Box of Tricks
Teleplay by Peter Ling and Edward Rhodes
Directed by Kim Mills
Production Schedule
Episode 44 (18)
Production Number : 3517
VTR/ABC/2299 & 2299A
Teddington Studio 1
Wednesday 16th January 1963
| Camera rehearsal |
10.00-12.30 |
| Lunch break |
12.30-13.30 |
| Camera rehearsal |
13.30-18.00 |
| Supper break |
18.00-19.00 |
| Camera rehearsal |
19.00-20.00 |
| Line Up and Make Up |
20.00-20.30 |
| VTR Insert (VTR/ABC/2299-A) |
20.30-21.00 |
Insert 2299-A - Scenes 33-35, Steed confronts Gallam and Gerry under the stage when they ry to transmit the tap carried by Kathleen.
Thursday 17th January 1963
| Camera rehearsal |
10.00-12.30 |
| Lunch break |
12.30-13.30 |
| Camera rehearsal |
13.30-15.30 |
Tea break, Line Up,
Normal scan, Make Up |
15.30-16.15 |
| Dress rehearsal |
16.15-17.30 |
| Notes |
17.30-18.00 |
| Line-up |
18.00-18.30 |
| VTR |
18.30-19.30 |
Running time
Expected: 51'25"
Actual running time with bumpers: 51'54"
The bumpers between the acts are generally 10 seconds from fade in to the "End of Act" bumper to the end of audio before the commercial, a 10 second still without audio, then cut to the next act bumper. This would play with the theme for around 10 seconds. Accordingly, with the episodes being in 3 acts, the running time of the action is approximately a minute less than listed above, minus the opening and closing credits (normally 0'16", with a 2" fade, and anywhere from 0'41" to 1'20", hard cut or 1" fade or mix, respectively).
Transmission
| London |
19th January 1963 |
| Sydney |
20th January 1964 |
| Melbourne |
10th September 1964 |
Equipment
| Cameras: |
4 Pedestals |
| Sound: |
3 booms, Slung Mics. as required. 1 Hand Mic in Clubs |
| Telecine: |
ABC symbol; 2 mute 35m. clips; 2 T/C Machines required |
| VTR: |
1 insert - VTR/ABC/2299-A |
Murders
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click a name
to see the face
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Transport
Minutiæ
- 2:28 - there's a 2 frame VCU of Steed before the vision is switched back to the previous shot.
- 3:14 - The hostess delivers Steed's brandy and he orders her a gin and tonic.
- 3:36 (3:31) - the boom mike is visible for a second as the waiter approaches Steed's table.
- 12:05 - Kathleen tells the operator her number is Wimbledon 1068 and asks for Weldon 9291.
- 18:54 (18:49) - a very unconvincing death. Denise has a stocking at her throat which was presumably used to strangle her, but she's holding in place with her left hand rather than having it wrapped around her neck, and she visibly straightens her right hand when they're looking down at her.
- 24:55 - Posing as 'Thackeray', Steed lists his symptoms:
Incurable lassitude, occasional spells of dizziness, acute internal disorders after heavy meals, and above all an indefinable, crushing sense that [he coughs] one is not, as it were, in tip-top condition.
- 33:54 - horizontal banding across the screen.
Times are from the re-mastered 2009 Optimum Releasing DVD set, any times in brackets are from the previously released DVD sets which had frames with interference or banding deleted, resulting in shorter running times.
The Songs
Venus Smith sings two songs, accompanied by the Dave Lee Trio.
- "It's a Pity to Say Goodnight" [1:53 (1:47), 1:08 long]
- "It's De-Lovely" [42:04 (41:00), 1:00 long]
The Dave Lee Trio comprised Dave Lee, Art Morgan and Spike Heatley in 1962, all highly respected jazz players. Dave Lee also co-wrote the hit Avengers tie-in single "Kinky Boots" b/w "Let's Keep it Friendly" with Herbert Kretzmer (who wrote the lyrics for "Togetherness" from The Murder Market). Dave also composed the Peter Sellers/Sophia Loren comic song "Goodness Gracious Me" with Kretzmer.
Lyrics in blue italic are not sung by Julie
Lyrics in green italic are inaudible.
Lyrics in red italic have been adapted or ad libbed.
It's a Pity to Say Goodnight
Billy Reid, 1946
adapted Dave Lee/Julie Stevens, 1963
It's a pity to say goodnight
because I never saw stars so bright
But if you gotta go home you gotta go home
Give me a goodnight kiss
It's a pity to say farewell
because the Man in the Moon won't tell
But if you gotta go home you gotta go home
Give me a goodnight kiss
How's about tomorrow night just you and me
I'll be waitin' for you people
- the second show begins at three
It's a pity to say adieu
- it's been a pleasure to sing for you
I hope you've had a good time
I hope you've eaten and drunk your fill
So goodnight, but don't forget to pay- your bill
Goodnight!
original final verses:
How's about tomorrow night just you and me
I'll be waitin' for you darling
underneath the apple tree
It's a pity to say goodnight
because I want you to hold me tight
But if you gotta go home you gotta go home
Give me a goodnight kiss
Hey how's about tomorrow night just you and me
I'll be waitin' for you darling
underneath the apple tree
It's a pity to say goodnight
because I want you to hold me tight
But if you gotta go home you gotta go home
But before you go home give me a goodnight kiss
It's De-Lovely
Cole Porter, 1936
The night is young, the skies are clear
And if you want to go walkin', dear
It's delightful, it's delicious, it's de-lovely
I understand the reason why
You're sentimental, 'cause so am I
It's delightful, it's delicious, it's de-lovely
You can tell at a glance
what a swell night this is for romance
You can hear, dear Mother Nature
murmuring low "Let yourself go"
So please be sweet, my chickadee
And when I kiss ya, just say to me
"It's delightful, it's delicious,
it's delectable, it's delirious,
It's dilemma, it's de limit,
it's deluxe, it's de-lovely"
You can tell at a glance
what a swell night this is for romance
You can hear dear Mother Nature
murmuring low "Let yourself go"
So please be sweet, my chickadee
And when I kiss ya, just say to me
"It's delightful, it's delicious,
it's delectable, it's delirious,
It's dilemma, it's de limit,
it's deluxe, it's de-lovely"
From the musical "Red, Hot and Blue"
