Author Archives: Ralph

Highland Fling

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Ralph

FILMED  October 1983 I had directed three episodes of HART TO HART in their first season. I returned in 1983 as they were continuing into their fifth season, and as expected I found many changes, the most major being the … Continue reading →

Posted in Hart To Hart | 6 Comments

From MCI to MGM in 21 years

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Ralph

October 29, 2013 I have just returned from the Iowa Independent Film Festival in my hometown, Mason City, Iowa, where THE RIGHT REGRETS was entered. When I was asked if I would do a special session addressing the festival’s attendees, … Continue reading →

Posted in From MCI to MGM in 21 years | 30 Comments

Sixth Sense

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Ralph

FILMED  February 1980 Wasn’t that impressive? That was Vail, Colorado about the third week in January, 1980. Had I not turned down the assignment to direct that episode, I would have been the one standing out in the cold beside … Continue reading →

Posted in Hart To Hart | 4 Comments

A Question Of Innocence

Posted on September 25, 2013 by Ralph

FILMED  December 1979 In 1934 MGM produced THE THIN MAN, a B-picture filmed incredibly in only two weeks. Based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett the film starred William Powell in only his second film under his new MGM contract. … Continue reading →

Posted in Hart To Hart | 6 Comments

SPECIAL: These Are The Voyages

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Ralph

Many moons ago when my website, RALPH’S CINEMA TREK: A Journey In Film took flight, I wrote: STAR TREK was a phenomenon. I directed six and a half episodes of the original series, working a total of ninety days. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Star Trek | 11 Comments

Feel The Film

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Ralph

It was said of Irving Thalberg: He didn’t make movies for people to see. He made movies for people to feel. As I sit at my computer three months after completing photography on THE RIGHT REGRETS and one month before … Continue reading →

Posted in The Right Regrets | 5 Comments

The Book Fair

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Ralph

FILMED APRIL 2013 PROLOG INT.  LIVING ROOM  –  DAY It is the home of my brother, Erv, on Manor Drive in Mason City, Iowa. I was visiting from the west coast and was staying with my mother, who lived just … Continue reading →

Posted in The Right Regrets | 10 Comments

The Porch

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Ralph

FILMED APRIL 2013 Several weeks into our preproduction period for THE RIGHT REGRETS I was talking to my brother on the telephone, giving him the latest on our search for a porch. In the background I heard my sister-in-law call … Continue reading →

Posted in The Right Regrets | 3 Comments

The Restaurant

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Ralph

FILMED APRIL 2013 A restaurant was the location for our sixth and final day of filming before having a day off.  Since the page count for that location was a mere 1 7/8 pages, the original schedule issued two months … Continue reading →

Posted in The Right Regrets | 6 Comments

Lily’s House

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Ralph

FILMED APRIL 2013 If I were to describe Marlyn Mason’s personality as being scintillatingly gregarious, I could be accused of making a gross understatement. During her frequent visits to Carmel she takes a daily walk through the village. With a … Continue reading →

Posted in The Right Regrets | 7 Comments