The Eagle of the Ninth film is hardest thing lead Channing Tatum has ever done

The Eagle of the Ninth new film stars Channing Tatum, as Marcus, the hero. The film is based on the classic book of children’s literature by Rosemary Sutcliff. Channing Tatum  said in one interview, when asked about the film and the filming in the Highlands of Scotland:

“I’ve loved Kevin Macdonald’s movies for a while now, it was an amazing experience because he wanted to do something really different, he wanted to make all the Romans American, venturing off from Romans being this English-speaking very villainous type thing.Read More »

Novel Blood and Sand as Japanese musical Love and Death in Arabia | Rosemary Sutcliff Discovery of the Day!

Rosemary Sutcliff’s historical fiction novel about Islam, Blood and Sand, was made into a Japanese musical called ‘Love and Death in Arabia’ starring Matubo Sei of  The Takarazuka Revue (宝塚歌劇団). Researching this on the internet has been completely absorbing and fascinating. Although my Japanese is poor, and Google translator unreliable, I have found  more informationRead More »

International Children’s Book Day | Another Sutcliff Discovery of the Day

International Children’s Book Day today, is suitable to celebrate Rosemary Sutcliff as well as Hans Christian Andersen whose birthday it is. This year  the international sponsor, Spain, chose the theme ‘Un libro te espera, búscalo!’ which means ‘A book is waiting for you, find it!’. It seems like most people in the UK did not find the day, let alone the waiting book, if the lack of public mention here is an indicator. (Also, for all who share my taste in music, it is the birthday of Emmylou Harris.)

Rosemary Sutcliff’s The Eagle of the Ninth film with Channing Tatum

Pictures here from the official Channing Tatum website on the filming of the ‘swords and sandals’, ‘Roman epic’, movie of Rosemary Sutcliff’s classic historical novel  The Eagle of the Ninth, directed by Kevin Macdonald.

The Eagle (of the Ninth) film, not Centurion, based on Rosemary Sutcliff historical novel

The film The Eagle is based on Rosemary Sutcliff’s Roman novel The Eagle of the Ninth. It was wrongly claimed in a Guardian newspaper that film Centurion was also based on the book. They published this letter that I sent them:Read More »