While on Shakespeare films, do bookmark and read this staggeringly comprehensive article by Alan Vannemann, about nine different film versions of the Bard’s most celebrated play - with such actors as Olivier, Branagh, Richard Burton, Derek Jacobi and Kevin Kline in the title role. It’s a long, superbly researched piece with plenty of information on the movies and scene-by-scene commentary on the play itself.
Lots of humour sprinkled through it too, and I enjoyed his likening of the sulky, self-absorbed prince to Catcher in the Rye’s Holden Caulfield - “so proud of the fact that he isn’t ‘ordinary’, that he sees so much more deeply than anyone else”. How many of us haven’t felt that way as teenagers? (Which is why so many people become obsessed with Salinger’s book at age 15, though most of them outgrow it eventually; one sign of growing up might be to realise that you aren’t so special after all.)
More of Vannemann’s film writings here.
Thanks a ton Jai! I am off to TCM to see if any of these can be recorded.
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ReplyDeleteOk, enough pot-shots at Catcher in the Rye. I know you and your intellectual heavyweight friend are rather fond of this theory (no doubt it burst upon your twin souls on some drunken evening) but have you considered that the reason many of us continue to love the book is because it is so freaking entertaining? Is that so incomprehensible?
ReplyDeleteBagchi: I love many things about Catcher in the Rye myself (and reread it approx once every six months) so I'm not sure what you're talking about. Incidentally, I've had some of the most relaxed, non-intellectual (and, uh, "freaking entertaining") conversations of my life with the "intellectual heavyweight" friend you're referring to; whereas I find that all my long Gmail chats with YOU invariably tread subjects like The Nature of Post-Modern Campiness and Editing Wikipedia in Order to Change the World. Also, you're the one who's self-conscious about admitting to liking ABBA (for instance). And you're the one who goes on about how being too open-ended isn't a good thing. Maybe there's a message in there somewhere, hm?
ReplyDelete(To sum up, you're an intellectual poseur and a shrill, preaching activist who hurls vague charges of "intellectualism" at anyone who says something you didn't like! And on that note, happy Diwali and a pleasant Halloween. May firecrackers and pumpkins abound.)
Well, this is the first time you've admitted to it as far as I can remember. On the other hand, you've implied a number of times that those who still count Catcher in the Rye as one of their best-loved books are people who refuse to grow up, who still see themselves as glamorous misfits. How is one to conclude that you are a closet lover yourself?
ReplyDeleteP.S. And I thought those conversations were private.
you've implied a number of times that those who still count Catcher in the Rye as one of their best-loved books are people who refuse to grow up, who still see themselves as glamorous misfits.
ReplyDeleteOh I still very much say that. But (as you yourself implied in your earlier comment) there are different ways in which a book can be loved. I find it amusing when people claim to love CITR as a savage indictment of society's hypocrisies - because, really, to think of oneself as the sole Holden Caulfield in a world full of frauds is the most dangerous way of thinking. That kind of self-indulgence ("I'm the only one whose motives are pure, everyone else has an agenda") is responsible for almost all the miscommunication in the world. (You don't need to look much further than the blogosphere to see some of the consequences.)
One clarification btw, since we've suddenly become All Serious: I don't actually reread CITR every six months (read it last in 1995), I just said that because I couldn't think of anything else to say. (My, what a hypocrite am I! What would Holden think if he saw me? Shudder!)
I did not IMPLY it, I said it in so many words. That I still love the book because I find it hilarious. While you repeatedly say that those who like it beyond age 16 sort of see themselves as grown-up Holden Caulfields.
ReplyDeleteAnyway should we be spatting like this on this day when even enemies become friends etc? Or is that Holi?
LOL, have to agree with J on this. Hehe. I know I shouldn't snigger but so much righteous indignation on display :p. Oh to be a teenager again and KNOW that you are just so special and unique and perfect. :)
ReplyDeleteLet me say that despite my seemingly snide remarks about Holden, I love his voice. And, despite all the snide things I said about Hamlet, I love him too. We attack the great ones because they're worth attacking.
ReplyDeleteTaking your review to heart (always a dangerous thing to do, I know) I started reading My Name is Red. Loved it so far:). Almost wish I could read the original. Some languages just have so much more wealth than others. And much as I adore English, it isnt really a language to be passionate in (at least without feeling a little silly about it, unless you're Will and you can get away with using words like prithee and sicklied)
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