David Lean Centenary

[Marky B]

For some reason,it is one historical saga I have never been interested in.
So none of the films I have bothered with.
Ta Ta
Marky B

[batman]

The true story of the mutiny and it's aftermath is fascinating.

Mutiny on the Bounty - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I can recommend this book if you fancy a good read about it.

The Bounty: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty by Caroline Alexander

[rskershaw]

I heard that David Lean wanted to make an epic film of 'The Bounty' in two installments. Dino De Laurenitis was the initial backer, but them pulled out, for reasons I do not know. Robert Bolt's screenplay was still used in 'The Bounty' , but by only a fraction of what it would have been if Mr Lean had been in control.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by batman The true story of the mutiny and it's aftermath is fascinating. Mutiny on the Bounty - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I can recommend this book if you fancy a good read about it. The Bounty: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty by Caroline Alexander

Never mind the aftermath (fascinating though it is - with Pandora's box), what about what Bligh got up to after the aftermath?

He was stationed as part of the fleet anchored in the Nore (Thames estuary) and his crew mutinied - although that was part of a wider mutiny that started with the home fleet in Spithead.

Then he was made Governor of new South Wales - and had another mutiny on his hands!

One mutiny may be regarded as unfortunate.
Two may be regarded as coincidence.
But three times?

Steve

[batman]

Originally Posted by rskershaw I heard that David Lean wanted to make an epic film of 'The Bounty' in two installments. Dino De Laurenitis was the initial backer, but them pulled out, for reasons I do not know. Robert Bolt's screenplay was still used in 'The Bounty' , but by only a fraction of what it would have been if Mr Lean had been in control.

Bolt didn't finish his screenplay on time due to suffering a massive stroke. It all fell apart after that. De Laurentis then pulled out because Lean couldn't agree with him about what to do with the screenplay, either to start again or get someone in to finish Bolt's. Bolt was reluctant to let anyone tinker with his work so Lean left the project. When Bolt was fit enough he carried on with his screenplay with De Laurentis company overseeing the production.

I think Bolt's screenplay is very good, but it needed to be made as a character piece, which it was in effect. IMHO Lean may have swamped it with visuals and lost the point of the story, as I felt he did with A Passage To India.

[Steve Crook]

The programme for June at the NFT shows that they're doing a special season of his work. June is only part one of this season and includes some interviews with him and documentaries about him as well as some of his earlier films like:
Money for Speed (1933)
Escape Me Never (1935)
Pygmalion (1938)
Major Barbara (1941)
49th Parallel (1941)
In Which We Serve (1942)
This Happy Breed (1944)
Blithe Spirit (1945)
Brief Encounter (1945)
Great Expectations (1946)
Oliver Twist (1948)
The Passionate Friends (1948)
Madeleine (1950)

Part two of this season in July will probably include the epics

Steve

[Third Man]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook Part two of this season in July will probably include the epics Steve

I'd be interested to know what format they will be showing Lawrence of Arabia in will it be the original 70 mm, might have to make the journey if so.

Simon

[Windthrop]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook The programme for June at the NFT shows that they're doing a special season of his work. June is only part one of this season and includes some interviews with him and documentaries about him as well as some of his earlier films like: Money for Speed (1933) Escape Me Never (1935) Pygmalion (1938) Major Barbara (1941) 49th Parallel (1941) In Which We Serve (1942) This Happy Breed (1944) Blithe Spirit (1945) Brief Encounter (1945) Great Expectations (1946) Oliver Twist (1948) The Passionate Friends (1948) Madeleine (1950) Part two of this season in July will probably include the epics Steve

& Hobson's Choice I would think

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Windthrop & Hobson's Choice I would think

You might think that, but the NFT don't appear to.
Or not in June anyway. Maybe they'll do it in July.

Steve

[Freddy]

On BBC Radio Listen Again for the following 7 days after airing

Thursday 5 June 2008 21:45-22:30 (Radio 3)

In a special programme, Matthew Sweet is joined by film director Nicholas Roeg and others for an in-depth look at David Lean's 1962 epic film Lawrence of Arabia, 100 years after the director's birth. Its hero is the enigmatic British soldier Thomas Edward Lawrence, portrayed by Peter O'Toole, acting alongside Sharif and Alec Guinness. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards, eventually winning seven including Best Director for Lean.

Freddy

[TimR]

What an outstanding director. No one makes those grand epics anymore.

Lawrence of Arabia is one of the great films.

Doctor Zhivago has many scenes that do not work, and the plot starts to fall apart towards the end - but that film is irresistable. I saw it when it was released again in the eighties. The faults seemed inconsequential.

Who is making films on that scale now?

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by TimR What an outstanding director. No one makes those grand epics anymore. Lawrence of Arabia is one of the great films. Doctor Zhivago has many scenes that do not work, and the plot starts to fall apart towards the end - but that film is irresistable. I saw it when it was released again in the eighties. The faults seemed inconsequential. Who is making films on that scale now?

Not many people made grand epics like that back then either

Lawrence of Arabia had a budget of $15 million, that's probably getting on for $150 or $200 million today. Some recent films do spend that sort of amount, but do they show it? Do they match up to Lawrence? One of the most expensive films recently was last year's Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End with a budget of $300 million. But is it twice as good as Lawrence or did they waste a lot of that money that they spend on CGI and other special effects?

Steve

[Bruce]

I've always wondered whether Lean really intended the ending of 'Bridge On The River Kwai' to be as confusing as it turned out to be. Are we supposed to assume that Colonel Nicholson falls on the detonator intentionally or accidentally? Or was it always intended to be ambiguous?

Still, it's my favourite among Lean's films. On the other hand, I've never been able to enjoy 'Lawrence Of Arabia' at all.

[rskershaw]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook Not many people made grand epics like that back then either Lawrence of Arabia had a budget of $15 million, that's probably getting on for $150 or $200 million today. Some recent films do spend that sort of amount, but do they show it? Do they match up to Lawrence? One of the most expensive films recently was last year's Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End with a budget of $300 million. But is it twice as good as Lawrence or did they waste a lot of that money that they spend on CGI and other special effects? Steve

CGI always looks artificial. I had to suffer 'I Am Legend' [sic] recently. Romero's 70's zombies in fake blood were far more convincing.

Err...... but I've still yet to meet a real member of the living dead to be sure.

[vanmunchen]

Originally Posted by Bruce I've always wondered whether Lean really intended the ending of 'Bridge On The River Kwai' to be as confusing as it turned out to be. Are we supposed to assume that Colonel Nicholson falls on the detonator intentionally or accidentally? Or was it always intended to be ambiguous?

Considering that his fall is preceded by him saying "What have I done?", it's always seemed clear to me that he deliberately falls on the detonator. The confusion for me is Jack Hawkins' final line when he says he had to do it.