MovieChat Forums > Dracula (2007) Discussion > A meeting at the BBC six months ago...

A meeting at the BBC six months ago...

posted 17 years ago by braaaaaains
19 replies | jump to latest

Executive 1: "Guys, guys. So sorry to interrupt your discussion on how to show Only Fools and Horses 24/7...how's that going, by the way?"

Executive 2: "Oh, Soopah. We've got UK Gold lined up. They'll be showing Rod-Boy and Delney along with their Uncle Grandad non-stop between now and the end of time."

Executive 3: "Yes, it's a great idea, isn't it? Yes, great. Great."

Executive 2: "So, Tarquin. What's on your mind, eh?"

Executive 1: "Well, Simon. It goes down like this. I'm planning on having an adapation of Dracula bashed out to show at Chrimbo. How does that grab you?"

Executive 2 & 3: "Soopah."

Executive 1: "Great, great. The thing is, Dracula's based on a...book."

Executive 2: "Oh dear."

Executive 1: "Quite. But we can get round that by ignoring the book and just getting one of our minions to cobble together any old tat, throw in some corsets and maybe a touch of the syph...oh, and what about getting that Warren fellow? Sky have got him for something at Christmas so we better nab him back. Can't have people thinking he works for the dreaded Sky, can we?"

Executive 2 & 3: "Guffaw. Chortle."

Executive 1: "Great, great. Leave it with me. I'll have the script with you by...lunchtime. How does that sound?"

Executive 3: "Great."

Executive 2: "Great."

Executive 3: "Great."

[–] nathan_lovecraft 17 years ago

Hahahaha! That's hilarious! And the scary thing about it that it's probably a very accurate view of what really did take place!

[–] flo_tasker 17 years ago

A mysterious place that BBC headquaters. But i think they made a good decision to make Dracula, i like the look into the Stroker/Wilde relationship.

"Always look on the bright side of life!"

[–] By-TorX-1 17 years ago

An uncanny insight. Are you a remote viewer? It's great when classic books with excellent plots which have stood the test of time are hacked about and 'improved' by a writer who, well works for the BBC. I look forward to their adaptation of the Iliad in which Hector and Achilles are jettisoned and the ending is changed in favour of a PC conclusion in which Troy does not fall because war is, y'know, stupid and the Argives and Trojans make friends. I hear that David Jason is already being lined up to play Priam and Sarah Parish will be Helen.

[–] codenamecuckoo 17 years ago

Why do you all insist on berating the BBC for this? Form an opinion, and express it maturely, not through this childish slander (as in the first post).

I live for two things. One - science fiction. Two - reruns.

[–] nathan_lovecraft 17 years ago

"Why do you all insist on berating the BBC for this?"

Answer: Because everyone knows that the BBC CAN and OUGHT TO have produced an adaptation far superior to the dire mess they actually came up with! Moreover, we are all footing the bill for this pathetic rubbish! Without the financial subvention the BBC receives from the television license money it would not be broadcasting anything. This is why I suspect so many of us are "berating" the BBC, because programmes like "Dracula" are an insult to the television license payer who actually expects AND deserves value for money in the form of quality programmes and adaptations worthy of the name, not puerile claptrap which looked like it was conceived on the back of an envelope and thrown together in the space of a few hours. Honestly, the BBC ought to be ashamed to have their name associated with this egregious drivel!

[–] bromstaker 17 years ago

The BBC did produce a generally fine version of Dracula - but it was back in 1977.

[–] nathan_lovecraft 17 years ago

I can just about remember seeing a brief part of a re-run of the 1977 version, which, if memory serves, had Louis Jourdan as Count Dracula. From what I saw of that one, it seemed rather more interesting than this latest effort. I'd really like the opportunity of seeing the 1977 production fully, but it's very rarely that the BBC screens such programmes of yesteryear, which, generally speaking, were quite well done. Instead, they seem more interested in bringing out awful new versions of works which bear hardly any resemblance whatsoever to the purported source material. I'm just glad that they didn't mess up on the M R James adaptations. There we have something worth watching (if you are fortunate enough to have access to BBC4, that is).

[–] By-TorX-1 17 years ago

I'm afraid the days of quality supernatural drama are no more. As was evident in Dracula, without the confusing silly but supposedly 'cool' jumpcuts and fast editing and the shoehorning in of a Da Vinci Code-style secret society (it's what the punters want, guv) it was no doubt viewed that audiences would or could not connect with a classic story (we are the hoi-poloi, after all). But it shows the short-sightedness of the producers in casting someone they believe is popular in a role he is utterly unsuitable for. I have no problem with Marc Warren, but would any Victorian lady swoon in his presence? He looked like a bass player from an early 1980s goth band

[–] bromstaker 17 years ago

For those interested the 1977 BBC Louis Jourdan/Count Dracula is available at creepyclassics.com for $20.00 U.S. (At least that was the price when I got mine back in '04). It's the complete version, including the infamous brides/baby scene. I hope this helps.

[–] Miss_Defni 17 years ago

you know what

I don't care! It's dracula, so I enjoyed it. AND thought it was better than a lot of films out at the moment *couch cough THE HOLIDAY cough*

Shibby!

[–] sirdigbychickencaesar 17 years ago

[–] braaaaaains 17 years ago

Why do you all insist on berating the BBC for this? Form an opinion, and express it maturely, not through this childish slander (as in the first post).

This is my opinion. I'm expressing it in a way slightly different to:

"OMG LIKE DIS WUZ LAME INNIT."

And I second the comment about Dracula looking like someone from a Goth band :)

[–] sirdigbychickencaesar 17 years ago

Childish slander? I thought your opinion was expressed rather brilliantly.

...quest to save humanity from my nemesis, some bastard who's presumably responsible.

[–] braaaaaains 17 years ago

Thanks. Always nice to amuse people.

[–] Karen-vinter 17 years ago

That's very good.

And you know what? We can have a go at the BBC for this - because we pay their wages, literally. Over £100 per household, every year. Like any consumer, we have a right to complain.

Even more so since their historical dramas/literary adaptations are normally excellent, so it's a big disappointment that they didn't take more care over such a big-billed, Christmas production.

[–] mr_milbury 17 years ago

We get it............YOU DID NOT LIKE IT!

[–] braaaaaains 17 years ago

Yes, that's right. And the cool thing is we're allowed to say so as many times as we like just as you are free to say otherwise.

[–] JediMasterCheryl 12 years ago

Holy Sh*t! This is the funniest thing I've read in ages.

Please tell me your a writer for the BBC. If so, I may actually start watching the telly again after about a 15 year shut-out.

Brill!! Just Brill!

[–] braaaaaains 11 years ago

Ha. Not been here in ages. Thought I'd come back and see what's what.

Anyway, nope, not a writer at the Beeb. Just someone who thought this was awful.