Marion Hargrove on I Spy

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2"> <tr> <td> <div align="center"> <A HREF="http://dnads.directnic.com/oasisc.php?s=3&w=468&h=60"> <IMG SRC="http://dnads.directnic.com/oasisi.php?s=3&w=468&h=60" WIDTH=468 HEIGHT=60 BORDER=0></A> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=1 style="border-right: 1px solid #555555;" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="811" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 255 WIDTH="404"><div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="17dc96190.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="25" ALT="New in 2008 on the I Spy website" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </FONT>Trace the complete plotss of  <A HREF="slphpictures.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Storyboard: So Long Patrick Henry">So Long Patrick Henry</A> and <A HREF="tatiapictures.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Storyboard: Tatia">Tatia</A> in images, dialogue and description!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The Illustrated Guide to I Spy</div> <div> Marion Hargrove on I Spy</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="162c2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALT="Bill Cosby & Robert Culp" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="921" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 4483 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="_i_spy__episodes.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I Spy Episodes"><IMG SRC="14ca644b0.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="75" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="personnel.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I Spy Team"><IMG SRC="14cd644b0.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="75" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id94.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I Spy Archive"><IMG SRC="14ce644b0.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="75" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Illustrated Guide to I Spy with Robe"><IMG SRC="14cf644b0.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="75" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="557"><div> The “I Spy” archive is a data baAnother sad death in the “I Spy” family has occurred with the passing of writer Marion Hargrove in August 2003.</div> <bR> <div> Fellow “I Spy”  writer Ernest Frankel remembers Marion Hargrove from their friendship in the 1930s.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> “We were very close when we were in high school in Charlotte, North Carolina, with him being the editor of the weekly one year, and I following him the next. He taught me much, including how to smoke and how to play hookey and how to hang around the Charlotte News offices and learn about journalism.”</div> <bR> <div> Marion Hargrove then went on to achieve great success with his book about military life for a young recruit. Ernest Frankel adds, “later, after "See Here, Private Hargrove" appeared in book form and he was famous in Charlotte and elsewhere, he came home to visit, and we got together to drop in on some of his old haunts. I went off to war; and many years passed.”</div> <bR> <div> Of all things, it was “I Spy” which brought them together again.  When Ernest Frankel received his first commission to do a script for the series (“Philotimo”), who should be in Sheldon Leonard's office but old schoolmate Marion Hargrove!</div> <bR> <div> “When I walked in to the office, Marion Hargrove was just leaving. We hadn't seen one another in many, many years. Reunion; and then Marion answered some of my questions about the "I Spy" format, etc.  That fleshed out my knowledge of the show at that point.”</div> <bR> <div> Marion Hargrove maintained a flourishing career in Hollywood, writing for both television and theatrical films, but for a friend, it is naturally the personal qualities which are remembered most.  He was a good, decent person,” says Ernest Frankel.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Marion Hargrove was a "friend" to "I Spy" fans too, and this is the story ...</div> <bR> <bR> <div> One may see the “I Spy” Forum in action at its best here.  The following excerpt is the result of an inquiry made to the Forum by Ms. Penny Hargrove.  On behalf of her father, Marion Hargrove, she was looking for videotapes of episodes which he had written (SPARROWHAWK, GET THEE TO A NUNNERY, VENDETTA, OEDIPUS AT COLONUS ).  </div> <bR> <div> Not to let such an opportunity pass, various people posted questions for Mr. Hargrove to the Forum, and Penny Hargrove graciously consented to pass them on to her father.  He, in turn, was kind enough to give his replies.  The result is fascinating.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="_i_spy__writers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I Spy Writers"><IMG SRC="4ae31230.jpg" border=0 width="49" height="35" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A>  more about Marion Hargrove on the WRITERS page </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> From the I Spy Forum    <A HREF="http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/172251" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/1722"><IMG SRC="105756310.png" border=0 width="86" height="49" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Response from Marion Hargrove!"</div> <bR> <div> Author: Alexander Scott</div> <div> Date: 2/4/01 10:51:02 PM</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Hey all,</div> <bR> <div> Well much to my surprise Penny Hargrove came through in record time and managed to get answers to our questions from her father, Marion Hargrove. (to any who missed the previous threads, Mr. Hargrove is the writer of Get Thee to a Nunnery, Vendetta, Oedipus at Colonus, and Sparrowhawk)</div> <bR> <div> Here are the answers worded from Penny's original response. (hence using "He" to refer to Mr. Hargrove instead of "I")</div> <bR> <div> --------------------------------------------------</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well, I finally got the chance to talk with my Dad today. He loves the tapes, by the way, says they're "gorgeous." So, here goes..."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 1- How did you come to write for I Spy?</div> <bR> <div> He came to write for I Spy because he saw 2 or 3 episodes, was impressed, and call his agent at Wm Morris (Sylvia Hirsch) to get in touch with Friedkin and Fine.</div> <bR> <div> 2 - Sparrowhawk and Get Thee to a Nunnery have you listed for the Teleplay only above a separate story credit. How much input did you have on these teleplays? Did you work from a previous script draft or a story/treatment? Collaborate?</div> <bR> <div> On Sparrowhawk (the 1st one he did) and Get Thee To a Nunnery, they had a story they liked, but not the writing, so it was basically a re-write.</div> <bR> <div> 3 - Did you have other ideas/scripts for I Spy that were unproduced?</div> <bR> <div> Yes, he had one called "Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200" which he was in the middle of and which got knocked off when the show was cancelled.</div> <bR> <div> 4 - Had the series continued, what kinds of stories would you like to have seen? Would you have contributed your own stories?</div> <bR> <div> Had nothing much to say on this question-- more of the same, he guesses. He always liked Mort's ideas.</div> <bR> <div> 5- Did you find writing for the series easy or difficult? Were the</div> <div> producers strict about the kinds of material they would accept?</div> <bR> <div> It was easy because the producers were very friendly, especially Mort. They admired each other's work and were on the same wave length, although Mort didn't hesitate to express negative opinions, too. But all in all, a very pleasant working arrangement.(In fact, my Dad expressed surprise he had done so few scripts for them...only about one a year. He thinks he must have been busy with other projects at the same time.)</div> <bR> <div> 6 - Were any of the scripts written on spec or were they assigned?</div> <bR> <div> Never written on spec. Either they had an idea or you (the writer) did. If they liked the idea, they said "go ahead."</div> <bR> <div> 7 ? In Vendetta, you delve into the background of Kelly Robinson`s military life in this episode. Was this your own idea that you got approval on or did you go off a writers bible for this information? What kinds, if any, of background material were given as a guide for writing the series?</div> <bR> <div> Doesn't remember.</div> <bR> <div> 8 - Between the 4 scripts there are such diverse settings as Las Vegas, Morocco, Spain and Italy. Did you have to do any research on these places in order to help your scripts?</div> <bR> <div> No special research, just winged it, although he already knew his Oedipus, etc. (That one is his favorite I Spy script.)</div> <bR> <div> 9 - In light of the recent developing I Spy feature film project, what direction would you take the script in? Do you think an I Spy film should be made at all?</div> <bR> <div> Has no opinions on possible movie version of I Spy-- why not? It's not a religious icon.</div> <bR> <div> 10 - Were scripts left pretty much intact - and if changed - by whom - Culp's and Cosby's ad libbing, Mr. Leonard, Friedkin and Fine, the directors?... and what kind of changes or touches did they make? If so, how did you react to that?</div> <bR> <div> He wasn't aware of much ad-libbing by Culp or Cosby; they were professionals. If there were changes made by anyone else, they weren't big ones, certainly nothing he noticed.</div> <bR> <div> 11- What happened after he (and other writers) turned in their scripts - did they have any input after that at all - were they ever invited down to the set for filming - were they ever consulted as to casting ideas?</div> <bR> <div> nce they took the script away, he wouldn't hear again until the next script.He was never invited to the set or consulted on casting, and he liked it that way.</div> <bR> <div> 12 - How did the wonderful name "George Ponsen Hackaby-Rickaby" come about in Get Thee to a Nunnery?</div> <bR> <div> He produced that name out of the thin air, or knew the kind of name he wanted and it took him a day to get it right.</div> <bR> <div> 13 - Did he ever personally meet with Mr. Culp or Cosby - or any of the production staff of "I SPY?" (Any and all anecdotes and stories highly appreciated!!!) If so, what was your impression of them?</div> <bR> <div> He met them once or twice while walking with Mort or Sheldon on the lot; he was introduced but had nothing further to do with them. (He volunteered that Culp seemed to him the more naturally funny of the two...Cosby had a strain of pomposity.)</div> <bR> <div> 14 - Do you know WHO the "3" Fs were in Three F Productions?</div> <bR> <div> He thinks the 3rd "F' [Beyond Fine and Freidkin], was Sheldon Leonard's wife, whose name was (he thinks, if he remembers</div> <div> correctly) Frances.</div> <bR> <div> In addition:</div> <bR> <div> Well, I hope this is fun for everyone. The main thing I got out of my conversation with him was how very fond he was of Mort Fine. He lived nearby, in Santa Monice Canyon, and they would often ride bikes together, down to Venice along the beach or around Santa Monica.</div> <bR> <div> When Mort was dying of cancer he called my Dad the night before to say that very soon he would be "one with the ages." My Dad  responded that he thought Mort was a little young for the ages, but in fact Mort's wife Bernice called the next morning to say Mort had died during the night. I can't believe they had such a witty last conversation, but that's how my Dad remembers it and it's clear he still misses Mort...he had become one of his closest friends.</div> <bR> <div> Well, that's all for now.</div> <bR> <div>                      ----------------------------------</div> <bR> <div> And there you have it. Along with a thank you note I have made a small inquiry as to the details regarding Mr. Hargrove's unproduced script. I don't know if we'll get a response and to be honest I think Penny came through in spades here.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Cheers!</div> <div> -Scotty</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="208"><div> <A HREF="id376.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Earle Hagen on I Spy Music">Earle Hagen  on</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id376.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Earle Hagen on I Spy Music">I Spy Music</A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Marion Hargrove on I Spy">Inside Story from</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Marion Hargrove on I Spy"> Marion Hargrove </A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id97.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="S. J. Dibais I Spy Quiz">I Spy Quiz</A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id98.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Robert Culp Interview 1">Robert Culp Interview  1</A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="culpinterview2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Robert Culp Interview 2">Robert Culp Interview  2</A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id111.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bill Cosbys 1966 Emmy Acceptance Speech">Bill Cosby's Emmy Speech</A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id100.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" I Spy Questions">I Spy Questions</A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Culp Quiz">Robert Culp Quiz</A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TV Spies Reunite">TV Spies Reunite</A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id258.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I Spy Director Earl Bellamy">Earl Bellamy</A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id102.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Deborah YoungGroves Page">I Spy Essays</A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id103.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I SPY INSPIRED POETRY">I SPY POETRY</A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Get all episodes from </div> <div> I Spy Season 1</div> <bR> <div>  <iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=ispyresourcce-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0012EBV88&fc1=FFFFC7&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=F1BB15&bc1=000000&bg1=060606&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>  </div> <bR> <div> I Spy Season 2</div> <div>  <iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=ispyresourcce-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0012EBV8I&fc1=FFFFC7&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=F1BB15&bc1=000000&bg1=060606&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>  </div> <bR> <div> I Spy Season 3</div> <div>  <iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=ispyresourcce-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0012EBV8S&fc1=FFFFC7&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=F1BB15&bc1=000000&bg1=060606&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>  </div> <bR> <div> Read the I Spy Book</div> <div>  <iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=ispyresourcce-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0786427507&fc1=FFFFC7&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=F1BB15&bc1=000000&bg1=060606&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>  </div> <bR> <div> Film Score Monthly has released an album  of five “I Spy” scores </div> <div> by Earle Hagen on CD.</div> <div> <A HREF="https://secure.filmscoremonthly.com/store/detailCD.asp?ID=235" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://secure.filmscoremonthly.com/stor"><IMG SRC="12585a5a0.jpg" border=0 width="90" height="90" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <bR> <div> Direct from the soundtracks of "So Long, Patrick Henry" -  "A Time of the Knife" - "Turkish Delight," - "The Warlord" -  "Mainly on the Plains" along with a 24-page booklet of liner notes and photos and foreword by Robert Culp It'</div> <bR> <div> Buyt it through Amazon</div> <div>  <iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=ispyresourcce-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0006SSQ1Q&fc1=F7F3E0&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=F5D315&bc1=000000&bg1=040404&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>  </div> <bR> <div> Earle Hagen, composer of the music from “I Spy”  has now published his autobiography</div> <div> "Memoirs of a Famous Composer -  Nobody Ever Heard Of"</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/ispyresourcce-20http://" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redire"><IMG SRC="10df78be0.jpg" border=0 width="120" height="190" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <bR> <div> Read the inside story on I Spy!</div> <div> scouting locations with Sheldon Leonard - life on the I Spy set</div> <div> and the rest of Earle Hagen's  fascinating career in big bands, movies & TV</div> <bR> <div> Buy it Now</div> <bR> <div>  <iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=ispyresourcce-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=073885719X&fc1=FFFFC7&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=F1BB15&bc1=000000&bg1=060606&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>  </div> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2"> <tr> <td> <div align="center"><a href="http://search.directnic.com/?aff=9"><img src="http://banners.directnic.com/search/dnsearchad011.gif" width="468" height="60" border="0" alt="directNIC Search"></a></div> </td> </tr> </table> <CENTER> <font color="#FF0000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hosted by <a href="http://www.directnic.com/" target="_top" style="color: red">directNIC.com</a></font> <br><br>  <script language="Javascript"> // do not make any changes to anything past this point or tracking script will not work var data; 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