New BBC version planned! - Poldark (1977) Discussion

[–] randommovies2002 11 years ago

Hi SG. I'm really looking forward to this. I can't wait to learn who has been cast. I've just found out that much of it will be filmed in Cornwall, so that's great news!

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[–] Venus-25 11 years ago

I am curious, too. However, I was glad that Ross and Demelza were cast as they were in the original. With the possible exception of Vikings, heroic men just don't have red hair.

The Fabio Principle: Puffy shirts look best on men who look even better without them.

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[–] SallyBaughn 10 years ago

Are you not aware that some of the DNA of the people in the UK (including both Irelands) is from that of the Vikings? Now if only I could follow the Viking DNA...

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[–] SallyBaughn 10 years ago

Are you not aware that some of the DNA of the people in the UK (including both Irelands) is from that of the Vikings? Now if only I could follow the Viking DNA...

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[–] supergran 11 years ago

Hi RM!

Wenn ist das Nunstück git und Slotermeyer? Ja! Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput!

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[–] randommovies2002 11 years ago

Love your new sig! ---->

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[–] greenegg 11 years ago

After The Forsyte Saga reboot debacle, I'm nervous about these modern remakes, but if my board comrade RM feels excited about the prospect, then I'll keep an open mind.

Put puppy mills out of business: never buy dogs from pet shops!

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[–] Torian06 11 years ago

June is about to end, I wonder if BBC1 has already picked the actor to play Ross Poldark ?

I saw a link at the Eddie Redmayne Board that also mentioned the remake of the original Poldark, but only says the production people are looking for a young actor to play the lead character.

http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/tv/news/eddie-redmayne-292006.html

Perhaps - if I understood right - Redmayne, Hoult and the other names mentioned in the article will be other characters in the story because I don't think any of those actors will fit the role of Ross Poldark.

Truth inexorably,inscrutably seeks and reveals Itself into the Light.

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[–] supergran 11 years ago

Please don't let it be Eddie Redmayne!

There was a piece by Debbie Horsfield, the scriptwriter, in last week's Radio Times:

I didn't catch the 1970s series at the time - and I hadn't done an adaptation before - but I was sent the first two books by [production company] Mammoth and fell completely in love with them. It's a fascinating time in history: England had just been involved in the American revolutionary war, and it's just before the French Revolution. It's set in Cornwall in the tin and copper mining industry, which is struggling. And there are amazing characters. You've got the landed gentry and also the workers, the miners and the peasants. Ross Poldark is a landowner and a mine owner, but straddles the two worlds because he has a real sense of social justice and morality, but without being priggish about it. He's a bit of a rebel, and that's always appealing. He's torn between two classes and backgrounds, and he's torn between two women.

The other thing I love is that POLDARK has the delicacy and subtlety of Jane Austen - and all the social occasions and the balls and the dances - but then it's got all these huge shipwrecks and riots and smuggling. It's got it all, really. I'd recommend everyone reads the books - they're just amazing!

Wenn ist das Nunstück git und Slotermeyer? Ja! Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput!

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[–] randommovies2002 11 years ago

Amen to that.

I'd like to see someone who really embodies the character, who looks good on a horse, who can do justice to the c18 clothing.

I'd like the actor to be young enough (25-30) and look rugged enough to have survived his wounds in America (and 18th century medicine!), who can be convincing as a brash maverick type with a devil-may-care attitude.

Most importantly, someone who can actually act.

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[–] Torian06 11 years ago

And British.

Truth inexorably,inscrutably seeks and reveals Itself into the Light.

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[–] supergran 11 years ago

He's got a lot to live up to!

So you like my new sig, RM? Just don't translate it! The last person who did, dropped dead on the spot!

Wenn ist das Nunstück git und Slotermeyer? Ja! Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput!

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[–] randommovies2002 11 years ago

Indeed! ---->

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[–] greenegg 11 years ago

Love your homage to the immortal Pythons, Supergran. I recognized the reference immediately, thanks to a youth spent memorizing everything the Pythons did.

Put puppy mills out of business: never buy dogs from pet shops!

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[–] greenegg 11 years ago

From your lips,..., RM! I've been struggling to come up with someone appropriate, other than Richard Armitage, but he might be a trifle too old. His face has remained youthful, so maybe he could pull it off with the right makeup, lighting, etc. He's one of the few current actors who can pull off maverick and humanitarian; he's already proven he can act in period pieces. You're so right about someone who can actually act. I'm re-watching the original series and again felt struck by how much Robin Ellis says with his body language, as well as with his gorgeous voice.

Put puppy mills out of business: never buy dogs from pet shops!

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[–] alfa-16 11 years ago

My wife still has not recovered from them bumping off Ann Stallybrass on Christmas Day.

I never got over discovering it was an anagram of Old Krap.

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[–] randommovies2002 11 years ago

I'm not following, Alfa. From which program was Anne Stallybrass "bumped off"? (Or was that a crack about Dan Stevens, lol?)

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[–] alfa-16 11 years ago

My mistake. It was the Onedin Line. We didn't watch Old Krap.

Well I didn't watch either.

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[–] supergran 11 years ago

ASM (A Senior Moment)

The memory of Robin Ellis with boots, breeches, ponytail and scar is enough to give many a middle-aged woman a hot flush!

Wenn ist das Nunstück git und Slotermeyer? Ja! Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput!

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[–] Venus-25 11 years ago

Those are big boots to fill.

I think the next actor has to be about 30. Today's 25-year-olds would look too young.

The Fabio Principle: Puffy shirts look best on men who look even better without them.

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[–] randommovies2002 11 years ago

Today's 25-year-olds would look too young.

Someone younger than thirty could work so I didn't want to rule them ALL out.

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[–] alfa-16 11 years ago

Rather too many ASM's these days, sadly . . .

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[–] greenegg 11 years ago

You hit the nail on the head with that observation, Supergran! RE still looks incredibly handsome nearly 40 years on. Talk about a big costume to fill!

Put puppy mills out of business: never buy dogs from pet shops!

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[–] parkerzielinski 8 years ago

And people complain about all the ogling on Aidian Turner. What exactly is a hot flush? Some kinda sexual thing with a toliet or something? Hahaha

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[–] supergran 8 years ago

You have to be a woman of a certain age to be familiar with a hot flush (or flash as I believe they're called in the US.). 

If there aren't any skeletons in a man's closet, there's probably a Bertha in his attic.

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[–] parkerzielinski 8 years ago

I know what a hot flash is. Lol I've did not know it was called a hot flash over the pond. I thought it was just a typo and seemed really funny. Didn't mean anything bad thanks for the info!

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[–] randommovies2002 11 years ago

Ahh, okay then. And thanks for spoiling me on Onedin. (LOL, jk. Not worried. I already knew she kicked the bucket at some point.)

I've only seen s1 of Onedin, and not even sure if I watched all of it. I'd like to continue with it, but that's all that's been released on DVD in the US and I'm too cheap to purchase the whole series from UK/Europe. I've seen other bits here and there on yt, so maybe I should check around again to see what's uploaded online.

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[–] alfa-16 11 years ago

Mea culpa.

Even though I wasn't a fan, I thought tossing out a major character on Christmas Day was a bit rough. Not Game of Thrones Red Wedding rough, but bad enough.

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[–] meerschweinchen_freunde 11 years ago

I was reading that the Poldark Appreciation Society took a poll of their members as to who should play Ross Poldark and the vote was overwhelmingly for Richard Armitage.

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[–] greenegg 10 years ago

Good for them! I'm starting to feel clairvoyant. Does anyone know much about Aidan Turner, who won the role of Ross? He's the right age; let's hope the rest is on point.

Put puppy mills out of business: never buy dogs from pet shops!

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[–] Venus-25 11 years ago

Is there any word on whether they will cover all the books or only the first 7 like the original series?

The Fabio Principle: Puffy shirts look best on men who look even better without them.

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[–] Torian06 11 years ago

I haven't read the books - I learned from one of the threads here that there are twelve by the author - so I also hope the planned series will have those remaining five that wasn't in the original show.

I've placed all the twelve titles of Winston Graham on my *Must Read List* of books and truly hoping I could start with the first soon.

Truth inexorably,inscrutably seeks and reveals Itself into the Light.

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[–] Venus-25 11 years ago

I think I'm still missing the last two, so I have to check.

I say no to Eddie Redmayne. He doesn't look tough enough and he's not very dashing.

The Fabio Principle: Puffy shirts look best on men who look even better without them.

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[–] greenegg 11 years ago

ITA about Redmayne being a terrible choice for RP. I urge those of you who haven't read the books to schedule some reading time. I've read my copies so many times, I've had to replace several of them. I remember staying up all night to read The Black Moon in one sitting. My family was away, and I received one of those hang-up phone calls, so I curled up on the sofa with the book in my hands and a cleaver on the table next to me, just in case. The first few novels I purchased in the US; those versions were really flimsy. Some of the later novels never made it to the US, so from Four Swans on, I have the UK versions. I also have a first edition signed copy of The Loving Cup I found in a used book shop in Leeds. I started jumping up and down when I found it. I remember purchasing Bella Poldark from Amazon UK.

I hope the producers of this new series cover all the books. I've been waiting thirty years for someone to do just that. Please let them avoid the mistakes made in the 90s by the idiots who butchered The Stranger From the Sea.

Put puppy mills out of business: never buy dogs from pet shops!

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[–] Self-ConfessedAnglophile 11 years ago

I read there will be 6 x 1 hour episodes, so the chances of them covering all the books are slim, to say the least. How on God's green earth could they ever fit 12 books into 6 hours and do the story justice?

On another tack, I truly don't know if I'm prepared to watch anyone other than Robin Ellis and Angharad Rees as Ross and Demelza :-( When this is done, I probably will watch it, but it'll have to be extraordinary to come near to the original, omho.

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[–] Venus-25 11 years ago

That doesn't begin to cover it. It took 29 episodes to do 7 of the books in the 70s, so the new version should have at least 50 episodes.

I wonder whether Mexican novelas are seen in Britain. That format would work for this series.

The Fabio Principle: Puffy shirts look best on men who look even better without them.

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[–] greatescaper 10 years ago

On another tack, I truly don't know if I'm prepared to watch anyone other than Robin Ellis and Angharad Rees as Ross and Demelza

Tough shoes to fill for sure! Auditions for Demelza are being held this weekend in Truro:

http://bit.ly/1bpQBVC

http://bit.ly/1fmMrAT

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[–] randommovies2002 10 years ago

Here's the casting announcement from the casting director, as reported on kneehigh's website:

Casting for BBC series: Poldark

Susie Parriss is looking for a Cornish actress to play one of the leading roles of DEMELZA in a new BBC series of Poldark. Auditions in Truro today and tomorrow!

Here are the details from Susie:

FILMING DATES: 14TH APRIL – END OF AUGUST . STUDIO AND LOCATIONS IN BOTH BRISTOL AND CORNWALL.

DEMELZA

"Playing age of 17-20. Cannot consider anyone in full time education as the schedule will be intense and we can not work around study leave/exams. Applicants must also be aged 17 or over, Year 12 plus.

"Demelza is STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL. Good physique. In the novel she has dark brown hair but so long as the successfully cast actresss is prepared to dye her hair brown all hair colours can be considered. It is the most amazing role and challenge for any young actress and obviously we are looking for outstanding star talent..

"If you are, or know of any actress with star quality talent (amateur or professional) who fits this brief please would email me a photo and a short letter/resume to my eamil address
http://www.kneehigh.co.uk/list/poldark-casting.php

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[–] randommovies2002 10 years ago

The Poldark Society announced that there will be 8 eps, not 6, and will cover the first two Poldark novels.

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[–] supergran 10 years ago

Thanks RM!

Well, that's interesting. Looks like they don't mind a relative unknown but want her to be Cornish and possess "star quality talent". That's good. Trying to sound Cornish can just end up sounding silly!

The original first series of Poldark covered the first four books, according to wiki. I think it was at least a dozen episodes. So that makes this new version roughly proportionate, which is quite a good pace.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.

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[–] randommovies2002 10 years ago

I like that they're looking at younger actresses, and going for brunettes (or actresses willing to dye their hair). It bodes well for going back to the novels instead of trying to remake the classic series. IMO, if you're going to do a new version of something, it's better to go back to the book than try to improve on (or update) the earlier version.

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[–] supergran 10 years ago

IMO, if you're going to do a new version of something, it's better to go back to the book than try to improve on (or update) the earlier version.

Oh, definitely. It's the only way. Although only a fool would completely ignore previous adaptations. It's good to see what does and doesn't work (IMO).

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.

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[–] 10 years ago

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[–] Redart27 10 years ago

Oh I hope this comes to the US!! Who will play Warleggan?

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