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Howard's End

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Maureen Shuh

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May 27, 1992, 10:29:41 PM5/27/92
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Hi, I've really enjoyed reading the discussion on movies. I must ask about eve
ryone's opinion on HOWARD'S END--there's been mixed feelings on whether it foll
ows true to the book or not. What do some of you who've seen and read it think
? And more recommendations on Emma Thompson movies--I really loved DEAD AGAIN,
but I think she was much better in HOWARD'S END. Thanks.

Maureen Shuh
ST402896@BROWNVM
(Brown University)

Michael Bruce McDonald

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May 28, 1992, 12:35:00 AM5/28/92
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Hi Maureen, Howards End hasn't made it to the provinces yet, but I've heard
that it's wonderful and, so long as it's good, does it really matter if it
diverges from the book? Emma Thompson is wonderful in Henry V as "Kate,"
princess of France, and in *Impromptu*, where she has a wonderful part as
a provinical aristocrat who aspires to entertain, over the gruff dismissal
of her lives-for-the-hunt-husband, the great artists of 19th century Europe.

MM

Jennifer Porro

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May 28, 1992, 11:29:23 AM5/28/92
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REPLY TO 05/27/92 19:34 FROM CINE...@AUVM.BITNET "Discussions on all forms of
Cinema": Howard's End

I finished reading HOWARD'S END two days before seeing the movie and I
thought the movie followed the book very faithfully with one exception
-- POSSIBLE SPOILER AHEAD


in both the book and movie, Helen does indeed get pregnant by Leonard
Bast, but in the book there is not the hint of romance or sexual
attraction -- she sleeps with him partly out of pity, partly out of
guilt for suggesting he quit his job, and partly to defy the
rigid English class system.

I found the book rather leaden and tedious but I thought the movie
brought the story to vibrant life. Emma Thompson, Helene Bonham
Carter, and Anthony Hopkins were marvelous. Jennifer Porro

To: CINE...@AUVM.BITNET

Tanya Augsburg

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May 28, 1992, 5:01:34 PM5/28/92
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Thanks Jennifer for your views of the novel. I was wondering how
the movie departs from the novel. For example, how does the novel
(or rather, does the novel) treat Leonard's daydreams? Does he
dream of walking in the fields while at work or is that James'
Ivory's touch? Ivory has a knack for social criticism--he
really portrayed the Wilcoxes in a rather appropriate light. I think
he failed to do this in *Slaves of NY*. There, everyone looked
pathetic.

My only complaint about Howard's End is that there were too many
shots of flowers!!!

Vanessa Redgrave was incredible in her small role.
Tanya in Atlanta

Michael Bruce McDonald

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May 28, 1992, 6:10:00 PM5/28/92
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Jennifer, I'm glad I read Howards End (does the film use the possessive? the
book does not) before seeing the film. I found the book wonderfully charming
and perceptive rather than "leaden" . . . friends tell me that *Passage to
India is a great book, but the film was so vivid for me that I've never been
able to get into the book, which I hadn't read before seeing the film.

MM

Jennifer Porro

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May 28, 1992, 7:02:48 PM5/28/92
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REPLY TO 05/28/92 14:32 FROM CINE...@AUVM.BITNET "Discussions on all forms of
Cinema": Re: Howard's End

In the novel, Leonard Bast actually takes long walks in the
countryside around London, sometimes staying out all night.
Jennifer Porro

To: CINE...@AUVM.BITNET

Jennifer Porro

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May 28, 1992, 7:09:53 PM5/28/92
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REPLY TO 05/28/92 15:14 FROM CINE...@AUVM.BITNET "Discussions on all forms of

Cinema": Re: Howard's End

Michael, this is amusing! I really loved PASSAGE TO INDIA (the book)
and liked the movie fine but not *nearly* as much as the book.
C'est la vie I guess. Jennifer Porro

To: CINE...@AUVM.BITNET

Tanya Augsburg

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May 28, 1992, 10:13:39 PM5/28/92
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Jennifer,
I guesss I wasn't clear the last time. I was wondering how the
novel was narrated. Was it realist, traditional, or did it have
moments of fantasy/surrealism (one moment he's in the office, then
cut to his fantasy of working outside in nature)?

I'm going to try to pick up a copy of the novel within the next few
days. Now that MM has reported that it is "charming," I'm curious.

BTW, does anyone have a filmography handy on James Ivory?

One more thing (unrelated):
I read somewhere this week (I think it was either on Prodigy or
People Magazine, that Roger Corman sent out a film crew to film
the LA riots for his next film!!!

So all the E-mail on "Police State" had some "validity" on this
mailing list after all!!
Tanya in Atlanta

Peter.G...@williams.edu

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May 29, 1992, 6:53:00 AM5/29/92
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I have to agree with Jennifer that the movie was fine but the novel A
PASSAGE TO INDIA is incredible; I, however, saw the film first; I felt
the same way about ROOM WITH A VIEW: it was a totally wonderful movie
experience but the best thing about the film was that it pointed me to
the novel and for that I can easily forgive the producer and director for
other trash they've done such as SLAVES OF NEW YORK (bad film, worse book).

Another film THE COLOR PURPLE was interesting to me because I could beleive
how bad it was - I just new that the novel had to have something going for
it so I read it and it turned out that that really crummy flick was made
from a really amazing novel. Sometimes I wonder why Hoolywood claims to
have based their film on a literary work when they have no interest at
all in the text. One more negative example: ONE FLEW OVER THE COOKOO'S
NEST was a fun and serious movie, but it completely destroyed the themes
of the novel - The shift of focus to the MAcMurphy character in the film
was a direct violation of Kesey's purpose in writing the book (according
to Kesey himself, I also happen to agree) - Don't get me wrong, the film
is swell (more than swell, even) but why claim it's based on the novel.
Novels are usually completely individual works (not collaborations like
films) so one would expect the author to know what he or she was
talking about.

For a fans of modern fiction: don't miss Paul Auster's new book LEVIATHAN
(sp?) which will be out in August.

Regards.

KRY...@uvmvm.bitnet

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Jun 1, 1992, 3:10:37 PM6/1/92
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[Sorry, folks, this is NOT about Howards End...]

On Fri, 29 May 1992 06:53:00 EDT <Peter.G...@WILLIAMS.EDU> said:
>
>For a fans of modern fiction: don't miss Paul Auster's new book LEVIATHAN
>(sp?) which will be out in August.
>
>Regards.

Hey Peter, did you know a movie is being made from THE MUSIC OF CHANCE?
Believe it or not! It should be filming now (if I remember my VARIETY news
correctly) in North Carolina ... If you already know all about this I'll
shut up now. If you want more info, let me know!

Kat

Peter.G...@williams.edu

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Jun 1, 1992, 2:18:00 PM6/1/92
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Holy Cow!!!!!!!!!! A movie version of Paul Auster's MUSIC OF CHANCE sounds
great to me - For those unfamilar with his work MUSIC OF CHANCE is probably
Auster's most accessable book if not his best one to date - Read the book
before you see the film - Do I want details on the filming? YES, YES, YES,
Thanks.

Gayle Gleason

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Jun 1, 1992, 5:21:33 PM6/1/92
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I saw Howard's End last night and thought it was incredibly well done.
The acting (all of it) was superb. If you only know Anthony Hopkins as
Hannibal the Can...then you may be rather surprised by him in this.

I haven't read the book, yet, but intend to very soon. My policy regarding
movies based on books is to see the movie first, then enjoy the book second.
If I read the book first, the movie can never live up to my expectations.
(so much of a book has to be left out simply because of time contraints, and
I never seem to agree with the screenwriter as to which parts to exclude.)
However, if I read the book second, then the extra parts that weren't in the
movie are like new chapters in the same story and therefore, pleasant
surprises.

--Gayle Gleason

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