Downton Abbey meets Dexter?

[ffutures]

Kind Hearts and Coronets was filmed in 1949, is absolutely brilliant black comedy, and has never been remade. If you think of it as a sort of dark comedy Downton Abbey / Dexter crossover you'd think it would be a natural, especially as a pediod drama series, but they've never done it. Interestingly, the original novel on which it is based, Israel Rank by Roy Horniman, is out of UK copyright, so it would be possible to film that without any problems.

Please feel free to pass this idea on to anyone who can use it!

Comments

[inamac.livejournal.com]

Please NO! Given the awful mess that's been made of other classic British/Ealing films (The Ladykillers, anyone?) I have no desire to see perfection messed around with (in fact it seems to be the dubious morality of KH&C that has stopped remakes, that and the difficulty of translating it to a US mileau).

The same goes for Passport to Pimlico.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

OK - I haven't seen Ladykillers, so I'll take your word for it. But the fact is, as time goes by fewer and fewer people will know KH&C; something needs to be done while people still remember and love the original, and hopefully treat it with a little respect. Which is why I think it might make a good project for e.g. the BBC to make as a mini-series.

[inamac.livejournal.com]

The BBC have done two different radio versions recently, so they are introducing it to one audience that hasn't experienced it before - but they tend to re-show the film fairly regularly too.

I'm also grateful that no one has tried to 'improve' on 'A Matter of Life and Death', which regularly comes top in 'great movies' polls.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Possibly the Beeb is testing the waters before committing to a TV series.

[stevegreen.livejournal.com]

Henry Segall's play 'Heaven Can Wait' touches on similar themes, and that's been tackled twice, as Here Comes Mr Jordan (1941) and Heaven Can Wait (1978).

[pauldormer.livejournal.com]

Actually, the National Theatre put on a stage version of A Matter of Life and Death a couple of years ago. It was dire.

[stevegreen.livejournal.com]

With the staircase? That would have been impressive.

[pauldormer.livejournal.com]

Indeed, it would have been, but their special effects didn't stretch to that. Lots of bicycles and hospital beds is what I remember. I am a great fan of the film. I did not enjoy the stage version.

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

My reaction was the same. Apparently Peter Jackson, who should know better, is about to remake "The Dambusters". Why?!

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Can't explain that one - the original was a film of its moment, and made when a lot of people still remembered the real events. It looks like the remake will be going for historical accuracy (apart from calling the dog "nigsy") but I doubt it will carry anything like the same emotional weight.

[stevegreen.livejournal.com]

NIgsy? That is just wrong. Why not just call him Blackie?

[stevegreen.livejournal.com]

Interestingly, the original novel on which it is based, Israel Rank by Roy Horniman, is out of UK copyright

This may explain the rather pathetic sequel aired on BBC R4 a month or so back.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

The odd thing is I've missed all of these remakes etc., but it must be steam engine time if so many people are doing it.

[stevegreen.livejournal.com]

I only caught the R4 sequel because I'd been up since the day before and awoke in time for the afternoon play.

Chatting with rayholloway just now, he suggested - to our mutual shudder - KH&C would likely appeal to Eddie Murphy, who's made a series of movies in which he's appeared in multiple roles. Move the action to uptown Washington and it's a slam dunk. Please, no...

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Not a wonderful idea. It really doesn't work so well without the trappings of snobbery in the original story. Or the racism of the original book, of course.

[stevegreen.livejournal.com]

Oh, there's plenty of snobbery in central DC. But racism? Never read the actual book, y'see.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

The title of the original book is a pretty strong hint - the anti-hero's mother is disowned for marrying a Jew.

[stevegreen.livejournal.com]

Y'know, that never occurred to me.

[pauldormer.livejournal.com]

An amusing sidebar on this film is that the reporter in the final scene was an early film appearance of Arthur Lowe, his first credited appearance, according to the IMDb.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Good grief!

[dsample.livejournal.com]

Stephen Colbert recently did Breaking Abbey, which had the cast of Downton Abbey performing scenes purportedly from the upcoming season of Breaking Bad.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Thanks - I'll see if I can find it on line.