MovieChat Forums > Royal Flash (1975) Discussion > A series of novels just waiting to be f...

A series of novels just waiting to be filmed..!


When oh when will some film company start making the Flashman books into films. It's a series that could, in the right hands, run and run. Fantastic locations, gripping stories, lots of comedy, brilliant characters, lots of action and even educational! Box office Ker-ching!

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It seems like it would be a difficult series to render on film, as there's so much background information that you need in order to make the story more than just a generic swashbuckler.

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Agreed! I absolutely LOVE The Flashman Papers, and if done properly would make for really entertaining, and ultimately educational, cinema. The only one I think would be a bit tough to adapt would be Flash For Freedom! due to the very matter-of-fact dialogue and attitudes concerning slavery and racism. Might be a tough sell.
Otherwise, revive Harry Flashman!

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I have read most of the books and loved them, but I think it would be difficult to capture on film because so much is going on in Flash's point of view. Without the internal dialogue, he would look like and action hero. We would miss the accidental and cowardly nature of his adventures. If it could be done right, I would see it a more of a BBC series.

I have to admit I did not see Royal Flash so I cannot comment on how well it was done here.

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True that about the internal dialogue - that is what made the books so damn hilarious.
You should check out Royal Flash, which is now on DVD. Richard Lester did a fantastic job with the sight gags and visualizing all of Flashman's cowardice and chance heroics. And Malcom McDowell was absolutely PERFECT in that role. George MacDonald Fraser agrees too as he states in an interview that is on the disc.

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I'd film the lot in order and as they were written.

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It's weird that Fraser liked McDowell so much - he's nothing like my picture of Flashman in looks or persona. McDowell's performance isn't bad, but he's a great actor so that's natural. It's more an issue of casting.

"That's what the elves call Justice of the Unicorn!"

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I know nothing about the FLASHMAN books but I know I loved this film having seen it for the first time tonight.
I don't know how I missed it back in 1975.

See some stars here
http://www.vbphoto.biz/

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I think the movies would work best with the elderly Flashman narrating the story from the safety of old age to provide his hilarious inner monolgue from time to time, punctuating the main action of the adventures of the younger Flashman.

I reckon a maverick director like Tarantino would do the books justice as well as not being afraid to shirk from the more controversial subject matter.

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Well ? How dyou get on? Hurry up I'll be dead soon.

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The BBC or ITV (british tv companies) I don't remember which, where rumoured 5 years ago to be making a tv mini series of the Books, Colin Firth was to Star as Flashman but I think it fell trhough.

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Colin Firth as Flashman? That doesn't sound right.

"That's what the elves call Justice of the Unicorn!"

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A TV series might work better than films, but on the other hand the location shooting and myriad battle scenes would stretch a TV budget to the extreme.

"That's what the elves call Justice of the Unicorn!"

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I just stumbled into the series and they are great! If it wasn't for the movie I never would have found the books

Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!

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