It's So Classic Blog Party Tag

Olivia tagged me with this a few weeks ago and busy as we've been lately I forgot it was one of those with a deadline. Eeek! But now here we are. (Aren't ya proud of me? ;)) And I really wish I had time to hunt down some fantastically funny memes to sprinkle throughout and have you all in stitches, but (in the interest of being properly grown-up, etc.) I really can't. My kitchen and laundry room are calling. So you'll have to use your own vivid imaginations on that front. :D

*Ok, rolls up sleeves and enough with the self aggrandizing fanfare.*

The It's So Classic Tag:

Rules:

1. Link your post to Rebellious Writing (www.rebelliouswriting.com)
2. Answer the questions
3. Tag at least 5 bloggers.

~ What is one classic that hasn’t been made into a movie yet, but really needs to?

The Blue Castle by Montgomery does spring to mind, but I'm trying to keep my selections here to Weightier Great Book-ish tomes (otherwise we run the risk of wandering into the territory of Chesterton, Wodehouse, C.S. Lewis, Montgomery, Alcott, and the like, which'd easily fill up every answer here *coughs*).

The other option I can think of is Mansfield Park. I'd really like to see a newer version that actually gets it. But again, that might not count since it has been done a couple times.

Hmmm... This one kind of rides the fence as far as being an absolute classic, but maybe The Talisman by Sir Walter Scott?

~What draws you to classics?

The deep thoughts and rich metaphors. The enduring-ness.

~What is an underrated classic?

The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser. (At least the first book, which I've read at least three times in this edition.) LOVE IT. <3 

~What is one classic that you didn’t expect to love, but ended up loving anyway?

Maybe The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte.

~What is your most favorite and least favorite classics?

Favorites: far and away, Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky, Heart of Darkness by Josef Conrad, and North and South by Gaskell. (Jane Austen aside, that is.)

As for least favorite: The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. It's rich and powerful and horribly, heart wrenchingly awful and sad. I'm glad I read it, but don't really ever want to read it again. (At least, unless I was teaching it or something.)

~What is your favorite character from a classic? Or if that is too hard, one is your favorite classic character trope (e.g. strong and silent, quiet sidekick, etc.)

Haha. Yes, definitely too hard. According to the dictionary, 'trope' is officially a "figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression." So I'll say the self-sacrificing hero. And not in a flowery way, but the very real brink-of-death sense. And that's true for both book and film. Gets. me. every. time.

~What’s a popular classic that you felt wasn’t actually that great?

This is more that I've never been able to really get into some of them (except for The Old Man and the Sea), so it's not that they're bad, it's just that I find Hemingway... difficult. Most of it's the wordiness, but I also ran across an article a while ago pointing out that he doesn't really have a sense of humor, which was a really interesting point. Not that everything has to be hilariously funny (witness my actual top favorites above), but it has to do with a deep running... balance, I guess you could say. A laughter at the edge of tears. That sort of thing. And of course, I could be completely misjudging him on that. It is true that I can vividly remember every bit that I have read of his. Persevering in the reading has just been a challenge.

Oh, and while I find her life story fascinating and absolutely love her thoughts on the discipline of writing and storytelling itself (and have had various friends who raved about her writing) I've had the hardest time getting into Flannery O'Connor.  

~Who is your favorite classic author?

Ummm, ok this one's kinda impossible to choose, honestly. But, trying to think purely of the writing styles, probably Jane Austen, Josef Conrad, or Elizabeth Gaskell. (Again, that's if we're not counting Chesterton, Wodehouse, Tolkien, Lewis, Montgomery, Alcott, Milne, Snedeker, de Angeli, etc etc etc............)

~In your opinion, what makes a classic a classic?

At the risk of sounding high falutin, it's larger than the sum of it's parts, transcending the time it was written, hitting on enduring themes... Often with a fresh tone or unexpected viewpoint. You get the idea.

~Relating to newer books, what attributes does a book need to have in order to be worthy of the title “classic”?

Well, in short, it has to stick. But I'd apply the same criteria listed for the last question. 

Quick note: focusing on the two ends of the spectrum, I realized I left off quite a few that I've enjoyed and definitely still count as favorites to varying degrees and/or impacted me -- like Jane Eyre, Far from the Madding Crowd, David Copperfield (& Co), The Divine Comedy, a number of George Eliot's books, and I, Claudius (which was really interesting, also somewhat crazy and odd, and should come with somewhat hefty adult level reading proviso stickers, IMHO).

But such is the nature of list making and different titles are highlighted at different times. :)

~     ~     ~ 

And... since I'm kinda just getting back into the blogosphere I'm not sure I know five bloggers to tag who are still active (or haven't already done it) + I'm doing this at the end of the challenge and all that, so I'll skip that part, but if you'd like to just go for it feel free! :) Here's a link to a clean copy of the questions. I'd love to see your answers!

Movie Review // The Black Shield of Falworth (1954) with Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh

Howard Pyle’s Men of Iron has always ranked high on my favorites list and I was stunned a few years ago to find out there had been a film adapted from it in the 50’s -- starring none other than Janet Leigh (one of my favorite actresses) as the hero’s love interest!

And as I was writing this, I realized this film actually lends itself to a fun scene-by-scene encapsulation as well so maybe that’ll come along someday, too. ;) Meanwhile, enjoy!

(Also note: I used a varied collection of screenshots for this, so some are better than others. :P As I recall, the quality of the film itself -- at least the digital version -- is quite excellent.)

The following official summary isn’t faultless, but since it’s a little known film I thought it’d be helpful:

“In The Black Shield of Falworth, Tony Curtis woos his real-life bride Janet Leigh, while defending the British throne in a swashbucking tale filled with jousts, jests and medieval heroics. The time is England in the reign of King Henry IV. Myles (Curtis) is a headstrong, handsome peasant determined to learn the name of his slain father and discover his true heritage. His fiery ambition and swift sword lead him to the majestic Mackworth Castle. There he must vie for both knighthood as well as the hand of the fair Lady Anne (Leigh), but her love is claimed by the evil, conniving Sir Walter Blount. All the while the English throne is being challenged to the death - from sinister forces within. With its remarkable supporting cast and stunning set design, this is truly an epic tale of which legends are made!”

I admit I had to get used to Tony Curtis a little in the role of Myles, but by the end I think it’s pretty near impossible not to be desperately rooting for him as he finally locks grips with his deadly enemy.

The supporting cast is all VERY well played.

They take a few plot liberties, but I was honestly amazed at how close they stuck to the original story line. We bought the digital copy at one point and, sadly (due to unrelated computer issues), we haven’t been able to watch it for a while, but indeed, from what I remember, the tweaks in the plot aren’t arbitrary and seemed quite reasonable, condensing and tying things a little tighter for screen purposes.

It’s full-fledged classic medieval drama with sparks of humor here and there. And, seeming at first lighthearted, it’s yet totally weighty with the gravity of serious conflict. 

A resentful hothead, flailing for his place in the world -- uncertain of friends and enemies, puzzled and only seeing the knotted underside of the threads of life and not the full tapestry -- Myles comes one day to find himself at the very center of a huge web of political intrigue.

(Myles and Gascoyne's friendship is so utterly fun and delightful.)

For Black Shield is really a coming of age story. The story of how the headstrong boy of the beginning is taken in hand and given a purpose, a weighty calling.

Because at the last, all that political intrigue tightens to a literal noose. When all the pieces are in place and the conflict is laid out, the stakes are huge and the pressure comes crashing down on our hero… our hero who has been carefully pruned and tempered to be able to bear the crushing weight of expectations and responsibility.

There are some hard questions asked. 

And in the end, it’s about loyalty. And gratitude. 

(Also, we have to have one quick specific note on the ladies… They’re both GREAT. *spoilers* Loyal and daring, in the end, while remaining perfect and utter ladies, they yet manage to pull off an ingenious rescue operation, ultimately saving the day. ;))

So yes, I know I condensed a lot about the plot, etc., but as you can probably guess, it ends with a duel to the death between our hero and his arch-nemesis, a duel which ultimately explodes into a raging full on battle scene.

And…. since I’m trying not to give any more spoilers at the moment, I’ll just set your mind at rest by saying that, yes, it does indeed have a most happy and triumphant ending! ;D

Tell me! Have you read Men of Iron or seen Black Shield?

What do you think?

My fifth and final review for Miss Laurie's Period Drama Challenge 2016!

Book Review // An Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye

Livia, Jenelle, and Jessica all three recommended this to me before the Cinderella Week so, of course, I promptly had to place a hold for it on interlibrary loan. And I’m so happy I did! A children’s short chapter book, I read it in one afternoon last week and, honestly, I haven’t laughed over a book this much in a Very Long Time.

In tone and content it reminds me a lot of Howard Pyle’s Wonder Clock and also A.A. Milne’s Ugly Duckling play (which you can read in full here). Thoroughly charming and evocative, the pictures are also reminiscent of Pyle. Sadly, I don’t think the copy I read (the same as pictured) had all the original illustrations, but the ones it did have were delightful! 

Now for my initial major concern before reading it. *coughs* In short I love ‘beautiful princess’ stories, so I thought it might tend toward being one of those overtly ‘moralistic’ tales (I’ve run across a number of those over the years and -- no offense, intended -- they’re really just not my thing), but as it turns out, in this case I needn’t have worried in the slightest. The stereotypically beautiful princesses are portrayed as being more ‘boring’ than otherwise, but they’re still good and true, etc., while the ordinary princess herself has a good spice of naughtiness and impish mischief. So it’s definitely not a categorical dissertation on/forced contrast between inner and outer beauty.

I wouldn’t strictly call it a Cinderella retelling, but there are some definite Cinderella-ish threads -- particularly the princess having animal friends, taking a job for a while as a kitchen maid, sleeping in an attic, etc., and (later) the stressed importance of the prince/king choosing a wife. I think the scriptwriters and directors of the 2015 film most certainly read/studied it, making some stunning, ever-so-much-more-so bows to it in places, especially with the running inclusion of the Lavender’s Blue ballad, the strong presence of the forest, the whole equation of mistaken identities, the princess ultimately marrying a king, and so on. 

Here’s a fun little excerpt from the very beginning to give you an idea of the style (and note, the ‘king’ here is her father):

“I can only repeat,” said the King stubbornly, “that to invite fairies to a christening is asking for trouble. And getting it,” he added gloomily. “Speaking for myself,” said the King, “I’d far rather ask several man-eating tigers. You may have forgotten what happened to my great-great-great-grandmother, but I have not. Had to sleep for a hundred years, poor girl, and the entire court with her, and all because of some silly fairy-business at the christening.”

“But Your Majesty forgets,” put in the Prime Minister, “that the unfortunate episode you refer to was due to gross neglect and carelessness. History tells us that an influential fairy was not invited. But on this occasion I, personally, will take the greatest possible care that no such calamity occurs again.” And the Prime Minister tried to look very uncareless indeed.

“The Lord High Chamberlain hastened to add that no single member of King Oberon’s court would be omitted from the list of guests: “And we must not forget,” he pointed out, “that as Her Majesty has said, these—er—persons have it in their power to bestow the most valuable of gifts. For your daughter’s sake—” urged the Lord High Chamberlain.

“Oh, all right, all right,” said the King peevishly. “Don’t let’s go over all that again. But you mark my words,” he said, “I’d much rather have a nice silver-plated christening mug from a nice solid baron than some chancy thing like Unfading Beauty from a tricky creature with wings and a wand! Besides,” said the King, “who’s to tell that some tiresome fairy won’t get out of the wrong side of her bed that day and give my daughter Perpetual Bad Temper instead? Answer me that!”

~     ~     ~

So yes, altogether sweet and fun, this is one I’d love to reread and eventually add to my collection!

Tell me! Have you read An Ordinary Princess and what did you think? 

Movie Review ~ Ever After with Drew Barrymore and Dougray Scott (1998)

The time has finally come for reviewing one of my top favorite movies of all time. I’ve been planning this for quite a while, but as I was working on it I realized just how much I love its late summer/early autumn setting, making this a perfectly opportune time!

And now—with that pre-ramble out of the way—our Ever After post! (Possibly to be known also hereafter as screen cap overdose. ;D)

First off, Ever After has it all: a rich, satisfying wealth of adventure, beauty, humor, character development, masterful storytelling, and poignant, beautiful, twist-your-heartstrings romance. And then there are the gorgeous settings and music! The sixteenth century springs to life with all its breathtaking brilliance, clarity, and exuberance.

I want you to vividly experience the intensity and turns of the story for yourself, so in the following (with great self-restraint) I’m going to try and not give too many spoilers. 

However, there are a number of rumblings (vague content rumors and so forth) flying here and there, which is why it initially took me quite a while to see it, not being able to decide what exactly was up with it content-wise. So what I am going to do, is hopefully share the kind of particulars I personally would have found super helpful when trying to make up my mind. (To paraphrase Uncle Max, detailing “every last eensy-teensy frightful little detail.”)

First for some of the misconceptions. The biggest of these I had upon reading the advertising was that Danielle (i.e. Cinderella) was an independent, very modern, sixteenth century feminist. She’s nothing of the kind.

Well educated, strong in her own beliefs, feisty and spirited, yet equally gentle and soft-spoken, showing both honor and respect to the end, she’s absolutely beautiful! (More on her later.)

The second comes from the summary floating around saying something along the lines of “having the courage to make your dreams come true.” From that I got the impression (again) that it would be one of those “follow your heart at the expense of everyone and everything else” type stories. I am going to give a few spoilers on this one below, but let me assure you here and now—it isn’t. Not remotely. (Don’t you love it when the advertisers try to create a blaze? The same thing happened with my copy of N&S.)

Next for the ‘content’ stuff. As aforementioned, it’s robustly in period—permeated to the hilt with rich Renaissance/late-medieval atmosphere. In other words, it’s not Victorian. 

Some period idioms are used (i.e. “tub of guts,” for instance) and That Certain Exclamation is used a couple times (for reference, about as much as the ‘95 P&P and in similar context). There are a few innuendos in the market scene wherein Pierre Le Pieu first appears. And there’s one incident with a page near the end (where I think he’s caught attending to some personal business), but it’s NOT overt and really and truly, decidedly un-obvious. Absolutely nothing is shown. Earlier, a lady’s shoulder is shown as she’s slipping on a gown and later her upper back is shown after a whipping. Chamber pots are referenced and emptied out windows.

But please take my word for all this. Really. None of this content is more ‘iffy’ than some stuff in (for another familiar instance) Little Dorrit. In fact, much, much less so. I’m just detailing every last thing I can possibly think of to give as clear and persuasive a picture as possible. :)

Now on to the squeal-worthy part! And here I have to share some trivia facts too delightful to pass up.

#1: The story opens with the brothers Grimm calling on a nineteenth century French queen in her absolutely sumptuous rooms and fact #1 is something I only just noticed when working on this review. Have you ever noticed (those of you who have already seen this) that her bed is Leonardo’s ship from the masquerade ball?

#2: Incredibly (of all his work) it’s one of my two favorite Da Vinci paintings running through the entire story—fitting it with amazing perfection!

#3: I recently found an official movie ranking site had compiled a list of their favorite Cinderella adaptations this spring, reading from bottom to top. I didn’t recognize a lot at first and as I was scrolling I started going, “Oh… Ever After isn’t even getting mentioned in passing.” Based on some of the other variations they had, it seemed like it should at least have made the list. I was getting ruffled, but since (technically) it is a bit of a different take on the story I tried to remain calm and kept scrolling down.

The 2015 Cinderella came up as #2 and I thought, “That’s wild. I wonder what version they can possibly pick for #1?” Trying to will away the butterflies and starting to get excited as whatever-it-was would probably be worth seeing if it topped the 2015 Cinderella, I scrolled one last time and… guess what it was?!?! Yes! Absolutely! Ever After!!!! To say I’m still ecstatic would be an understatement. :)

This is probably the first film I’ve ever seen where I thought every single person (major and minor characters) were utterly and perfectly cast. 

There are a number of familiar faces, including Judy Parfitt (whom I’d seen all my growing up in the 80’s P&P as Lady Catherine and then later in Little Dorrit) playing the prince’s mother. And I love her in the part! It’s definitely my favorite of her roles. She’s so warm and gracious and regal!

And… we got all the way through before we realized we’d seen Dougray Scott (Prince Henry) in the Zorro tv show of all exciting wonders! He’s much younger in Zorro, but it’s especially funny as he has a roughly similar character arc—just about seven years earlier.

But now for the rest of the casting:

The young Danielle does excellently and her relationship with her father is absolute perfection.

There are the dear servants.

And Gustave.

Leonardo da Vinci

(“Then you learn to pay attention.”)

The Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent (Danielle’s stepmother).

(“She’s mute, my lord.”)

Marguerite, the nasty stepsister.

And Jacqueline who is SO sweet (with some of the most quote-adaptable comebacks)!

There’s the king (I love how his character changes—I wasn’t expecting it!)

The captain of the guard.

And the de Ghent household’s “benefactor”, Pierre Le Pieu, who is appropriately wicked and creepy.

And of course, the gypsies…

But first and foremost, there’s Danielle de Barbarac and Prince Henry.

During and throughout their various adventures together in river and wood, he treats her with such perfect and thorough respect and honor.

His character arc is incredible.

He becomes a man. And looking back over that arc, the depth and balance of the oft-times conflicting growth within it is astounding.

And there is Danielle herself. 

Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of what true beauty looks like. Courageous strength to risk oneself for a loved one—to say the hard words when called upon—is not incompatible with true femininity.  They’re inseparable qualities. Gentleness and grace with fierce loyalty. A clarity of vision and steadfastness of soul. The beauty of a gem wrought—fashioned—bent and shaped to glory through duress and pain, shining even in the darkness with the radiant light lying always at its heart.

Vibrant and pulsating with the potent reality of life, Ever After is a story of grace on the undeserving. The adventure of life is worth every pain—and the weight of glory on the other side is immense.

“While Cinderella and her prince did live happily ever after—the point, gentlemen, is that they lived.”

(And I’m sorry, this one’s blurry, but oh… the joy of it!!!)

 

In conclusion (and to borrow a phrase from my sister), it’s one of my greatest heart stories—true, good, beautiful, poignant, heady, glory-reflecting story—and I love it hard!

Tell me! Have you seen Ever After? What do you think?