An Earlier Flashman Film?
Wasn't there an earlier Flashman film, starring Malcolm Mcdowell, that
coverered the events in the first Flashman book. I can't find it listed anywhere...
No. Royal Flash is, alas, the only Flashman movie. However, the beginning of that movie does recreate part of the first Flashman book, namely Flashman's survival at Gandamak in the first Anglo-Afghan War where he wraps himself in the British colours to escape otherwise certain death.
shareThank you! That is a scene I remember. Now, if we could just get GMF to
write the long awaited Flashman in the Civil War novel...
[deleted]
Mr Fraser has indicated that the Civil War will be next. But as his current rate is five or six years per book, and he's 82 now, it will very possibly be the last one.
Which means that, even if Australia, Paraguay and the Boxer Rebellion were always meant to be just passing references, we'll never get Egypt or Mexico, and the Zulu War will remain confined to a few pages in _Tiger_.
____________________________
"An inglorious peace is better than a dishonourable war" ~ John Adams
Richard Lester had originally planned to make the first Flashman novel in 1970.
John Alderton was cast as Flashman and filming was due to commence in Spain (standing in for Afghanistan) when the project was pulled four weeks before shooting began.
Interestingly the screenplay was by Charles Wood rather than Fraser himself.
"Tinkerty tonk," I said, and I meant it to sting.
I don't think I'd ever heard that - John Alderton as Flashman? Hmm, that would have been interesting - I'd have to think about that one for a while.
Was it mentioned in Fraser's "screenwriting" book? Its been ages since I read it but I have no recollection of ever having heard that.
I read it in a Richard Lester biography The Man Who Framed The Beatles by Andrew Yule.
I hadn't heard of it either!
Quoting from p198 "Flashman was initially greenlighted by UA, cast with John Alderton in the lead, and came within four weeks opf shooting in 1970 near Granada, where the plan was to utilize the ancient dungeons beneath the Alhambra. The deal fell apart when a company representative turned up and informed Lester that Alderton had a triangular-shaped face, whereas he and his colleagues had always pictured Flashman as someone with an oblong visage. UA, it seemed wanted out; down went Flashman"
"Tinkerty tonk," I said, and I meant it to sting.
Thanks for that Sir Marmalade. Very interesting indeed - I'm so gld you shared.
I'm still trying to get my head around John Alderton in the role. An out and out hero role would be unusual for him, but I'm trying to imagine him playing a bit of a brute. A cad, certainly... He's an excellent actor and I think he could have puled it off, but its so far from anything else I've seen him in, its set my mind to really wondering. He's very under-rated IMHO. He was excellent in a NT production of Waiting For Godot some years ago, with Alec McCowen.
You haven't heard anythig more about the proposed TV series, have you?
BTW. I hadn't noticed your great Wodehouse sig last time. Wish I'd thought of it - I love that quote!
It is odd casting but I'm sure he would have pulled it off too.
I actually saw him in that NT production of Godot. It was 1987 or 88 as I was doing my Eng Lit A-level, Godot was on the syllabus and that was the production we saw!
The Flashman TV series is still "in development" as far as I know. Of course that could mean anything...
"Tinkerty tonk," I said, and I meant it to sting.
Hey, thats funny. I don't think I've ever actually mentioned that production online to anyone before. Small world. I didn't actually see Godot AT the National, it was on tour, either before or after the national run. I think after as, if memory serves, Colin Welland was in it in London, but didn't do the tour.
A good play to write essays about!
There's a 1967 Italian film:
http://imdb.com/title/tt0061676/
No idea what it's about.
````````````
Imagine that.
That's a science fiction film, and in any case it predates the first Flashman novel, so it can't be connected.
"I am Mr. Shackelford's attorney, Rusty Shackelford, and my client pleads insanity."
Wood was the fellow who wrote the '68 Charge of the Light Brigade, wasn't he? I could see that.
"Why spoil the beauty of the thing with legality?"