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With Mark Evans, Executive Production Manager at Fox TV who oversaw the 13 seasons of M*A*S*H , and a hopeful starlet.

Having attended NATPE in New Long before that week I had Our friend and interested colleague
Orleans one year I called into LA to see decided that if the Americans I worked Phil Budden of Colourfilm was on the
friends on the way home. On returning for lived to be a hundred, they would advisory council of the National Film
from lunch I responded to two know less about the business than I had and Sound Archive. One morning I
messages. One from Sydney turned out forgotten. I repeated that mantra every woke to realise that Alan and I had sole
to be from Rupert Murdoch, who morning driving to work. and ultimate responsibility for this
informed me he had instructed Barry I used my acquaintance with Rupert precious history of Australian lifestyle
Diller, now in charge at Fox, to attend Murdoch unmercifully. When the phone dating back to 1901 and it must be
the News Ltd. meeting in Australia and rang with yet another fool idea I would preserved. After a meeting with Alan I
I was to arrange his itinerary. The other simply say “That’s not what Rupert began working on a presentation for
was from Barry Diller confirming that thought last time I spoke to him”. It Rupert Murdoch, playing on the
he was coming, a 14-hour flight was no worked like a charm, always followed national importance of preserving this
problem, and he would be ready to start by a long silence, then a back-pedal. vital historical document, his father’s
work on arrival. I spent the rest of the When the theatrical newsreels in unsuccessful newsreel attempt from the
afternoon calling long-distance to Australia ceased production, Fox and 1930s (footage we held), and Rupert’s
organise the meetings. Greater Union formed urgent need of a PR coup to counteract
I met Diller at Sydney Airport and Cinesound/Movietone Productions. The the outrage that he had just renounced
we proceeded with his one-week major asset was three million feet his citizenship and become an
schedule. He was difficult; worst was (915,000 metres) of 35mm film stored American.
his secrecy, never revealing his in unsatisfactory conditions in an old I sent my file off to Rupert in LA
intentions for each evening or the next theatre at Rozelle. The two directors of and took off for Europe, then came
day. This was the worst week I can this Australian company were Alan back to Connecticut to stay a few days
remember in business. It was also the Rydge of GU and me. We became with Bobby and Audrey Morin at their
week Rupert sold Channel 10 to the concerned at the impossibility of lovely estate. Jim Cruthers tracked me
Lowy family. insuring this asset (much of it on nitrate down there to tell me that Rupert was
stock which could easily combust). sold on the idea. The film should be

22 2007 CINEMARECORD