Luxor4u

Knowing my interest in Egypt I had a friend text me to ask if I was watching the programme. When I said I had recorded it and would watch it later they said “Oh in that case I wont spoil the plot” “I already know the plot” I replied and really that about sums it up. It will be just another version of a well known story of events unless someone tries to spice it up, so we have Flinders Petrie standing stark naked and covered in bat crap whilst chatting to Carter about the Amarna period. No doubt at a later date we will see Howard Carter having a romp with Lady Evelyn Herbert in his cave. However as many have said Sam Neil is a fine actor and always worth watching so I shall continue to record the series to watch at my leisure on a dark October evening.

Being a history buff is a real bummer when it comes to watching any films purporting to cover actual events. No matter how good the dialogue, the filming etc. etc. the occasional "historical error" stabs you in the ribs just as you're getting into it.

I cannot honestly recall any period drama I've ever watched which didn't murder the historical narrative to some extent. It's as if they can't resist it....or as if they know I'm watching and do it deliberately to irritate me

I've watched numerous films on the story of Mary Queen of Scots and, from memory, they all include at least one dramatic encounter between Mary and her cousin Elizabeth I.....despite the fact the two never met!

I gather the present Earl is rather miffed about the slur on his great aunt's reputation (in those days, any overt familiarity, let alone impropriety, between two characters from such different social strata would have raised eyebrows) but I suppose the idea of sexing up the story proved irresistible to the film makers. A pity....as there's plenty of drama in the story without inventing it.

I know what you mean, its the same when they shoot films set in Egypt, one minute some guy is wandering around the Pyramids and the next they are jumping off a pylon in Karnak temple, the continuity between the various sites can drive you mad especially if you know what you are looking at. I remember one version of Death on the Nile where Poirot walks out into the back garden of the Winter Palace and chats to the love lorn lady as they gaze out over the river, my wife was always saying to me “It’s only a film” as I would mutter about some blatant error or other. So as you rightly say the more you know about a particular subject then the more critical you will be about it especially if it distorts history, a classic case in question is the film Brave Heart, a well made and enjoyable film, but like most Hollywood productions it was historical garbage.

I must admit a couple of actors in the BBC series taught me quite a lot as one a Frenchman had lived in Cairo all his life.
The other an english actor who had studied up on his character and gave me a book on mine Arthur Weigall 'A Passion for Egypt..great fun, I learnt a lot...
Ps: The director Ferdi wouldn't let me utter one word, when I did he had to reshoot....'the sod.

I understand the ITV program is not good.



IMO this is still the best program about Tutankhamun.

The Face of Tutankhamun, Christopher Frayling

SN Great in Peaky Blinders.

I know what you mean about locations Horus after watching Death on the Nile many times I was surprised to find that the pyramids of Giza are not exactly right next to the valley of the Kings and in fact hundreds of miles away, it came as a bit if a shock to say the least

The location comments above just help me understand how so many people expect to be able to swim with dolphins in Luxor!

With apologies to denisegr, I hadn't remembered that she had started a thread in advance of the Tutankhamun programme starting.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=37698

Or walk along the avenue of the Sphinx from Karnak temple to the pyramids.

newcastle wrote:Being a history buff is a real bummer when it comes to watching any films purporting to cover actual events. No matter how good the dialogue, the filming etc. etc. the occasional "historical error" stabs you in the ribs just as you're getting into it.

I cannot honestly recall any period drama I've ever watched which didn't murder the historical narrative to some extent. It's as if they can't resist it....or as if they know I'm watching and do it deliberately to irritate me

I've watched numerous films on the story of Mary Queen of Scots and, from memory, they all include at least one dramatic encounter between Mary and her cousin Elizabeth I.....despite the fact the two never met!

I gather the present Earl is rather miffed about the slur on his great aunt's reputation (in those days, any overt familiarity, let alone impropriety, between two characters from such different social strata would have raised eyebrows) but I suppose the idea of sexing up the story proved irresistible to the film makers. A pity....as there's plenty of drama in the story without inventing it.

Or perhaps its because the ''real historical story'' would be just to boring. All these productions are reliant on viewing figures and adverts to get the dosh in. If you want the near true actual facts you are better sticking to factual documentaries which I personally find far more interesting to watch. And just how many dramas can we watch about old King Tut?

No problem Hepzi

I'm told by my friend that does my downloads that The Life of Howard Carter is about to start/ or has done, on UK TV. No doubt it will contain yet more on Tut.

Dusak wrote:I'm told by my friend that does my downloads that The Life of Howard Carter is about to start/ or has done, on UK TV. No doubt it will contain yet more on Tut.

Its the same program

Bombay wrote:

Dusak wrote:I'm told by my friend that does my downloads that The Life of Howard Carter is about to start/ or has done, on UK TV. No doubt it will contain yet more on Tut.

Its the same program

In that case. why was it not stated as such instead of making me look a right knob.

Dusak wrote:

Bombay wrote:

Dusak wrote:I'm told by my friend that does my downloads that The Life of Howard Carter is about to start/ or has done, on UK TV. No doubt it will contain yet more on Tut.

Its the same program

In that case. why was it not stated as such instead of making me look a right knob.

Maybe you have only yourself to blame D.

Was there a programme called "The Life of Howard Carter"? I don't think so....nor has there ever been. Maybe your friend concocted this "title" bearing in mind that the movie is, to some extent, about the life of Howard Carter.

Sounds like a case of mistaken identity

Does the ITV series have NZ actor Sam Neill? If so, it is about to air here 2nd November; just started advertising on SBS, for those here wanting to know.

Winged Isis wrote:Does the ITV series have NZ actor Sam Neill? If so, it is about to air here 2nd November; just started advertising on SBS, for those here wanting to know.

Yes, Sam Neil plays the part of Lord Canarvon and he looks the part too
But he was born in Northern Ireland

Part 2 about to start. I'll give another try but hope it improves on last week.

Wasted my time. It really doesn't have that something to keep the viewing attention - well my viewing attention anyway.