SOMEBODY JUST WALKED OVER MY GRAVE • REVIEW

SOMEBODY JUST WALKED OVER MY GRAVE • DECLASSIFIED

• Pre-Titles Teaser... Late at night, Marty Hopkirk materialises at the cemetery where his mortal remains are buried. A near full moon provides ample illumination as he makes a check on his grave. To his surprise, he sees that someone is digging into his grave, throwing up dirt all over his headstone which they have uprooted. Greatly concerned, he literally pops in on Jeff Randall, who is canoodling with a beautiful brunette in his apartment. Marty is worried about body snatchers, but Jeff is more interested in his guest - until Marty tells him that they've knocked over his headstone! They head to the cemetery where an owl surveys the scene as Jeff and Marty investigate. They can just make out a pair of gravediggers working on Marty's grave. Jeff thinks they're probably working for the local council, but Marty convinces him that he has to stop them. He reluctantly agrees and heads over to them, just as Marty disappears to take a look around, much to Jeff's annoyance. He wanders over, but a shadow follows him as he approaches the grave. He is attacked and knocked unconscious by a man in period costume and a tricorn hat...

• Production Brief... Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave was the twenty-fifth and penultimate episode of the series to go before the cameras. It was the fifth to be directed by Cyril Frankel, who had been working on Department S since directing his previous Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) episode, Vendetta for a Dead Man. The highly prolific Donald James contributed his eleventh and final episode. During the period that he was writing for Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) he also wrote scripts for Department S, The Saint, Joe 90 and The Secret Service and penned the feature film screenplay for Doppelganger (aka Journey to the Far Side of the Sun).

• Filming of this episode was affected by a freak accident that befell co-star Mike Pratt after celebrating his 38th birthday at a Champagne party at the studios on Saturday 7th June 1969. Pratt returned with friends to his Eaton Place residence in Belgravia, but could not gain entry as he had misplaced his house keys. Kenneth Cope told Annette Buckley about the incident, speaking in Time Screen magazine Number 11 (Spring 1988): "He was with one of his mates, a stand in, and this mate climbed in, two or three floors, got in, came down and opened the front door, it was solved. Michael, being Michael, said 'I can do that'. The door was open, he climbed up and he fell into the basement area and broke both his legs." This necessitated a rewrite to the final scene and a complete rewrite of the subsequent - and final - episode, The Ghost Talks.

• It would appear that the scenes in the underground culvert and on the Mandrake Hall interior set were yet to be filmed at the point when Mike Pratt had his accident. In each of these, he was filmed mostly in close-up, either in a seated or supported but static standing position, with a double (possibly David Downer from When Did You Start to Stop Seeing Things?, but definitely not the usual stand-ins Harry Fielder or Rocky Taylor) shot from behind for anything that required movement. Pratt read in dialogue for these shots live from an off-camera position.

• Footage of the two football matches seen in this episode were represented by stock footage, which was licensed from Pathé. The sequences hailed, in fact, from a single game, the 1966 World Cup Final between England and West Germany at Wembley, in which England had conceded an early goal and then rallied to the point where they were leading 2-1 with just a minute remaining on the clock. However, a West German onslaught led to Wolfgang Weber scoring an equalising goal - and it is this goal that is shown in Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave. Extra time followed and two further England goals from Geoff Hurst secured a 4-2 victory and the Jules Rimet Cup.

• Exact filming dates for Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave are unknown, but it is believed to have been filmed between June and July 1969. Chambers + Partners filmed the captions for this episode on Thursday 17th July 1969 (see below). A fully edited version of this episode was completed by late August 1969.

Image © ITV Studios / Chambers + Partners, 1969

• On Location... Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave sports a couple of historic and interesting locations that are open to the public. First, there is the impressive and sobering New Southgate Cemetery, where Marty Hopkirk's grave was the centre of attention in the episode. Second, there is the fabulous Knebworth House, built in 1490 by Sir Robert Lytton and renovated in the Victorian High Gothic fantasy style of its most renowned family member, the novelist and statesman Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873). More details in Locations: Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave.

• Haunting Melodies... Edwin Astley was not asked to compose any new music cues for Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave, with its score coming entirely from stock. Three pieces of library music were called up: Comedy Links by Walter Stott, to punctuate Dighton's attempts to deliver the ransom note, the 1962 military band piece Call to Adventure by Sir Arthur Bliss, for the international football match in Germany, and Richard Wagner's Bridal Chorus from his opera Lohengrin, for Mandrake and Martha's wedding.

• Seeing Things... Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave received its first UK broadcast on Friday 9th January 1970 at 7.30pm when it aired in colour in the London Weekend Television region.

• Trivia... Marty attends two football matches in Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave - much to Jeff's annoyance as his ghostly partner absents himself just when he is needed. The fixture is a contest played over two legs, with the team achieving the better aggregate score winning the International Cup - a competition of a fictitious nature. As England were the reigning FIFA World Champions when this episode was filmed, having won the 1966 World Cup Final at Wembley, it is no surprise that the made-up matches here ended up with the England team winning by "the odd goal". Considering that we are told that West Germany won the Wembley game 1-0, it means that England must have won the away leg by two clear goals. However, it seems that Marty has intervened and blown one of West Germany's shots over the bar, stopping a certain goal. This was described in dialogue between Marty and Jeff and not actually filmed or shown.

• Actor Michael Sheard has an unusual claim to fame in Randall and Hopkirk lore, in that he made two appearances in the series, in this episode and Money to Burn, had dialogue but was not heard speaking English at all. Sheard played a supermarket manager who has a verbal set to with Jeff in the earlier episode, but their exchange is seen and not heard as they are inside the supermarket and the camera is outside, capturing their animated exchange from the other side of the shop's glass frontage. And then, in Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave, he was cast as a German commentator at the second leg of the International Cup game between West Germany and England, so he was only heard speaking in German in this instance.

Images © ITV Studios, 1969

• The German dialogue spoken by Sheard goes like this: "Und wie diese beiden Mannschaften den Spielplatz für dieses wichtige Entscheidungsspiel betreten, können wir es uns bequem machen und die Augenweide genießen, die dieses Spiel uns sicher anbieten wird." This translates as: "And, as these two teams walk out onto the playing field for this important game, we can get comfortable and enjoy the feast for the eyes that this game is sure to offer us." There is, however, a tiny mistake in the translation into German as in most cases, the word 'Spielplatz' means a playground for children. The word 'Spielfeld' is in much more common usage in a sports context, especially with regards to football.

• With much of the action taking place around Marty's grave , and these scenes being filmed at New Southgate Cemetery in north London, this episode witnessed the main cast and guest stars Geoffrey Hughes (Harper), Bernard Kay (Leonard Dighton), George Murcell (George Henry Mandrake) and Nigel Terry (Harry) leaving the confines of ABPC Elstree Studios to venture outdoors for filming. Such shots were often left to the 2nd Unit and the redoubtable actor stand-ins, so the actors and crew would very likely have viewed this as an enjoyable diversion from the studio work.

• Hughes and Kay also filmed at Knebworth House and in its surrounding park, and were joined there by Patricia Haines (Martha Watson), along with uncredited supporting actors playing the postman and the two young boys. The regular cast were not present for this filming session.

• The framed print on the office wall of Dighton's funeral parlour is Henri Fantin-Latour's 1890 work A Basket of Roses. The original of this oil-on-canvas painting is on permanent display at The National Gallery in London. It also memorably adorned the cover of New Order's 1983 album Power, Corruption & Lies as part of a design by Peter Saville.

Images © ITV Studios, 1969 / Henri Fantin-Latour & Peter Saville, 1983

• Dr. Cholmond (Cyril Shaps) seems to have an odd taste in wall decorations considering his profession - he has several framed anatomical drawings of insects on the walls of his consulting room. Maybe this is less unusual as it sounds, as Jeff has a similar framed study in his office (the example below is from A Disturbing Case)!

Images © ITV Studios, 1969

• When Harper runs up and assaults Jeff at 9 minutes and 50 seconds the camera was undercranked so that the action would unfold at a faster speed. This also had the benefit that the actors could conduct the fight and Mike Pratt's fall onto the grave more safely.

• When Mandrake introduces himself to Jeff at Mandrake Hall, we learn that he is not a genuine Mandrake - he was born Wartlespoon and has changed his name by deed poll after buying the property. He had made his money out of cattle food as owner of the Wartlespoon Cow Cake Company. His son Harry suffers from two afflictions - agoraphobia (a fear of open spaces) and abhors the idea of earning a living.

• Jean is party to Jeff being referred to a doctor for the second time in four episodes, having previously colluded with Jenny (Judith Arthy) in getting Jeff admitted into the 'care' of Dr. Conrad at the Lambert Clinic in A Disturbing Case. Here is is persuaded to consult with Dr. Cholmond about seeing things than can't possibly exist.

• Speaking to Annette Buckley for Time Screen magazine Number 11 (Spring 1988), Kenneth Cope revealed that "There's one marvellous moment when I'm watching a football match, and it's not a very good episode [Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave], but I want to get away to watch England play. And I said, get in to the labs, get some footage of the England matches, you've got them in colour, and superimpose me running about with Bobby Charlton. And when Bobby scores a goal, just do a shot of me blowing something and then running back to the centre spot with Bobby jumping up and waving my arms about. It was so simple and would have made everybody laugh, and they said 'No, it would cost too much money'. So all I'm doing, I'm in a studio pretending to be in a stand. This commentator's there... it was a bit funny as he's talking in German, and I'm asking him 'What's the score'... but it would have been nice to run about the field."

• Only You, Jeff? Marty doesn't communicate with anyone but Jeff in this one. However, when in the commentary box at the West Germany v. England football match, Jeff can hear Marty on his car radio. This suggests that Marty's voice can be carried by radio waves but presumably only Jeff can hear it.

• Ghosts and Ghoulies... Just Marty in this one, but Harper and his colleague dress up in 18th century outfits to "scare people away", who will presumably believe them to be ghosts. Right...

• The Vehicles... Appearing in this episode were the following wonders of transport...

	1966 Ford Transit MkI Registration VZI 814
	1968 Vauxhall Victor FD 2000 Registration RXD 996F Driven by Jeff Randall	Also appeared in: Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) - used extensively throughout the series Department S - 'The Last Train to Redbridge', 'The Man from X'
	Wales & Edwards Milk Float Registration 954 UMH Incidental Vehicle
	1964 Austin Mini Super Deluxe Mk I Registration BAP 245B Driven by Jean Hopkirk	Also appeared in: Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) - 'My Late Lamented Friend and Partner', 'You Can Always Find A Fall Guy', 'All Work and No Pay', 'Never Trust a Ghost', 'Vendetta for a Dead Man', 'Just for the Record', 'Could You Recognise the Man Again?', 'A Disturbing Case', 'The Ghost Talks' Department S - 'The Man from X' The Saint - 'The Time to Die' The Persuaders! - 'Greensleeves'
	1968 Ford Zephyr Deluxe MkIV Registration PXD 976F	Also appeared in: Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) - 'My Late Lamented Friend and Partner', 'A Sentimental Journey', 'You Can Always Find A Fall Guy', 'Who Killed Cock Robin?', 'The Trouble With Women', 'Whoever Heard of a Ghost Dying?', 'Never Trust A Ghost', 'A Disturbing Case', 'Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave'  Department S - 'The Bones of Byrom Blain' and other episodes
	1968 Vauxhall Viva HB Registration GAR 262G Driven by Dighton
	Bicycle Ridden by Postman and Dighton
	1961 Austin A135 Princess OHV 4-Litre Hearse Registration 772 CYV Bodywork by Dottridge Bros. Ltd. Driven by Dighton
	1966 Ford Super Major 5000 Registration SRO 613D
	1965 Rathgeber M5.65 Electric Tram Incidental Vehicle

• Seen It All Before? In common with For the Girl Who Has Everything, stock film of an owl at night was used in this episode and the footage will be very familiar to anyone who has watched other ITC series over the years.

• The real-life Mandrake Hall, Knebworth House near Stevenage, has been used extensively in television and film, arguably most famously as Wayne Manor in the 1989 Hollywood blockbuster Batman. ITC filmed there on occasion between 1959 and 1972, with episodes of Danger Man (The Sanctuary), Gideon's Way (Morna), The Champions (The Night People) and The Adventurer (Action!) filmed there, in addition of course to Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave. Knebworth House can also be seen in the opening titles of each episode of The Persuaders!

• Cock-ups... We get underway with Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave's cock-ups with one that rates high on the cockupometer! At 5 minutes and 30 seconds, Jeff arranges the flowers that he has bought to leave at Marty's grave. First, we see this operation in close-up, just the flowers and Jeff's hand. In this shot, they appear to be of the Sweet William variety, which is appropriate as they are recognised as a symbol of gallantry. Lovely thought, Jeff. But in the next shot - as if by magic! - they are roses.

Images © ITV Studios, 1969

• At 13 minutes and 28 seconds, Mandrake (George Murcell) says that his son Harry suffers from "acrophobia" and explains that this is a fear of open spaces. Acrophobia is a fear of heights. This is clearly a mispronunciation of "agoraphobia".

• Marty has attended the first leg of the International Cup between England and West Germany at Wembley. The commentator (Andrew Sachs) at the first game notes that the score is 1-0 to West Germany but that England would have the opportunity to overturn this lead in the forthcoming second leg. At 21 minutes and 18 seconds, Marty explains to Jeff that he wants to attend the second match in West Germany, but refers to it as a "replay", which is a scripting cock-up. A replay is a game arranged when a knockout-style game ends in a draw, whereas a game played over two legs is decided based upon the aggregate score of both games.

• The next cock-up belongs to Mike Pratt, sad to say, but his faux pas was very much off-screen, falling and breaking his legs while attempting to gain entry to his home following his birthday celebrations on 7th June 1969. This unfortunate incident had ramifications for this episode and The Ghost Talks. Here it necessitated the employment of a stand-in for scenes filmed after the accident as Mike was not sufficiently mobile even for walking scenes. This is particularly notable in the scene with Jeff and Marty in the culvert from 30 minutes and 27 seconds onwards and in the scenes on the Mandrake Hall interior set...

Images © ITV Studios, 1969

• At 37 minutes and 6 seconds, the Knebworth House sign on the gate is in plain view, at least on Blu-ray editions. This is excusable as it is only really noticeable in High Definition versions and wouldn't have been easily noticed on 405- or 625-line transmissions.

• Another cock-up manifests itself at 37 minutes and 35 seconds when Dighton attempts to deliver the ransom note, having mugged the postman and stolen his bicycle and uniform. When he is confronted by the dog, he transfers the ransom note from his left hand to his right and backs away cautiously. We then see a reverse, over the shoulder shot and the note is back in his left hand and he appears to be holding some sort of stick in his right hand, which has disappeared again by the next shot...

Images © ITV Studios, 1969

• At 48 minutes and 28 seconds, we see the photograph that was taken at Mandrake and Martha's wedding, and Mike Pratt's face has very obviously been added to the photo - complete with paper cut marks around his hair. This was no doubt necessary due to the actor's poor mobility after breaking his legs.

Image © ITV Studios, 1969

• And Finally... The 1961 Austin A135 Princess OHV hearse (registration 772 CYV) seen in Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave was discovered by Anthony Osborne in Scotland in 2021 - in a terrible state. DVLA records show that it was first registered on 13th December 1961, with its last registration in December 1990, with its final V5 logbook issued on 23rd May 1991, suggesting that it was allowed to slowly decline over the following 30 year period. After it was rediscovered it was stripped down and modified for stock car / banger racing. Maybe not the fairytale ending you were hoping for...

Images © Andrew Osborne, 2021 except top left © ITV Studios, 1969

Plotline: Scoton Productions / ITC • UK Transmissions by Simon Coward and Alan Hayes
Review by Alan Hayes • Declassified by Alan Hayes
with thanks to Vince Cox, Alys Hayes, Annette Hill, John Holburn, Anthony McKay,
Andrew Osborne, Andrew Pixley and Ina-Cherstin Rönninger

All timings given on this page relate to the Blu-ray editions of this episode