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Post by lindragon on Feb 9, 2012 13:01:49 GMT
The BBC have been repeating ' The Last of Dr Syn', over the last few days. I have been listening, despite having all three series.I had forgotten just how much I LOVE Dr Syn.
Two small things. Did anyone else think that the last episode was a lame way to end the stories? Such a brave , swashbuckling, brash character, with hidden depths (hey, that sounds like Rufus! ) to give in so tamely to a nebulous suggestion of a creature?
The other-Does anyone know of any promotional pictures that might have gone with this set of stories? I have a strong mental image of Dr. Syn's physical appearance, but how would Rufus have wanted to look?
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Post by rueful on Feb 9, 2012 15:21:29 GMT
I agree, lindragon. I was very sorry to see the character go out that way. I'm not sure how true it was to the books, but I would have liked a more satisfying ending. (But then, I always want a happy ending.) That's a good question about artwork. The only thing I could find on the BBC site, apparently used for all three serials, was this.  What a missed opportunity! Rufus in pirate gear!  In looking for artwork, I found this old post at the BBC message boards, about the music for the series, in case anyone has been looking for it. beebotron.org/phorum/read.php?15,4101,4101#msg-4101 Programme:
Dr. Syn
Music:
'Captain Blood (Main Theme)' or Suite 2 by Erich Wolfgang Korngold from music score for 1930's film Captain Blood.
Performer:
London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Andre Previn
Other Information:
Available commercially on the Universal Classics label on "Previn Conducts Korngold" .
Additional information from Chris: "Suite 2", composed by Erich Wolfgang Korngold and is from a Deutsche Grammophon CD called Previn Conducts Korngold. |
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Post by kissmekate on Feb 9, 2012 15:22:23 GMT
Ohh, thanks for the music info, rueful! I've often been wondering if this had been specially composed for the broadcast.
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Post by adina on Feb 9, 2012 18:04:36 GMT
<sigh> I'm the black sheep of the Rooftop. <sigh>
I think the ending was great.
I love the Doctor Syn series with all my heart. It's one of my all time favourite Rufus things. BUT
Captain Clegg was a bloodthirsty, merciless pirate. Besides, he killed Pete, the Chinese cook, marooned the mulatto - in the last episode he was harpooned by his own old sins.
When he returned to Dymchurch to live a quiet life - he did that because he was horrified at himself.
Acting as the Scarecrow he outwitted everybody, riding Gehenna he was faster than anybody etc. , but in a controlled way. When Captain Collyer appeared (the first equal opponent), Doctor Syn wasn't defeated - you know, hanging in chains - but he managed to escape. But he lost his self-control and got murdered in revenge by his past. Rufus's voice is heartbreaking. That tormented, drunken singing is one of the best moments of the series.
And, Rueful, there was a happy end. Imogen got Dennis and Mr. Mipps and his stories are still alive.
"give in so tamely"? Poor Sennacherib Pepper would disagree with you, Lindragon.
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Post by judypatooty on Feb 9, 2012 18:05:20 GMT
Ditto! I always love to know where the music comes from. I tried to find the Andre Previn recording on Spotify but they don't have it (at least not available in the U.S.). And, I couldn't find anything titled "Suite 2" associated with his Captain Blood pieces. So now I'm going to have to listen to ALL SIX movements to see if I recognize any of them.  Here are Twitter links to the six movements, as recorded by the Brandenburg Philharmonic. Of course, you'll need to have a Spotify subscription to hear them. #NowPlaying Brandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra – Captain Blood (arr. J. Morgan): Main Title on #Spotify #NowPlaying Brandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra – Captain Blood (arr. J. Morgan): Slaves - Arabella and Blood on #Spotify #NowPlaying Brandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra – Captain Blood (arr. J. Morgan): Tortuga on #Spotify #NowPlaying Brandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra – Captain Blood (arr. J. Morgan): Port Royal - Island of Magra - English and Pirate Ships on #Spotify #NowPlaying Brandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra – Captain Blood (arr. J. Morgan): Pirates' Flag on #Spotify #NowPlaying Brandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra – Captain Blood (arr. J. Morgan): Finale on #Spotify (I'm recognizing the start of the 4th movement!) |
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Post by rueful on Feb 9, 2012 20:09:41 GMT
<sigh> I'm the black sheep of the Rooftop. <sigh> I think the ending was great. No, you're not a black sheep at all! You're a thoughtful listener with great insight and good arguments.  You make perfect sense. First, I should say to me "happy" is a relative term, and perhaps a better word choice would have been "peaceful." But my own reaction boils down entirely to my own sappy, delicate heart that wishes good endings for nearly every well-conceived character in fiction. If it's a cardboard or cartoonish character, I couldn't care less what happens (example: Armand = cartoon, so I'm content to see him take that uncomfortable train ride), but if it's a fully drawn person, then I sometimes wish them well even if that ending is not entirely deserved or if the "happy ending" only consists of redemption. This is the case whether the character is portrayed by Rufus or not (example: Bonne and Clyde). Nice description! I do love Mr Mipps! I think this is the music: Go to 3. Captain Blood, 19 (II) Sold Into Slavery, and you can hear a sample. itunes.apple.com/album/captain-blood-suite-i.-main/id205517856?i=205517956&ign-mpt=uo%3D5 |
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Post by lindragon on Feb 10, 2012 19:29:39 GMT
Rueful and Judy, Thank you so much for the wonderful information re: the music. Adina I think I expressed myself badly....not unusual.  I agree on many of your points. The ending seemed to arrive in a rush. Having had three ( quite long ) series, to wrap all the ends up in half an episode, just seemed to smack of ''crikey, end of series, just kill him off''. Now, I have not read the books, so that may be how they end. In which case I can't complain. Something that occured to me later, is this: I have been seeing Dr Syn as being played by Rufus. Wrong. Rufus is the Narrator. This was such a masterful reading, that I ' believed ' in the characters. Were this to be read at a Theatre, Rufus would (probably) be sitting to one side of the stage, dressed quite soberly. Quote: ''But he lost his self-control and got murdered in revenge by his past. Rufus's voice is heartbreaking. That tormented, drunken singing is one of the best moments of the series.'' All true! Quote: ''And, Rueful, there was a happy end. Imogen got Dennis and Mr. Mipps and his stories are still alive. '' Also true. And I agree with Rueful's last post. ( and I, too, would like to have seen Rufus as a Pirate.  ) |
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Blue
Roo-kie
Posts: 24
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Post by Blue on Apr 16, 2013 17:33:37 GMT
Hello everyone, I'm a bit late to the party on this one, I've just discovered a couple of episodes on the bbc radio 4 website. I wondered if anyone still had the files and would be kind enough to share them with me so I can listen to that gorgeous voice all day everyday at work! Blue x |
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Post by judypatooty on Apr 16, 2013 18:24:07 GMT
Watch for a PM from me, Blue! |
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Blue
Roo-kie
Posts: 24
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Post by Blue on Apr 16, 2013 20:53:18 GMT
It's like all my Christmases have come at once! Thanks Judy!  |
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Post by francesca on Feb 21, 2014 19:55:46 GMT
Oh, Doctor Syn is coming!!! And Imogen is going...well, if Nicholas Tappitt still wants to elope with her... That night Doctor Syn sat in the Court House dining room and drank. Tony sat with him.
“You are young, Christopher. Forget all this. Stick to your work.”
<Rufus drops his voice> “I am a dead man, Tony. And being dead, I shall have no fear in dying, and so my adventuring can be as reckless as I will. I intend to go to Hell itself, rifle its molten terrors, and pour them into that man’s soul. I’ll follow him through countries and continents, through uncharted seas, <even deeper voice> and I'll get him in the end."Doctor Syn - BBC Radio 4 Extra
Episode 1 - Monday, 3 March 6:30am <---start of the fun. But we can listen to an episode for a week! Yay, let's enjoy the tales and Rufus's voice!  Yay !!!  Why doesn't the BBC release this on CD and we could listen to it when we want to and not as an occasional treat as the Beeb think we ought. Love your smiley Adina  |
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Post by lovethemanrs on Feb 27, 2014 20:07:40 GMT
Ohhhh yessss...goodie.
I'm with Frannie on the CD.
Adina, that pirate ship is awesome.
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Post by kissmekate on Feb 28, 2014 8:19:35 GMT
I'm with Frannie on the CD. Oh yes, me too! |
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Post by adina on Mar 4, 2014 11:50:54 GMT
But when Doctor Syn is on the radio, we have a good reason to have a big party on the Rooftop! It is so rare when we can enjoy some Rufus project at the same time all over the world - this party can be REALLY big! "The swashbuckling scholar finds love and encounters a dastardly squire. 18th-century pirate adventure read by Rufus Sewell." The direct link to the first episode: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00d7lzt Aww... "A priest. But more than all a man of high romance."Oh, and we met Mr Mipps and his blunderbuss! Syn: "You call me a Custom man, do you? <I love how Rufus utters this "do you"  > Well, as a Marshman born and bred, I take that as an insult" "The wicked squire's kidnap plot sparks the swashbuckler's daring rescue, and nephew Nicholas appears. Read by Rufus Sewell." And the link to the second episode: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00d7p95This is such an over-the-top sort of fun! You can't miss the evil whisper of Rufus: The Squire of Iffley to Imogene: "It is you who are cruel. Your beauty tortures me. Come here, you ravishing devil, let me kiss you down to Hell."Yay, the pirate smiley is a success! You are so fearless, because Mr Mipps is grateful to you, too?? "Well, sir," replied Mipps winking, "if ever you should tire of your pulpit, go a-voyaging and fall into my hands, I pledge you my solemn word that I will not make you walk the plank."Otherwise you should be more cautious! |
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Post by rueful on Mar 4, 2014 15:55:58 GMT
But when Doctor Syn is on the radio, we have a good reason to have a big party on the Rooftop! It is so rare when we can enjoy some Rufus project at the same time all over the world - this party can be REALLY big! Thanks for the direct links to the episodes, Adina! You're right, it's a great chance to gush (intelligently, of course  ) simultaneously! What fun! No matter how many times I hear this (and his other audio works), I am amazed by Rufus's ability to create distinct characters and emotions with just a little change of his voice. Brilliant! |
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) simultaneously! What fun!