Michael J Bird Tribute Website


News from the Michael J Bird Website
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Summer 2021

Read the Biography of Michael J Bird
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WHO PAYS THE FERRYMAN? LOCATION HUNT

In 2021 website visitor Anthony Papaleontiou emailed to tell me he has set himself the task of tracking down every single location used in Who Pays The Ferryman?

He has contacted the Greek Film Centre and the BBC archives and has established his own website on wordpress to showcase everything he has so far uncovered.

Anthony would be delighted to hear from anyone who could help him in his quest.

And still on the subject of Who Pays The Ferryman? Betty Arvaniti was born in 1939 and celebreated her 82nd birthday last month. Website visitor Chris Williams is in touch with Betty's family and kindly obtained their permission for me to post two contemporary photographs on the cast page in the Ferryman section.

UNRAVELLING THE APHRODITE INHERITANCE

Interviewed at the time The Aphrodite Inheritance was broadcast Michael Bird said that he had packed a lot more into the story than most viewers picked up on, though he never elaborated. Over the years we have had fun on the website piecing it together.

Recently website visitor Terry Smith emailed, after picking up on something in episode 5 - Basileos (i.e. Dionysus) suddenly winces with pain and when Morrison asks him what's wrong he replies "Nothing, it's just my thigh". Terry says he was intrigued and so did a bit of research. "Dionysus is called twice-born, as his mother was dying giving birth to him, so Zeus sowed him up in his thigh until maturity, when he birthed Dionysus."

And so the bits of the jigsaw keep slowly fitting together.

THE DARK SIDE OF THE SUN MEMORIES

I had an interesting email from website visitor Antonis Kypriotise who was searching for a copy of The Dark Side of the Sun for his grandfather who had appeared briefly in the series "as a taxi driver who got a flat tire while transporting a priest and his wife".

It was my pleasure to provide Antonis with a copy and in return his grandafther shared some recollections of his time working on the series. I have added them to the 'Production' page in the Dark Side of the Sun section of the website. Antonis also kindly translated the Greek dialogue for us in the scene between Lavalliere and the Priest.

MAELSTROM

I have uploaded a detailed (16 page) critique of Maelstrom by website visitor (and long time Maelstrom fan) Jeff Roy. It can be accessed from the locations page. (If that sounds an odd place - the reason will become evident if you take a look.)

And rest assured I have not fogotten the mammoth contribution sent to me by Menna Campbell. I have been toying with various ways to showcase it all and recently added a new page to the Maelstrom section of the website "Bente Saxon's Office Wall' accessed from the locations page. Check it out ... there is much more to come.

MICHAEL J BIRD PODCAST

I was very interested to receive an email from Stephen Hatcher last month telling me that the works of Michael J Bird had been the subject of an hour podcast in the 'vision on sound' series, first broadcast on FAB RADIO INTERNATIONAL at 19:00 on August 29th 2021. Stephen said "It's very much a 'for beginners' discussion, but we had some fun - and your website is credited. Apologies for any inaccuracies that might have crept in." You probably know the format - basically two guys having a chat - but it is great fun. It is still available to listen to: PODCAST
I DO HOPE YOU ARE ALL SAFE AND WELL IN THESE DREADFUL TIMES WE ARE ALL LIVING THROUGH

Michael J Bird Tribute Website

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