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For Alfred among Roger's bandits in Athelney marshes, read Luke Skywalker with Yoda. Strong mythic shape to the story.
I was reminded about Luke Skywalker in general - the blonde youth being tested by an oppressive situation far beyond his years, and soon without any family. He tells his brother how they'll lure the Danes the way they lured wolves when they were younger, reminding me of some comments Luke makes in Star Wars. But I didnt think about the later scene you mentioned - good call. Now that you mention it, Luke dressed in priestly black in Return of Jedi also suggests a comparison since Alfred was torn between priesthood and secular life.
The redheaded Dane warrior guy who was showing off his sword skills and then doing acrobatic flips reminded me of the Sith in the prequel (who I recall jumped around alot).
Yes, the other great element is those scenes was Harold Pinter's wife, Vivian Merchant as Roger's wife. She wears a blue veil and is mute. This is clearly a demythologising of a recorded legendary event where Alf supposedly had a vision of the Virgin Mary whilst running from the Danes in the marshes, and he threw a priceless jewel at her as an offering. But Ian McKellen says that her scenes were examined by Pinter over a meal at a B&B, and he said, 'I can't allow my wife to say awful lines like that!' so they were deleted. That doesn't entirely ring true, it looks more like an original deliberate decision to make her more of an icon by making her mute, but it worked nonetheless. It's better than burning cakes. She does lay into the Danes in the last battle with a mad glazed look on her face.
The sword-dancer acrobat was based on a historical character, Ivar the Boneless, who I think was more active on the west coast and Ireland/Scotland. I did love Alfred's line in response, 'This is my cousin, Athelstane of Langbourne ... I fear he only dances on Danish graves ...' Athelstane was played by Julian Glover who I saw on the GoT set a coupla years ago.
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Posted: |
Jan 24, 2015 - 3:30 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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So, no one still answered whether this film was a roadshow, or not.
I seem to remember reading that it was originally meant to be.
I presume it was released in England, before its ill-fated exposure in the U.S. Did anyone here see it then? Was it a roadshow?
The website in70mm lists ALFRED THE GREAT as opening in London on 14 July 1969 at the Empire Theater in 70mm and 6-track stereo. While not positive proof, it's a good indication that the premiere presentation was as a roadshow.
Another site, instereouk, lists the film as playing at the Cinerama Theatre in Wellington, New Zealand, in 70mm, from 22 January 1970 until 18 February 1970.
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Posted: |
Jan 24, 2015 - 6:25 PM
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By: |
finder4545
(Member)
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Here in Italy we had a good circulation of the old cinema and a perfect widescreen copy in 2,35 of Alfred the Great appeared on TV time ago. Recently important representatives of the old generation of film critics/tv collaborators passed away, and new staff of public television, in the name of mere profit and publicity, stopped interest for the Golden Era. giving atrocious programs. ALFRED THE GREAT is a legendary score of Leppard. I had this LP in my collection, years ago, and for some stupid reason I exchanged it for another title. Recently, wishing to listed to the score again, and having lost memory of that, I searched for it desperately, obviously without success. But I was lucky: a friend from Milan supplied me with a copy done from vinyl, even if full of tics and pops and I restored it carefully. I have to say that at the actual listening, I found this score vastly superior to the already high impression I received in the old days, having in the meantime capitalized the knowledge of dozens of subsequent historical works. It's a pity that so few British film music finds realization on disc, but this works of Ray Leppard is an absolute pearl, a masterpiece that deserves to be exhumed and offered to the knowledge of today's film music goers. I strongly hope that one of the "Magnificent Three" (Intrada-Kritzerland-LaLaLand) will take into consideration the idea. I am prepared to get more than one copy.
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There was indeed a full widescreen version broadcast occasionally in Europe, and it had a few extra shots, notably a head 'n shoulders closeup of Alf with a matured 'knowing' look just before the big final battle. It's in good condition somewhere, a fine print.
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Recently important representatives of the old generation of film critics/tv collaborators passed away, and new staff of public television, in the name of mere profit and publicity, stopped interest for the Golden Era. giving atrocious programs.
Maybe, but ironically the younger modern critics have much better things to say about this film than the old guard did at the time.
It now has the added interest of being among the very first movies of players who are now legendary. I think it was McKellen's first film, and very early in York's output.
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Count me in as another lover of this film and score.
Hemmings was a good choice.
The LP was another of those sought-after ultra rare items that regularly passed hands for a weeks wages in 1979!!
At the time the other LPs in the same category were Stone killer, battle of the bulge, stereo Wild Bunch, Goodwins Birdwatcher, sabata, original 5 man army and a few others.
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The website in70mm lists ALFRED THE GREAT as opening in London on 14 July 1969 at the Empire Theater in 70mm and 6-track stereo. While not positive proof, it's a good indication that the premiere presentation was as a roadshow.
The original album also has this track on the listing that seems a good indicator:
"Queen Aelhswith Leaves Alfred-Intermission-Beginning Of Part Two (01:44)"
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