THE TUDORS:Writer & Executive Producer--Michael Hirst..Born in UK,1952
QUOTE: "I know I am sometimes taken to task for “inventing” things, but believe me the general rule of thumb is that the more extraordinary and unbelievable a scene is, the more likely it is to be based on historical “fact”. I simply could not make up the story of Henry wrestling, virtually naked, with the King of France; or the “orgy” that followed the birth of his bastard son; or the fact that the King fell head first into the mud and nearly drowned trying to vault over a ditch"
QUOTE: “In movies, the writer is, beyond a certain point, incidental and a bit of a nuisance. But in series TV, the writer is God. And given the choice, I prefer to be God.”
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[Ricrar Observation: Imagine living in a society where the government dictates what you can and cannot wear. Actually - if the current political party(liberal Democrats) remain in power much longer in the US, they are capable of going to such ridiculous lengths to control what citizens can and cannot do. In liberal regions of the country, they’re already setting laws in place to control what the population can and cannot eat as well as which vehicles they may drive with government approval. You see, to their way of thinking, their perception of themselves as possessing far more brilliance than the average American deigns them worthy of setting such rules for everyone else. That’s not far from the Tudor age’s restrictions on who were deemed worthy enough to wear velvet and silk.] http://tudorswiki.sho.com/page/chart+of+Tudor+Sumptuary+laws
Anne Arundell - Lady Baltimore - Her and her husband Cecil Calvert funded the founding of the state of Maryland (colony at that time). Her father had been imprisoned several times for refusing to reject his religion. Her great grandmother was a cousin of
Henry VIII's. Upon Anne's death in 1649 the Maryland Assembly(state government) named the most recently formed division of land - 'Anne Arundel County'. The couple never visited Maryland but were very interested in it's development. Their drawing room ceiling was decorated with paintings of the Ark and the Covenant - two ships that delivered the first settlers to Maryland. Their family home was Hook House, Wiltshire, England.
Excerpt: PENN, William, founder of Pennsylvania, born in London, England, 14 October, 1644; died in Ruscombe, Berkshire, 30 July, 1718. He was descended from an ancient family that had lived in Buckinghamshire for many generations. A branch settled in Wiltshire, near Mintyre, and from this was descended Admiral William Penn, the father of the founder, who was born in Bristol in 1621. He joined a vessel early in life under his father's command, and became a captain before he was twenty years of age. In 1643 he married Margaret Jasper, daughter of a rich merchant of Rotterdam, and then settled in London. After a year of fashionable life he returned to active service, and was given command of the frigate "Fellowship." With unusual rapidity he attained the ranks of rear-admiral and vice-admiral of Ireland, and in 1652 he was vice-admiral of England. He served as general in the first Dutch war, and in 1664 he was chosen great captain-commander under the Duke of York, afterward James II., and was knighted. He died at his home in Wanstead, Essex, on 16 September, 1670. (See "Memorials of the Professional Life of Admiral Sir William Penn," by Granville Penn, London, 1833.)
Comic geeks, including a couple screenwriters, admit to being fanboys over Capt America - See RA about 3:50 and repeats.
They analyze scenes and characters in-depth, including Heinz Kruger but usually don't mention actors names. The language gives you an idea just how excited they are about seeing their comicbook heroes come to life. At one point the commentator says "even if you've never 'done' Capt America before"...haha...that term is usually reserved for dating situations. Don't they sound downright orgasmic over the film? They have their priorities - we have ours:)
Question #10: A lot of us are Richard Armitage fans. What was he like to work with?
QUOTE: Mick Milligan: Richard is a gentleman. He did well in doing a lot of the fight sequences himself for the sake of character authenticity. For the duration of the shoot he lived John Porter. I think he even surprised himself. Easily one of my favourite actors. He's one of us.
LOVE LETTERS MYSTERY: Initially mentally filed under huh? What? Where? Why? hmmmm. Love letters from HenryVIII to Anne Boleyn were found in, of all places, The Vatican Library.
After some reflection it became evident that it really wasn't all that amazing afterall. They were probably sent there as evidence by those who did not want the king to receive a dispensation from the Pope in order to divorce his first wife. Fascinating indeed...The Tudors series demonstrates the eternal truth of President Harry Truman's words "the only thing new in the world is the history you don't know."
More I read about Chas Brandon, more I realize he was exactly the type of character RA prefers playing -- morally conflicted, complex personality. Shades of light and dark with ever more evidence accruing on the dark side...
The Willoughby name is prominent in The Tudors series. Brandon's 4th wife was Catherine Willoughby...
Capt John Smith, founder of the first permanent settlement in America (Jamestown, VA) was born in Willoughby, Lincolnshire, England. His father rented land from the Willoughby family.
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Notes taken while reading various explanations and historical records on Chas Brandon, Henry VIII’s close personal friend. Henry showered his friend with titles (Duke of Suffolk) and land grants (some taken from former monastery lands after their dissolution) These notes are not organized in any way and do not only focus on Brandon - jotted down while reading. They mostly highlight inaccuracies in the TV series. IMO, nothing crucial was altered.
[Tangent: In recent yrs, director Oliver Stone has changed major historical facts when writing/filming his movies - that type of artistic license should not be condoned. As a strident political liberal, Stone wanted to skewer the right side of US political spectrum. The arrogant director has recently kissed up to Venezuela’s dictator Hugo Chavez. He, Sean Penn and other LaLaLand types - suffering from political diahhrea of the mouth - never let an opportunity pass without taking a broadside at the political right. Their immature tactics simply highlight the emotional hysterics of Hollywood’s liberal community. In the US, it’s the average person versus entertainment and academic elitists.The latter groups are blinded by what they perceive to be their own brilliance.Both have political goals that almost never coincide with what the majority of solid, common sense American citizens support]
NOTES:
--Eliz Blount gave birth to HenryVIII’s son Henry Fitzroy when she was 17 yrs old.
--Buckingham’s(Edw Stafford) trial was in 1521 - No conclusive evidence exists that he was guilty of treason..only hearsay.
--there is no historical evidence to suggest Anne Boleyn’s father, Thomas, was part of the setup against Buckingham.
--Edw Seymour was Lord Hertford
--Brandon’s first wife was Margaret Mortimer nee Neville (annulled in 1507); second wife Anne Brown died 1511; third was Mary Tudor (Henry VIII’s sister--called Margaret in tv series) She died 1533. 4th and final wife was Catherine Willoughby (his former ward and son’s betrothed) They were married in 1533. Catherine was half Spanish - one of Katherine of Aragon’s Ladies in Waiting who arrived with her from Spain for the former’s marriage to Henry’s older brother, Arthur. In the series she’s referred to as Catherine Brooke.
--Chas oldest dau was born to him & Anne Browne outside marriage. He had instead married her very wealthy aunt--Margaret Neville Mortimer.
--The Mortimer marriage was annulled - Chas then married Anne Browne in a public ceremony.
--Several historians remarked on Henry VIII’s sister, Mary Tudor, as a great beauty with a clear complexion and long red-gold hair(a tudor trademark). Brandon became smitten..when her elderly husband Louis XII of France died they were married (1514). She was 19yrs old. They had at least 5 children - one of their daughters was mother of tragic historical figure - Lady Jane Grey.
--Mary Tudor was a personal friend of Cath Aragon’s therefore she stayed away from court when Anne Boleyn made her appearance. Her husband Chas continued to be the perfect courtier, which strained their relationship.
--Another of their daughters, Eleanor (countess of Cumberland) married Henry Clifford. She was taken prisoner by protesting rebels during The Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536. Her captors attempted to force her father-in-law, Earl of Cumberland, to relinquish Skipton Castle. [Personal note: there’s a quaint shopping village about 25mi from Philadelphia called Skipton] Eleanor was rescued.
--When HenryVIII’s sister Mary(Brandon’s wife) died, her brother ordered masses said at the couple’s residence Westhorpe Hall, Westminster Abbey and at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Two centuries later her tomb was moved to St Mary’s church, Bury St Edmunds.
--Chas Brandon attended all momentous events of 1530s. He sat at the trials of Thos More and Anne Boleyn; helped lead forces to end the Pilgrimage of Grace; as result of dissolution of monasteries by Henry, Brandon was granted more land and pensions.
--He and his last wife, Catherine Willoughby, had two sons. They entertained Henry and his new bride, Katherine Howard. Suffolk(Brandon) was one of the men who subsequently arrested & extracted a confession from Queen Katherine(Howard).
--When Henry finally had his 'legitimate' son, Prince Edw Tudor, Chas Brandon acted as godfather.
--Last yrs of Brandon’s life were happy--he and Catherine Willoughby were affectionate. He died suddenly in 1545 at the advanced age of 60.
Historical records prove that Chas Brandon was a bad boy who definitely loved women (and of course their accompanying assets of land/wealth). In the form of Henry Cavill, females strongly return that sentiment. The actor said during an interview that his character in The Tudors couldn‘t keep his *duck*(my interpretation) haha inside his pants..quickly added ‘sorry’ to the interviewer. Henry‘s charming smiles could seduce an iceberg. He and RA share a number of physical characteristics that make the difference between pleasing to the eye and gorgeous - two being their strong, masculine jawlines and huge expressive blue eyes. Double Yum!
The Tudors is an Irish/Canadian co-production filmed 80% at Ardmore Studios in Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland and 20% at various locations like Dublin City, Dublin Castle, Kilmainham Jail, Phoenix Park and Lord Meath's estate at Killruddery House.
Locations: All four seasons of "The Tudors" used Ardmore Studios, Luggala, Killruddery House and Gardens, Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin, Christ Church, Humewood Castle, Swords Castle, Drimnagh Castle and Powerscourt Estate in County Wicklow, Ireland for locations throughout the summers of 2006 through 2009. County Wicklow, dubbed the "Garden of Ireland," lies on the eastern edge of the country, bordering the Irish Sea.
PAST POST with NEW COMMENT: Speculation in this past post about the identification of the blonde RA was photographed with at a charitable auction. I'd assumed it was an event organizer but MsG wonders if it might be the former girlfriend who moved out while RA was filming Strike Back in Africa. Inquiring minds can't help but wonder about these crucial questions. :) *afterall - we're only human* Truth is, if we do stop caring about this sort of aspect about an actor, eventually we stop caring about just about everything to do with him. As long as we want to talk about him, his life and his career - his future remains bright in the entertainment industry..
hmmm, interesting not only as world history, but on a personal level as well. Hubby's father's given names were George Owen. We always assumed he was of 100% Irish descent prior to the family's emigration to the US in mid C19. After learning at above links just how important the name Owen (Owain) is in Welsh history, it leads me to assume a Welshman as well started to swim in his gene pool at some point in time.
Their caption: Richard Armitage, our editor and the photographer spot a cute mouse in the studio. They think it was the mouse from The Green Mile as it almost ran right up to them. Fortunately, Richard was there to protect them both :)
Their caption: A quick ‘behind the scenes’ image of our photo shoot with one of the stars of the upcoming Captain America movie, and next year’s super-blockbuster Hobbit movies. Full interview and photo shoot with England’s next action hero, RICHARD ARMITAGE, in issue 9 of RECOGNISE
Thank you Musa for the heads up :) Ah so,,,Thorin's beard is the real thing..very nice! I reiterate--there's nothing like the real thing..why mess with mother nature's handiwork *know everyone agrees* Beard is the only feature that's perfectly clear - no doubt deliberate :)
Anne Boleyn(Natalie Dormer) in Capt America & latest addition to Game of Thrones 2 - many recently enjoyed drama characters are starting to merge into the same movies...
Now I'm officially into The Tudors with relish. Today during dinner I whined a bit to hubby that the fine tv series we'd watched together had ended (Camelot, Game of Thrones) the only shows remaining that we both enjoy will be the last two eps of the Sharpe series, which was his gift from me for Father's Day. Then I added that at least I still had The Tudors - it's currently playing on bbcA. To my very great surprise dh said "I'm going to watch The Tudors with you." *jaw almost fell open* I'd assumed it wasn't really his type of entertainment. Upon reflection, he is a history buff - although his preferred genre is usually more along the lines of the US Civil War and other military conflicts. The lovely serendipity solved another dilemma for me - The Tudors dvd set(4 seasons = 38eps) fills the bill as my gift to him for his birthday, which arrives in two wks. Can't wait to start watching it with my honey bunny. hehehe don't usually gush so much, but his remark really made for a pleasant turn of events - Game of Thrones already has him prepared for all the anatomy lessons:)
From Amazon.com website: 9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb television, but where are the blu-ray and CC?, January 15, 2011
By Dennis Brandt (Red Lion, PA United States) [Ricrar: I became curious about the location of Red Lion and after checking an online map smiled to see it's near the communities of Lancaster and Shrewsbury in York County, PA]
This review is from: The Tudors: The Complete Series (DVD)
I thoroughly enjoyed this series and wished it had continued on through Edward's and Mary's reigns. (There are many films on Elizabeth's tenure as queen.) Excellent costuming, fine performances, and close enough to historical fact to make it a good teaching tool (although not for high school given the nudity and excessive, if not historically inaccurate, use of the "F" word, particularly in the early episodes). It was a cruel and despotic era, and the series well depicts it within the confines of what is, despite the series' length, a short period of time. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers was incredibly good. Hard to believe he was the same man who portrayed Elvis Presley.
Those who criticize the series for historical inaccuracies all have valid points. As a historian, I can tell you that the mounting of the cannon depicted during the siege of Boulogne was absurd. Some pieces recoiled; others didn't. They were all mounted on an uphill slope, which means that recoil from firing round one would have sent them careening back down the slope, requiring hours of struggle to remount them for - well, one more shot that would have repeated the process. The proper procedure would have been to construct an upward slope behind the piece so it rolled back into position after firing. I was also annoyed that, given that the aged Henry VIII's obese form is so familiar, the film makers did not gradually fatten Rhys-Meyers. The 1970 BBC series Six Wives of Henry VIII did an effective job of growing actor Keith Michell from a lean, mean lovin' machine to a candidate for a fat farm. On the other hand, if you want to teach a non-historian why America's founding fathers insisted their new government have no established religion, have them watch The Tudors.
Of course, no serious historian would tap Hollywood and the like as a valid source. Gods and Generals, for example, made a strong effort to be a historically accurate film but insufficient effort to be a good film. Glory, on the other hand, presented a variety of historical errors, but it was an excellent film. All historically-based movies make factual errors, some through ignorance, others in the interest of story-telling, and some, especially old Hollywood films, are a joke (e.g., They Died with their Boots On or Santa Fe Trail). As long as film makers make a reasonable effort toward accuracy, I am not overly concerned. Historical drama can generate interest in a period or event and prompt the viewer to further study, as The Tudors did for me.
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Richard, Richard what have you done to me...lol...I'm blaming him for dragging me kicking and screaming back into the entertainment world that I was able to ignore for a decade:) Read the review of The Tudors series above and was absolutely amazed to learn that the star of that series also played Elvis Presley. More amazement on my part that a movie had been made about old blue suede shoes himself - didn't have a clue until now about the movie or Jonathan Rhys Meyers. His HenryVIII was my first introduction to him as an actor; therefore, hearing his Irish brogue blew me away during this press conference...
It's always nice to use some historical artifacts to decorate your surroundings. Will hang these reproduction portraits of historical figures for our art appreciation and perusal: Guy of Gisborne - Chas Brandon - RA as Roman Soldier
Good quality of entire Robin Hood Series 1 eps have recently been uploaded at youtube...
CHAPTER X - WROUGHT IRON AND GOLD
'We are the trees whom shaking fastens more.'....GEORGE HERBERT.
Mr. Thornton left the house without coming into the dining-room
again. He was rather late, and walked rapidly out to Crampton. He
was anxious not to slight his new friend by any disrespectful
unpunctuality. The church-clock struck half-past seven as he
stood at the door awaiting Dixon's slow movements; always doubly
tardy when she had to degrade herself by answering the door-bell.
He was ushered into the little drawing-room, and kindly greeted
by Mr. Hale, who led him up to his wife, whose pale face, and
shawl-draped figure made a silent excuse for the cold languor of
her greeting. Margaret was lighting the lamp when he entered, for
the darkness was coming on. The lamp threw a pretty light into
the centre of the dusky room, from which, with country habits,
they did not exclude the night-skies, and the outer darkness of
air. Somehow, that room contrasted itself with the one he had
lately left; handsome, ponderous, with no sign of feminine
habitation, except in the one spot where his mother sat...
Here were no mirrors, not even a scrap of glass to
reflect the light,...Behind
the door was another table, decked out for tea, with a white
tablecloth, on which flourished the cocoa-nut cakes, and a basket
piled with oranges and ruddy American apples, heaped on leaves.
It appeared to Mr. Thornton that all these graceful cares were
habitual to the family; and especially of a piece with Margaret.
She stood by the tea-table in a light-coloured muslin gown, which
had a good deal of pink about it. She looked as if she was not
attending to the conversation, but solely busy with the tea-cups,
among which her round ivory hands moved with pretty, noiseless,
daintiness. She had a bracelet on one taper arm, which would fall
down over her round wrist. Mr. Thornton watched the replacing of
this troublesome ornament with far more attention than he
listened to her father. It seemed as if it fascinated him to see
her push it up impatiently, until it tightened her soft flesh;
and then to mark the loosening--the fall. He could almost have
exclaimed--'There it goes, again!' There was so little left to be
done after he arrived at the preparation for tea, that he was
almost sorry the obligation of eating and drinking came so soon
to prevent his watching Margaret. She handed him his cup of tea
with the proud air of an unwilling slave; but her eye caught the
moment when he was ready for another cup; and he almost longed to
ask her to do for him what he saw her compelled to do for her
father, who took her little finger and thumb in his masculine
hand, and made them serve as sugar-tongs. Mr. Thornton saw her
beautiful eyes lifted to her father, full of light, half-laughter
and half-love, as this bit of pantomime went on between the two,
unobserved, as they fancied, by any. Margaret's head still ached,
as the paleness of her complexion, and her silence might have
testified; but she was resolved to throw herself into the breach,
if there was any long untoward pause, rather than that her
father's friend, pupil, and guest should have cause to think
himself in any way neglected. But the conversation went on; and
Margaret drew into a corner, near her mother, with her work,
after the tea-things were taken away; and felt that she might let
her thoughts roam, without fear of being suddenly wanted to fill
up a gap.
(Margaret compares her father's appearance with Mr Thornton's)
Her father was of slight figure, which made him appear taller than he really was, when not
contrasted, as at this time, with the tall, massive frame of
another. The lines in her father's face were soft and waving,
with a frequent undulating kind of trembling movement passing
over them, showing every fluctuating emotion; the eyelids were
large and arched, giving to the eyes a peculiar languid beauty
which was almost feminine. The brows were finely arched, but
were, by the very size of the dreamy lids, raised to a
considerable distance from the eyes. Now, in Mr. Thornton's face
the straight brows fell low over the clear, deep-set earnest
eyes, which, without being unpleasantly sharp, seemed intent
enough to penetrate into the very heart and core of what he was
looking at. The lines in the face were few but firm, as if they
were carved in marble, and lay principally about the lips, which
were slightly compressed over a set of teeth so faultless and
beautiful as to give the effect of sudden sunlight when the rare
bright smile, coming in an instant and shining out of the eyes,
changed the whole look from the severe and resolved expression of
a man ready to do and dare everything, to the keen honest
enjoyment of the moment, which is seldom shown so fearlessly and
instantaneously except by children. Margaret liked this smile; it
was the first thing she had admired in this new friend of her
father's; and the opposition of character, shown in all these
details of appearance she had just been noticing, seemed to
explain the attraction they evidently felt towards each other.
She rearranged her mother's worsted-work, and fell back into her
own thoughts--as completely forgotten by Mr. Thornton as if she
had not been in the room,....
........
'You are mistaken,' said Margaret, roused by the aspersion on her
beloved South to a fond vehemence of defence, that brought the
colour into her cheeks and the angry tears into her eyes. 'You do
not know anything about the South. If there is less adventure or
less progress--I suppose I must not say less excitement--from the
gambling spirit of trade, which seems requisite to force out
these wonderful inventions, there is less suffering also. I see
men h ere going about in the streets who look ground down by some
pinching sorrow or care--who are not only sufferers but haters.
Now, in the South we have our poor, but there is not that
terrible expression in their countenances of a sullen sense of
injustice which I see here. You do not know the South, Mr.
Thornton,' she concluded, collapsing into a determined silence,
and angry with herself for having said so much.
'And may I say you do not know the North?' asked he, with an
inexpressible gentleness in his tone, as he saw that he had
really hurt her. She continued resolutely silent; yearning after
the lovely haunts she had left far away in Hampshire, with a
passionate longing that made her feel her voice would be unsteady
and trembling if she spoke......
I had such a mother as few are blest with; a woman of strong power, and
firm resolve. We went into a small country town, where living was
cheaper than in Milton, and where I got employment in a draper's
shop (a capital place, by the way, for obtaining a knowledge of
goods). Week by week our income came to fifteen shillings, out of
which three people had to be kept. My mother managed so that I
put by three out of these fifteen shillings regularly. This made
the beginning; this taught me self-denial. Now that I am able to
afford my mother such comforts as her age, rather than her own
wish, requires, I thank her silently on each occasion for the
early training she gave me. Now when I feel that in my own case
it is no good luck, nor merit, nor talent,--but simply the habits
of life which taught me to despise indulgences not thoroughly
earned,--indeed, never to think twice about them,--I believe that
this suffering, which Miss Hale says is impressed on the
countenances of the people of Milton, is but the natural
punishment of dishonestly-enjoyed pleasure, at some former period
of their lives. I do not look on self-indulgent, sensual people
as worthy of my hatred; I simply look upon them with contempt for
their poorness of character.'
'But you have had the rudiments of a good education,' remarked
Mr. Hale. 'The quick zest with which you are now reading Homer,
shows me that you do not come to it as an unknown book; you have
read it before, and are only recalling your old knowledge.'
'That is true,--I had blundered along it at school; I dare say, I
was even considered a pretty fair classic in those days, though
my Latin and Greek have slipt away from me since. But I ask you,
what preparation they were for such a life as I had to lead? None
at all. Utterly none at all. On the point of education, any man
who can read and write starts fair with me in the amount of
really useful knowledge that I had at that time.'
'Well! I don't agree with you. But there I am perhaps somewhat of
a pedant. Did not the recollection of the heroic simplicity of
the Homeric life nerve you up?'
'Not one bit!' exclaimed Mr. Thornton, laughing. 'I was too busy
to think about any dead people, with the living pressing
alongside of me, neck to neck, in the struggle for bread. Now
that I have my mother safe in the quiet peace that becomes her
age, and duly rewards her former exertions, I can turn to all
that old narration and thoroughly enjoy it.'
When Mr. Thornton rose up to go away, after shaking hands with
Mr. and Mrs. Hale, he made an advance to Margaret to wish her
good-bye in a similar manner. It was the frank familiar custom of
the place; but Margaret was not prepared for it. She simply bowed
her farewell; although the instant she saw the hand, half put
out, quickly drawn back, she was sorry she had not been aware of
the intention. Mr. Thornton, however, knew nothing of her sorrow,
and, drawing himself up to his full height, walked off, muttering
as he left the house--
'A more proud, disagreeable girl I never saw. Even her great
beauty is blotted out of one's memory by her scornful ways.'
