I remarked that they might have broken that windscreen, knowing full well that they had. The Production Manager might be having something to say (in French) about his budget.
Then there's the roof vault itself from 8:27. Stuntman Number 2 starts on the roof of the vehicle and rolls towards its rear. There's no wires or apparatus of any kind. Neither is there padding on the Peugeot's roof. Courage. Commitment. Skill.
Then he launches himself off the back of the car. A fall like that, onto the cobbles would seriously injure....
....but he lands on the wooden platform towed behind the car
The energy of his landing absorbed; he rolls off the platform onto the road.
So that's two elements. But Madame has to be seen to fall off the back of the car so that wooden platform won't appear in the final edit.
From 8:52, this time the camera is mounted on the side of the car and judging from the boom mic held out of the window, Malcolm Webberley is in the rear seat. It seems low on its rear suspension. Not surprising as the stuntman was riding on the back.
We see him hit the road surface at 20-30 kilometres per hour.
Finally there's the shot required to show the roof vault from Madame Ostrakova's point of view. We see at the start of the film that the stunt was prepared in a yard, it's the grounds of the school opposite. Here, from within, to the right of Stuntman Number 1, is a glimpse of the roofline of the building on the corner of Rue du Lieuvin and Rue du Bocage at 1:39.
And then the same roofline viewed after they'd moved their apparatus out onto Rue du Lieuvin at 11:17.
I have two proofs.
Another view of a roofline at 00:32. That distinctive curved architecture remains on the building of the school today. Viewed from Rue Cherbourg, here it is in Streetview.
We see the apparatus adjusted in the school and then reassembled on Rue du Lieuvin. Blink and you'd miss the gate (5:37)
Notice that the officials lend a hand. They have to be part of L'Equipe, extras certainly wouldn't do that. Official Number 2 has taken off his hat and coat and can be seen at the left standing on the platform.
Whilst Simon Langton goes the extra mile to visualise Madame's view, we see the apparatus in comparison to the 504.
In preparation for one of the few shots in the adaptation not personally filmed by Macmillan, Chief Grip Roy Russell hands Stuntman Number 1 the camera ready for the take and Silberston calls for quiet on set, not only in respect of the crew but also for the many residents watching from Rue du Lieuvin and the surrounding buildings.
Unfortunately we don't see Stuntman Number 1 suspended over the Peugeot but we can easily surmise the scene.
Finally (12:49) we see more action where Stuntman Number 2 drops off the back of the Peugeot. Notice that the vehicle's boot lid had been removed to facilitate his ride. The film ends abruptly, there might have been more, perhaps when Eileen Atkins performed.
Let's not forget post production. The editor for Episode 1 was Clare Douglas. She had to choose her clips for dramatic effect but also to avoid showing the corner of the wooden platform or identifying a stuntman. She'd have never known that we were going to review it so closely!
So we come to our opportunity to review the filming equipment used.
I'm indebted to Ümit Mesutwho graciously put me on the right course by looking at a few minutes of the Mémoire film. Whilst he couldn't identify the models shown he was able to confirm that they are 16mm cameras and that they were state of the art equipment of considerable value. Further, that whilst professionals with deadlines to meet have moved on to digital equipment, these cameras still enjoy a considerable following amongst enthusiasts and professionals alike.
The BBC based its film department at Ealing Studios. During the early 1980's their principal equipment would have been Eclair NPR cameras and Nagra tape recorders. These two pieces of equipment maintained an onboard synchronisation between vision and sound that didn't require a physical link.
At 4:55, whilst Stuntman Number 1 practises, we see Kenneth Macmillan climbing into the backseat of the 504 with what appears to be his Eclair NPR.
There's also this articlewhich includes this reference to Tony Pierce-Robert's use of the NPR.
In shot there appears a smaller camera too. Seen in the hands of Remy Julienne and later Stuntman Number 1 when he is sitting on the apparatus on Rue du Lieuvin. It's hard to match up the details on film with certainity but I think that is an a Arriflex ST as shown in the film below.
Turning to the sound equipment that Malcolm Webberley lugs around. Ümit Mesut thought that might be a Nagra machine and I think we can see enough of it at 3:22 to identify it as a Nagra 4S.
Without a doubt this is the only film of Smiley's People being filmed. Control identified Rue du Lieuvin by examining the blu-ray. I searched for Remy Julienne and that road name and it was on about the fifth page.
Remy Julienne enjoys a huge following and someone might be able to identify the stuntmen and the officials. I've searched in vain for any list of L'Equipe personnel. One of them must be the person who filmed it. We've no idea who, a confidant of Julienne's perhaps. Whoever you are, thank you.
And what about that day or two in July 1981 - were you there? If so, what do you remember? Was there an article in the local paper?. Did you take any photographs? Were you one of Langton's or Julienne's people?
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