Re: Robert Newton as Long John -- The Robert Newton Chatboard

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Subject: Re: Robert Newton as Long John
Author: Robert Miller	[ Next Thread \| Previous Thread \| Next Message \| Previous Message ] Date Posted: 20:00:59 09/08/01 Sat In reply to: Jab 's message, "Re: Robert Newton as Long John" on 16:58:40 09/05/01 Wed How is it so obvious when you see only one leg? [ Next Thread \| Previous Thread \| Next Message \| Previous Message ]

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[> [> [> Subject: Re: Robert Newton as Long John

Author:
Susan
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Date Posted: 09:49:23 09/10/01 Mon

In the long shots, obviously, he has his leg tied up behind him ... but if you really pay attention, you'll see that most of the time he's shot from above the knees ... making it unnecessary to subject him to such discomfort. (He does seem to be getting around just a little too easily in those scenes--much moreso than when you see him from a distance.)

BTW, if you've seen the series episode "Execution Dock," notice that, in the scene where he painstakingly ascends the steps to the gallows, you never actually see Robert Newton climbing the stairs on one foot. All you see is a close-up of a foot on the step. (You can check it out at <a rel=nofollow target=_blank href="http://www.liketelevision.com/web1/classictv/longjohn/">LikeTelevision</a>.)

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[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Robert Newton as Long John

Author:
Jab
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Date Posted: 12:22:49 09/10/01 Mon

The main reason for my last post was that in Long John Silver, the part on the beach where Jim and LJ are walking with El Toro toward the governor's warehouse, there's a part where RN actually FORGETS to use the crutch and takes a full step - walking on both legs! I noticed it right away. I know it would've been uncomfortable, but for reality's sake, the extra trouble would've made all the LJS movies/series a LOT more believeable! But thats one of VERY few qualms!

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[> [> [> [> [> Subject:

Re: Robert Newton as Long John

Author:
Bob Miller
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Date Posted: 19:30:49 09/10/01 Mon

Susan and Jab:
Thanks for being so informative.
I believe it was Treasure Island near the beginning
when Jim first met Long John.John hopped out from behind
the bar. Jim gasped as he saw one leg and John met his glance as he looked at the one leg with Jim.
Was this the one time it showed one leg or am I missing
something from trick Photography?
I'm usually not that thick but I suppose like Shakespeare
you can watch it several times and get something different each time. Susan will understand why the one leg business went over my head. When watching Long John I might take a quick glance at the one leg but my glance was always directed at his face. I'd watch as he'd squint one eye and make it look like he was going to pop the other out at any moment. It was always the face I'd watch as I'd wait for that raspy voice to belt out another humerous line. A friend and I would even try to memorize the many lines and get a real delight out of immitating our hero.
The way Purity would pour him milk when he wasn't looking causing him to discharge it like he was poisoned.
Then he'd have to grab the rum quick before he went into a coma. Bob Newton was something else. From now on I'll try
not to be distracted in one direction and learn what I was taught to do a long time ago and that's to look all around instead of confining you're attention inone direction.
Thanks again for teaching me to be more observant.

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