Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Rhys on Re-Makes


 RHYS BOWEN
:  As you probably know, I have always been fascinated with the Thirties. It seemed such a time of glamor and excess to someone brought up in the bleak post-war period. I read Bertie Wooster and Peter Wimsey with disbelief that such lives existed. Did people once have house parties, drive around stealing policemen’s helmets, drink champagne from slippers.  How different from my life of rationing, making do.

I found The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate on my mother’s bookshelf when I was in my teens and devoured them. I identified strongly with the ‘normal’ cousin Fanny, feeling awkward and out of place with her eccentric cousins, but secretly I wished that I had less boring relatives. Later I learned that the eccentric family was modeled on Nancy Mitford’s own. They were uneducated, except for a string of governesses who came and went rapidly, thanks to their pranks, and they really did have a father who hunted them with bloodhounds--which they thought was great fun.

As an adult I have read the biographies of the Mitford Sisters, and what an extreme bunch they were: two were passionate Nazis (one married Sir Oswald Mosely and spent the war behind bars, another shot herself for love of Hitler) , one extreme Communist, Nancy the writer. Deborah, the youngest, was the most traditional, marrying a Duke and living happily ever after.  

Here is the article I just read. Informative if you don't know the sisters!

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20210722-the-pursuit-of-love-britains-most-scandalous-family

Having married an upper class chap myself I find there is a connection as John was at school with one of Nancy Mitford’s boys and played rugby with him. I confess their lives have influenced my Royal Spyness novels, although the Bolter was not Nancy’s invention. There was a real life Bolter long before called Idina Sackville (she features in my book Love and Death Among the Cheetahs).

A few years ago the BBC did a TV adaptation of the novels and I thought it was very good. Spot on, as we would way. It stayed true to the story and I especially loved the over-the-top gay counsin Cedric who inherits “the whole pile”.

This week I learn that they have made another version that is now available on Prime. I’ll have to watch when I can tear myself away from the Olympics but I will watch with trepidation, because most recent remakes have disappointed me.  I loved Joan Hickson as Miss Marple and saw no reason to remake those stories.

I adored All Creatures Great and Small in its original version (having been a friend of Robert Hardy when I worked in BBC drama). I found the remake really annoying, straying from the stories, enhancing the drama including a Christmas Eve when James and Helen are stranded together. What I found charming in the original series was the ordinary nature of the stories--small successes and failures with saving calves and horses plus James’s quiet courtship of Helen.

There have been many versions of Little Women and I didn't particularly like the latest. Lots of Poirot until nobody could beat David Suchet.

So I’m not sure I want to watch the new version. I probably shall, muttering all the time and annoying John when I point out what they have got wrong.  

So what do you think? Remakes better or worse? Which ones have succeeded, and which failed miserably?

********

And one more thing Red readers! You know by now that both Jenn and Lucy had new books out last week (WAIT FOR IT and A SCONE OF CONTENTION.) We'll be chatting together with Sun Sentinel Book Reviewer Oline Cogdill at 6 pm tonight, sponsored by Murder on the Beach! To join the webinar, you will need to register by calling  561-279-7790 or emailing murdermb@gate.net.

Please come, and please consider purchasing a book from that wonderful indie bookstore while you're there!


54 comments:

  1. Generally speaking, I tend to not be a fan of remakes, especially if it was “done right” the first time. Too often, I’ve found that the remake has a tendency to take too many liberties with the source material . . . .
    I wasn’t a fan of the Miss Marple remake . . . .

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  2. Most of the time, I don't even bother to watch the remake. I loved the original Poldark and didn't watch the remake. The same with all Creatures Great and Small. The original was so well done and it felt like the books did. Occasionally they get it right and a remake is fabulous. But when do those studio execs know that the best has already been made? For instance, the Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice is a good place to end the remakes.

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    1. Amen! No Mr. Darcy can ever compare. The perfect production except the beautiful Jane wasn't as pretty as Lizzie.

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  3. Julie is a long time Nancy Mitford fan, and one year in Paris, without me for some reason, she decided to find the Mitford apartment. Which of course she did. She peeked into the courtyard and somehow managed to get in. There she met an ex-pat who was living and working in Paris, and they struck up a conversation. Turns out the ex-pat's firm was renting the Mitford apartment for her. She invited Julie in for a tour. And a drink.

    Still I wonder why I wasn't there -- how I missed this brush with literary fame.

    Remakes vary from very bad to very good. I think, either way, I tend to prefer the familiar.

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    1. Wow, Ann, what an adventure Julie had. #Jealous

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    2. No kidding. I'm still jealous after all these years.

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    3. Lesson learned. Don't let her go off alone!

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  4. Generally, I think I'm not a fan of remakes. As a reader, I already have the characters imagined in my mind and if I've already watched the original series I'm not keen to change the look of the characters.

    As for the Mitfords - what a family! Mary Lovell's book about them, The Sisters, is the one I have on my shelf. A very good read.

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    1. A product of their time. Such a family would never be allowed to happen today.

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  5. The remake of "All Creatures..." is terrible. The first series was so true to the books and the feel of the stories. The "Anne of Green Gables" remake on Netflix bears no resemblance to the books at all. Why even try to improve on the CBC series. So, no not a fan of remakes.

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    1. You're so right. The feel of the stories. Modern adaptions always have to over-dramatize.

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  6. Kenneth Branagh's "Murder on the Orient Express"? Different, but enjoyable. Anticipating his "Death on the Nile."

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    1. Sorry, but he annoyed me. Poirot is so perfect that I can't picture anyone else.

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    2. For some reason, I only can see Kenneth Branaugh as that character from the Harry Potter movies.

      Totally miscast as Poirot, which is why I thought it was a parody of Poirot.

      Diana

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  7. I can't think of even one remake I have preferred to the original. Rhys, you are absolutely right about All Creatures. What a wonderful show it was and Hardy was simply the best. Even now when I read the Irish Country Doctor series I hear Siegfried's voice in my head as the doctor. And there is no connection at all but how my mind works.

    I never saw the first Poldark but I did enjoy the latest one. Recently I watched Gone With the Wind and it struck me there was just no way they could remake that. now I hope I haven't jinxed it. But if somehow they do do a remake I won't watch it.

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  8. I purchased Nancy Mitford on a whim years ago from Book of the Month Club. The sisters fascinated me and horrified me in equal parts ever since. I agree, Rhys, they epitomized the racy 30s. From the standpoint of an American, the 30s were the death knell of the elitist class system in Great Britain. By the 40s having a title or being a member of the upper class was no longer enough to insulate you from the consequences of your actions. The 30s was the last great hurrah and things burn the brightest just before they die.

    Remakes - I tend not to enjoy them as much as the originals. Especially these days where so much of the story takes place in special effects!

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    1. The death knell came after WW!! with a socialist government, horrible taxation and no longer able to find servants or pay to heat those enormous houses. But during my life I've met aristocrats who still believe they are apart from normal humans.

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    2. I hadn't realized that! So they were dancing on their graves in the 1930s. No wonder things were so frenetic. Still in all, I would have liked to have lived in that time.

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  9. May I just say, off-topic, perhaps, but maybe not. I love your posts, Rhys, I can just hear your voice in them! And it makes me miss you. xxxxx

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    1. Oh, Hank. I've just put on eye make up to go out and you're making me tear up! I miss you too. It's been so long...

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  10. I'm generally not a fan of remakes. There must be one that got it right, but I can't think of one off the top of my head.

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    1. David Suchet was a remake after some awful Poirots--Albert Finney, Peter Ustinov.
      They should stop when they get it right!

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    2. David Suchet's Poirot was perfect!

      Diana

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    3. The remake that got it right? The BBC Pride and Prejudice of course! Perfect. Better than the old movie (though Laurence Olivier was terrific in it). Better than the movie made after.

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    4. OMG Triss, didn't the Lawrence Oliver version change part of the ending? In that film, doesn't Darcy's snooty aunt make nice to Lizzie and tell her she was just testing her? What is wrong with these studio execs? Really?

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    5. See what I mean about not thinking off the top of my head? LOL

      Rhys and Diana, Suchet was a perfect Poirot. However, I did not care for his version of Murder on the Orient Express or Evil Under the Sun (not that I think he had much to do with the script).

      Triss, I didn't know the BBC version of P&P was a remake (I assume you're talking about the one with Colin Firth which is, in my mind, the only version worth watching).

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  11. Aren't movies of books in some ways already remakes? And movies are almost never as good as the books, for lots of practical reasons. Sometimes I wonder what the point of a remake is, anyway.

    Judi, you are so right about Gone With the Wind! It's almost a miracle that it ever got made the first time.

    Seriously? The Mitfords' father hunted them, with baying dogs? No wonder they were all so crazy!

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    1. Karen, I remember that scene from the BBC series. I have been meaning to read the books.

      Diana

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  12. I always wondered why they would do remakes, then I thought of it from the actor’s point of view. In theatre, lots of people get to play Hamlet or Hedda Gabler. I’m sure film and TV actors appreciate the chance to take on classic roles.

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    1. That is true but a stage production comes and goes. We have no record (or had no record). When we have a brilliant version preserved why try to outdo it?

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  13. Oh remakes - I do agree Rhys. I loved the original Forsyte Saga. It started PBS Masterpiece Theatre I think and was in B&w which is probably why it’s never been rerun. I hated the remake and only watched a few episodes. But I did like the Love in a Cold Climate. Like you, having read the books a long time ago as well as not seeing the BBC production, I had some concerns but I thought it was an interesting production though Lord Merlyn is way over the top.

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    1. I just watched the first episode last night!.
      In the books Lord Merlin WAS way over the top. He did dye his doves and hold strange parties. But these were wrong for the Thirties and why was the music modern instead of NOel Coward!

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  14. I don’t usually watch remakes. Unless I haven’t seen the original, then I sometimes do. But if the book was really really good or for any reason spoke to me then I won’t watch a movie or tv show.

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  15. RHYS,

    This is a great post. You met Robert Hardy?? Color me impressed! I remember him as Winston Churchill and he was Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter.

    Speaking of remakes, I do not think I have wanted to watch remakes. CODA, the new American film, is a remake of the German film BEYOND SILENCE, and I liked the German film better. I remember watching the BBC series LOVE IN A COLD CLIMATE and Judi Dench played Lady Sydney the mother of the family. I still remember the character who was saving her run away money and I think her character was based on Jessica Mitford. I was a kid when I met Jessica Mitford and I teased her about saving her runaway money. She looked puzzled. LOL.
    Years before I was born, my Mom was a guest at a dinner party and Jessica was another guest.

    A few years before Jessica died, I remember seeing Jessica Mitford browse books at the local bookstore (the sane bookstore where you did a mystery panel with Penny Warner).

    Are remakes supposed to be serious or parodies of the original? I often wonder if remakes are parodies.

    What a small world that John went to school with Nancy's son.

    Believe it or not, I have NOT read any of the novels. I have been meaning to read LOVE IN A COLD CLIMATE and THE PURSUIT OF LOVE.

    Diana

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    1. I worked with Robert Hardy when I was a studio manager in BBC drama. Such a nice man and so perfect as Siegfried. He managed to be annoying yet endearing at the same time.

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  16. I'm with you on Miss Marple, Rhys. I've never watched the remake--one look at the actress' face and I could guess at her take on the character (chirpy, cheerful)--no thanks!

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  17. No one can beat Joan Hickson or David Suchet. However I detested Zoe Wanamaker's Ariadne Oliver. SO ANNOYING! And I agree with you, Rhys, on the new All Creatures Great and Small.
    So much manufactured conflict. And I do hope they never remake the Harry Potter movie with a new cast - that would be a travesty. And remember how great Christopher Reeve was in one of the remake of Superman?

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    1. When I wrote my comment above I was thinking of how perfect the Harry Potter movies are. Except for some small details they exactly jibed with my own imagination from reading the books.

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    2. HALLIE, I had forgotten Zoe Wannamaker's Ariadne Oliver. For some reason, I remember Jean or Maureen Stapleton as Ariadne Oliver.

      Thoughts about Stapleton as Ariadne Oliver?

      Diana

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  18. Harry Potter would be disaster! I thought that was the most perfect casting ever. When I re-read the books I see those faces and hear those voices.

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  19. A counter-example - I really liked BOTH the Swedish and US versions of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO - Brilliant casting in both.

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    1. Only saw the Swedish version of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. I remember the technology stuff in the movie.

      Diana

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  20. On the other hand, David Suchet's Poirot was a remake....

    I find I'm torn on this. I think we tend to like the version we first saw, and others will never hold up. If that is the original or the remake, that's what we are stuck with. Sometimes, a remake works, updating the characters and situations for a modern audience. Others, it doesn't.

    I think part of my opinion is because I love plays so much. Each play is a remake, in one sense, of what was done before. I know a play from 10 years ago can't be watched again and again the way a movie can, but we give each new generation a chance to play the characters on the stage again.

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    1. Mark, so agree with you on liking “the version we saw first”. I usually feel this way about films and books. This first is (almost) always the favorite. Only one instance of liking them equally well: Morse. Saw the PBS series first. Colin Dexter’s novels were just as good. A vague memory is that Dexter wrote many of the scripts and was very involved in series production.

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  21. That period of time between the wars was fascinating. As for remakes, it depends. I never saw the original Poldark, partially because Alistair Cooke said that was the only Masterpiece Theater production he couldn't stand. I loved the Aiden Turner version. David Suchet is Hercule Poirot. Period. The original All Creatures Great and Small is much better. I hate the artificial conflict built into the new version. Back in the 70s a French film came out called Dear Detective about a female police inspector in Paris. It was delightful, humorous when appropriate and a good mystery. Of course the Americans made their own version with the same name, only I think it was a TV series. It was not even close to being as good.

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  22. Rhys, I haven't read the Mitford books, although I've meant to for ages. And I haven't seen the original TV adaptations so will start with the new one. I agree with Mark--I think we often tend to think the first version we see of things is the best. Although that doesn't seem to have been the case with Christie--think Margaret Rutherford!

    I have to be the odd one out on the new All Creatures. I was a huge fan of the books (my first novel is even set in Thirsk, where James Herriot practiced, and the suites in the fictional timeshare are named after Herriot's characters) and of the original TV series, but I really enjoyed the new one as well.

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  23. I will be wishy washy and say, “It depends.” Some remakes are excellent. The 6 part tv version of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth was the best ever, much better than the old movie, even though Olivier was wonderful in it. The beloved CBC version of Anne of Green Gables cannot have been the first ever, but it was the best ever, IMHO. But though I enjoyed the original All Creatures, we are quite enjoying the new one too– it seems just right for this stressful time. And I liked the original Poldark ( am I dating myself?) and liked the new one too.. Maybe it depends on how much the original (book or film) meant to you? I have strong opinions about Little Women films (there have been many) but not about -dare I say it? – Holmes. All it takes to make a great remake is – after all – brilliant cast, script and directing. .And scenery. And costumes. That’s all.  PS Love Nancy Mitfords books…and looking forward to seeing what tv has done with them.

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  24. I had only a vague idea of who the Mitford sisters were. I do have one of the Mitford Murder series books by Jessica Fellowes, but I haven't gotten to it yet. I did know that they had a rather scandalous history. I enjoyed reading through the article you linked, Rhys. Wow! The two Mitford sisters who were fans of Hitler were outrages. I can't imagine how awful to have them in the family.

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  25. I first saw the Duchess of Devonshire when P. Allan Smith visited her garden so I read her book. Also reading the Jessica Fellowes series. However, I never read Jessica Mitford's books.

    I enjoyed both Poldarks and All Creatures Great and Small (although I like the original Creatures better), If I liked something before, I will usually try the remake.

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  26. "Devour" is the exact right word for what happens when you read Nancy Mitford. I'd no idea what I was getting into when I picked up Cold Comfort Farm about 20 years ago and suddenly discovered comic genius. (Penguin has a new release of CCF with a perfect cover by the great Roz Chast, if you haven't seen it.) And I followed up almost immediately thereafter with The Pursuit of Love. Brilliant. But if you don't get why Uncle Matthew hunting the children is hilarious, it may not be the book for you...

    I did watch the first episode of Amazon's Pursuit of Love, and while it was entertaining, it wasn't somehow as wickedly funny. So I'm passing on the rest of the series.

    As for remakes, they really never work, do they?

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