Max Sammett

behp0409-max-sammett-summary

[Alan Lawson writes: This short interview gives a very clear picture of the versatile nature of BBC cameramen]

 SIDE ONE

Born 1928, Camden Town [London]. Father was French and a theatre producer. Educated at many different schools. His father was afriend of Major de Lane, where he worked for a brief time and met Nic Roeg, who was also there. Got an introduction to Tom White at Denham Studios in 1946 and got a job in the camera department, and the first picture he worked on was I Know Where I’m Going with Jack Cardiff. In 1947 called up and went into the Royal Air Force as a wireless operator. 1949, demobilisation and back to Pinewood as a Clapper Loader. He wanted to move on and wrote to British Transport, where he worked on several documentaries with Gordon Lang. Then moved on to work on some [The Adventures of] Robin Hood. 1961: he joins the BBC as holiday relief cameraman. He tells an interesting story about the ocean search for Sir Francis Chichester [Round the world Yachtsman].

SIDE TWO

He talks about various productions that he photographed: The Trouble Shooters, The Onedin Line, Dad’s Army, and then a spell on Current Affairs; then, 1970, Play School, then It ain’t Half Hot Mum, Hi-de-Hi, ‘Allo, ‘Allo. Then at the age of 60 did freelance for the BBC.

[END]