Tipping The Velvet Thread

[runnerbird]

For all of us American Jodhi fans, at last, we have something to celebrate...



The BBC Miniseries Daniel Deronda will be hitting out airwaves later this month. Here's the skinny:



George Eliot's last, most ambitious novel, which charts a love story set in Victorian high society, takes a surprising turn into the hidden world of English Jews. Hugh Dancy (Madame Bovary) stars as Daniel Deronda, and Romola Garai (Nicholas Nickleby) is his soul mate Gwendolen Harleth. Though entranced with Daniel, Gwendolen is forced into an oppressive marriage to Henleigh Grandcourt (Hugh Bonneville; Notting Hill, Iris), while Daniel finds a new life through his friendship with singer Mirah Lapidoth (Jodhi May; The Turn of the Screw, Aristocrats). The screenplay is by period drama master Andrew Davies (Middlemarch, Moll Flanders, Wives and Daughters, The Way We Live Now).



For more info, go to the officialDaniel Deronda site.



It's scheduled to Sunday, March 30 and Monday, March 31, 2003, but check your local listings!!!

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Ask Yourself.. If: the Questioning Project

the daily revolution: the runnerbird blog

[Cicca]

Thank you for transcribing those articles! Interesting stuff. I do hope she'll keep up with telling stories. She tells good ones!



As for Fingersmith....

Here comes a big fat spoiler so please don't scroll down unless you've read the book! Really. Big fat spoiler!!



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I just reread Fingersmith and the ending just makes me all gooey and melty! I love it! Such a convoluted journey for those two... And Maud. "These words are for all the ways I want you." I get so sad thinking of Maud living in the dismal house and living so much in what she can't have. But then Sue IS there and she can have it. Happy! I just love it.





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There. Ok, so don't peek up there unless you've read Fingersmith. And if you haven't read it, go to the library, go to the bookstore, go borrow from a friend. Such a great read!

invite someone dangerous to tea * look forward to dreams * imagine yourself magic

Edited by: Cicca at: 4/12/03 11:22:24 pm

[VampNo12]

Ah Fingersmith... what a journey! After procrastinating for the longest time, I finally found some time to read the book. And my it was just with all the twists and turns (with the secrets) throughout the book. I must thank you Cicca for recommending this novel in this thread (especially saying I should avoid book reviews in order to not get spoiled... such wise advise )! Really an enjoyable read, and I was truly sad when I came to the end (I so wanted to read more about Maud and Sue). Here's hoping they bring this novel to the screen just like Tipping the Velvet.

Edited by: VampNo12  at: 4/13/03 1:25:14 am

[Cicca]

Yup, Fingersmith is one of my favouritest books in a long time!

You know it's good when you're sad that it's over.

If you go here there's a link to download a clip of Sarah Waters reading "that" scene from Fingersmith. It has such a different flavour when she reads it than what I get from the page.

If anyone hasn't read the book, that clip would constitute a spoiler! But heck, if you're going to be spoiled, this is the way to do it.

invite someone dangerous to tea * look forward to dreams * imagine yourself magic

[SJ]

According to a newspaper Andrew Davis is turning Affinity into a 10 Million pound film.

[kajo 2000]

SJ: Thanks for the info. In an interview that Sarah Waters gave to the BBC in February, she said this:

Quote:

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Kelly Housby: Are there any plans to adapt Affinity or Fingersmith for the screen?

Sarah Waters: There are! Andrew Davies has written a screenplay for Affinity and wants to turn it into a feature film. Apparently, it's just been sent to Roman Polanksi but he doesn't want it! And Fingersmith, there are plans to adapt it for TV.

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"I want to be Byron... because I want to date young boys." Amber Benson

[Hyo Shin]

Don't you think it's the time to start a casting game? Who should play Margaret? Who should play Selina?

[Repost Moderator]

Originally posted by BeatNikJackie7777



Guess who's gonna be going ot the Tipping the Velvet premiere at the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and then meeting one of the actresses at the after party! me! yay!

[Cicca]

Fingersmith for tv!

Meaning a miniseries I hope. Yay!



Affinity should make an interesting movie.... I don't have any casting ideas for it yet.

invite someone dangerous to tea * look forward to dreams * imagine yourself magic

[Hyo Shin]

How about Fingersmith? It's like Sarah Waters wants Samantha Morton for the Sue role.

Quote:

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Affinity should make an interesting movie.... I don't have any casting ideas for it yet.

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[willowlove]

For those of us in America with no way to see Tipping the Velvet by computer, BBC America has finally scheduled it for airing. It will be on May 23 to 25, 10 PM ET/7 PM PT each night. The link below takes you to their site, which doesn't have much yet.



www.bbcamerica.com/genre/drama_mysteries/tipping_the_velvet.jsp

[Kendahl897]

Does anyone in England know if they're going to come out with a soundtrack for this? One with actual music from the miniseries..It is just so incredibly beautiful..

[Cicca]

Ooh! Samantha Morton is excellent! She'd be good I just reread Fingersmith a few weeks ago and from the description in the book I was seeing someone like Clea Duvall. Mind you, I'd prefer someone who can do the accent flawlessly. I think Drew Barrymore is a delight, but her strange accent in Ever After was just a little bit painful!



So.... Sue and Maud. Amber would make a lovely Maud.

invite someone dangerous to tea * look forward to dreams * imagine yourself magic

[VampNo12]

Thanks willowlove for the information about Tipping the Velvet airing on BBC America ! My only fear is what this miniseries will look like on a basic cable channel that has commercials. Meaning, simply with commercials taking up air time (not to mention I remember with the airing of "Portrait of a Marriage" on this channel the love scenes were definitely toned down) I can only they don't ruin the true essence... what makes TTV so enjoyable. That being said... I so want to see TTV that I'll live with the censoring.

Edited by: VampNo12  at: 4/27/03 12:17:23 am

[Chino6069]

I do know there is a CD out there of the soundtrack and songs from the music hall but I can't find a link to it - yet!

[goodgirl75]

Well hello there ladies,



We Kiwis finally got to watch the first part of this show last night - they've split it into 2, to show over 2 weeks instead of 3. I must say I loved it! I've not read the book, although i would like to now. I thought Nan was just gorgeous, and she had such an expressive face. I don't think anything was censored or cut out of this edition, tho I obviously have nothing to compare it to...



It ended with her meeting Diana in the carriage and next week's looks great! I also thought Flo was lovely, and they had really good chemistry.



My favourite parts were either



the bit when kitty goes to kiss Nan's hand and she says she smells of... "i know! Herring!", and she says no, a mermaid



or...



the part where you see her through 'zipper cam' in the alley with the men, and the look on her face - plus I loved the line 'I'm as hard as a broomstick and aching for a spend' or something like that if only i could find a way of getting that line into a conversation...



Anyway that's me done - I'm spent! back to lurking - hope the other Kiwi girls enjoyed it as much as I did!

[Diebrock]

So, I finally watched it on DVD and have a question.

In the third episode at the union meeting in the theatre, the left banner on stage propagates "PROGRESS, SOCIALISM & FREE LOVE".

Is that an inside joke, did it have a different meaning at that time or do the hippie roots really go so far back?

_____________________

"MURDERERS! Remember Orca!!! Free Willy!!!" Yun-kyung bellowed. "The shark in Jaws was just misunderstood!" - Castaway
I've kissed her best friend. I've reached into her best friend's pocket and fished around for keys. And I gave her best friend my number. I must be doing something totally, totally wrong... - TBSOL by Dreams

[Hyo Shin]

It's not a joke. It's not an anacronism. 'Free Love' was a fresh new idea at that time. HG Wells was a famous prompter of the idea. Have you seen Time After Time?

Quote:

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So, I finally watched it on DVD and have a question.

In the third episode at the union meeting in the theatre, the left banner on stage propagates "PROGRESS, SOCIALISM & FREE LOVE".

Is that an inside joke, did it have a different meaning at that time or do the hippie roots really go so far back?

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Edited by: Hyo Shin at: 4/27/03 8:03:28 pm

[Gatito Grande]

I just heard about this today, in a "Fresh Air" interview w/ the book's author (it was excellent, and you can listen to it here: freshair.npr.org/day_fa.j...05/07/2003 )



GG Apparently, the BBCAmerica version does the "Ellen" thang, w/ big ol' "Viewer Discretion Strongly Advised" warnings just before *every* sex scene Out

[VampNo12]

Thanks Gatito Grande for the link to the interview ! It was quite illuminating, but my god I knew BBC America would have qualms (censor) the love scenes... however, to have a viewer advisory before "every" love scene is just too much. I mean really that's a heavy chunk of the series, and now these constant advisories are so going to ruin the flow (enjoyment) of what made TTV so special. Sigh I guess I should be happy I will finally get to see the show, but it's still annoying (and I believe totally unnecessary... a simple warning before and maybe at the mid-way point of each part should suffice).

Edited by: VampNo12  at: 5/7/03 11:15:19 pm

[xita]

That's dumb especially since people who watch BBC America know what they get, it's not like children and teenagers say slogans like, "I want my BBC." But they are not censoring them?

[tyche]

Looks like Tipping the Velvet will be shown on BBC America soon. The SF Chronicle interviewed Rachael Stirling this weekend, and there are details and air dates of the BBC America showings at the end of this article:

www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/05/18/PK31833.DTL

[urnofosiris]

Thanks Tyche, that was a fun article. She watched it with her parents. Can you imagine that?? I could never even watch a sex scene on tv in the presence of a parent. She not only did that, she was part of that sex scene. Chapeau.

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Coffee, Food, Kisses and Gay Love........Get it while you are hot

[Cicca]

Interesting article. Thank you!



And oh yes, the fact that she watched it with her parents is just amazing. Brave woman!

invite someone dangerous to tea * look forward to dreams * imagine yourself magic

[sam7777]

I'll be out of town next week but I have set my VCR to tape it on BBC America. Thanks Tyche and Willowlove for the schedule info and articles. Can't wait to see it.

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I see dead lesbian cliches

[Gatito Grande]

Just wanted to bump this one more time, as we're less than 24 hours away.



"Tipping the Velvet" 10PM EDT Fri, Sat and Sun May 23-25 on BBC America



GG My DirecTV guide describes it merely "Women hide their relationship in the 1890s"! Out



Edited, to get the times right

Edited by: Gatito Grande at: 5/24/03 10:29:25 pm

[emma peel]

Woo hoo, I get BBC America and am looking forward to seeing this.

I had such a huge crush on Rachel Stirling's mom, Dame Diana Rigg...ummm. more than a "few" years ago when The Avengers first appeared in the States. Emma Peel was the first no nonsense, ass-kicking gorgeous, worthy crush I had.

Janice

[scifiacid]

Wholly hell! I pay 60 bucks just so I can get BBCAmerica and the SciFi Channel. It’s finally worth it! Yeah!

[tommo]

Diana Rigg is still sexy, in my opinion. I think it's the voice. Well-spoken women always do it for me. Sigh...

"Squish. Squish. Squish."

[tyche]

The New York Times have a review at the link below:

www.nytimes.com/2003/05/23/arts/television/23TVWK.html

As you have to register to view the article, I also copy/pasted it for people who don't want to go to the site:

Quote:

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TV WEEKEND | 'TIPPING THE VELVET'; 'MY HOUSE IN UMBRIA'

Women in Love, Passengers in Danger

By ALESSANDRA STANLEY



A lesbian romance set in late Victorian England, "Tipping the Velvet" begins so gently that viewers might dismiss it as another "Well of Loneliness," a dated 1928 novel by Radclyffe Hall about lesbian love and despair. But there is nothing mournful about this BBC America mini-series, which begins tonight and ends Sunday.

Moving from an oyster parlor in Kent to the bawdy music halls and slums of 1890's London, "Tipping the Velvet" turns out to be a picaresque romp.

When the heroine tumbles into the demimonde of rich, bohemian lesbians and their Sapphic bacchanals, "Tipping the Velvet" comes close to a girl's version of Frank Harris's "My Life and Loves" — sex, with recriminations.

"My House in Umbria," the title of an HBO film starring Maggie Smith on Sunday night, is in its own very different way just as misleading. It is not an adaptation of a Henry James novel or a tale of villa restoration. ("A Room With a View" meets "Under the Tuscan Sun." It is a leisurely paced psychological thriller based on a novel by William Trevor.

Viewers have a right to be wary. Maggie Smith has played the role of dotty, autocratic Englishwoman so well and so often that she almost deserves her own rubric: Ur-Dowager, or Lady Bracknellia. Here she takes on a role she has not played as often: her Emily Delahunty is a ridiculous and deluded woman who, under a very thin veneer of British hauteur, is also kind and loving.

The house in Umbria isn't even really her house; it is a small hotel she owns and runs. And the golden light of Umbria is quickly blackened by the explosion of a terrorist's bomb.

Both films are glossy, lavish productions with impressive pedigrees. Andrew Davies, who adapted "Pride and Prejudice" for the memorable BBC version of that Jane Austen novel, wrote the screenplay for "Tipping the Velvet," based on a 1999 novel by Sarah Waters. Rachael Stirling, who plays Nan Astley, an oyster girl in Kent who discovers her true feelings when she sees a woman cross-dressed as a boy onstage, is the daughter of Diana Rigg.

Because of its subject matter, "Tipping the Velvet" seems to be the more daring project of the two. Actually, on television today it is far braver to cast an actress over 50 in a slow-moving story set in rural Italy, as is "Umbria."

Besides Ms. Smith, "My House in Umbria" stars Chris Cooper, who won an Oscar for "Adaptation," and Giancarlo Giannini ("Seven Beauties" . It was directed by Richard Loncraine, who directed "The Gathering Storm," the HBO biography of Winston Churchill.

There is no sex in "Umbria," and the one silent, frozen moment of violence gives way quickly to an intricate character study of four ill-matched survivors of an explosion in a train bound for Milan. The bomb only lightly wounds Mrs. Delahunty, but it revives suppressed memories of her pitiable past.

She invites the others — an elderly Englishman, a German photojournalist and a young American girl whose parents are killed in the explosion — to recuperate at her house. Their dawning friendship is threatened when the girl's uncle, Thomas Riversmith (Mr. Cooper), arrives to take her back to the United States. Mysteries are solved, secrets are laid bare, but the appeal of "My House in Umbria" is elusive: mostly, it is to be found in Ms. Smith's layered and riveting performance.

"Tipping the Velvet," on the other hand, is a sure thing: a well-made, well-acted melodrama about beautiful young women making passionate love. (Warnings appear on the screen before each sex scene, but actually there is little nudity, and the most graphic love scenes are brief.)

"Tipping the Velvet" takes its title from a Victorian term for a sexual act common among lesbians, and it provides a sympathetic, lighthearted portrait of lesbian love that should please gay organizations worried about negative stereotypes. Yet it is unlikely to offend anyone but the most prudish conservatives.

The sight of women kissing and fondling each other has lost its taboo. On college campuses, in big cities and even on network television, it is viewed as titillating, not shocking. Female characters on "Friends" kiss other women; their male friends talk longingly about watching them do so. In some circles, women seducing each other has become a post-feminist act — a way of excluding men while still attracting them.

The camera work of "Velvet" is lush and erotic, but the story is bawdy and not meant to be taken too seriously. Anna Chancellor ("Four Weddings and a Funeral" , who plays Diana Lethaby, a rich lesbian dominatrix, is almost cartoonishly camp. Ms. Stirling, however, is quite touching as the besotted heroine, and she and her first love, Kitty Butler (played by Keeley Hawes), have chemistry on-screen.

What most distinguishes this film is that it is entirely a love story, with very little "redeeming social value" to weigh it down. The focus is on love lost, not the hypocrisy or moral rigidity of the times that forced men and women to live secret lives. (The film embraces the historian Peter Gay's theory that Victorian repression and prudery are myths.)

In "Tipping the Velvet," the heroines face very little hostility from the outside world. Nan loves a woman, loses her and seeks love again. The hurdles she overcomes are a broken heart and poverty — tribulations that could just as easily thwart a heterosexual romance.

TIPPING THE VELVET



BBC America, tonight at 10, Eastern time; 7, Pacific time; 9, Central time.



Directed by Geoffrey Sax; Georgina Lowe, producer; Gareth Neame and Sally Woodward Gentle, executive producers for BBC; Sally Head, executive producer for Sally Head Productions; adapted by Andrew Davies from the novel by Sarah Waters.



WITH: Rachael Stirling (Nan Astley), Keeley Hawes (Kitty Butler), Anna Chancellor (Diana Lethaby), Jodhi May (Florence Banner), John Bowe (Walter Bliss), Hugh Bonneville (Ralph Banner), Monica Dolan (Alice Astley), Richard Hope (Mr. Astley), Annie Hulley (Mrs. Astley), Sally Hawkins (Blake), Johnny Vegas (Gully Sutherland) and Alexei Sayle (Charles Frobisher).

MY HOUSE IN UMBRIA

HBO, Sunday night at 9, Eastern and Pacific times; 8, Central time.



Directed by Richard Loncraine; Frank Doelger and Robert Allan Ackerman, executive producers; Ann Wingate, producer; Hugh Whitemore, writer. Based on the novel by William Trevor.



WITH: Maggie Smith (Emily Delahunty), Ronnie Barker (The General), Chris Cooper (Thomas Riversmith), Benno Furmann (Werner), Giancarlo Giannini (Inspector Girotti), Timothy Spall (Quinty) and Emmy Clarke (Aimee).

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