John Ratzenberger talks to John Morton via my cell phone from Rock and Shock 2014
Just a few hours ago I received an email from John Morton with his latest piece for Starwars.com. I opened the link and was surprised when I read the headline, because instantly knew I had played a part in it coming to life: "Interview: John Ratzenberger – Major Bren Derlin, Master of the Improv"
There's a lot that happens behind the scenes at Star Wars Autograph Collection and I tend not too share too many of those things because I don't want to be "that guy." This story is one I'm very happy to share, but before I do, I must set the stage by traveling back in time to an interview I did with Chicago native Chris Muncke, who portrayed Captain Khurgee in A New Hope.
With Chris Muncke at Star Wars Celebration V
“There was a group of 30-35 American and Canadian actors working in the UK in the ‘70's,” Muncke explains. “There was a huge tax break to have movies made in the UK. Shepperton, Elstree and Pinewood were all major studios and there were masses of top-notch technicians and assistant directors. This was a big advantage for American studios, who came here to film instead of Hollywood. We had the locations and it was cheap.”
"Although major parts were cast in America, a certain percentage of parts had to be actors from UK. “There were loads of work-a-day parts for us. They would hire the same guys for all these movies. Tony Forrest was in everything, same with Rick Le Parmentier and John Morton, there was a pile of us. I was in loads of films as well.If you looked at the cast list of American films made in the UK during that time, you’ll see many of the same names as credited actors.”
A Bridge Too Far (1977) Joseph E. Levine Productions
One such film featuring many North American actors was 1977's A Bridge Too Far directed by Richard Attenborough . It featured such stellar talents as Sean Connery, Laurence Olivier, Robert Redford, Anthony Hopkins, Gene Hackman, Ryan O'Neil and James Caan and the supporting cast reads like the line up from a Star Wars Celebration including Garrick Hagon, Ian Liston, Jack McKenzie, John Morton and John Ratzenberger.
We can now fast forward to one particularly busy weekend in October of 2014. I had several interpreting assignments for the Archdiocese of Boston, needed to cover a convention called Rock and Shock in Worcester, MA and meet up with John Morton who was in Boston to compete in the Head of the Charles Regatta. Sometimes there just isn't enough time in a weekend. I had been looking forward to seeing John and his family while they were here but unable to make it happen. While disappointed I wouldn't be seeing them I would soon see the ways of the Force are mysterous indeed.
[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”16416″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_3897151234092″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”9496″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]John Morton (right) competes at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Bosotn.
Although he was one of only two actors from New England on the hit show Cheers, John Ratzenberger has not attended many conventions in the area. In fact Rock and Shock was the first time I'd seen him attend a show up here since starting this website in 2011, making it a show I could not miss. It's on the smaller side, which I knew from attending last year, and it focusses on the horror genre. Even so, it's a favorite of mine because theres a great vibe and it happens just before Halloween. You can't help but get into the Halloween spirit while you're there.
During John Ratzenberger's Q&A (which you can watch in it's entirty below) he mentioned his work on A Bridge Too Far, which reminded me of my aforementioned interview with Chris Muncke and that I was supposed to see John Morton that weekend.
[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_large”,”fid”:”15496″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]John Ratzenberger's Q&A from Rock and Shock 2014
As you can imagine I spent a good deal of time in the autograph area and John Ratzenberger's table. We started to chat while he signed a "Mack Semi" truck from Cars for my friend Tony's son (which is staring at me right as I type this.) I asked him if he remembered John Morton from A Bridge Too Far or Empire, which he did. I explained how he was in the area for the Head of the Charles Regata, and after he did the math to figure out how old he must be and how he could possibly be competing, I called John Morton. After relaying messages back and forth for a few minutes I handed my cell phone over so they could talk to each other.
Anytime you can reunite people who haven't talked to each other in decades it's a very special thing. When it's Dak Ralter and Major Derlin and they're talking on your cell phone…well that brings it to a whole other level. And when that reconnection you helped bring about creates something like this interview? Let's just say it's hard to find the words.
It's not often you'll read an interview quite like this one.
Rebel to Rebel.
Actor to actor.
Friend to friend.
Very special thanks to John Morton for mentioning me in his interview, which I am sure you will enjoy reading as much as I did. Ready? Click HERE to read it on Starwars.com.
