Admirably erudite, like all your postings. They are oases of scholarship in a wilderness of cliche. // Nobody to my knowledge has tried to adapt one of my favourite Buchan novels, GREENMANTLE, even though its theme of a new Muslim messiah, not to mention a cross-dressing spy, dope etc, would appear to be a la mode.
Thank you. I really appreciate that. There's more to Buchan than meets the eye, I think. Seem to remember that Greenmantle was based on genuine British Intelligence of the time? I need to dig out my Buchan biographies/autobiography. Terrific writer.
Watched this last month on the basis that I live in that particular wilderness of Dumfriesshire postcode DG3. One aspect you don't mention is that the script really is the most frightful tosh - even more so than the original. The pickup of the aristocratic shooting lassie is especially implausible. Well the clock business is too of course. I do prefer the Hitchcock version where the moodiness outweighs the silliness. Saw the Roger Moore one at school when it first came out and remember it as jolly exciting!! Though disappointed at the time that they didn't recreate the villain who could "hood his eyes like a hawk". Should I rewatch?
I just assumed people would take that as read. Funnily enough the 'tosh' factor doesn't upset me. It is what it is. A ripping yarn. I mean, why do the dastardly Prussian agents wire up the bomb to Big Ben? Making it hard for themselves? But It's the same with James Herbert, the horror novelist. Now there's a terrific writer.
I mentioned this film last Wednesday in my post about how Galloway's been nominated as Scotland's next national park. https://aboutmountains.substack.com/p/galloway-its-not-somewhere-in-ireland (Sorry, I rated it as the worst of the 3 '39 Steps' versions, but the only one shot in Dumfries & Galloway.) Weird to have this one on Substack twice in one week!
Yes, thank you. Just seen it- your post came up on my screen this morning. Life is full of coincidences- but I think the Powell version of the Thirty Nine Steps is currently running on Freeview? This reminds me of antiques- you mention something to a friend, then literally a few days later that thing turns up for sale at a local auction house- the first one for sale in many years. Or you catalogue an incredibly rare thing for sale, and then, literally, a month later, another one turns up. Which is why, in the antiques game, it's never wise to describe something as 'unique'.
Yes, the Hitchcock version is obviously the 'best' version (whatever that means), but I am genuinely fond of the '78 Don Sharp/Powell version for nostalgic reasons- and it ain't half bad. I saw it at the cinema in 1978 at the tender age of 12. And, personally, I prefer the 70s interpretation of 1913 to the very 50s, rather gung-ho Kenneth More interpretation. But that's just me...
Well I was 12 when I saw the Kenneth More, and 73 when I saw the Powell (Cinema Paradiso DVD rental, almost everything's there). Incidentally, next Wednesday's post (about the Sutherland Flow Country) will feature a reference to 'The Creeping Terror' (Vic Savage 1964). which I'm pretty sure won't be on your list!
Personally I loved this movie, of course, I loved Hitchcock's version which was my perfectly made cup of tea! Now that Autumn will soon make her arrival, it seems like the perfect time for a another watch.
I love Buchan. I have taken to picking them up in physical form (the less known ones often crop up in secondhand bookshops) against the day when the digital formats are cancelled or ‘revised’ to suit woke sensibilities. I found his daughter’s biography of her father unreadable unfortunately.
He's a great writer to collect. There are facsimile dustjackets to buy too- I'm aware that some book dealers can be a bit sniffy about these, but if a Buchan first edition (with d/j) is outside your price range, and you love graphics...
Buchan could do creeping suspense very well, whether it is the deer stalking in John McNab or Hannay being stalked on the moor. I have seen the Hitchcock, Don Sharp, and most recent BBC adaptations of 'The Thirty-Nine Steps'. The BBC version is probably nearest the book, but the manner of its addition of a love interest is very close to Hitchcock's. Buchan, of course, did not provide a love interest for Hannay until 'Mr. Standfast'.
Ah yes, Big Ben! Great post. I need to give Buchan's fiction another look. I read the 39 steps, but not the other ones. Actually the first thing I read from John Buchan was his biography of Oliver Cromwell. I remember liking it a lot...
It’s a wonderfully enjoyable film. Although the reviews were *very* mixed, I didn’t hate the BBC’s 2008 television version with Rupert Penry-Jones as Hannay; Adrian Gill, whom I loved, called it “the closest to the original and by far and away the most convincing”.
I need to see the BBC 2008 version again. Seem to remember that I had a problem with 'modern' acting- everything too 'street'. It's one of my bug-bears. I'm not convinced, alas, that contemporary actors can play convincing Edwardians, or 1920s toffs for that matter. cf the recent version of Rebecca. But that's one of my little obsessions.
There was a bit of that; on the other hand a supporting cast of David Haig, Lydia Leonard, Patrick Malahide, Eddie Marsan and Alex Jennings is pretty strong. It’s certainly not perfect, and God knows what Lord Tweedsmuir would have made of it, but I got a lot of enjoyment out of it.
A few months ago I saw Alex Jennings and Siân Phillips (scream) in a tiny, sub-100-seat theatre in Chiswick retelling the Greek myths. They were mesmerising.
Admirably erudite, like all your postings. They are oases of scholarship in a wilderness of cliche. // Nobody to my knowledge has tried to adapt one of my favourite Buchan novels, GREENMANTLE, even though its theme of a new Muslim messiah, not to mention a cross-dressing spy, dope etc, would appear to be a la mode.
Thank you. I really appreciate that. There's more to Buchan than meets the eye, I think. Seem to remember that Greenmantle was based on genuine British Intelligence of the time? I need to dig out my Buchan biographies/autobiography. Terrific writer.
Watched this last month on the basis that I live in that particular wilderness of Dumfriesshire postcode DG3. One aspect you don't mention is that the script really is the most frightful tosh - even more so than the original. The pickup of the aristocratic shooting lassie is especially implausible. Well the clock business is too of course. I do prefer the Hitchcock version where the moodiness outweighs the silliness. Saw the Roger Moore one at school when it first came out and remember it as jolly exciting!! Though disappointed at the time that they didn't recreate the villain who could "hood his eyes like a hawk". Should I rewatch?
I just assumed people would take that as read. Funnily enough the 'tosh' factor doesn't upset me. It is what it is. A ripping yarn. I mean, why do the dastardly Prussian agents wire up the bomb to Big Ben? Making it hard for themselves? But It's the same with James Herbert, the horror novelist. Now there's a terrific writer.
I mentioned this film last Wednesday in my post about how Galloway's been nominated as Scotland's next national park. https://aboutmountains.substack.com/p/galloway-its-not-somewhere-in-ireland (Sorry, I rated it as the worst of the 3 '39 Steps' versions, but the only one shot in Dumfries & Galloway.) Weird to have this one on Substack twice in one week!
Yes, thank you. Just seen it- your post came up on my screen this morning. Life is full of coincidences- but I think the Powell version of the Thirty Nine Steps is currently running on Freeview? This reminds me of antiques- you mention something to a friend, then literally a few days later that thing turns up for sale at a local auction house- the first one for sale in many years. Or you catalogue an incredibly rare thing for sale, and then, literally, a month later, another one turns up. Which is why, in the antiques game, it's never wise to describe something as 'unique'.
Yes, the Hitchcock version is obviously the 'best' version (whatever that means), but I am genuinely fond of the '78 Don Sharp/Powell version for nostalgic reasons- and it ain't half bad. I saw it at the cinema in 1978 at the tender age of 12. And, personally, I prefer the 70s interpretation of 1913 to the very 50s, rather gung-ho Kenneth More interpretation. But that's just me...
Well I was 12 when I saw the Kenneth More, and 73 when I saw the Powell (Cinema Paradiso DVD rental, almost everything's there). Incidentally, next Wednesday's post (about the Sutherland Flow Country) will feature a reference to 'The Creeping Terror' (Vic Savage 1964). which I'm pretty sure won't be on your list!
Personally I loved this movie, of course, I loved Hitchcock's version which was my perfectly made cup of tea! Now that Autumn will soon make her arrival, it seems like the perfect time for a another watch.
It's a perfect Autumn Sunday afternoon film, can't think of anything better.
I love Buchan. I have taken to picking them up in physical form (the less known ones often crop up in secondhand bookshops) against the day when the digital formats are cancelled or ‘revised’ to suit woke sensibilities. I found his daughter’s biography of her father unreadable unfortunately.
He's a great writer to collect. There are facsimile dustjackets to buy too- I'm aware that some book dealers can be a bit sniffy about these, but if a Buchan first edition (with d/j) is outside your price range, and you love graphics...
Capital, old boy (to show our appreciation in character)!
We've only seen the Hitchcock version so have some catchibg up to do.
Buchan could do creeping suspense very well, whether it is the deer stalking in John McNab or Hannay being stalked on the moor. I have seen the Hitchcock, Don Sharp, and most recent BBC adaptations of 'The Thirty-Nine Steps'. The BBC version is probably nearest the book, but the manner of its addition of a love interest is very close to Hitchcock's. Buchan, of course, did not provide a love interest for Hannay until 'Mr. Standfast'.
Ah yes, Big Ben! Great post. I need to give Buchan's fiction another look. I read the 39 steps, but not the other ones. Actually the first thing I read from John Buchan was his biography of Oliver Cromwell. I remember liking it a lot...
There's more to Buchan than meets the eye. Terrific writer. Interesting biography/autobiographies too.
I've only seen the Hitchcock adaptation -- and really enjoyed it. I need to check this one out, and find the book, too!
It's a must.
It’s a wonderfully enjoyable film. Although the reviews were *very* mixed, I didn’t hate the BBC’s 2008 television version with Rupert Penry-Jones as Hannay; Adrian Gill, whom I loved, called it “the closest to the original and by far and away the most convincing”.
I need to see the BBC 2008 version again. Seem to remember that I had a problem with 'modern' acting- everything too 'street'. It's one of my bug-bears. I'm not convinced, alas, that contemporary actors can play convincing Edwardians, or 1920s toffs for that matter. cf the recent version of Rebecca. But that's one of my little obsessions.
There was a bit of that; on the other hand a supporting cast of David Haig, Lydia Leonard, Patrick Malahide, Eddie Marsan and Alex Jennings is pretty strong. It’s certainly not perfect, and God knows what Lord Tweedsmuir would have made of it, but I got a lot of enjoyment out of it.
I need to see it again. David Haig's terrific. And good old Alex Jennings. A perfect Duke of Windsor.
A few months ago I saw Alex Jennings and Siân Phillips (scream) in a tiny, sub-100-seat theatre in Chiswick retelling the Greek myths. They were mesmerising.