When I was 12, I wrote to George Pal, asking for a photo of Rod Taylor fighting a Morlock, from the movie The Time Machine which Mr. Pal produced and directed. I didn’t have his address, so I sent it to MGM Studios. I figured it would probably never get into Mr. Pal’s hands, but at least I tried.
A month later,
I received an 8X10 photo of Rod Taylor holding a touch as he hits a Morlock,
plus a short letter from George Pal saying, “I’m glad you like the movie. Here
is a photo for you.”
15 years
later, I met Mr. Pal at a movie convention with my first words being: “When I
was 12, I wrote to you for a photo of Rod Taylor in The Time Machine….” As I
spoke, I could see his face getting worried that I was about to complain about
never getting it. I continued, “…. And you sent me the best photo of Rod
fighting a Morlock. You made a 12 year old boy very happy.”
Mr. Pal smiled
and then, after signing a photo of War of the Worlds, said, “I’m glad you
received the photo.”
Over the
years, various filmmakers have answered my letters and requests. Animator Ray
Harryhausen – The 7th Voyage of Sinbad sent me a photo and
letter and years later I showed it to him and thanked him for it.
Movie director
Peter Tewksbury, always answered my letters about his filming and editing
techniques and working with Elvis Presley on Stay Away, Joe and The
Trouble with Girls.
These days,
because of the movies I directed getting re-issued and some attention, plus the
fact that I wrote How to Live the James Bond Lifestyle, I get lots of
requests for advice. Because I remember how much it meant to me that George Pal
others replied to my requests, I never turn down fan requests that come to me.
In fact, I enjoy doing so.
And little did I know that Rod and Alan Young would
perform in my audio-books years later. Dreams are worth pursuing.
Coming soon to kindle / audio for $2.99: Rod Taylor narrating my 3.6 hr. audio-book: Rock Star Rising. Performed by Russ Tamblyn, George Chakiris, Robert Culp, James Darren and Kevin McCarthy.
