'Fella' Edmonds:
The "Brains" Behind
SUPERSONIC SAUCER!

Thanks to the magic of the internet, we were recently contacted by a relative of Eddie Edmonds, who was the star of the wonderful 1956 British children's fantasy, SUPERSONIC SAUCER, performing under the name "Fella Edmonds." Mr. Edmonds was kind enough to speak with us about those heady days as a popular child actor in England.

KiddieMatinee.Com: Hi there! Thanks for taking the time to talk with us!

Eddie Edmonds: I can't believe there is still a copy of the film about! I am delighted to answer your questions.

KM.C: Had your parents trained you as an actor, or was it more by chance you ended up in the movies?

EE: I was in theatrical school from the age of 11, it was the Corona Academy, Chiswick, London and then later the Italia Conti Stage School in The West End of London.

KM.C: What can you tell us about your other film performances: THE STOLEN AIRLINER, HAND IN GLOVE, THE RAINBOW JACKET and TO THE RESCUE? Where they all made for the Children’s Film Foundation?

EE: The other films were not all made by the Childrens Film Foundation. HAND IN GLOVE was made for television and was one of the first plays on the opening of independent television in the UK. THE RAINBOW JACKET was an Ealing Studios main feature film and premiered at Leicester Square in the West End of London where all major films are still premiered to this day. THE STOLEN AIRLINER was a second feature film and made for general release. TO THE RESCUE was a Children's Film Foundation production, and won a prize for short feature film.

KM.C: How did you end up in the wonderful SUPERSONIC SAUCER? Did you audition, or were you handed the role?

EE: I was chosen for the role from my work in the other films.

KM.C: Any recollections of the production of SUPERSONIC SAUCER? The length of shooting, any problems encountered? Where exactly was it filmed?

EE: SUPERSONIC SAUCER was filmed on location in London, and the Corona Academy school building was used for a lot of the interior filming. Filming took approx. six weeks and although I don't recall anything specific, there were always problems with filming, mostly weather!

KM.C: Any recollections of your fellow cast members, Anthony Notte-Harrison, Gillian Harrison and Monica Monolescue?

EE: Donald Gray, who played my father in the film was actually a television announcer, famous in his day. However, he only had one arm! When I was first introduced to him he thought it would be a good joke to not attach his arm, so when shaking hands his arm fell away, to everyone's amusement and my astonishment!

The only other person I can recollect was Monica (Monolescue), as she was also a student at Corona.

KM.C: Was it difficult to react to the little alien puppet?

EE: We all thought the little puppet was great fun, both cast and crew!

KM.C: Did you see the premiere of the film when it was released? How did you like it? Did you become a celebrity amongst your peers?

EE: I can't recall the day we actually saw the film but we did many premieres for the Children's Film Foundation. As far as my peers were concerned, I was just another actor, and one of them. Friends outside of the academy just accepted what I did, too.

KM.C: Rodney, your character in SUPERSONIC SAUCER, is a brainy scientific genius. Were you a science buff in real life or did you just learn your part well?

EE: I was not in the slightest way scientifically-minded!

KM.C: SUPERSONIC SAUCER appears to be your last performance, at least under that name. Did you continue to act, and if so, where?

EE: I did continue to act but in radio and television as children's TV was becoming very big at that time.

KM.C: Fella is an interesting name – is there a story behind it?

EE: The name 'Fella' comes from the story that my elder brother was peering at me, as a baby, over my cot and declared to everyone that I was 'a lovely little Fella!!!' It stuck -- to this day my wife and family and close friends still call me Fella.

KM.C: Since being recently rediscovered, SUPERSONIC SAUCER has become a cult film favorite, with a growing fan base. Do you have anything you wish to say to your fans?

EE: With reference to the fanbase question, my answer would have to be.... total disbelief, but delighted that people are still enjoying the film all these years later!

KM.C: Well, many thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us – we love SUPERSONIC SAUCER!

EE: Once again thank you for your interest -- it is most flattering!