Tag Archives: curtis harrington

Quote of the Week

Posted by Marisa on
PENNY BLOOD: How did you manage to direct a peculiar talent like Timothy Carey in What’s the Matter with Helen? (1971) and in “Set Up City,” a 1975 episode of Baretta?
 
HARRINGTON: I’m in that little club that includes Stanley Kubrick and John Cassavetes: directors who admired Timothy Carey for his uniqueness. The thing about Timothy was that he was as eccentric offscreen as on. That eccentricity is what we all loved, but it was not entirely controllable. Producers did not like to work with Timothy because he never did two takes the same way. The only way I got him on “Set Up City” was because the star of the show, Bobby Blake, gave his approval. But I adored Timothy Carey and was very happy to have him play a tramp in What’s the Matter with Helen? and a criminal in “Set Up City.” He was very inventive. He would ad-lib extra lines. Some of them were so funny that I would burst out laughing in the middle of a take. Of course, my laugh was on the soundtrack so we’d have to do another take, which was kind of embarrassing.
 
There’s a scene in “Set Up City” where Timothy roughs up a used car salesman. Timothy was a bit out of control because he really hurt the other actor who later sued through the Screen Actors’ Guild. When I first met Timothy, I was terrified of him. I couldn’t imagine that I’d ever work with him. But he knew who I was. One day I ran into him on the Fox lot and he hugged me and said: “Oh Curtis, you are the greatest, man! You’re the best!” I realized that he really liked me and I had nothing to fear. (Laughs) So I took him into my heart.
 
– Curtis Harrington, from “Curtis Harrington: The Bitter With the Sweet,” interview by Harvey F. Chartrand, Penny Blood magazine, issue 7 (March/April/May 2007)
 
Set Up City - 1975Timothy gives the business to Larry D. Mann (the voice of Yukon Cornelius!) in “Set Up City” (10.29.75)

Pic of the Day: “What’s the Matter with Helen?” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

Our pic of the day revisits Curtis Harrington‘s What’s the Matter with Helen? (1971), the enjoyable creep-fest starring Debbie Reynolds and Shelley Winters. Timothy has a memorable cameo as a shabby bum begging for a handout in Depression-era Los Angeles. When Reynolds opens the door, this is the first thing she sees. Yikes!!

Tim had appeared previously with Reynolds in The Second Time Around (1961). It was during the making of that film that he met young Frank Zappa and hired him to write the score for The World’s Greatest Sinner (1962). You know the rest!

 

Video of the Week: “Set Up City”

Posted by Marisa on

EDITOR’S NOTE 09/22/13: Another one bites the dust. Sorry, folks.

This week’s video is the Baretta episode “Set Up City,” directed by Curtis Harrington and first airing on October 29, 1975. Timothy is at his grumpy, glowering best as jewel thief Joe Dineen. This is one of my favorite Carey performances; I predict it will become one of yours too, if it isn’t already!

This is the perfect opportunity to announce the formation of The Timothy Carey Experience channel at YouTube! I will be gathering up every video pertaining to Tim that’s already on YouTube that I can find. I hope to also add my own videos of my book-writing adventures. Please feel free to subscribe, tell your friends, etc.!

Pic of the Day: “Fifth Man in a String Quartet” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

Our pic for today (and you remember to click to embiggen, I’m sure) is another of Timothy’s solicitous hotel manager in “Fifth Man in a String Quartet,” the McCloud episode that first aired on February 2, 1972. Here he’s getting a little testy, thinking McCloud (Dennis Weaver) is accusing him of maintenance neglect.

McCloud - 1972

This was the third time Tim appeared with Weaver; they had previously worked together on the Gunsmoke episode “The Gentleman” (1958) and in Curtis Harrington‘s What’s the Matter with Helen? (1971). Neville Brand is the villain in this episode, and it’s a darn shame he and Tim never got any scenes together or worked together elsewhere. They would have made quite a pair, methinks.

 

Pic of the Day: “Set Up City” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

Today we revisit “Set Up City,” the second of four Baretta episodes in which Timothy appears. It premiered on October 29, 1975. He portrays grumpy jewel thief Joe Dineen, always on the lookout for that perfect job that will set him up for life and hopefully also get rid of that pesky Baretta character.

Set Up City - 1975

This was the second time Tim was directed by the great Curtis Harrington; they had previously worked together on What’s the Matter with Helen? (1971). Harrington admitted in an interview that before he met Timothy he was terrified of him! But once he got to know him, he said, “I took him into my heart.”

Video of the Week: “What’s the Matter with Helen?”

Posted by Marisa on

Our video for this week showcases Tim’s appearance in Curtis Harrington‘s What’s the Matter with Helen? (1971). He steals the show as usual, as a scruffy, tattered bum appealing to the good graces of Debbie Reynolds in Depression-era Hollywood. He first appears at about the 8:35 mark.

Harrington, as noted previously, was scared to death of Timothy until he actually got to meet and work with him; he soon grew to love him. “Timothy was just an incredible, electrifying presence,” he said later. “He was utterly fascinating in his own film, The World’s Greatest Sinner.”

Pic of the Day: “Set Up City” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

Today’s pic is another from the Baretta episode “Set Up City,” directed by Curtis Harrington and first aired on October 29, 1975. Tim and Larry Block are just a couple of jewel thieves enjoying a leisurely afternoon, setting up their next job.

Baretta 1975

Tim appeared in four Baretta episodes, the last of which, “The Marker” (1978), has so far eluded my grasp. I will find it…

Pic of the Day: “What’s the Matter with Helen?” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

Our pic for today (you know about clicking for embiggening, right?) revisits the great Curtis Harrington‘s What’s the Matter with Helen? (1971), starring Debbie Reynolds and Shelley Winters as two friends with a tragic past trying to get back on their feet in Depression-era Hollywood. Tim has a small but memorable role as a scruffy tramp depending on the kindness of Reynolds and her rich suitor Dennis Weaver.

Harrington was a fascinating character on the Hollywood scene. He began his career in association with the notorious Kenneth Anger, starting an independent film distribution company with him in the late 1940’s and appearing in Anger’s amazing short film Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome (1954). He went on to direct such cult classics as Night Tide (1961), Queen of Blood (1966), Games (1967), How Awful About Allan (1970), Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? (1972) (which you can find on a double DVD with Helen), The Dead Don’t Die (1975), Ruby (1977) and Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell (1978). He directed Timothy again in the Baretta episode “Set Up City” (1975). He retained a lifelong interest in magic and mysticism. A Harrington biography would be most welcome; it’s long overdue.

Pic of the Day: “The Second Time Around” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

Another day, another eBay find! This one is from The Second Time Around (1961), directed by Vincent Sherman and starring Debbie Reynolds. Tim is the bad guy (surprise), doing what he does best – manhandling people.

Tim would work again with Reynolds in Curtis Harrington‘s What’s the Matter with Helen? (1971). In the work-in-progress documentary that’s available at Absolute Films, Tim mentions that Reynolds was very nice to him, and very encouraging of his directorial efforts. The lady knows talent when she sees it!

Pic of the Day: “Set Up City”

Posted by Marisa on

The Pic of the Day for today is from the Baretta episode “Set Up City” which was first broadcast on October 29, 1975. Tim is jewel thief Joe Dineen, who, along with his partner Angel (Larry Block), enlists the aid of fresh-out-of-jail explosives expert Jake Hatch (Charles Durning) for their next big job.

Baretta

This episode was directed by Curtis Harrington, who also directed Tim in What’s the Matter with Helen? (1971). He once said in an interview that during the making of this episode, Tim was supposed to have roughed up Larry D. Mann‘s used car salesman a bit during their scene together. Tim apparently did his job too well, and Mann sued for medical expenses through the Screen Actors Guild. Ouch.