The Film of the Book - Can it ever be as good?
You wait fifty six years for a film and then two come along at the same time. What are the chances? Rosemary Sutcliff's book The Eagle of the Ninth has been an all time favourite of mine since I read it at school (which wasn't quite 56 years ago - that was when it was first published) and when I heard it was going to be turned into a film I was ecstatic. For me that story has everything: a spooky historical mystery at its heart - the disappearance of a Roman legion north of Hadrian's Wall - adventure, romance and a great setting. So I hurried off to find out all about the film... And discovered both of them.First up, in April, is Centurion. This appears to be inspired by the story of 
the Roman Ninth Legion rather than actually based on Rosemary Sutcliff's book. It stars Michael Fassbender and Dominic West, two good reasons to go and see it, aside from the actual story. I like the idea of a plucky band of seven warriors fighting back against overwhelming odds deep inside enemy territory. (Shades of the King Arthur film with Clive Owen there.) The tagline "Fight or Die" certainly goes for the throat.
the Roman Ninth Legion rather than actually based on Rosemary Sutcliff's book. It stars Michael Fassbender and Dominic West, two good reasons to go and see it, aside from the actual story. I like the idea of a plucky band of seven warriors fighting back against overwhelming odds deep inside enemy territory. (Shades of the King Arthur film with Clive Owen there.) The tagline "Fight or Die" certainly goes for the throat.
Then, in the summer, there is The Eagle of the Ninth, the film of the book, starring Channing Tatum and an all star cast. So what to do? Either or both? And at the back of my mind is that thought that always lurks when I go to see the film of a favourite book: Can the film possibly do the book justice? I call this the "Frenchman's Creek" experience. Years ago there was a made-for-TV-movie of Daphne Du Maurier's Frenchman's Creek, a fabulous book that is on my all time favourites list. But oh dear, the disappointment and the disillusionment of the film! Sometimes it really is better to stay away from that movie screen and relish the printed word and the power of your own imagination.
What do you think? Did you read and enjoy Rosemary Sutcliff's book? Will you be going to see either of these movies? And have you seen a film of a book that equalled or exceeded the original?
Comments
As a self-confessed Roman nut and a film fan I will go and see both. Mark Strong's always good...
But as for whether they're faithful to the book? Film is such a visual, open, often shared medium which can give you some fabulous photography, especially of the landscape, but a book is a personal, secret world, interpreted through your own mindset.
Two different experiences...
You decide!
I did see Frenchman's Creek and it encouraged me to read the book but it was the golden oldie with Joan Fontaine.
Margaret, I must hunt out the Joan Fontaine version. So many of these golden oldies are fabulous, especially in comparison to the remakes.
www.rosemarysutciff.wordpress.som
Film? No, don't think so. I like my private worlds intact. For me it was the Mary Poppins experience. Adored the books as a child. The film - while good - was, er, different.
It is great that they are making these sorts of films.
The books were excellent, but in the 56 years since they have learnt a lot more about the time period...
I will totally see these two movies--I am a sucker for "swords and sandals" pics, and I loved the book way back when I read it. You've inspired me to take it off the shelf for a re-read very soon!
I came away enthused about what the film will be. It is 'inspired' by the book, but it follows (parts of) the story closely in most rspects. But in fascinating conversations with the director (Kevin Macdonald who won an oscar directing King of Scotland...) and producer (Duncan Kenworthy, producer of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting hill amongst others) i got a glimpse into the thinking behind how it is turning out.
Thus for example, as he has spoken about publicly. the director has made some choices about story, and casting, and emotional emphasis precisely in order to be relevant to 2010, 55+ years on from the time in which the book was first imagined, written and read.
SO, I am hopeful for TEOTN. Centurion is a very different film, and not connected with the book itself in any way.
If you are minded, I have been gathering stuff at www.rosemarysutcliff.wordpress.com and have tweet-feed at www.twitter.com/rsutcliff All contributions very very welcome!
http://rosemarysutcliff.wordpress.com/ Full of fascinating information for the Rosemary Sutcliff fan. Thank you again!