Eagle of the Ninth movie

[Lanista]

http://blog.arlt.co.uk/blog/_archives/2008/5/28/3717702.html

[Primus Pilus]

http://blog.arlt.co.uk/blog/_archives/2008/5/28/3717702.html

 

While more recent archaeology suggests that the Legio VIIII Hispana survived the wars in Caledonia, this still has the potential for marrying a great Roman mystery with some popular historical culture. While I believe Sutcliffe targeted a younger audience with her novels, do you know if the movie will also be intended for the same? I get the impression not, but I suppose it's hard to tell at this early stage.

[Melvadius]

There are several other references to the new film on the web. The ASLT article is probably the fullest currently up and notes the obvious pitfalls of the project such as modern research dispelling the Scottish "disappearance" myth - if not completely resolving what actually happened to them later on in Europe.

 

The most recent info is in the Variety article (16/5/08):

 

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111796507...yid=13&cs=1

 

Association of Latin Teachers article from 2007 has quite a bit on the announcement of the 'McDonald' version:

 

http://blog.arlt.co.uk/blog/_archives/2007/5/13/2945875.html

 

And finally just for completeness, from 2003, an article announcing the initially development of three different versions of the film:

 

http://heritage.scotsman.com/theromans/Fil...lost.2483137.jp

 

Personally I am all for an intelligent version being made that is true to the spirit of the original book, which the McDonald version seems to have the potential to be. Especially if it avoids the slash and gore 'reality' that all too many modern films seem fixated on.

 

I like my entertainment to have a lighter touch and my abidding impression of the book despite the years since i read it are of some risks taken, a degree of danger but also intelligence and awareness of others.

[DecimusCaesar]

No Doubt Pertinax would be interested in this. I believe he also mentioned an old 70's television program based on the book... Does that program still exist somewhere?

[Northern Neil]

No Doubt Pertinax would be interested in this. I believe he also mentioned an old 70's television program based on the book... Does that program still exist somewhere?

I thought the TV adaptation was a bit more recent than that, say, early 90's. I have all four of the Sutcliffe books relating to the same Romano - British family (Eagle of the Ninth, The Silver Branch, Frontier Wolf and The Lantern Bearers) and still occasionally get them out and re-read them. They are intended I think for teenage readers, but would still make great films. I like the way Sutcliffe has from time to time had a stab at suggesting, through her stories, that so far undiscovered sites remain to be discovered. Occasionally she has been right!

[Melvadius]

No Doubt Pertinax would be interested in this. I believe he also mentioned an old 70's television program based on the book... Does that program still exist somewhere?

I thought the TV adaptation was a bit more recent than that, say, early 90's. I have all four of the Sutcliffe books relating to the same Romano - British family (Eagle of the Ninth, The Silver Branch, Frontier Wolf and The Lantern Bearers) and still occasionally get them out and re-read them. They are intended I think for teenage readers, but would still make great films. I like the way Sutcliffe has from time to time had a stab at suggesting, through her stories, that so far undiscovered sites remain to be discovered. Occasionally she has been right!

 

The BBC TV series is dated 1977 but you may be thinking of the more recent BBC Radio series which, although there was one broadcast in the late 50's, was remade and broadcast in the mid-90's.

 

c/f

 

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/suttonelms/articles29.html - about the original radio series featuring Marius Goring

 

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/edition/?isbn=0563389206 - the mid 90's Radio 4 dramatisation

 

http://blueremembered.blogspot.com/2007/03...ninth-1977.html - short article with photograph from 1977 TV series

Edited May 30, 2008 by Melvadius

[Northern Neil]

The BBC TV series is dated 1977 but you may be thinking of the more BBC Radio series which although there was one broadcast in the late 50's was remade and broadcast in the mid-90's.

 

Thats it! The Radio 4 version, I was thinking of. I am, as I type, attempting to get my copy from Amazon. Many thanks, Melvadius.