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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.
Looking at Guy's pic above reminds me of the terrifying lion:) in RH3. haha..not really very frightening, was it. Purpose of this note is to thank RACentral and RANet for their tweets and providing the following link. RA narrated Elsa: The Lioness That Changed the World. Excerpt at:
Monday, 01 September 2008 BBC Press Office - As Spooks returns to BBC One for a seventh series this autumn, Richard Armitage joins the cast as Lucas North, an MI5 spy who has spent the past eight years languishing in a Russian prison.
What is Lucas like and what's his background?
"On the surface Lucas is an amiable character but eight years in a Russian prison has had a profound effect on him. His personality is divided between who he was before he was imprisoned, the prisoner and the person he has become. He has an outer façade which is personable, but underneath is somebody who has been through a big trauma. He is aware he is playing catch–up with the world. He was once the best in his field, and now he is trying to regain his former brilliance. He wants to be accepted back onto the Grid – it is the only aspect of his former life that has remained."
Map of the problematique by HeathDances...
How has he been specifically affected by his eight–year incarceration?
"He is malnourished but physically he's fit. In prison he put himself through a torturous routine to keep himself going. He was about to break mentally and in order to stop that from happening he kept his body working. He has no knowledge of how damaged he is emotionally, until memories start to work their way to the surface – he experiences flashbacks and begins to remember things buried deep in his subconscious."
Does Lucas find it difficult to adapt to the outside world?
"There is a scene in one of the early episodes where he is in the safe house and he can't sleep – the only way he can get to sleep is by lying on the floor, effectively sleeping on a very hard prison bed. There are glimpses that make you realise he is struggling to adjust, but as a spy he keeps it well hidden."
How do the rest of the team take to him?
"There is obviously suspicion at first. They are inclined to be instantly suspicious of anybody who has been in the hands of the Russians for so long. A situation arises in which he has a chance to prove himself, but Lucas doesn't play by the rules, in fact, the game he is playing is very dangerous and he pushes the boundaries of trust to the limit. He subsequently has to fight very hard to be accepted and regain Harry's trust – it's never fully given and he has to continually prove himself, there is always ambiguity surrounding him."
How did you find learning to speak Russian and also filming in Russia?
"Learning to speak Russian was pretty impossible, really – I had to learn it phonetically. My biggest problem was that Lucas doesn't just speak Russian; he passed as a Russian native for years, so I had to really work hard at it. I had to make it seem that it was a second language. It was a challenge but I sat down with a language CD back in November 2007 and I also had a Russian language coach. When we went to shoot in Moscow I found I could communicate and understand some of the things the Russians were saying – that was exciting.
"Shooting in Russia was a great experience – we shot in many different locations. Even though Russia and Moscow have changed beyond recognition in the last decade, the dangerous aspects of it are still there – but perhaps that was in my imagination as I was travelling there as Lucas North. We were filming on the aeroplane so I had to arrive in costume and character! We shot footage during the flight and at the airport and used every second of the day we had there to shoot."
Was there time for laughing on set?
"Spooks is obviously a serious show, so there is a great need to laugh whenever possible to diffuse the atmosphere. There is often a "gallows" humour between the characters, particularly Harry and Ros, and the writers cleverly manage to get humour into a very serious arena. There was one particularly funny occasion, when I was pulled over by the police and cautioned during a driving sequence. I was asked to open the boot of the vehicle, oblivious as to why. I did as I was told and found most of the camera and sound crew crammed into the boot looking sheepish. We obviously had permission to film and, as all the crew were wearing seat belts, we were ok. The problem was, when asked for my name I told them it was Lucas North and I was working for MI5 – that's when the director stepped in to save me!"
Spooks is notorious for killing its lead characters. Do you worry this might happen to you?
"To be honest I haven't thought about it too much. However, on judging the way characters tend to get killed off, I think when Lucas's time comes I'll welcome it. When Spooks characters are killed off, or disappear, it's usually the most memorable moment of the episode, or even series. There are moments in this series that take your breath away – giving that rare feeling of wanting to look away but having to watch compulsively though your fingers."
Always an adraline rush - John Porter 'That's All Lies' by bccmee - Don't miss her clever placement of highway signs at the very end.
(Interview cont'd) - How does filming Spooks compare to filming Robin Hood?
"They are both so different. Robin Hood is a fantasy legend and historic piece, so it all feels heightened and dramatic – I arrive on a horse, my character is bombastic and has a particular way of moving and communicating, which is public and aggressive. Lucas North is the opposite – he disappears into society and then works undercover. What he and the rest of the team do is subversive, slick and fine. It couldn't be more different, which has been a great challenge. It's been a really interesting year."
****
Thank you RACentral for uploading the following to youtube. You need to be very attentive at the beginning of the following vid in order to catch a glimpse of a particular actor. Don't understand why there isn't more of him - did they really believe we'd prefer to watch everyone else rather than....never mind;)
Seems like an appropriate place for the following video which is Ian McKellen in his production of Richard III. While searching for a movie starring the current dowager in Downton Abbey - Dame Maggie Smith - found Sir Ian's production of Richard III and realized THE HOBBIT's Thorin and Gandalf definitely have that interest in common.
[Spooks 9 will be a gift to my valentine this year, although he'll need to wait a month to see it. He's enjoyed S7 & 8 and has already asked if there was a S9. However, he doesn't realize that Lucas transformed into an emotional basketcase and disappeared temporarily or permanently - which, of course, is yet to be determined]
RA Interview: Monday, 13 September 2010 00:00 BBC Press Office Spooks returns to BBC One this autumn for a ninth series. Richard Armitage, who plays MI5 agent Lucas North, reveals what's in store.
What can viewers expect from the new series of Spooks?
"This year the storylines feel very politically current but we also learn a lot more about the team. Who are these people, what lies beneath the surface, who are they true to, what secrets do they hide in order to do their jobs? Deception and betrayal are key. Of course there are also exciting and intriguing stories of the week but the overall series arc really unravels the character of Lucas North and blows his whole world apart. His loyalty and his future at MI5 are all under the microscope."
How does Ros's death affect Lucas and the rest of the team?
"Ros's death has rocked everyone's world. The feeling is that if someone as skilled as Ros can go down, then no one is safe. It has made everyone really question what it means and what price can be paid doing the job. On a practical level it leaves Harry with no choice but to make Lucas head of Section D. Lucas has longed for Harry's trust and acceptance but he has received it by default and it is bittersweet."
What's it been like working with new actors/characters? Has it made you feel like one of the old school?
"The series opens with the introduction of four new characters: Beth Bailey and Dimitri Levendis, played by Sophia Myles and Max Brown; a new Home Secretary played by Simon Russell Beale; and Vaughn, a character from Lucas's past, played by Iain Glen. I feel a bit like the older generation as it feels like a new "'super spook generation" has come on board. Dimitri is ex-SBS, and Beth comes from a background in private security, a "mercenary" as Lucas puts it. He presses Harry to allow him to assemble this team. Dimitri is solid, useful and youthful but Beth is a bit of a liability. Viewers will have to wait and see if she becomes a member of Section D or not."
Vaughn turns up from Lucas's past. What does he want? How does it affect Lucas?
"It's been 15 years since Lucas last saw Vaughn and, when they meet, Vaughn has a suitcase which contains an assortment of material from Lucas's life prior to joining MI5. Lucas finds a photograph of a girl, Maya – his old girlfriend. It is the beginning of a journey which Vaughn will control and it takes Lucas to the very edge."
Who is Maya?
"Maya is Lucas's first love; a woman he had to leave just as their life together was beginning. Some 15 years ago, Lucas vanished from Maya's life; one day he was there and the next he was gone. Just like a spook. He wants her back and she is the key to who Lucas truly is."
A lot of the scenes in Spooks are filmed in public spaces in London such as train stations, underground stations and in the streets. How do people react to you and the others running through London with a film crew in tow?
"Most of the time we try to be as inconspicuous as possible which means working with long lenses so the cameras can be quite far away for the initial master shots, but can also punch in quite tight, rather like a surveillance camera. It's a Spooks trademark and a focus-puller's nightmare! But it gives us the chance to get two or three takes when no one realises that we are filming. I feel like the "real deal", trying not to draw attention to myself and trying not to catch anybody's eye.
"We often have to rehearse in another location and then walk out into a crowded area and just go for it. We work on hand signals from the First AD (assistant director) so they don't call "action" really loudly. It's great if something big is going to happen, like a fight, a chase or an arrest, because you get real reactions – of course, if guns are being used, or bomb threats depicted, we have to put up massive signs telling everyone we are filming! It makes me realise how fast London is; no one really hangs around.
"Most people see what we are doing but rarely have time to stop. I think Spooks really puts London on film in an edgy, contemporary way. Not just the iconic glamorous locations, but the urban and industrial side to London, which normally one tries to avoid but is a designer's dream."
'Weapon of Choice' by JulietD001
"I love them – it is a literal layer. Lucas has always had many layers and this year we go very deep into who he is. I love that his prison history has been etched onto his skin and they can be revealed to remind the audience that his past is cluttered with complications. Each one has a specific meaning from a specific period in his past.
"The most prominent is the William Blake picture, Urizen, on his chest. It depicts God as the architect and it is a reminder to Lucas he may not be able to control or construct his own destiny and that he will always be at the mercy of God. The tattoos also help me avoid the "gratuitous torso shot" as they take about two hours to put on, so "getting my kit off" has to be carefully planned!" http://www.cultbox.co.uk/interviews/syndicated/75-richard-armitage-spooks-interview
What D'ya Want From Me by MissMarian..
O.K. things are finally starting to perk leading into The Hobbit start date. Here's a new weekly feature called THE HOBBIT in Five...
Switching topics:
The following animation is so true -- the narrow-minded, liberally biased media is currently being exposed for what they are, and they obviously cannot cope with the truth about themselves. For decades they've had a monopoly on political spin both in the US and Europe - that grip is becoming weaker with each passing day...
RA has read the following and said he very much enjoyed it. This novel is based on the historical background which Richard is keen to transfer to the screen...(see poll)
Sunne in Splendour: A Novel About Richard III - Editorial Reviews:
“A painstakingly drawn picture of royal medieval England from bedchamber to battleground.”
---Los Angeles Times Book Review
“The reader is left with the haunting sensation that perhaps the good a man does can live after him---especially in the hands of a dedicated historian.”
---The San Diego Union
“Those who know Richard III from Shakespeare will find that Sharon Kay Penman presents a contrasting view of the English monarch . . . He’s an altogether nice man, a romantic hero as suitable to our late twentieth-century standards . . . as he was to those of medieval England . . . There is a vengeful quality to her insistence that is appealing; it makes for a good story.”
---The New York Times Book Review
“Ms. Penman’s novel, rich in detail and research, attempts to set the record straight . . . it is an uncommonly fine novel, one that brings a far-off time to brilliant life.”
---Chattanooga Daily Times
Product Description: "The reader is left with the haunting sensation that perhaps the good a man does can live after him--especially in the hands of a dedicated historian."
SAN DIEGO UNION
In this stirring historical novel, Sharon Kay Penman redeems Richard III from his villainous role in history as the hulking, evil hunchback. This dazzling recreation of his life is filled with the sights and sounds of battle, and the passions of the highborn. Most of all, it brings to life a gifted man whose greatest sin was that he held principles too firmly for the times in which he lived, and loved too deeply to survive love's loss.
Reader Review: Five, Ten, ONE HUNDRED STARS! My Kingdom for this Book!, July 4, 2001 By E. A. Lewis "vox meretrix" (Downtown Los Angeles, CA USA)
This review is from: Sunne in Splendour (Paperback) Is it fair to review a book that changed your life? No, literally. At fourteen I stayed up until four in the morning, devouring this story of medieval power and politics, and have been a medieval historian ever since.
Penman has done a fantastic job of turning dry historical fact into fascinating and believable historical fiction. People's motives are not simple and easily understandable in real life, and the sometimes-conflicting drives and needs and desires of the cast of thousands in this book live up to that fact.
While undeniable sympathetic to King Richard the Third, it is not a cloying, simplistic, Good King Richard whitewash. Instead, it portrays the much-maligned king as an adoring younger brother left adrift when his idol dies and proves to have been less than perfect.
Supporting characters are equally complex, from the self-destructive King Edward to the self-absorbed Kingmaker, Warwick, from the unlikely queen Elizabeth Woodville to the helpless pawn, Elizabeth of York, from the insane King Henry VI to the ambitious King Henry VII. Possibly the only black villain in the piece is the Duke of Buckingham; everyone else is painted in shades of grey that make them honest people, rather than props. If you can't stand historical novels because they are boring, read this. ...It's better than the tabloids! http://www.amazon.com/Sunne-Splendour-Sharon-Kay-Penman/dp/0345363132
Annual holiday gift-giving and family idiosyncrasies.
Do you have one person on your gift list who always causes you to pause and hope the gift you've chosen will not disappoint? Me too:) For me, the person this year was my older sister--the one who lives almost 200mi away and sent N&S to me for Christmas a couple years ago. She had no idea at the time that I'd noticed actor Richard Armitage as Guy of Gisborne about 6mos earlier in Robin Hood.
This year I played for awhile with the thought of sending her RH, series 1 but had concerns she might find it a bit immature and even silly at times. In need of another gift idea for her, bit the bullet and shipped - with fingers crossed - the RH dvd a week before Dec 25th.
Yesterday, a lovely thank you card arrived and, to my great relief, my sibling downright gushed about how much she'd enjoyed all 13 episodes. Apparently she breezed through it within the past 2wks, and has already started a second viewing. Isn't it a satisfying and pleasant feeling to realize someone really enjoyed their gift from you.
Curiously, I've found myself reflecting on the first series. Then realized it would be fun to revisit it and visualize what the impact might've been, through my sister's fresh eyes, to the updated version of the ancient legend. Decided to begin with a few pix from the initial series and then was pleasantly surprised to find.....
a reworked classic Guy vid by JulietD001 ...
From RH, S1, Ep 1...
There is proof positive that RH writers dropped the ball when they failed to enact at least a temporary merger between Guy and Marian - one of the hottest on-screen couples ever. The evidence can be found in the following vids. Can't deny these positive effects on the greater good of mankind from their relationship...(perhaps a slight exaggeration;)
A Spikesbint classic..
Ep 1 - part 1 of 5...
News of RA awards keep rolling in. As reported earlier today by Sue, the hunky ofthe year award was finally announced by The Hunkess after a month of repetitive voting by 'vote early & often' RA supporters:) There are crucial times when the one (wo)man, one vote golden rule can be relaxed...must've meandered over there to vote at least a half-dozen times during the month...was much like the moth being drawn to the flame;)
Now to add more frosting to the cake, there's another prestigious *cough* award by the 'unpopcult' website - The Armitage received the 'I Would Hit That' title with the following words...
>I Would Hit That (Male): Richard Armitage, Spooks
The Armitage has clearly won a place – a special place – in the hearts of Unpopcult readers, successfully defending both the country and the I Would Hit That award he won last year. With another Strike Back slated for 2011, who would bet against a threepeat?
(Previous winner: 2009 – Richard Armitage)<
This is the last day of voting in Dezz's James Bond poll..current results: Total of 381 votes and RA has 63% of them.