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Herman sat in the aluminum space capsule that was suspended by cables from the ceiling of the studio. Only his face was visible through the small plastic window as he followed the instructions the director was shouting up at him. "Lean further forward, Peter. . . more to the side." Herman leaned this way and that obediently, and the scene was completed. TWO men separated themselves from the crowd of people milling around and pushed a movable set of stairs up to the capsule. Herman climbed down slowly, as if he were very tired, and he didn't seem to notice everyone watching him as he walked over to his chair. "Oh, I forgot. I can't sit down in this thing," he remarked, looking down at his silver astronaut outfit. He contented himself with leaning against the wall and removing his large helmet. His dark makeup accentuated the light blue of his eyes. A tiny, curly-headed girl stood near him, pointing up to the capsule. "Peter's in there! Peter's in there!" she cried. "I'm right here, Suzanne," he said, scooping his little sister up in his arms. Suzanne took one look at her brother and struggled to be put down. "No, you aren't Peter!" Herman sighed as he deposited her gently in his father's lap. "She doesn't recognize me in this getup." He removed the large silver gloves and fanned himself with them, looking off in the distance at nothing in particular. This tall, quiet young man didn't seem at all like the wild, zany character his fans love so much. The six weeks of shooting "There's No Place Like Space" was almost over, and all the boys were tired. They had been filming at the beach, at amusement parks, and at MGM studio, and the fast pace was catching up with them. They all wanted to do their best, and as the leader of the group, Herman carried the heaviest burden of responsibility. He was in almost every scene, and this left him little time to indulge in the familiar pranks and laughs he's so well known for. Acting is not entirely new to Herman. When he studied at the Manchester School of Music in England, he combined drama and music lessons. He had appeared in two children's plays and on several TV shows before he decided that music was his first love. But now his musical career had led him into the movies, and he was serious about making a success out of it. So he was trying even harder than he ever had before. A working day started early-shortly after 6 |
a.m. the Hermits piled into a chauffeur-driven car and were whisked to the place they were going to film that day. If they went to the studio, there was always a large crowd of girls, waiting hopefully for just a glance at their idols. The boys would smile and wave as they whizzed in the gate. Then it was time for makeup, costume fitting, reading over their lines, and on and on sometimes until late in the evening. There were photographers around every minute. Lunches were spent with interviewers trying to find out something new about the boys. How did they like making a movie? Did they miss their families? "We love it!" they would chorus. "It's hard work, but it's fun. "We do miss our families. But our parents are coming out here before we all go back to England." Evenings they spent in the lavish home rented for them in Beverly Hills, practicing their numbers, going over their lines for the next day. And Herman was pushing himself just a little harder than the rest. He felt he had something to prove to himself. They went to the beach on a day off-and they were recognized. Herman and Keith slipped into a Hollywood club one night to hear Barry McGuire sing-and the photographers found them there too. Everywhere they went there were people, and more people. Perhaps this is what Herman was thinking now, as he stood quietly, with a dreamy look in his eyes. Finally it was almost over, and he would have some time to himself again. He feels the sacrifices he must make are worth it though. "I have been born and bred with music. It's in my blood, and I can't do without it!" A photographer came over and stopped by Herman. "Peter, would you step over her by Derek for a few pictures?" Herman looked at Derek, who was swathed in the flowing robes of an angel, with large flapping wings attached on the back. His eyes twinkled and then he laughed out loud. In a moment they were clowning it up again. Herman took the harp Derek was holding and started playing it. The photographer got his pictures and shook his head. "Those kids! They're always having such a good time you'd hardly think they were working!" But anyone who had been watching Herman knew he was more than just a fun-loving kid. He has his serious moments, and maybe that's the way he really is deep inside. Maybe he would like to be himself all the time, but the life he leads won't let him |
