By

Carol Marsella

THE EVENT: 

In March of this past year, I met Robert Fuller for the first time at the Williamsburg Film Festival in, uh, Williamsburg, Virginia.  Something, in the whole of my life, I had never thought to pursue – or ever realized I could.  To write that it was the single most significant meeting in my adult life is an understatement, yet it is the bare-bones truth.  He made those moments wonderful by being kind, accessible, and attentive.  Mr. Fuller is a true gentleman: A person worthy of emulation.  I admire him more than I can say.     

MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS: 

Time has been good to Robert Fuller.  At seventy, he looks ten years younger.  His hair is silvery gray now and his face is lined from years spent out of doors, but his eyes are still clear and bright. He is tall and lean; he walks with an athleticism that belies his age… and he cuts a dashing figure.   His voice, as someone once wrote, is smooth and silky and warm all the way down; his laughter is robust and easy and his touch, warm and somehow familiar.  I find that I like him more than I thought I would.

A BIT OF FUN: 

Just for fun, I am going to share a little tid-bit about the goings-on at the Williamsburg Film Festival...   

On the last evening of the Festival there was a banquet.  Everyone was welcome to attend, for a fee. After a sumptuous fried chicken buffet, the Master of Ceremonies, a very nice man by the name of Ray Smith, ascended the stage, approached the microphone and began to acknowledge the celebrities, one by one, and call each of them to the stage, in turn, so that he could present them with the usual obligatory "thank-you-for-showing-up-and-helping-to-make-this-Festival-a-success" award/gift/statue.  

As he was introducing Robert Fuller for his obligatory, "thanks-for-showing-up…" award/gift/statue, Mr. Smith became momentarily tongue-tied and, instead of noting Bob’s roles as Jess Harper and Cooper Smith, inadvertently announced that Bob had played "Jess Cooper”.  Everyone at our table shrieked!  There was a split second of stunned silence before we started to... well, let's just say much silliness ensued!  (I have all this on videotape; it is absolutely hilarious!)  Of course, our Beloved was the perfect gentleman.

It was serendipitous that, although our table was at the opposite end of the ballroom, I happened to be close-up on Bob with the video camera as this was unfolding.  Upon hearing the mistake, his initial reaction to the blooperous intro was multi-faceted!  In a millisecond, his warm expression changed from one of confident preparedness to one of boyish mischief.  (Priceless!)  It was not difficult to tell that, for a split second, he considered what he wanted to do about it.  Should he play it up or let it go?   His eyes twinkled and he clearly had to subdue the smirk that was threatening to overtake his intentional poker face.  He nonchalantly turned away from the stage and took a sip of his drink.  He was thinking it over... what would he do?  (You could have heard a pin drop.  Okay, well, I am exaggerating.  But you could definitely have heard a fork drop!)  He turned back, rounded his lips twice and, much to my personal chagrin… he never mentioned it. (Darn it all anyway!) It didn’t matter though; by then, we were falling all over ourselves giggling and cackling, "Jess Coooooooper!"   Oh, it was grand!  One of those little things, those wonderful, unforgettable situations that make life joyful!  

That was just the beginning! 

Pleased with his introduction, Smith motioned for Bob to come forward.  Bob's professionalism was blatantly evident; he had clearly waited for that gesture before moving.  He meandered forward to an affectionately warm applause and jumped up the few steps to the stage, whereupon he and Smith launched into an exchange of shtick that could not have been funnier if it had been rehearsed.  Mr. Fuller then donned a serious expression while he ceremoniously thanked everyone for a terrific time, accepted his award/gift/statue, jumped off the stage to the sound of rousing applause and waved to the crowd as he headed back to his seat. 

Everyone thought it was over. 

Everyone was wrong. 

Unbeknownst to Bob, as he left the stage, Smith looked down at the podium and winced as he lifted up a handkerchief that Bob might have used to wipe his brow or something.  Not ready to give up the fun, Smith feigned disgust and turned to throw the thing onto the floor, whereupon one of the female members of the audience leaped out of her chair, arms a-waving, and exclaimed that she wanted it.  As she ran up to the stage to secure the crumpled weft, our hero saw what was going on and, never one to leave a damsel in distress, stood up from his seat and walked forward with a noticeably determined gait to do the gentlemanly thing and give the poor lass a genuine Fuller cuddle.  Well, the opportunity to be saved by Jess COOPER was not lost on this gal and, like any self-respecting, bona fide living breathing female would do, she feigned a fainting spell so he would catch her in his arms.  I liked her style!   

The audience was completely captivated.  He laughed and she smiled.  As she stood up, considering she had the genuine article of her affections standing beside her, she turned and threw the heretofore-coveted handkerchief back at Smith.   

Everyone thought it was over. 

Wrong again!   

Just as things were calming down, John Calvert, the remarkably youthful, stunningly handsome 90-something magician, leaped up from his seat and raised his fists as though he wanted to fight Bob for the girl, er, woman.  Without missing a beat, Bob played along and the woman stood between them, palms extended, to stop them from fighting.  It was an improvisation of the highest order, clearly unrehearsed and yet pulled off to the utmost perfection by these two (or was it three) consummate professionals to the shear pleasure of everyone watching!

The applause was deafening! 

THE CONCLUSION: 

If you pass up the opportunity to attend an event where you would have the opportunity to meet and share some time with this man, you are doing yourself wrong.  You will be missing a wonderful time and the chance to make and share in some most outstanding memories that will light the corners of your mind for the rest of your days...  Really! 

COPYRIGHT 2004-2008 Carol Marsella  All Rights Reserved