A review of the Sara And Hoppity pilot The recent release of the Sara And Hoppity pilot episode, as an extra on the Space Patrol Complete Series DVD Set, provides the opportunity to compare the production with the only other known episode to exist - Gorgey Georgie Goes Visiting. As with Gorgey Georgie Goes Visiting, the episode opens with titles in which Sara is swinging on the gate of her garden. However, while retaining the same format, this is a slightly cruder version with Hoppity dancing in the foreground, as the gate bars turn to say 'SARA AND HOPPITY', then 'BY ROBERTA LEIGH'. The title song would appear to be the same though. No episode title appears. The first scene segues directly with the end of the titles, with the gate opening (and Sara disappearing rather rapidly off to the left) and Mummy's voice coming from within. Inside, the shop set also appears essentially the same but less finished and less detailed. The same is true of the puppets themselves - Sara has no eyebrows and straggly hair, and both Mummy and Daddy's hair seem shorter. The episode follows the first Sara And Hoppity book quite closely: Hearing the shop bell, Sara see an old man with a bald head holding a bag. Inside is the dirtiest doll ever, with no hair, no clothes and a leg missing. The old man tells Sara the doll can dance but he has lost the key, and the Goblins left it in a Goblin Ring. The old man wants to sell the doll, which he calls Hoppity, and Sara wants him. Neither Mummy nor Daddy will buy the dirty old toy for her, so Sara goes up to Miss Julie. Even she will not buy a toy found in a Goblin Ring, and Sara has to use her only sixpence to get Hoppity. Here the film differs, and when Sara cries, Miss Julie relents and gives her a sixpence with which to buy the doll. Cleaning Hoppity up, Sara takes the doll to Daddy, who finds a new shorter leg (as opposed to Mummy in the book). It is also worth noting at this point that the actual operation of the puppets is sometimes less sophisticated than that seen in Gorgey Georgie Goes Visiting - the head and arm of Daddy wobbles quite a bit as he shows Sara the new limb: Sara takes the repaired toy to Miss Julie to clothe, giving Hoppity a green jersey and black and white striped trousers. Miss Julie also leaves a hole in the back of Hoppity's jumper for a key, but on the smaller version this 'hole' is clearly a small circle of black paper that has been stuck on! Mummy then gives him a new painted face with beads for eyes, plus a new key to wind him up. As Sara turns the key and Hoppity comes to life, we are given a brief snatch of Sara's Song: Hoppity, Hoppity Wind him right up and he'll sing Hoppity: Tiddlee-tum, tiddlee-tee, diddlee-dum, diddlee-dee Sara: Listen to him sing Hoppity: Tiddlee-tum, tiddlee-tee, diddlee-dum, diddlee-dee Sara: Words mean anything Hoppity: Heehee hee hee heee Tiddlee teeeeee Here another, larger and more detailed, version of the Hoppity puppet makes its re-appearance (having originally been seen in the titles), dancing on the table. While the 'original' version seen was only about half the size of Sara, without articulated arms (see below, left and centre), this version is almost as big as her. The 'small' version can be also seen being held by Sara in the group photo. At this point, elements of the book become transposed, with Sara's food antics coming before the visit by Aunt Matilda: Miss Julie has a surprise for Sara. She has made a Hoppity Apron for Sara to carry the toy around in. She is so happy with it. She climbs onto her chair for lunch, to find it is Spinach and Poached Egg, which she hates! Sara pushes the plate away, but is told to sit at the table until she does! Mummy and Miss Julie leave her, then Hoppity has an idea... Close-ups of Hoppity's head (bobbing up from under the table) reveal the larger version has moveable eyes and an articulated mouth. Mummy comes back as Sara just finishing her spinach. But as Sara leaves the table, spinach and egg slide out of her apron pocket! Sara is very naughty, and is sent to bed. But Miss Julie stops her and tells Sara Aunt Matilda is here, and Mummy wants her to go and say hello: Aunt Matilda takes an instant dislike to Hoppity and tells Sara she is too big for toys. It is worth noting how grotesque and characterful the face of Aunt Matilda is, compared to the somewhat bland faces of Sara and her parents. Mummy tells Sara to take Aunt Matilda's new hat and put it safely on the bed, which she does before setting the table for tea. In the bedroom, we see the larger version of Hoppity again, as Sara plays with the hat and drops it on the doll's head, causing him to dance around. Hoppity thinks it would be nice if there were some flowers on the table - just like the ones on Aunt Matilda's hat! Cutting all the daisies from the hat, Sara puts the flowers in a glass vase on the table. The small Hoppity reappears in these scenes, egging Sara on to cut more flowers from the hat: Mummy is proud of Sara for setting the table but Aunt Matilda is furious when she recognises the flowers from her hat. Sara is sent to bed in disgrace but Daddy brings some jelly and cream for her. Joining Sara in bed for the final scenes is the larger Hoppity (see below, right), its eyes moving back and forth. The end titles uses similar footage to the opening title but remaining in long shot as Sara swings back and forth on the gate. Only the first verses, as heard in the opening titles, accompanying a much shorter set of credits, highlighting several differences with the 'regular' episodes. Production Credits: Produced by Roberta Leigh Directed by Arthur Provis Art Director - Bill Palmer Editor - Peter Saunders Puppets made by Jack Whitehead Operated by Jane Tyson, Jane Phillips Screenplay, Music and Lyrics by Roberta Leigh • Arranged by Ronald Hanmer Made by P.P.Productions Teddington for Roberta Leigh Copyright MCMLX (1960) Critique Being based on the first Sara and Hoppity book, this manages to pack in pretty much all the elements without it seeming too crammed. Obviously, in the translation from prose to screen, some elements are lost or reworked - either for time or budgetary reasons - but it's a faithful adaptation of ideas. Also, being a pilot, elements seem cruder and less finished than the episodes which were eventually made. But overall these can be largely overlooked as they were probably never intended to be seen. Production Notes • This episode survives as a 16mm print that Roberta Leigh herself was in possession of. The quality is notably poorer than Gorgey Georgie Goes Visiting. • The long shot of the Toy Hospital seen in the opening and closing titles would appear to incorporate a glass shot for the upper level, the top of the tree, and to either side of the set where Sara can be seen. While it lines up very well, there is less contrast in it. • The old man puppet (below left) would later appear as Berridge in the Space Patrol episode 'Mystery On The Moon, but was also revamped a number of times. • Likewise, Miss Julie (above centre) undergoes a change of sex and reappears as Dr Brown in Space Patrol, among others. • No voice artists are credited but even though he does not recall working on Sara and Hoppity, Daddy does sound an awful lot like David Graham... • It is interesting to speculate whether the small version of Hoppity was supposed to be used where it is only a doll, and the larger articulated version was when he (in Sara's eyes) came to life... however, this does not come across. It is more likely the smaller version, as related by puppeteer Sally Bussell, was far more difficult to operate so a newer larger version was created. • There is a nice directoral 'illusion' created with some doors. The first time we see Sara on the landing, it is in long shot and the tops of two doors are seen in their entirety. Later, in a tighter shot where the top of the frame can't be seen, both Sara and Miss Julie are seen to walk through the same door. • This would appear to be the pilot produced to sell the series, and not the actual first episode seen on television. The copyright given is 1960, not 1961, which is when it was among the first three completed and delivered to Associated-Rediffusion. It is possible the copyright refers to the publication date of the first Sara and Hoppity books but the vast differences in production and credits suggest otherwise. • Also, the Aunt Matilda storyline was later made into a separate episode (No.32) and the duplication of material would seem unlikely. • Comments made by Joan Elman regarding the first episode of Sara & Hoppity (among others) also suggest there were other elements in the televised version that are not in the pilot. • A clip from the pilot appeared on television around 1987, as part of a programme about puppets and animatronics. This can be seen at the Yahoo Sara and Hoppity Group. On to the Sara and Hoppity episode guide The Sara and Hoppity Website would welcome any information on the series for future updates.