Never having seen a film in which a poet was a leading character, I took to wondering how many there are. Ken Russell's 'Gothic' came to mind (Byron & Shelley), 'Bright Star' is about Keats and then there's 'Shakespeare in Love'. Managed to miss them all. Are they any good? And are there any others featuring poets?


...and when will there be one featuring the goings on in and around open mic nights and poetry websites?

Sylvia, 2003, starring, somewhat inevitably, Gwyneth Paltrow, plus Daniel Craig as Ted Hughes. I seem to remember quite enjoying it.
As for Write Out Loud, the movie ... who would Isobel like to play herself? And Julian?

I would have to be someone like Kate/Katherine from The Taming of the Shrew. I'm not sure if any man could tame me, but we could both have a damn good time playing at it - especially if he looked and sounded anything like the young Richard Burton!

I don't look or sound anything like the young RB, but my dad did...it's rather spooky. I think it was the white polo necks that did it.

Bright Star isn't bad and Shakespeare in Love's a hoot. I'm sure there's mileage in a play about performance poetry, a la Tutti Frutti, but for poets.

I'm surprised Moxy's not written one.

Of course there is Dead Poets Society and 'Sylvia', the film about Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes.

You might be interested in this....

http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/195


: )

Jx

Any volunteers for Fanny Brawne?

She was definitely the best thing in Bright Star, and always good for a knees-up.

: )

Jx

I've tasted pork pies, and gobbled a fishcake or two, but never Fanny Brawne.

It does sound a bit like a night with Tessa Sanderson.

: )

Jx

What have I started....

Mister Coopey's dribbling . . .

He can play Fanny then...

You may be accused of typecasting . . . :)

Colonel Kurtz: Marlon Brando

I've seen that film "Bright Star" about Keats and I loved it so much. There are many Russian films with Russian actors about Pushkin, Lermontov, Esenin,....A new film appeared on the screens about modern Russian poet and song writer Vladimir Vysotsky.

Someone called?

Just when I thought I could contribute to this thread you have to fetch it back on message, Blackie!

"I wan too go to Jesa
I wan too go wiv Criez
I can go wiv Jesa
Ef I ac rill nize"
Sammie, Hannibal's Cell Neighbour,
Silence of the Lambs.

There was definitely one about Dylan Thomas whose title escapes me. It was poorly rated, perhaps because the real 'meat' was in facial and body expressions rather than dialogue, and in the atmosphere of the filmed settings and topography. I really enjoyed it; but it required real interest and sympathetic attention to detail.

I saw that Dylan Thomas film too, Cynthia, but had to resort to Google to remind myself about it (The Edge of Love, 2008, Kieira Knightly, Sienna Miller, Matthew Rhys). Think I quite enjoyed it. Remember some atmospheric London Blitz scenes ... was that the same film?

Fanny Brawn? wasn't she related to Patty Pudenda? Il Postino was a great film if, like me you are an old romantic. Write Out Loud the movie? watch this space. there was a R4 play about open-mic poetry about five or six years ago. if anyone remembers the title, do let me know.
Who would play me in the movie? Wilfred Bramble? No, don't tell me he has died, too! Have to be Woody Allen then.

Carry On Up the Calder Valley, perhaps?

Don't forget "The Barretts of Wimpole Street". Elizabeth Barrett
and Robert Browning get together despite parental opposition - in two
versions; 1934 and 1957.

There must be a film about Rossetti? Surely to god!

What about "Andrew - the MOTION picture"? :)

Time for a list

Gothic - Byron & Shelley
Bright Star - Keats
Shakespeare in Love - WS
Sylvia - Sylvia Plath & Ted Hughes
Tom & Viv- TS Eliot
The Libertine - Earl of Rochester
Dead Man - William Blake of sorts
Howl - Ginsberg
Control - Ian Curtis
Total Eclipse - Rimbaud/Verlaine
Regeneration - Owen, Sassoon, Graves.
Il Postino - Pablo Neruda
The Edge of Love - Dylan Thomas
Under Milkwood - Dylan Thomas
I'm Not There - Bob Dylan
The Barretts of Wimpole Street (twice) - Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning

and Ann is right - there is a film about Rossetti -
Dante's Inferno: The Private Life of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Poet and Painter

An interesting website
http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/195

And mentions of
* Dead Poets Society
* Colonel Kurtz, presumably quoting T S Eliot in Apocalypse Now
* many Russian films with Russian actors about Pushkin, Lermontov, Esenin,....A new film appeared on the screens about modern Russian poet and song writer Vladimir Vysotsky.
* Sammie in Silence of the Lambs
* Cyrano De Bergerac with Mr Depardieu for the language

So Dave, you haven't told us - who's going to play you when you're immortalised on the big screen?

"Shakespeare in Love", is OK. I own this movie and enjoy it. But it's not for everyone.

"What about "Andrew - the MOTION picture"? :)"

That would be a good as cure for insomnia...