Films of Emil Sitka: PARDON MY TERROR
by Saxon E. Sitka
Emil's role in PARDON MY TERROR is small, but he does an excellent and convincing bit of humorous acting as an angry landlord demanding payment of the rent for their offices from two detectives, played by Richard Lane and Gus Schilling. Emil's commitment to his craft of acting was particularly remarkable when you consider, as you'll read below, he was suffering from a bad case of flu, and he was scheduled for another role in a different film the very next day.
Emil's diary entry for Tuesday, May 14, 1946:
Movie bit - #8
"Pardon My Terror"
I thought I'd die.
Early this morning, I became feverish and ill. For hours during the night I tossed & sweated until I couldn't sleep anymore. The bed was wet from cold perspiration.
At the wheel of the car I almost passed out. At a cafe I vomited & couldn't eat - but I pulled into Columbia's studio.
Immediately I was told to be in front of the camera. I was to be in the first shot this morning. It was a scene with Gus Schilling & Dick Lane, wherein I enter (with high-collar, derby & cigar) as the landlord to collect my rent from these two phony detectives.
Even my friend Norman Hapgood (of "Trial of Mary Dugan") didn't recognize me when I took on the mental mad-cap of this "explosive landlord" and really felt I did a very funny bit of acting. Gus Schilling told me I was very good & chidingly urged Ed Bernds , the director, to make a trio out of us. I was sent home after lunch & was indeed thankful - to prepare for tomorrow.
