The Production Guide
Martin Landau archives
Martin Landau to Stanley Bushell

This is a draft letter from Martin Landau to his business manager, Stanley Bushell, based in Los Angeles. It's marked rewritten, so it was not sent in this form.

The first part is about a loan extension, which involved Otis (Dick) Blodget, their agent at IFA.

The second part is about the progress on filming Space: 1999. It confirms the first cut of Breakaway came to 72 minutes. They had decided to cut it to standard length, supervised directly by executive producer Gerry Anderson. Prior to this, they obviously considered extending it to a 90 minute movie. Director Lee Katzin has been told to film Black Sun in 15 days, but he will overrun to 16. See Breakaway "theatrical version" analysis.

The next part concerns the arrival of Carl Reiner, the American actor and comedian. His wife Estelle is now best known for her line in When Harry Met Sally (1989).

There is a brief discussion of the mild British winter weather.

Finally Landau talks about a threatened strike by the Screen Actors Guild in the US. An agreement was reached without a strike on 30 June 1974. There had been a 111 day strike by U.S. writers in 1973.

Feb 2 19734
London

Rewritten

Dear Stan -

Enclosed you'll find the signed loan extension with both signatures.

Well, the $40,000 figure has been agreed upon, according to Dick Blodgett, + we are pleased about that!

It is funny to be able to pick up a phone and simply dial 01-01-213-D107375. Just fourteen digits and hear your voice loud + clear on the other end in a matter of seconds, more than half a world away.

The first show ill definitely NOT be an hour and a half movie. The consensus is that it was shot as a one hour, and that it best serves the series to show it in the shorter form.

They now have to cut it down from 72 minutes to the customary 52 minutes which is no easy done - as the picture is long - and cutting 20 minutes out of it has to be very carefully done. Gerry Anderson will supervise the editing which is well + good, as he started out as an editor before becoming a director- producer. He and Sylvia feel the hour version will help the sale to U.S.A. networks.

The second picture, which we finished on Wednesday Jan 30th, was brought in in 13 days, is already in rough cut (at one hour) + they are terribly pleased with it - and we are into our third episode which we started on Thursday, Jan 31st under Lee Katzin's direction. Lee has been asked to bring it in on time (which is a 15 day schedule) + not to shoot it as long... so that they don't have the problem of having to cut pieces out of it in order to make the 52 minute length.

Carl Reiner arrived tired + happy to see us. The children, as well as the grown-up Landaus well tickled to see him. He had dinner with us Monday and Tuesday nights before getting involved in his rehearsal schedule - Carl, Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews are all on the show. Home week! Estelle, his wife is joining him here at the Dorchester Hotel one week from today - for a two week stay. Barbara has 5 days off out of that 15 day schedule on the next show - will be able to see Estelle more than she'd anticipated. We are taking Carl to dinner + the theatre this evening.

Sunny days are few + far between, but the winter has been fairly mild thus far. Snow only fell for an hour or so one day in December + that's been the extent of the winter. A two week cold-spell during that month was the only extreme elemental period.

The actors' strike doesn't sound like a very promising bit of news - that's all this 'industry' needs now! For the first time such a strikes does not have to worry us - as we are under British Equity jurisdiction. If there is a shortage of product in the U.S.A. it might even be helpful in getting our show on the air. However, we hope that the strike can be ironed out before it happens. The actors can't afford to be out of work for any extended time, nor can the business take a jolt like that at this slow time. Crossed fingers!

Well, that's it for now ... keep us abreast. Our love to Jane - keep well and happy-

Love
Martin, Barbara, Susie + Julie

---