Women of Sound: Beryl Mortimer

Episode Summary

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In the episode titled "Women of Sound: Beryl Mortimer" from the Wonder Media Network's Womanica podcast, listeners are introduced to the remarkable story of Beryl Mortimer, a pioneering Foley artist in British cinema affectionately known as Beryl the Boot. The episode delves into Beryl's significant contributions to the world of sound in film, highlighting her innovative techniques and the lasting impact of her work on the industry. Beryl Mortimer's career in Foley, the art of creating sound effects for films in post-production, began in the mid-1950s. Despite the male-dominated nature of the industry at the time, Beryl quickly made a name for herself, particularly for her exceptional skill in recording footsteps. She became known for her unique approach, often bringing her own props to sets and becoming a glamorous and flirtatious presence in the studio. Beryl's dedication to her craft extended beyond the studio, as she was known to socialize and share her knowledge with colleagues, further cementing her status as a respected figure in the field. One of Beryl's most notable contributions was to the 1962 film "Lawrence of Arabia," directed by David Lean. In a pivotal scene, Beryl ingeniously recreated the sound of a camel's hoofbeats in the desert, adding a crucial layer of tension and atmosphere to the film. This contribution, although uncredited at the time, was instrumental in the film winning the Academy Award for Best Sound. Beryl's innovative techniques continued to influence the industry, as seen in her work on the 1983 arthouse film "The Gold Diggers," where she and another female Foley artist used a box filled with stones to mimic the sound of men running. Despite the challenges of working in a field where her contributions were often unseen and initially uncredited, Beryl Mortimer's legacy as the mother of Foley is undeniable. Her creativity, improvisation, and timing set a new standard for sound work in cinema, inspiring future generations of Foley artists. Beryl the Boot's impact on the film industry is a testament to her talent and dedication, making her a true woman of sound.

Episode Show Notes

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Beryl Mortimer (c.1928-2001) was a renowned Foley artist that worked in British cinema from the 1950s to the 1990s. Her most acclaimed projects, though she went uncredited on many, include Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Gold Diggers (1983), and 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). She was affectionately known as ‘Beryl the Boot’ for her expertise in recreating footsteps on the screen.

Episode Transcript

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Please welcome the mother of Foley, Beryl Mortimer.Beryl entered the world of Foley in the mid-1950s.She lived in Langley in the southeast of England.But for Beryl, the Foley studio was her second home, Much of her life revolved around her work. Beryl would continue to hang out and socialize with her colleagues after finishing a studio session.And it was through their anecdotes of her that Beryl's life and artistry was best captured. As a Foley artist, Beryl created the sound effects that would be layered onto films in post-production.Whatever sound that needed to be added in, whether it was a fly buzzing across the frame, a cacophony of car horns off-screen, or peeling a banana, Beryl and other Foley artists found a way to manufacture the sound in a recording studio. Beryl was particularly famous for her work recording footsteps, and she brought her own props.She'd go from set to set dragging around her famous boots, ready to step into any scene.On set, Beryl was said to be glamorous and flirtatious, a superstar in her field.According to some stories, Beryl hired a car service to drive her anytime she needed to go into the studio.The woman might have stepped on many things, but the gas pedal was not one of them. But beyond the studio, Beryl's talent went mostly unnamed until the 1980s, when films started regularly including Foley artists in their credits. It's difficult to say the total number of films Beryl had a foot in, but in the industry, she was widely acclaimed as the best footstepper or Foley artist of the day.A handful of her techniques became the blueprint for sound work in cinema. One of these works was the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia. SPEAKER_00: Lawrence of Arabia, the man torn between two civilizations. SPEAKER_04: The film's director, David Lean, knew the film's sound would be a crucial companion to its visuals. In one scene, a camel emerged from the dunes of the desert.The image was momentous on screen, but it was missing tension.The desert was deadly quiet.They needed something, some sound, to cut through that quiet.They'd have to engineer it.So Beryl got down on all fours in a sandbox in the recording studio and made the camel's hoofbeats herself. Later, David Lean recalled, the pad-pad-pad of the camel's feet wasn't a real sound, but it added immeasurably to the silence of the desert, the size of it all.The soundtrack is almost as important as the pictures.Lawrence of Arabia went on to win the Academy Award for Best Sound, along with Best Picture. But Beryl's contribution was uncredited. The 1980s and 1990s marked the last decades of Beryl's career.By then, the Foley icon ruled the studio, and she was far from done innovating.Another of her projects was the 1983 arthouse production, The Gold Diggers.In the movie, a large group of men come running out from the Bank of England. To recreate the sound of so many footsteps, Farrell and another female Foley artist had one foot each in a small box filled with stones.As they looked at the film in front of them, the duo coordinated their taps to the pace of the men running on screen.The film director, Sally Potter, recalled that moment.As an image to look at, it was like an astonishing piece of performance art.But of course, it was the kind of visual you're never supposed to see. Much of Beryl's work was heard and never seen.Her improvisation, creativity, and timing was one of a kind, admired by the film industry and Foley artists who followed in her footsteps.Horses' hooves, footsteps in an alley, the fuse of a bomb, and boots in snow.Beryl the Boot did it all.She died in 2001 in England. All month, we're talking about women of sound.For more information, find us on Facebook and Instagram at Womanica Podcast.Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator.As always, we're taking a break for the weekend.Talk to you on Monday. SPEAKER_05: Looking for hair removal tools that not only deliver smooth results, but also empower you with a sense of complete control?Enter Conair Girl Bomb, your secret weapons for smooth, sleek results made just for women.From the ultimate girl bomb grip and professional-grade blades, you don't have to compromise and settle for less. 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