Posted by Andy Clayton on March 29, 2006 at 17:55:53 from 83.104.41.160 user cousin_jack.
In Reply to: Re: Simon McCorkindale, was Riddle of the Sands posted by Peter R on March 29, 2006 at 11:44:08:
Re: blowing up bits of the lake district.
AR created a fantasy land based on the lakeside geography. Many of his locations were re-arranged. I believe that though Peel Island on Coniston is the role model for Wild Cat Island, it is where he camped with the Collingwoods in his youth, the secret harbour actualy exists on a small island on windermere. During the 1963 filming, the film crew thought it would be more conveniant to shape Peel Island into the fantasy Wild Cat Island. Give it a real secret harbour of its own!
AR thought this was sacrilligous!
He also thought the casting was appalling, which I find a shame as the '63 production on the bbc was my introduction to the S+A's and formed the images in my mind for the characters ever after! In contrast to AR, I thought the cast members were quite attractive, though there was a bit of a hiccup when I read the books and found the film Capn. Flint (who was bearded and with a full head of hair -and not over weight!)quite a contrast to the fat, bald individual of the books! He also came across as more agressive and 'native' towards John than Ronald Fraser did in the '74 film version.
At 7 I identified with Roger, then as I progressed through the books (completely randomly) I fell in love with,- Titty, Peggy, + Nancy in turn. Though I always felt John + Susan were a bit priggish!
It was odd reading the books at random, I had to do a sort of double take when there was a referance to an earlier book which I hadn't read.
Maybe I was gullible when I was young but I never felt PD or ML were beyond the pale. The details seemed very realistic and the stories were quite gripping - so, I just enjoyed them!