I read some news today that made my blood run cold and left me shaking my head in anguish and disbelief. Apparently a film is being made of Brideshead Revisited, and the moviemakers, in their wisdom, have decided to ignore the existence of Aloysius. Why they feel the need to make a film of my favourite book when there is already a sublime TV version puzzles me, and how they imagine they can do it without Aloysius foxes me further. That would be like making a Harry Potter film without Hedwig; can you imagine the outrage that would cause?In my first year at university I had a gay, doubled-barrelled friend who wore a tweed jacket, drank his tea from china cups, his whisky from crystal glasses and smoked Camel cigarettes. “He thinks he’s Sebastian Flyte,” sniffed another friend, who had known him vaguely at school, when he was single-barrelled and altogether less tweedy.
I discovered Brideshead for myself in the long summer holidays after completing my first year as a student. I would sit reading in the garden on those balmy days that are 10-a-penny when you’re young and carefree, then only caught in fleeting glimpses through the window when the world of work clamps you in irons. The book made me laugh and it made me cry. When I returned to uni, I had a better understanding of my friend’s posturing.
But I don’t think the world will have a better understanding of Brideshead without Aloysius. Everyone needs a teddy bear.
35 comments:
I'm with you! We should start a protest of some sort.
Teddy Bear lovers of the world unite!
I make a strong suggestion that neither of us go see this film.
Sacrilege! BTW will play tag, but it may take me a day or two.
Everyone needs a teddy bear. Where would the world be without them; cold and heartless, nothing to hold in bed whilst you try to close your mind to the nasty terrors that lurk on the other side. I'll join the protest.
they're actually making it at castle howard again I believe too. Some things just shouldn't be done and i think this might be of them, I mean never mind the bloody teddy, imagine making it without Anthony Andrews and jeremy irons.
Well said Rilly. (Unless they get Colin Firth and then it doesn't matter how bad it is, I will still be watching, drooling.)
Lady M, thank you for your support on this most important matter...
@themill, I await your eight ..
CJ, welcome on borad. I actually have a little white teddy called Aloysius..
Rilly, it's wrong wrong wrong ...
@themill, nah, he's too old now... but Toby Stephens isn't .. Actually I think Jude Law has something to do with it, and he's never done it for me I'm afraid ...
That is such a good description of how little we appreciate free time when we have loads of it. Oh, to sit in the garden and read!
Brideshead? hm m m.. . I must investigate further
To consider that Aloysius could be left out is to miss the point. Sacrilege!
I shall boycott this movie - which is unlikely to make a blind bit of difference to the arrogance of the production team, I fear.
Oh good god! Has the world gone mad? No Aloysius? The next thing will be to remake withnail and I without withnail in it!
M&M,
you're right it does seem almost unbelievable that they could make the programme without Aloysius. But why? What is wrong with him that they must leave him out?
I too agree with DM about your description of free time. I realised this morning, as I went to put some washing out, that I hadn't spent any 'time' in my garden, which is looking beautiful at the moment, in about 3 weeks!
And I don't even have kids!!!!
What is the name of your teddy bear?
DM, thankyou...
Andres, you must read it - the best book ever...
Debio, thanks for your support on this issue!
Gill, I fear they are clueless...
WElcome Natural Blone - nice to meet another childfree blogger!
Anon, I have a surfeit of teddy bears!
I remember Brideshead, my mum used to drool over Anthony Andrews and Jeremy Irons, and now I am older I can jolly well understand why. I can see Jude Law (or Daniel Craig)as Anthony Andrews character, but who for Jeremy Irons - perhaps Orlando Bloom!
Just in case Natural Blonde calls by again - I have tried to leave a comment but keep getting told I have to be a team member. What does that mean?
So glad you put it into a dumbed down format so that this humble pig could understand, Harry Potter sans Hedwig I mean. So true about the long balmy days...sigh.
Pigx
Perhaps they simply intend to update it and give him a Brazt doll. And I think that would neatly sum the equivocal role of the toy in society (or prove they ad a crap props person).
Aloysius? And he draws so prettily too!
One of my all time favourite TV series. And my husband does a fantastic Anthony Blanche impression, especially after a few Brandy Alexanders.
"And you know what it was that cemented our love...?"
Save the Bear!
Sounds like this is one of life's bear essentials.
Confession - I still have one of my original teddies. However these days I find myself drawn to a different kind.
My turn to talk undies!
the northern echo reports today, and this is the honest quote: 'filming has just begun at castle howard on a £10m film version of the classic TV series Brideshead revisited'.
no mention of the bear
I still have my Floppy! Dad bought him into the hospital when I was a day old bubba and, despite much patching and the ocassional worn bit, he's in good condition. He's sitting on top of my wardrobe at this very moment. I've also got a Shaun the Sheep and a squishy penguin - and am proud to admit it!
Everyone should have a teddy or two to snuggle with when things get too much to cope with.
isn't it always the way? lord of the rings without Tom Bombadil? People still wander around Castle Howard with teddies even now! The original book was based on the family who lived at Madresfield Court near Malvern, the last of whom, Lady Sybell, died last year & warranted a double page spread in the Daily Mail. Rather a 'fast' family you know, ideal candidates to base characters on by the visiting author who was a regular house guest.
Well, I'm confused.
Secretary, I think they should just leave well alone ...
@themill, the same happened to me..
Pig and Orhan, please read the book - you won're regret it...
OM, I spit on Bratz dolls!
Patsy, I loved Anthony Blanche...
Brom, do you wear women's undies???
Rilly, they can't get the staff (two former members are currently sitting a few feet away from me)...
NMO, my oldest is 33...
Muddyboots, thanks for the info, that's fascinating ...
But Anthony and Jeremy are too old to play with teddy bears now - so it shouldn't be possible to do a remake without any of the three main characters. What are they thinking? Mine's called Binker.
I have your tea lovely girl, you must email me!
Marvellous m&m . I did read the book before seeing the tv adaption. I thought latter was v. good. Another interpretaion will, inevitably, I believe, not do justice the book or to the adaptation on TV, in these v. trying times. (Who did you fancy, btw,?) Answers on a postcard please. Or email me.
Lizzie x
Never really got into this. I'm sure it's rewarding.
Agree with you totally on this. Why make a replay?
It can't do justice to the book, but does it have to ? As the scriptwriter says in the Telegraph article, if it causes people to read the book, then job done.
brideshead.wordpress.com
Tom Bombardil deserved to be dropped from Lord of the Rings- tedious time wasting plot device with bad rhyming couplets!!
eminem [or as I like to think of you, the real slim shady lady]. I still have my very small teddy bear from childhood, Tedi Bach. [That's little Teddy, nothing to do with music].
He has survived a near drowning incident when I managed to drop him in the loo, when I should have been concentrating on something else. The fact that my mother was willing to rescue him is a demonstration of what love sons owe their mothers.
One of his relations was even featured in one of those glossy Saturday Guardian where some pretentious middle class fuckwits allow some photographers round their 2nd/3rd/4th home, somewhere on the continent of Europe, to show off their style while in no way compromising their environmental credentials, oh no sirree..
So you see, when it comes to bears, Tedi Bach proves that size isn't everything...
Dear Lord!
No Brideshead without Aloysius.
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