Alternative castings

Such a laugh over the last few days. It's that moment in between Christmas and New Year, when nothing in particular is happening, although there's always loads to do and for once, I don't feel guilty about snuggling up on the sofa (with Mike) and catching up with a few DVDs. Some new, some gathering dust having been new a few months back, and which we'd not got round to seeing, some just not seen for a while.  Then of course there are the seasonal favourites. Which has meant that for much of the time we've been crying. Sometimes with laughter and sometimes because we're so choked up. Either way the net result is we have no more tissues in the house. (Note to self: add tissues to Thursday's shopping list).

First up was Scrooge - although some films take their name from the book. There are quite a few versions. The earliest one I can find is from 1935. Since then George C Scott has played the title role, Sir Patrick Stewart, Simon Callow. There are also animations, musical versions and even The Muppets got in on the act. But our favourite is from 1951, with a raft of superb British character actors and the comically bewildered Alistair Sims as Scrooge, once described by Ronnie Corbett as, "a sad-faced actor, with the voice of a fastidious ghoul". Sims epitomises (for me) the perfect actor/character pairing that happens from time to time. Not meaning that the others aren't good, but  those 'alternative castings' don't quite press my button and there's at least a dozen films to choose from.

The idea of 'alternative castings' popped up after we'd watched High Society. Fifty-eight years on, Cole Porter's music and lyrics are still sublime and the performances pitch perfect. To the extent that it's hard to imagine anyone else in any of the roles. But amongst the extras on the H.S. DVD, was an interview with Celeste Holm who plays the photographer Liz Imbrie, in which she spoke about Elizabeth Taylor and Howard Keel being considered as Tracy and Dexter, rather than Kelly and Crosby? The one person I could imagine playing Dexter as an alternative is Danny Kaye. Really good singer, terrific actor/comedien.

After that, the idea of 'who might have been' really intrigued, particularly with the big block busters that we've been watching. . . The Lord of the Rings. I'm trying to visualise
Sean Connery as Gandalf,  Bruce Willis as Boromir, Jake Gyllenhaal as Frodo, Russell Crowe as Aragorn. Seems Daniel Day Lewis was approached for Aragorn, but like the others mentioned, turned the film down. Now he would have been something.

As for Harry Potter: Ian McKellan/Dumbledore, Tilda Swinton/Professor Trelawney, Hugh Grant/Gilderoy Lockhart, Timothy Roth/Severus Snape, Robin Williams/Hagrid. 

Just fascinating. Such a fabulous collection of actors, each of whom would have brought something completely different to each of the films. 

Yesterday we watched The Court Jester. Generally regarded as Danny Kaye's masterpiece. We were speechless with laughter - again, and I must know it frame by frame. I can't imagine it in the hands of Jim Carrey or Steve Martin, so I hope there isn't an attempt to remake it or another favourite that we watched  a couple of days ago, the wonderful It's A Wonderful Life. Although there does seems to be a sequel in the pipeline based on the story of 'George Bailey's (James Stewart) grandson. There's an original idea for you!