Re: More on Oliver Stone

susan · Post by **susan** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 6:20 am

The article link is:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 92,00.html but you may need to register first.Susan

Linda · Post by **Linda** » Mon Jan 06, 2003 8:46 am

First day back at work....on the skive. Having said that, once I had posted the first bit, and it was incomplete, I couldn't really stop!Linda

susan · Post by **susan** » Tue Jan 07, 2003 4:43 am

I can't get out of my head a private viewing of the film, Alexander and Persian friends in the front row, the Companions in the back row, and them either falling around with laughter or throwing things at the screen. Remember the Kleitos episode started from a play - they were a bit touchy about self-image then and 2300 years of pondering matters in the grave won't help.I suspect an awful lot of film-time may be devoted to conspiracy ( who actually concentrated on all of JFK ??) and sex ( about as relevant as whether Alexander was left-handed or right-handed). Actually I think the film-script will fall into the 'Too difficult' box.But the pictures may be lovely... Susan

marcus · Post by **marcus** » Tue Jan 07, 2003 6:42 am

Well, Susan, my interpretation of the Lane Fox article was that Stone will spend quite a lot of time on the conspiracy theory... and that he won't shy away from the sexuality issue.Still, it's got to be better than a film treatment of Manfredi, surely?All the bestMarcus

susan · Post by **susan** » Tue Jan 07, 2003 6:48 am

There should have been a Carry On Alexander film - Sid James as Alexander, Barbara Windsor as Roxane, Charles Hawtrey as Callisthenes spring to mind. Hattie Jacques as Olympias ?Susan

susan · Post by **susan** » Tue Jan 07, 2003 7:14 am

Kenneth Williams would be just right for Hephaestion - what about Joan Sims as Barsine ? Susan

marcus · Post by **marcus** » Tue Jan 07, 2003 8:58 am

Excellent idea, Susan. I don't know why they never thought of it - after all, they did Carry On Cleo as a skit on the Burton/Taylor Cleopatra film.Bernard Bresslaw could have been Darius. Although I think they would have got one of their prettier women to be Barsine - Valerie Leon, perhaps. But Charles Hawtrey as Callisthenes is an inspired choice :-)Shame so many of the Carry On actors are dead - it would have been an excellent antidote to Stone, Luhrmann et al!One of my Christmas presents this year was a video of Carry on up the Khyber - one of my absolute favourites (particularly as another of my geeky obsessions is C19 British colonial history!)All the bestMarcus

susan · Post by **susan** » Tue Jan 07, 2003 9:09 am

I think the dinner party at the embassy when it is under fire is about as perfect an image of the British Empire as you're likely to get. The films seemed to be shown continually over Christmas - we came back from a very high-church midnight mass to watch Carry On Cleo - rather odd TV scheduling but possibly more appropriate than Life of Brian.Susan

davej · Post by **davej** » Tue Jan 07, 2003 6:03 pm

You can never have too much Monty Python. I love the Life of Brian , I had to sneak out to see it at the movies. Told my mum I was seeing Star wars or something.

Thalestris · Post by **Thalestris** » Tue Jan 07, 2003 9:37 pm

Wonderfully stated, Susan!! I, too, can visualize the boisterous crew, laughing at the screen, kidding with each other, and throwing drinks at the screen!! Especially an explosive-tempered Alexander, roaring his anger at the portrayal of himself. Now, if the Amazon Queen Thalestris appears on screen, *I* will join that rowdy band of vivacious soldiers and throw my popcorn at the screen, too! To Hades with all the scripts!!!

marcus · Post by **marcus** » Wed Jan 08, 2003 4:06 am

Unless, of course, the portrayal of Alexander is very positive, in which case he would probably use his heaven-sent powers to resurrect Callisthenes and reward him for doing such a good propaganda job :-)All the bestMarcus

susan · Post by **susan** » Wed Jan 08, 2003 4:17 am

Actually I've found a good incentive to house-cleaning is to imagine an imminent visit from Alexander and the Companions - treks over the Hindu Kush notwithstanding, I expect standards of tidiness and general presentation would have been high and so if the house is not hoovered and polished I would be destined to garrison a remote outpost in Central Asia. It's a bit different from Martha Stewart techniques but it works for me.Somehow I always imagine Hephaestion as one who would run his fingers over furniture looking for dust. Apparently this is what Mrs Thatcher did when she first became prime minister - she climbed on chairs to look at the top of framed paintings in the cabinet room to see if they had been dusted properly.As you see I have too much time on my hands at present.

marcus · Post by **marcus** » Wed Jan 08, 2003 7:54 am

Perhaps I ought to start thinking along those lines.Actually, I think Alexander wouldn't notice, at first, anyway. Hephaestion would run his fingers over the surfaces and, if he found some dust, he'd go squealing to Alexander who would then send you off to remotest Sogdia... if he didn't run you through with a sarissa first.All the bestMarcus

Me · Post by Me » Wed Jan 08, 2003 2:36 pm

Depending entirely on circumstances, Alexander would notice, not comment, but remember; or comment rather pointedly.
Depending entirely on circumstances,Heph would notice, and either coment under his breath or wait until later and make a rude comment; or not comment at all.
Regards,
Sikander

Thalestris · Post by **Thalestris** » Wed Jan 08, 2003 6:12 pm

OK, I am quite inebriated from laughter, and must agree with the "run through with sarissa"; however, as long as Thalestris provided Alexander thirteen day's worth of proficient *intimacy*, and Hephaistion did not groan and complain to Alexander for the thirteen days away from his embrace, she would have made Alexander happy, thus he would care little about housekeeping while recovering from his virile excursion .

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