| Subject: New NG magazine article |
Author:
Susan
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Date Posted: 17:24:16 06/16/06 Fri
In reply to:
Susan
's message, "NG Blackbeard adaptation" on 16:57:16 03/13/06 Mon
The July 2006 issue of National Geographic has a feature on Blackbeard. You can currently read it online at:
<a rel=nofollow target=_blank href="http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0607/feature6/index.html">http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0607/feature6/index.html</a>
In part, it says, "Thought to be the inspiration for the fictional Captain Hook and Long John Silver, the great bearded one's image is as popular today as ever, from Johnny Depp's dashing plaits in Pirates of the Caribbean, to Ben Cherry's swaggering impersonation at the Hampton festival." Actually, any good Robert Louis Stevenson fan knows that the real inspiration for LJS was Stevenson's friend Ernest Henley. And we RN fans know that the real link between them was probably forged by Robert Newton himself! Not that RLS didn't know his pirate history and might have borrowed some of BB's personality traits for Treasure Island (he certainly borrowed the name of Blackbeard's ship's master, Israel Hands, for the coxswain of the Hispaniola). But LJS seems much different from BB to me since (1) in the book, LJS is said to have "fair" coloring, (2) he has a physical disability, (3) he has no beard to put lit fuses in! On the other hand, both characters are wily and manage to lead through force of personality. But LJS was forced to use his wits and charm much more in order to get what he wanted since he doesn't seem to have had the same imposing physical appearance, enhanced by intimidating theatrics, as BB did.
Too bad NG left so much of the history in the article (e.g., Benjamin Hornigold and Stede Bonnet) out of their movie adaptation! Another thing the movie got wrong; the article describes him has "A huge man with fiery eyes and a booming voice." James Purefoy's interpretation definitely missed on the second two qualifications! Wish they'd have got this Ben Cherry to play him instead--he sounds like he's got the spirit! (Don't forget to watch Angus Macfadyen's portrayal this Saturday on the Hallmark Channel.)
Anyway, it's a good article--Blackbeard fans should definitely check it out! (Even though there's no mention of Robert Newton. *sniff*)
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