MovieChat Forums > The Silver Chair (1990) Discussion > Tom Baker as Puddleglum

Tom Baker as Puddleglum

posted 18 years ago by sophie_amundsen
10 replies | jump to latest

I know this has already probably been said. I was watching SC today and though how difficult it would be to beat Tom Baker as Puddleglum! He did such a lovely job with the character! I don't remember this film at all from when the series was on TV, so I can't say it is only nostalgia. SC was always one of my favourite books in the series. I hope the new film goes well but I can't see there being a better Puddleglum! :)

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[–] LisaLisa85 18 years ago

Not sure how they persuaded such a stalwart as Tom Baker to play the character in the first place... But very good he was!

[–] priha188 17 years ago

In my opinion The Silver Chair is the best in the Narnia series, the most profoundly symbolic and also the most humourous. Puddleglum, I think, is one of the funniest fantasy characters, just as entertaining as Tolkien's Gollum, though thankfully not nearly as tragic.
Subtle, yet highly comedic, Tom Baker absolutely shines in this role, he steals the show as far as I'm concerned! Though a highly compelling and impressive adaptation of Lewis's book, especially considering the limited special effects of the time, I sometimes think The Silver Chair is worth watching for Baker's performance alone!

[–] cmputraddct 17 years ago

Yup! I've been in love with both books and movies since I was little.
And today I found out that Baker was also the Fourth Doctor in the (also) BBC long-running show, Doctor Who! I've been a big fan of that for a while without even knowing the connection!

They're up to Ten, now.
*pokes siggy*

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David Tennant is so mine!

[–] rosempearse 17 years ago

er... exactly HOW long have you been a Doctor Who fan withut knowing that the most famous Doctor EVER was Tom Baker? Let me guess, you jumped on the bandwagon in 2005?

[–] cmputraddct 17 years ago

I realized that he was Puddleglum the first second I heard him talk as the Doctor.
He became a favorite after I watched him in one of the multi-episode Dalek plots.
I was only 7 when I saw Silver Chair, and then 6-7 years later learn of him in Doctor Who.

Eh, sorry. My dad has seen every single Doctor Who episode in existence. He's mentioned it before, but he didn't go out of his way to point it out when I didn't express interest before now. It's not like I can watch old episodes any time I want. And 2005? Nah, not really.. my sister joined with Eccleston, I'd watched a few episodes then but I actually hated most sci-fi since my family is Star Wars crazed....
I joined officially, you could say, when I found out that Ten was someone I'd seen in a movie. I'm just like that, I stick with one or two movies/shows and find someone in it and watch that; rinse and repeat with that. That's how I really started liking science fiction in general. Ehh, I'm a newer fan, sure, but I've been searching for older episodes everywhere since then. I've also got my dad the DW data bank to help me out. I'm probably the youngest person on this board, and one of the youngest on the Doctor Who forums. It's not like I can't just start liking it now, that wouldn't be fair at all.

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David Tennant is so mine!
Brilliant!

[–] south_tx_wanderer_77 17 years ago

Ahhhh tom baker..the 4th doctor..my first and favorite doctor..how anyone could ever have been a fan and not know of him,, well thats just silly...never saw this ovie tho,,,wih i could find it,,im sure i will,, but the remake will not be as good imbetting due to the script re writes and liberties hollywood takes with such novels to movies adaptations..

[–] the_asylum666 17 years ago

Tom Baker was great as Puddleglum and its a delight to watch his character. Loved his big speech to the Green Lady showing how his faith in Aslan and Narnia will never be destroyed.

[–] VeryaTheRingOfIce 8 years ago

I loved the bit where he said, "You might only have two, or one" and held up two fingers. It reminded me of "Image of the Fendahl" when he did the same thing, holding up four fingers and saying, "Remember, three minutes."

[–] pferreira86 7 years ago

When he first sees the Underworld people he says “This is just what I needed. If these chaps don't teach me to take a serious view of life, I don't know what will.” ". 

[–] Ed (522) 2 years ago

Silver Chair is the BEST Narnia film, by far. It oushines the first two BBC productions in the series, and despite the low budget and SfX, it trumps the 3 cinema films. Tom Baker is SO good! And the rest of the cast, even the kids, are pretty spot on, too. Plus, this is a very faitfhul adaptation of the novel.

I wish more fantasy films captured the magic and fun of their source novels as those the BBC’s Silver Chair.