tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post241333177974895388..comments2024-03-28T13:17:31.923-07:00Comments on Raritania: Filming John le Carrés The Honourable Schoolboy? (A Note on the Challenges)Naderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06937701625419069972noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-92198114467087639562021-11-22T05:00:10.177-08:002021-11-22T05:00:10.177-08:00I'm afraid I don't recall any such film. B...I'm afraid I don't recall any such film. But I would be curious to know myself. (Is there any chance you recall details such as cast members?)Naderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06937701625419069972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-69734409706529448622021-11-21T07:25:54.335-08:002021-11-21T07:25:54.335-08:00I re-read the Le Carre books once a decade or so. ...I re-read the Le Carre books once a decade or so. At every reading I find something that I had hitherto missed.<br /><br />I am most of the way through Honourable and, like many, lament the fact that no one has filmed it. Maybe the Russians will eventually.<br /><br />This is actually a request for information. A while after I read the scene wherein Westerby kidnaps Charlie Marshall out of an opium den and interrogates him, I realized I have seen this whole scene in a movie. <br /><br />Does anyone know the name of this movie? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-28842131420287931592021-08-02T08:06:51.275-07:002021-08-02T08:06:51.275-07:00Thanks for writing.
The idea of doing the project...Thanks for writing.<br /><br />The idea of doing the project that way is definitely interesting--and has me thinking again about how back in the '90s there were wide expectations that we'd see the screen filled with digitally recreated actors from other eras. (I remember how in one of Clive Cussler's very near future-set Dirk Pitt novels--Inca Gold--there was, in a sign of the times, casual reference to a movie called Arizona Sunset, where Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts acted with Humphrey Bogart, Lionel Barrymore and Marilyn Monroe, just as an amusing detail that would let us know we were in that near future year of 1998.)<br /><br />In hindsight it seems obvious that the technology was not there yet, and at the same time there were the legal complications stemming from the use of such images, and that held things up for a long time. (I remember how little the much-hyped use of Laurence Olivier in 2004's Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and Marlon Brando in 2006's Superman Returns amounted to in the end.) But there seems to have been a revival of interest in the idea since (with Peter Cushing in Rogue One, the plans for putting James Dean in Finding Jack, etc.). I'm not sure we're all the way there yet now. (The imagery of Cushing, for instance, was less than perfectly convincing, and I have no idea what's come of the Finding Jack project.) And doing a whole miniseries that way would be far, far more ambitious than anything of the kind tried to date. But if the technology keeps progressing (and associated production costs decline)--and the legalities get worked out in such a way that getting an actor's image for such a project becomes a routine matter--we may well see an Honourable Schoolboy miniseries starring Guinness, Richardson et. al. become a viable project.Naderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06937701625419069972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-44967405445558617222021-07-24T14:30:23.540-07:002021-07-24T14:30:23.540-07:00The BBC productions of 'Tinker Tailor' &am...The BBC productions of 'Tinker Tailor' & 'Smiley's People' were so well done, with decent respect for the novels, that the longed-for film version of 'Honourable Schoolboy' can -- I suspect -- only be done via technology. My *ideal* version of Schoolboy would preserve the cast from Tinker Tailor; meaning digital resurrections of Guinness, et al. Whether in future that could be done well enough to avoid major disappointment to fans of the Karla Trilogy I don't know. But George Smiley was so well acted twice in the BBC versions, (with fine supporting casts) I would prefer resurrections to, say, another Oldman outing. Whether production costs would be reduced compared to location shooting (and live action), and enough to accommodate a smaller audience...are necessarily unknowns. And then a good script, of course. Asking for the whole package, but why not? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-80467999717595879202021-07-15T06:06:07.953-07:002021-07-15T06:06:07.953-07:00Hi Lucy. Thanks for writing.
The idea of streaming...Hi Lucy. Thanks for writing.<br />The idea of streaming services generating the sheer volume and variety of content they do now was just barely emerging back when I wrote the post (2013--House of Cards was still a novelty then), but it has certainly created new options for content, like the prospect of big-budget productions not fitting either the 2 hour movie or the multi-season TV series format. So in the end I think you're right about Netflix--a streaming service limited series easily the best bet for continuing the Smiley saga.<br />Naderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06937701625419069972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-45439783512913502372021-07-08T01:04:13.130-07:002021-07-08T01:04:13.130-07:00Found this after google search for Honorable movie...Found this after google search for Honorable movie. Feel optimistic that Netflix would support a mini series of "Honorable" I see Smiley as a little pink & tubby. Enjoyed article. There are ways to maximize the investment in the making of such a movie.Lucy Sheehannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-41901814319577760162018-08-05T06:34:59.267-07:002018-08-05T06:34:59.267-07:00Hi Anonymous. Sorry I missed your comment until no...Hi Anonymous. Sorry I missed your comment until now (and I'll spare you the totally commonplace uninteresting explanations for the delay).<br />Thank you for the notice about the BBC project, which I hadn't known about 'til now. As always, your comment is appreciated.Naderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06937701625419069972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-36725071700190489872018-07-24T15:24:44.405-07:002018-07-24T15:24:44.405-07:00Hi. Following the success of The Night Manager, th...Hi. Following the success of The Night Manager, the BBC are currently shooting<br />a new version of The Little Drummer Girl due for release as a mini-series next year(2019). Whilst it's highly unlikely they'll ever make The Honourable Schoolboy for the screen, I personally think they should film more of the stand alone books. A Perfect Spy was a brilliant book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-83743252571760386202018-04-03T12:31:07.795-07:002018-04-03T12:31:07.795-07:00I can't help being struck by how many people h...I can't help being struck by how many people have found their way to this particular post-and have offered their thoughts here. Thank you all.Naderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06937701625419069972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-17729552341748928062018-04-03T12:30:01.046-07:002018-04-03T12:30:01.046-07:00Hi Ricky. Thanks for writing.
Unfortunately, I can...Hi Ricky. Thanks for writing.<br />Unfortunately, I can't answer that one, but I do appreciate the sentiment.<br />Regards,<br />NaderNaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06937701625419069972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-4627646421459269572018-04-03T07:44:37.100-07:002018-04-03T07:44:37.100-07:00Without Alec Guiness how could anyone have everoll...Without Alec Guiness how could anyone have everolling made Honourable? The original Tiger certainly stands the test of time.Rickynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-53248303922451513092018-03-01T04:12:32.363-08:002018-03-01T04:12:32.363-08:00And thank you for writing. Rather more than most b...And thank you for writing. Rather more than most books, these certainly do reward--invite--even seem to demand--rereading. It is one reason why, I think, just as with a good many other classics that everyone praises but which few seem to have actually read (let alone understood even on the level of following a plot along) we so rarely come across very much of substance written about le Carre's novels. (Indeed, to go by what I see online, you might well be right about being the world's greatest authority on the trilogy.)<br />As to the screenplay: I'd like to be able to help with such a suggestion, but, alas, am in no position to make referral or recommendation. As it is, the best I can do is offer the reminder you've probably heard before about the risks involved in writing and pitching a script based on material to which someone else has the rights. All the same, thanks again and best regards.Naderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06937701625419069972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-90987615396145822652018-02-28T16:02:30.031-08:002018-02-28T16:02:30.031-08:00Thank you for these posts. I find this all very in...Thank you for these posts. I find this all very interesting and informative. I "jokingly" refer to myself as the foremost authority on the Karla trilogy. Of course, there are those much more knowledgeable than I, I am sure. However, I've seen the BBC series 3 or 4 times, Read each book at least 6 times, and have seen the modern film about 6 times. These works of literature and film are artistically close to my heart. To the point, I have decided to write a screenplay for The Honorable Schoolboy, and if anyone knows whom I can send this to when complete, please let me know. Best Regards, DaveAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02732143296269835855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-58775630402252186872017-07-25T07:43:12.992-07:002017-07-25T07:43:12.992-07:00No need for apology in regard to liking that book!...No need for apology in regard to liking that book! I personally think it was the richest book in the trilogy, in a number of ways.<br />In any event, I do see where you're coming from regarding a cinematic adaptation. There are bits here that have some potential, as you say, if with some difficulty, which I think merits a word. I think the big danger would be that they would either make a faithful movie which plays up the sensational bits for the audience in the marketing (much of which audience would come away from the film feeling like it was tricked), or sacrifice much of the meat of the story in actually stressing the more sensational bits of the book.<br />Thanks for writing!<br /><br />Naderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06937701625419069972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-39573200641314795512017-07-24T12:28:28.425-07:002017-07-24T12:28:28.425-07:00I disagree about the commercial prospects of an ad...I disagree about the commercial prospects of an adaptation, though granted it would still be difficult. They are, I think, better than those of <i>Tinker, Tailor</i> - the setting in East Asia is quite glamorous, and the passages in Cambodia with the war as backdrop and a central love story do, I think, give it some blockbuster potential. I've always put down the fact that <i>The Honourable Schoolboy</i> is my favourite Le Carré novel to my childish taste!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-62270245758397085962014-09-07T06:11:42.918-07:002014-09-07T06:11:42.918-07:00Hi Hoyacoder. Thanks for writing.
I certainly agr...Hi Hoyacoder. Thanks for writing.<br /><br />I certainly agree that even if an Honourable Schoolboy movie is a commercially daunting prospect, the events of that book are a crucial bridge between Tinker Tailor and Smiley's People.<br /><br />The whole situation at the start of Smiley's People simply doesn't make sense without it. Of course, one could try and make a version of Smiley's People which incorporates some of the material from the middle book--but I think the results of any such effort are likely to be awkward at best, and overall a very poor alternative to a proper trilogy.Naderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06937701625419069972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-63413676398213529882014-09-06T14:11:38.614-07:002014-09-06T14:11:38.614-07:00I very much liked the Gary Oldman version of Tinke...I very much liked the Gary Oldman version of <i>Tinker Tailor</i>, which I agree was "an impressive feat of compression and rearrangement." However, IMO it simply can't compare with the Alec Guinness version, which I own and have recently watched two more times in the past month or so. I've also watched <i>Smiley's People</i> again, twice, which I now consider superior to <i>Tinker Tailor</i>. (The two books/films are inversely related IMO: <i>Tinker Tailor</i> is all about deception and betrayal whereas <i>Smiley's People</i> is all about love and devotion.) <br /><br />Having read and admired <i>The Karla Trilogy,</i> I find that in watching <i>Tinker Tailor</i> and <i>Smiley's People</i> I sense the huge gap in the overall story that needs filing, and that means that a film version of <i>The Honourable Schoolboy</i> is needed. Unfortunately, as you suggest, making such a film would be a gargantuan effort, plus I doubt that the film would have much box office appeal, except among le Carré aficionados.Hoyacoderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15211352180156813095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-36552917642763609892014-07-17T05:55:53.700-07:002014-07-17T05:55:53.700-07:00I've never heard of one, and certainly there i...I've never heard of one, and certainly there isn't one listed at the IMDB.<br /><br />http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0494170/Naderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06937701625419069972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-35621671159544900092014-07-16T15:00:48.486-07:002014-07-16T15:00:48.486-07:00Was there ever a tv movie or miniseries version of...Was there ever a tv movie or miniseries version of The Honourable Schoolboy, perhaps under a different title?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-66060977682281931582014-03-13T15:16:46.273-07:002014-03-13T15:16:46.273-07:00No worries! I was just.. surprised. I had gone loo...No worries! I was just.. surprised. I had gone looking for the actors who've played Jerry Westerby to get a picture in my head and was distracted by the subject of your post. Shame we probably won't get a sequel, though I understand the BBC radio productions of the three novels are excellent, as are the Alec Guinness versions of books one and three. Book two was similarly too expensive for the BBC.<br /><br />Thank you for following up on my post!Bently T.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-33444910165374406132014-03-13T12:15:17.520-07:002014-03-13T12:15:17.520-07:00Quite right.
I apologize for the inconvenience, a...Quite right.<br /><br />I apologize for the inconvenience, and will add the appropriate notice.Naderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06937701625419069972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56517509827718842.post-90033601807712897212014-03-13T05:28:51.125-07:002014-03-13T05:28:51.125-07:00Jees, spoiler alert for someone a quarter way thro...Jees, spoiler alert for someone a quarter way through the second book! That third footnote could have used a warning...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com