PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: ONE FROM THE HART: A HART TO HART REUNION {PUBLIC SHORT VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media's Inside Media events. Held at the Paley Center in Los Angeles, this evening celebrates “Hart to Hart,” the detective drama series about glamorous millionaire couple Jonathan and Jennifer Hart which ran from 1979-1984. Host Craig Hitchcock (executive director, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks and introduces moderator Will Keck (senior editor, TV Guide magazine). Keck then provides background on the show and brings Robert Wagner (Jonathan Hart) and Stefanie Powers (Jennifer Hart) to the stage.
The conversation touches on such topics as: early memories of one another, including time spent on the set of “West Side Story,” which starred Wagner’s then-wife Natalie Wood; details about their favorite episode, screened earlier in the evening; Wagner’s role as part owner of the show; the show’s original conception as “Double Twist” and its eventual rewrite by Tom Mankiewicz, inspired by the “Thin Man” films; Wagner’s sense that Powers was “the only woman” to play Jennifer; Powers’ childhood connection with producer Aaron Spelling through a softball team; their memories of filming the pilot episode; an anecdote about Powers’ dog believing she was genuinely in peril during a tense scene; the cast and crew’s baseball team; the Harts’ dog Freeway and the occasional challenges of working with a canine co-star; their first romantic scene, observed by Wagner’s real-life daughter; their strong on-screen chemistry; the creation of the opening title sequence, which involves the two racing in convertibles; shooting at various locations around the world; memories of late co-star Lionel Stander, who played their butler and sidekick Max, and of recently deceased writer Mankiewicz; the family-like cast and crew of “Hart”; the respect shown to guest stars, although not so much to their characters, who were often killed; the challenge of keeping the outlandish plots “fresh”; Spelling’s “prototype episode” in which the couple’s decadent moment is interrupted by crime; the sillier episodes, including one in which Powers had to dress as an elf; their commitment to the integrity of the characters’ marriage within the plotlines; why the Harts never had children, including an unused miscarriage storyline; the difficulty of making the eight reunion films in the 1990s without Stander; on-set visits from various stars, including an embarrassing run-in with Ethel Merman; Spelling’s “golden years” and other popular shows, and whether the casts ever met; Pope John Paul II’s fondness for the show; and ideas for further seasons, including a romance story for Freeway.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics: a tribute to the show on the current spy series “Chuck”; Wagner’s work on “NCIS” and whether Powers will appear as well; the story behind Powers’ unusual decision to keep a small bear, Eugene, as a pet; her work with the William Holden Wildlife Foundation; the surprise guest appearance on “Hart” of Powers’ former husband Gary Lockwood; the episodes dedicated to the Paley Center and the importance of a vast archive; and whether the Harts might be up for “one more adventure.”
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 10, 2010 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:55:27
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 103984
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Craig Hitchcock … Host
- Will Keck … Moderator
- Robert Wagner … Panelist
- Stefanie Powers … Panelist
- Gary Lockwood
- Tom Mankiewicz
- Ethel Merman
- Pope John Paul II
- Aaron Spelling
- Lionel Stander
- Natalie Wood