Judy In London
Behind The Scenes With Judy, Dirk and Gregory
From Publicity interviews for United Artists
Gregory Phillips
Prior to what he admits were "a series of lucky breaks" Gregory Phillips was a typical 13-year-old schoolboy in Stevenage Herts. His "lucky breaks" began when, after writing to a number of acting schools, he was asked to audition at the famous Italia Conti School. He was accepted as a pupil and sent to an audition for a schools TV programme. To the surprise of everyone - including himself - he got the part.
In the interview Greg explained "Since then I have been working all the time. In fact, I haven't attended a single day's ordinary tuition at the school, and I don't mind a bit".
He went on to say how the much coveted role of Judy and Dirk's son in "I Could Go On Singing" was landed.
"Someone who was casting for the film saw me on TV and asked me to audition for producers Stuart Millar and Lawrence Turman. This is my first film and I Love it."
About Judy he smiles "Judy - when I'm talking to her I call her 'Miss Garland' - has been terribly kind. I imagined that she and Dirk would be rather remote. But they aren't a bit".
Further in the interview Greg say's his thoughts about being a child star.
"I don't suppose people will want to use me much when my voice starts to break and I get spots. That's why I want to do as much work as I possibly can now so that I'll get experience and I'll be remembered when I'm older. I don't worry much about the money side of it much. I get 30s. a week pocket money and it seems to be enough. If I want money for something, I think my mother would let me have it. Just recently my parents bought a new hairdressing shop and put some of my money into it. so now I'm a partner!"
Dirk Bogarde
"It's a dream come true. I loved Judy on the screen since she was a little girl in pigtails. I first saw her in 'Listen Darling' with Mary Astor - when was that 1938? And I've seen everything she's done since then. Since we've been friends [meeting at a party in New York in 1956] she has stayed at my house in the country, relaxing, resting, puttering in the garden. she's always loved England.
Now working with her I have a great reverence for her technique, she's enormously professional, she has a brilliant sense of timing and phrasing as an actress and as a singer. It verges on perfection".
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