British eccentrics - Britmovie

Steve Crook · 20-01-2005, 06:02 AM

No, they didn't die out with Alastair Sim, Margaret Rutherford etc. Although they were quite eccentric themselves, they were really portraying a larger group. And the British eccentric is still alive and well.

I was watching BBC4 the other night. They showed Platoon and after that was an interview with Oliver Stone by Kirsty Walk. A good interview, it covered a lot of ground and they talked about quite a lot of his work. It wasn't just a plug for Alexander, although they did that as well.

They followed the interview with Charging for Alexander which I'd seen before but it was so delightful I gladly watched it again.

Professor Robin Lane Fox is a fellow of New College, Oxford and a University Reader in Ancient History. His speciality (or one of them) is Alexander the Great and he wrote a very impressive book about that great man. Quite a few people in Hollywood read it and thought about making a film, but it was Oliver Stone who finally succeeded.

Oliver Stone called on Robin and asked for quite a lot of advice. He couldn't offer a screen credit as a historical adviser but Robin didn't want that anyway. What Robin wanted was a chance to take part in what could well be the greatest cavalry charge ever staged, when Alexander led his cavalry against the Persians and scattered them.

As it happens, Robin had been riding to hounds for about 40 years so he was a good horseman - and Oliver Stone agreed.

The BBC documentary follows Robin around Oxford for a while and then while he joins the film crew in Morocco and gets to know the crew, the cast (he got on well with Colin Farrell) and the other extras. There were some lovely touches like the exchange with another extra:
Robin: What do you do when you're not doing this?
Extra: I'm just out of prison, what about you?
Robin: Oh, I'm an Oxford professor

Robin was asked for various bits of advice while he was there but he finally got to join the charge and it was wonderful to see. As they lined up with Robin at the head, he commented "My eyesight isn't all that good. They told me to charge for the red flag on the tree over there. I can't even see the tree!"

It was a great charge and the look of sheer bliss on his face afterwards was delightful.

They didn't say if that charge ever made it to the final film. But for Robin that didn't matter. He'd been able to live his dream and find out what it was like to take part in a cavalry charge using the kit used by Alexander's cavalry.

Good on you Robin thumbs_u

Steve

Rob Compton · 20-01-2005, 01:49 PM

What a great story, Steve - has made me really wish I had seen the programme. Perhaps it'll be repeated, being BBC4!

rgds
Rob

JamesM · 20-01-2005, 01:51 PM

It was a repeat.

Steve Crook · 20-01-2005, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Rob Compton:
What a great story, Steve - has made me really wish I had seen the programme. Perhaps it'll be repeated, being BBC4!

rgds
Rob

As James says, it was a repeat. It was first shown in May last year but keep an eye out for it being shown again, either on BBC4 or maybe eventually on BBC2.

There's a nice article about it here.

BTW Alexander's bisexuality wasn't introduced by Oliver Stone as detractors claim. It's there in many of the books about him (including the ones by Robin Lane Fox). But it could kill the film as people in the bible belt and deep South have stayed away in droves because of that.

Steve

Rob Compton · 21-01-2005, 07:54 AM

Well, maybe also because the film isn't very good, Steve!

rgds
Rob

DB7 · 21-01-2005, 10:17 AM

Quote:

SteveCrook:
BTW Alexander's bisexuality wasn't introduced by Oliver Stone as detractors claim. It's there in many of the books about him (including the ones by Robin Lane Fox). But it could kill the film as people in the bible belt and deep South have stayed away in droves because of that.

I think the emphasis came from Stone and when I heard him being interviewed recently he seemed to acknowledge he'd got the balance wrong. I've not seen it but apparently Farrell is dwarfed by the epic production and dons a blonde mullet with a life of its own.

I personally find Stone's standing in Hollywood something of a mystery as there's few of his films I'd bother to watch.

20-01-2005, 06:02 AM	#1
Steve Crook is cheeky Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: London Posts: 9,878 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (1)	British eccentrics No, they didn't die out with Alastair Sim, Margaret Rutherford etc. Although they were quite eccentric themselves, they were really portraying a larger group. And the British eccentric is still alive and well. I was watching BBC4 the other night. They showed Platoon and after that was an interview with Oliver Stone by Kirsty Walk. A good interview, it covered a lot of ground and they talked about quite a lot of his work. It wasn't just a plug for Alexander, although they did that as well. They followed the interview with Charging for Alexander which I'd seen before but it was so delightful I gladly watched it again. Professor Robin Lane Fox is a fellow of New College, Oxford and a University Reader in Ancient History. His speciality (or one of them) is Alexander the Great and he wrote a very impressive book about that great man. Quite a few people in Hollywood read it and thought about making a film, but it was Oliver Stone who finally succeeded. Oliver Stone called on Robin and asked for quite a lot of advice. He couldn't offer a screen credit as a historical adviser but Robin didn't want that anyway. What Robin wanted was a chance to take part in what could well be the greatest cavalry charge ever staged, when Alexander led his cavalry against the Persians and scattered them. As it happens, Robin had been riding to hounds for about 40 years so he was a good horseman - and Oliver Stone agreed. The BBC documentary follows Robin around Oxford for a while and then while he joins the film crew in Morocco and gets to know the crew, the cast (he got on well with Colin Farrell) and the other extras. There were some lovely touches like the exchange with another extra: Robin: What do you do when you're not doing this? Extra: I'm just out of prison, what about you? Robin: Oh, I'm an Oxford professor Robin was asked for various bits of advice while he was there but he finally got to join the charge and it was wonderful to see. As they lined up with Robin at the head, he commented "My eyesight isn't all that good. They told me to charge for the red flag on the tree over there. I can't even see the tree!" It was a great charge and the look of sheer bliss on his face afterwards was delightful. They didn't say if that charge ever made it to the final film. But for Robin that didn't matter. He'd been able to live his dream and find out what it was like to take part in a cavalry charge using the kit used by Alexander's cavalry. Good on you Robin thumbs_u Steve __________________ Steve Crook PaPAS

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20-01-2005, 01:49 PM	#2
Rob Compton has no status. Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 1,274 Country: iTrader: (2)	What a great story, Steve - has made me really wish I had seen the programme. Perhaps it'll be repeated, being BBC4! rgds Rob

20-01-2005, 01:51 PM	#3
JamesM has no status. Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: London Posts: 1,435 Country: iTrader: (0)	It was a repeat.

21-01-2005, 07:54 AM	#5
Rob Compton has no status. Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 1,274 Country: iTrader: (2)	Well, maybe also because the film isn't very good, Steve! rgds Rob