Huzzah!
Well, what more can be said that hasn't been said so often before? Well, let's not say anything. Today, I'll be providing links to my favourite audio-visual Robert E. Howard celebrations, adaptations, and ideas.
The Man
Vincent D'Onofrio tells us like it is. Seriously, if you haven't watched The Whole Wide World, get out there and find a DVD! It's really good. The best Howard-related film by far.
Trailer for Barbarian Days, featuring many of the movers-and-shakers of Howardom, in a documentary that one hopes will be cheerful, fun and insightful, rather than a sideshow gawkathon. Here's hoping for the best.
A wonderful interview with Norris Chambers, one of the last living people to have known Robert E. Howard.
The Legend
The atmospheric intro to the only Robert E. Howard adaptation to film or television. Seriously, if Thriller can do it, why can't Hollywood? Come to think of it, a young Boris Karloff would've made a very interesting Conan...
Another from WarriorPhotog36 on Youtube, a beautiful adaptation of "Cimmeria."
Can't forget Studio Guignol's beautiful rendition of the same poem: here's to "The Frost-Giant's Daughter" in 2011!
It isn't just "Cimmeria" that gets the adaptation love: here's the famous "The Return of Sir Richard Grenville" by Kane. I still love this film.
A video that seems to pass under the radar, this is a very unusual and interesting little film using Howard's poem "Harvest."
I include this one for a laugh. Who did they get to do the voiceover, Brian Blessed's cousin? And how come he pronounced Cimmerian "Kimmerian"? And what's with the haphazard animation? What a weird video.
Happy Birthday, Bob! Good videos by the way...
ReplyDeleteAnd, another thing: are you going to write an article based on that "we only want a 1:1 adaptation"? It would be interesting to read (here or in the "Conan movie blog")
If it's not in poor taste - may he rest in peace, and not spin in his grave (that hard) when the movie comes out.
ReplyDeleteAnd, another thing: are you going to write an article based on that "we only want a 1:1 adaptation"? It would be interesting to read (here or in the "Conan movie blog")
ReplyDeletePerhaps. I just fail to see how it has to be some sort of "all or nothing", that there's some sort of thermodynamic impossibility that a Conan adaptation can be anything but "a 1:1 adaptation" or "a completely original story." Surely there's some sort of middle ground, at least?
I could handle taking a story, and making changes (as long as the changes made sense and were worthwhile.) That's the process of adaptation. That's the sort of stuff I'd have to "get over." I'll go into it at a further date.
If it's not in poor taste - may he rest in peace, and not spin in his grave (that hard) when the movie comes out.
Nah, Howard doesn't strike me as the "spin in his grave" type. He'd be more likely to shrug resignedly while whistling his way to the bank.
Was that your voice in the last video, or someone else?
ReplyDeleteWhile we're dreaming, what I'd like to see would be a Conan TV show similar to the Phillip Marlowe series HBO did many years back, basically adapting a short story per episode, or if need be, a two-part episode for some of the longer stories.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Bob! Today I'll be reading my Collected Poetry of REH, tipping back a whiskey in his honor.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteI'm reading a collection of his westerns for the first time. Quite enjoyable.
Was that your voice in the last video, or someone else?
ReplyDeleteThat was myself, channeling Christopher Lee via Brian Blessed. :D
While we're dreaming, what I'd like to see would be a Conan TV show similar to the Phillip Marlowe series HBO did many years back, basically adapting a short story per episode, or if need be, a two-part episode for some of the longer stories.
That would be perfect. The longer novellas and Hour of the Dragon could be reserved for films, but the short stories would make great little tv episodes.
Happy birthday Bob! Today I'll be reading my Collected Poetry of REH, tipping back a whiskey in his honor.
I tip my glass!
I'm reading a collection of his westerns for the first time. Quite enjoyable.
Definitely. "The Man on the Ground" is quite a masterpiece.