At The Movies: David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz 'surprised and gratified' by response to resignation
David Stratton says he has been surprised and gratified by the emotional reaction to his and Margaret Pomeranz's decision to disband their film-reviewing partnership.
The At The Movies duo yesterday announced they would cease filming the popular show, bringing an end to a pairing dating back to 1986.
"I certainly didn't expect - neither of us expected the reaction - which is wonderfully gratifying but certainly quite surprising," Stratton told ABC News Breakfast today.
He joked that his 28-year partnership with Pomeranz got off to a rocky start.
"I must say I didn't like her much to begin with, because she was terribly pushy," he said.
"I thought I knew what I was doing and she was kind of a bit overbearing to be honest, for a little person. I reacted quite strongly against her."
Stratton told how he and Pomeranz became firm friends over a series of long lunches in the 1980s.
"I became very aware of how much she knew about television, how wise she was and that she was really passionate about getting it absolutely right," he said.
"We warmed to one another, we became friends. We had long lunches like you did back then, and over these long lunches we talked about how great it would be if there was a dedicated half-hour weekly program on Australian national television talking about the movies that were opening every week."
The Movie Show began on SBS television in 1986, and the 'odd couple' attracted a loyal audience.
"Margaret was the producer of the show. There was no intention to begin with of Margaret being on camera, but in the end it just sort of happened," Stratton said.
"She was very nervous, we did a couple of tests which were absolutely awful.
"I hope they no longer exist because they were just dreadful, but somehow on the night it sort of came together and right from the start there was an audience there."
Seventy-five-year old Stratton confirmed he and 70-year old Pomeranz were both healthy, but the time had come to retire.
"We both agreed, we both decided. The ABC didn't want us to go. But look, you can only keep doing this sort of thing for so long," he said.
"Age eventually is going to take its toll - it hasn't yet, we're both fine - but really it's only a matter of time. It seemed like a good idea to stop while we were ahead."
Stratton said there had never been a secret ingredient to their success.
"Basically we're just an ordinary pair of people, two friends if you like, talking, arguing about movies we've seen this week," he said.
"That's a very ordinary thing I think. The fact that it has obviously touched so many people, I mean it's wonderful but it is a bit surprising."
Stratton also said he hoped the ABC would replace At The Movies with a new concept of film and drama reviewing.
