Author: Anthony Lawton

Chair, Sussex Dolphin, family company which looks after the work of eminent children’s & historical fiction author Rosemary Sutcliff (1920-92). Formerly CEO, chair & trustee of various charity, cultural & educational enterprises in UK. Sometimes a consultant.

Accuracy in film story-telling and book-story telling in The Eagle film and The Eagle of the Ninth book

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Rosemary Sutcliff‘s The Eagle of the Ninth historical novel tells a story which is not followed to the letter by The Eagle film-makers Jeremy Brock (writer), Duncan Kenworthy (producer) and Kevin MacDonald (director ). In fact, there are several differences, although I believe the film captures well both the essence of the story that Rosemary told and the essence of the novel. Since Rosemary was a writer  not a film story-teller , I believe she would have respected decisions by film-makers to change aspects of story.

A lover of good stories (and amongst other things, film Westerns) she might have understood that MacDonald and colleagues sacrificed absolute accuracy to her book to the requirements of a good story on film. She would have respected them choosing a good film-story (as they saw it) over absolute faithfulness to the book. My evidence? This from her about the historical accuracy of her books:

Since I am a writer, not an historian, I will sacrifice historical accuracy. I really very seldom have to do it, and then it is only a matter of perhaps reversing the order of two events, or something like that. But if it does come to the crunch, I will choose a good story over absolute historical accuracy.
Source: Interview with Rosemary Sutcliff  by Raymond H Thompson (and also here on this blog)

The Eagle: video behind the scenes of The Eagle with Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell

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In this ” exclusive (video) interview” for The Telegraph (I think),  the actors and director of The Eagle film (based upon the great The Eagle of the Ninth historical novel by Rosemary Sutcliff) talk on the set in Scotland in 2009 about the relationship between Marcus (Channing Tatum) and his slave Esca (Jamie Bell).

Source: The Eagle | Behind the scenes with Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell | Telegraph.

Helen Hollick great fan of Rosemary Sutcliff | Debbie’s Book Bag author interview

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My all time favourite author, though, has to be Rosemary Sutcliff, especially her The Eagle of the Ninth and The Mark of the Horse Lord. She has such a beautiful way of using words.

Source: Debbie’s Book Bag Interview: Helen Hollick.

Jamie Bell, Channing Tatum at premiere March 9th and signing copies of The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff at Waterstone’s Piccadilly Branch 10th March

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The Eagle Film Tie-In Leading stars in The Eagle film of The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff – Jamie Bell and Channing Tatum,– were at the premiere in Leicester Square on March 9th and signed books at the Piccadilly branch of Waterstone’s the next day. Details of the book signing here.

The rules of battle included:  “the queue will be restricted to the first 150 people who will be issued with a special wristband -wristbands will issued from 4pm on the day when people buy The Eagle film tie-in book from Waterstone’s Piccadilly, or when they bring a valid receipt with their copy”.

Rosemary Sutcliff’s garden, now in 2011 | Sutcliff Discovery of the Day

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Here is  photo kindly sent to me by Stephen Walby, who lives in the house where Rosemary Sutcliff wrote most of her books. This is how I remember her garden, looking out from her study or next to it. And  it may be what David Sutcliff recalls in a very recent post on this blog, at the You Write! section.

Rosemary Sutcliff's garden in 2011 (post her death in 1992)