I find it fascinating to read peoples opinions of various films. Funnily enough I too quite enjoyed FF. Having been warned too that it was terrible I have to agree with Lynda to have been pleasantly surprised. When my husband and I watched P. his comment said it all. I have never seen such rubbish in all my life. Now I avoid if possible watching anything with CF. in with him because unfortunately he is biased before it even begins! I wonder why. I should imagine most of you have the same problem!

My DB will only watch CF movies with me if there is an interesting lady for him to drool over...as GP in SiL. I do not encourage him to watch the video tapes. I have enough trouble with some of them as it is. I do not need his biased opinions or *cute* remarks while the DB is speaking. I do not like to be distracted by the real world when I am communing with *him*!

(Marcia). I do not need his biased opinions or *cute* remarks while the DB is speaking. I do not like to be distracted by the real world when I am communing with *him*! I second that, dearest!

(AnneH) When my husband and I watched P. Oh my!! There should be warning labels on these videos. This is definitely not one to watch with a DH or SO...or any guy for that matter! ;-) (Eileen) Hey Bill...the 'submit' button does work. Did you catch his login? cretin I think that answers your question. Or it could be samiam's new identity and one of the boys deleted a nasty message. Who knows. Who cares. Ladies, just for your information, when we trash some of these movies, we do so in fun. It's just that these are not good movies when compared with some of the more classier productions in which Colin has appeared. These are B- movies (and Playmaker is more like C-). However, one thing that doesn't get a bad rating is Colin's performance. Somehow that guy manages to give a wonderful performance in anything. Now wasn't his embarrassment on the rocks palpable? (I know, Nan, "no rocks, I beg of you, no rocks!!") ;-)

Oh my....girls, I�m so excited! I�m going to see Fever Pitch on the big screen!! It�s such a surprise that I can hardly believe this but it really is true, the movie has finally hit a cinema in Helsinki starting today and there are two smallish stories about it in big papers, with sweet pics. And the critics are pretty nice to it too. Nothing much about Colin�s performance really (male reviewers of course), more about Hornby and football movies & literature in general. But the movie is considered "fun and touching".

(Elena) Nothing much about Colin�s performance really Wot?! He is the lead in this movie, not the fourth listed in the credits as usual. What does it say, Elena? Also, you didn't mention HOW MANY times you are planning to go see it? ;-) Lucky girl *am sitting here pouting*

(Marcia) My DB will only watch CF movies... My husband and my 15 year old son have watched every one of CF's movies with me except the dreaded P ( I do prescreen CF's films before I invite them to join me); it just is not a film to be watched with a guy. Every time I find a new CF film, they both roll their eyes. They did really like Hostages, though. Funnily enough, my son would not watch Wings of Fame with us last week ("I'm not going to watch that stupid Colin Firth guy again", said he) Well, he started watching it one morning before school when I had it on and when he came home from baseball that evening, immediately demanded that I put it on, this on a night when Buffalo and Dallas were playing for the Stanley Cup. ODB has incredible power if a sports-mad, teen-age Canadian boy chooses him (on video) over a live Stanley Cup final game; I'm proud to admit that this boy has watched P&P twice, although JE was the main attraction, IMHO.

(Anne) Having been warned too that it [FF] was terrible I have to agree with Lynda to have been pleasantly surprised Perhaps that's my problem--I wasn't warned that it was terrible. I enjoyed CF's performance, his banter with Billy Zane ("still can't draw faces?"), the proposal scene, etc. but still think FF's story is ridiculous. When the "bad guys" agree to take the girl's $$$ and go home...dumb, dumb, dumb. And we learned baseball-style caps do not become ODB :-P But I will say this: compared with P, the script was far better and at least some of FF's other actors could actually act (i.e., BZ)! In P I think the blew the budget on renting that house (and the dirt bike--now wasn't that a key scene? Heeheehee). You're right, Karen, it was a "C- movie." The only redeeming factor was Colin's performance. Now wasn't his embarrassment on the rocks palpable? Ohhh, yes! Particularly in contrast to when he was Ross leaving the shower ;-) I can't decide which project I like best (other than Darcy, of course, which remains in a class by itself). I haven't seen all his old work but enjoy Valmont and FP. He was great in Tumbledown, TEP and SiL. Overall I find myself gravitating toward roles in which he's more animated. The one I like the least is 'Nostromo.' With the exception of a few scenes, Charles Gould is, well, blah (I read about the character's evolution, obsession with the mine, etc. but IMHO he's still blah). (Marcia) I do not like to be distracted by the real world when I am communing with *him*! Ditto! (Elena) I�m going to see Fever Pitch on the big screen!! Good for you! There's nothing better than a surprise! Go round up a couple hundred of your closest friends and see it multiple times.

Heaven�s sake, I�m in a shock! A highly pleasant one!!:-)) I opened the evening papers and Colin with Ruth Gemmel are in them on the top of the movie pages, in pretty big and cute pictures. FP is receiving quite a lot of publicity here, surprisingly. Colin hasn�t had his face in any publications here since P&P, and these FP pictures are really noticeable....well well, soon I won�t be the only Finn drooling here? I think the football subject has hit a nerve of male critics, they�re going on and on about sports fanaticism and seem to like the realistic and romantic thread in FP too. "Sympathetic movie, excellent actors" but also "visually a bit dull, the end is not psychologically quite credible"....they also don�t like the childhood parts, neither do I, I can�t stand that kid. All in all, with all this coverage a lot of people will go to see it.

(Eileen) When the "bad guys" agree to take the girl' $$$ and go home...dumb, dumb, dumb. LOL!! Oh yes, one of the movie's real low points are the two bad guys. Another is Lisa Blount, Cynthia friend and/or co-star. Argh, was she bad or what? Still can't get over the fact that Joe Prince wore a short-sleeved shirt to his own wedding. Am getting nauseous. Otherwise, there are some decent things in FF, many scenes that I replay over and over, that are sweet and charming. How about his look when she says, "you come when I call" at the grocery store? Oooo-eeee!! I'm sure when Colin reads the scripts these movies sound really interesting, but then they fall down in execution. For instance, Wings of Fame. Very innovative in concept. Top notch stars (Colin and Peter O'Toole), but the supporting cast is pathetic. I do think that their dialogue was dubbed. People don't sound right, as if they are really speaking. Same as in Nostromo with many of the foreign actors. Elena, are the pictures new? Can you translate and post the entire article? Aren't you glad you already saw FP and now adore it. I remember your first comments as I recall you didn't like it. Now, you're in the right frame of mind and can convince all your friends to go see it.

Tickets for "Three Days of Rain" go on sale to Friends of the Donmar Warehouse ("Backstage Crew") on 5 July according to the Development office.

(Karen) Aren't you glad you already saw FP and now adore it I adore Colin in every second of it and I really like RG too, but I do not exactly adore the movie in whole. I think FP is clumsy in many things and that�s about what some of these critics here say too. But still it�s obviously very much liked in its realistic and positive spirit. These guys think that the "fanaticism is portrayed in a way that anybody with similar symptoms or a husband/boyfriend like that can find familiar." It�s ranked 3,5 out of 5. Naturally this is the low season, in June/July people don�t go to movies much and FP wouldn�t get publicity if there were some big Hollywood movies starting this weekend. The pics are from the movie I think, am not quite sure. I�ll see if there�s anything that might interest you in these stories but I don�t really think so, seems like they�re mostly longish descriptions of the story with comments on Hornby & book & football, and short ctiticism....only RG�s performance is mentioned as very good! Yes, they just don�t see that it�s Colin actually who makes the movie worth watching.

Chris please, what is Friends of DW? Who are the members = can we join to get tix earlier?!

Elena - The Friends of the Donmar Warehouse, aka Backstage Crew, are the companies and private citizens who provide financial support to the Theatre. If you are interested in becoming a contributor, you should contact RAchel Weinstein at the Donmar Warehouse Theatre, 41 Earlham Street, London WC2H 9LD. The phone number is (0171) 240 4882 (country code 44). The minimum gift to get Friends status and early booking for all productions is $50. If you are a Yank, ask Rachel about the American Friends of the DW, which will allow you to give and make your gift deductible.

I was checking in over at Murph's site and she has news about our politically-conscious DB. Here is the link: Murph's News Page Bethan, Ann, Lizza, Allison, etc., what can you tell us about this?

Good for Colin! I missed this news item so I've been delving back thru' our old papers which haven't reached the trash can yet. The Government are trying to reduce the value of food vouchers given to refugees and asylum seekers. At one pont they were proposing a reduction to virtually nothing; now it's still fairly minimal. This is a long-standing issue, dates back well beyond the Kosovo crisis, and was I think something CF may have mentioned in the Guardian interview (in the very general context of benef ts for asylum seekers). Colin seems to have joined Tony Booth (Tony Blair's father-in-law, often anti-New Labour, I think) and Mark Thomas (politically aware comedian) in a protest spending of the vouchers in his local (Islington) Sainsbury's supermarket. Presumably to prove that you can't buy enough food to support a family. The protest was organised by Big Issue, an organisation set up by the homeless and those who live on the streets...they produce and sell their own magazine (which I buy occasionally). This is all a million iles away from Hollywood movie stardom! Great to hear that FP has reached Helsinki, Elena. It has some faults (not the performances!!) but is very likeable, and also true to life. My sons are both soccer fanatics, and elder son's team has just been relegated after a dreadful season and it certainly affecteds his mood! They've both read all NH's books( all three!) FP several times, and both enjoyed the film. Is it still opening in the US? And how many screens does a NY/LA opening mean?

It's good to see Colin getting some positive press for being the decent,caring guy that we all believe him to be. They even got his name and profession right!! (Karen) Still can't get over the fact that Joe Prince wore a short-sleeved shirt to his own wedding. Was there more than one version of FF released? I just looked at my copy and Joe is wearing a greyish suit throughout the opening credits (the wedding) and in the photos he shows to every one during the course of the movie. I, too, didn't like him in a baseball cap but his sweetness in that scene made up for the unflattering headgear (very few men look great in BB caps, IMO). And Colin looked quite tasty in some of the colours he wore in this film. Re: the bad guys and Lisa Blount and that dumb scene near the end. We were given hints earlier that these guys were not killers (the just-out-of-the-box revolver in the kidnap scene, for one); IMO, it was the really bad acting in this scene that destroyed its plausibility, not the actual storyline.

RE 3DOR Chris, if Friends of the Donmar can pre-book from July 5th, does that mean that by the time tickets are available for the general public (July 19th) they may be in short supply? What happened last time 3DOR was on...weren't tickets available to everyone (no pre-booking). And is such advance booking (4 months before the event) normal? I don't want to miss out! Re FF and PM. Well, they won't be nominated for film of the century awards, but he's in them a lot, and there's a lot of him in them! I must admit I like the scissors scene in PM...very tastefully erotic. The baseball cap in FF is a definite no-no, but the jeans more than compensate! I must be very peculiar in that my favourite CF is in "The Deep Blue Sea" when he comes bounding in, very pleased with himself, after a playing a good round of golf. Very much the late nineteen forties/early fifties Englishma (plus moustache!)

not plus moustache Bethan! I am dreadidng it in case he sports a moustache in RV.

re 3DOR, I booked up last time on the first day of booking for the public and got front row seats for the matinee and could have had front row on the side for the evening performance and it was only a 2 week run.

Just looked at FF again. No shirts cuffs below the jacket sleeves... gee, I'm quick. Joe works for the forestry service, so is paid very poorly. Spent all of his money on Cynthia's dress, the reception and the honeymoon and probably borrowed his outfit. Must have been intentional since the minister wears a long -sleeved shirt.

(Lynda) No shirts cuffs below the jacket sleeves... v.good!! Dead giveaway. But there actually are two versions of FF flying around. The Lifetime channel (otherwise known as "victim television") in the US broadcasts every other or so "Fatal Woman," which is FF without a few choice scenes. Many people have taped this version and are really missing out on several important shots, including the infamous blue patch and the out-of-body experience look Colin gives as Cynthia is not in the shot and it's left to our imagination as to what she is doing. ;-) Joe works for the forestry service, so is paid very poorly. Spent all of his money on Cynthia's dress, the reception and the honeymoon and probably borrowed his outfit. Must have been intentional since the minister wears a long-sleeved shirt. Best explanation yet as to why his suit fit so ill and the lack of cuffs.

(Karen) ... the infamous blue patch... I believe this refers to CF's underwear, but where exactly in the film is it, since I have tried finding it without success. I guess I'm not very observant; it took me about 10 viewings of P&P before I could see the hair trapped in the lens in the dance scene... and I was looking for it. I must need new glasses.

Hi, Sorry will post later

Yes. I must admit I tried to look for the 'blue strip' but perhaps I too have the wrong tape. I loved FP because when my son was aged 11 he was taken to Highbury to watch his first professional soccer game by my brother - he fell in love with Arsenal - just like NH and I could as you can imagine relate to the film apart from CF. With him in it it was the 'icing on the cake' for me. My son still supports Arsenal even from Australia and was in high heaven last year when they one the league and cup. Stra ge coincidence eh.

I thought FF was terrible, except for CF and BZ. The actress who played Colin's wife was about as bad as it is possible to be. I taped it but taped his interview at A&E over it. What has happened to 72. I have been looking for it since I got back from Nashville but it doesn't appear on the list. I wanted to see Gi's gifts.

I love FP I have to laugh at the beginning when she goes next door and knocks on his door and tells him that his class is disturbing hers with all the noise and he says, "Oh you'll get used to it. When they are in the teachers lounge and she gets on him about laughing when she is talking and he says "Oh, were you speaking, I was reading the sports, I never listen at these meetings." There are too many to put here, I love the red boxers.

I think my favorite part is about the job, "The job etc." He acts the part so well I felt it was real. He has said hasn't he that this part was more himself than any other. Also that final kiss, "wow"

Lynda, the blue patch is visible to some (depending on television sets) in the lower left-hand corner of the screen as Colin is tumbling out of bed onto the floor. Lucie, Topic 72 is there. If it doesn't show up on the main Drool page with new comments, then use it's URL: http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/drool/72/new WARNING!!!! If you haven't been to this topic for a while, it is going to take a long time to load. There are jillions of images out there and the wait will be substantial.

Lucky Elena! So how many times have you seen it now? Favorite scene (one of them...) telling Ted about Ms. Hughes' pregnancy. "Sorry, I left a bit out. I'm the father.(little laugh)...We're having a baby." Encapsulates Paul perfectly. Can't disagree about the plot of FF, completely absurd. How could they ever think Joe is going to be able to handle Cynthia's little problem? Last line, "I'm home". What the hell does that mean? I'm cured? But yum, yum, yum, some delicious little moments. (Karen) How about his look when she says, "you come when I call" at the grocery store? Yikes! Or when he gives his little sigh right before he goes over to "dance" with her in front of the orange juice. Definitely worth the $9.95 I spent for the real video. Speaking of purchases, I see in my A Common Reader catalog, the book A Month in the Country can be purchased in paperback. This is not an easy book to find. Amazon has it but the only copy they advertise is in Braille! Common Reader's price is not cheap ($15.95) but if anybody wants it, go to A Common Reader By the way, Amazon.com does have Les Liaisons Dangereuses in paperback for a reasonable price And if you get the Penguin version, you might luck out with the cover photo. Then again, you might not.

I see in my A Common Reader catalog, the book A Month in the Country can be purchased in paperback. This is not an easy book to find. Heide: Blowing my own horn a bit.... I bought the paperback from A Common Reader a few months ago, and loved it so much that I based a whole web site on it. There are pictures from the book & film, and quotes. AMITC Murph

I don't know if you all have seen this, but I found, on one of Colin's websites, a rather delicious picture of a slender, sexy Lord Wessex unbuttoned from ruff to waist. I can only say that it was a darn good thing that Viola (and the audience) did not see Wessex looking like this or, instead of SIL, Miramax would have had to call this film SOL-- Shakespeare Outta Luck!! (Heide) ...the plot of FF, completely absurd. Not completely. Thousands of real-life Cynthias are cared for by family with little outside support due to governmental policies that favour the deinstitutionalizing of the mentally ill, while providing hopelessly inadequate funding for out-patient mental health services. (Heide) How could they think that Joe is going to be able to handle Cynthia's little problem? Like lots of people out there who think love is enough to cope with alcoholism, mental illness, drug addiction and spousal abuse, Joe hoped his love would be a help; however, he was reading a book of psychiatric case studies in the hotel room, so it is likely that he will see that Cynthia has a competent therapist and will co-operate fully in her treatment. He is doing what must of us would do, in not abandonning the woman he loves because she is sick. IMO, he is absolutely correct to remove her from her ather's care. I believe it goes against medical ethics for a physician to treat his own daughter; in this case, it was totally reprehensible for him to do so, since he was aware of the abuse and ignored it, thus betraying his child's trust (no doubt he wants to keep her illness secret from his colleagues precisely because of his own culpability). His attempts to treat Cynthia have not only been ineffectual, but have put her in a wheelchair when she is with him. Although dependent upon him, Cynthia certai ly must have a profound loathing and distrust of her father for not having protected her from her mother which has interfered with her treatment. (Heide) "I'm home." What the hell does that mean? For the first time in her life, Cynthia is with someone she can completely trust. Joe has come after her (seems like her father doesn't, at least not anymore), has faced death for her and completely accepts who she is. However, Joe's reaction to her leaving his bed and the look on Cynthia's face in the final frames lent an ambiguity which undercut the storybook ending and made me wonder if they would succeed in making a life together.

(Lynda) I found, on one of Colin's websites, a rather delicious picture and you don't say where it is??? Not nice!! I think I know which picture it is, but couldn't find it in my cursory search of 2-3 sites. Lynda, please say at which site you found it. There are many Colin sites and several are very extensive. Better yet, right click on the URL, copy and paste here. Makes it easier for everyone. Thanks. Very interesting interpretations of FF. Which reminds me, we haven't scheduled our next film discussion. Should we do so? Should we do FF since Lynda seems to have a good handle on it. I know Moon really wants to do Apartment Zero, but she will be leaving for vacation shortly and it would be cruel to schedule her favorite during her absence. Or will we just discuss MLSF as it hits the screens in July-early August? Opinions?

(Karen) and you don't say where it is??? Not nice!! Hey, Karen, remember I'm a newbie. Last time I mentioned a site by name, you ladies jumped all over me and told me not to do it. I figured that you would tell me what to do, as you have. Thanks. I could not get the copying and pasting of the URL to work; when I pasted it here, it came up . Can you tell me exactly, step-by-step how to do it for future reference, please? The picture to which I am referring can be found at the FofF archives, in the news and updates section, under SIL pictures from Japan (it's the one on the bottom left, looks like Wessex is in the balcony and wearing his wedding clothes). Do you thinks Japan got a different SIL than we did? If so, I'm going to Japan!!

OT hope you don't mind but my report on visit to The Donmar and Thre Real Thing with Jennifer Ehle and Stephen Dillane, meeting other droolers over at #72, a wonderful evening.

OK, thanks for the pointers to the location, Lynda. I was searching all over Meluchie's site for it before because I know she was the one who had it. Here's the link. http://members.xoom.com/firth_place/sil_pics.html The picture isn't from the movie--even the Japanese version, although it might have been a cut scene or one of many publicity pictures provided. He does look good. Shame they didn't focus on him unbuttoning the doublet, but it is all buttoned up again when he runs out of the theatre to meet QE. Lynda, the image showed up here? How strange. Actually, I think I know what you did. That picture is one where you can click on it and get a larger image. You need to go to the "Location" box at the top and highlight the URL, copy and then paste. Directing people to a link is different than the other. :-) By all means, go to it, girl!

I thought we had already done Femme Fatale but then maybe we were just discussing the film's implausibilities in general. Lynda, you're giving the possibility of Joe being able to handle Cynthia way more credence than I can. And I'm an optimist! Hey, a spirited discussion is always welcome. Last time I mentioned a site by name, you ladies jumped all over me and told me not to do it. LOL!! It is a tricky business, is it not. I say plow ahead and have fun when its at no one's expense but our own. Murph, you deserve to toot your own horn. Your sites are always lovely. I got the book AMITC from Karen. Impossible to find in bookstores locally.

Toot, toot, toot, Murph! Karen, thanks I had not seen that page! And you too Lynda for bringing it up. Karen, do wait for me for Apt. 0, it is of course, a film to be discussed when the nights are longer, darker... ;-) I look forward on my return to reading about MLSF (keeping my fingers crossed that it will still be playing on my return).

(Heide) I got the book AMITC from Karen. Impossible to find in bookstores locally. Much as I'd like to take credit, it was from Evelyn's fall of '98 trip to England. (Moon) I look forward on my return to reading about MLSF (keeping my fingers crossed that it will still be playing on my return). There is that possibility since it does not open semi-wide until July 23. It still might be hovering around when you return. If not, there will be a video, which I would like right this very minute!! Re: Previous FF discussion Yes, it was done but not all that indepth. I have the discussion on file, but there wasn't much left (after you edit through the comments and directions about that one love scene) to post at firth.com. It was mainly about Colin's looks; not much about the actual story, production, acting, etc.

(Heide) Lynda, you're giving the possibility of Joe being able to handle Cynthia way more credence than I can. The movie's ambiguous ending leaves me in doubt as to whether he will succeed in this endeavour. However, I do believe in Joe's belief that he can help Cynthia, as many another stupider or brighter person has thought before him or since. Don't forget, he's only known her for 3-4 months and is still very much in the first stages of passionate love, when all things seem possible. And I really am convinced that she has a much better chance of improving with Joe's help than with that of her deplorably weak fa her.

Nice pix of Wessex....I like the Japanese version! Thanks Lynda and Karen! But if Wessex had been unbuttened, and slightly dishevelled, and if his jaw line, neck and throat had been visible, and if he had been permitted just one warm smile, then Wessex would have been sexy...which would have seriously disturbed the balance of the plot. Infact, there wouldn't have been a plot...Viola marries Wessex and thanks her lucky stars! I still can't really understand why CF is never cast in a sexy Wessex part - why is he always given the stiff Englishman role? But Edward in MLSF sounds rather dishevelled and eccentric, and seems to smile a lot - so I'm quite hopeful here! And I think Matthew (the one we are doomed not to see) would have been very easy on the eye! BTW I noticed a comment at deja.com (by a man!) that Colin in SIL looked like a young Oliver Reed. Is this a compliment? I veer towards "yes"!

that Colin in SIL looked like a young Oliver Reed. Stretching it but with the mustache and beard.... Is this a compliment? I veer towards "yes"! As long as he's not compared to the old Oliver Reed. Infact, there wouldn't have been a plot...Viola marries Wessex and thanks her lucky stars! LOL!! Of course we know that she'll forget all about that Shakespeare anyway after the wedding night. ;-o

Do you want to hear CF speak Italian ;-)? (Alas, it's dubbed) Here's an Italian FP page, from the archives, but nevertheless - http://www.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/quelliche/199711/29/34805017058e7/ Even with a realplayer download (can somebody please explain how realplayer is supposed to work? I mostly succeed, but I never know why it loads well or why not.)

Renate, according to my-son-the-geek, RealPlayer works by keeping the source of its audio or video to be played in its program on your computer. When you download it (he is unclear here) you hear it from the website as one piece but it is downloaded in pieces. I usually keep the sound down and shrink the player till it is all downloaded then have it replay it again. Save the site by adding to presets. You will be able to hear / watch as long as it is available on the internet. Does that help? I will orward questions to him if you'd like

You have two choice there: One is to listen to it from the website (il serv...) or you can download to your hard drive (small print underneath). I had downloaded it (even though it does take a while but it is a big file). Then you can play it whenever you want, like the MLSF trailer.

Me too, Karen, and the Berlinale, too. But there are some files they just don't like to let you have. There are ways around them too, though as with save link as. I am happy we have finally figured out the ways of RealPlayer and I am one up on my son. Mom-the-geek?! ODB even has his own folder so I do not have to hunt through the rest of my downloads to find his goodies, should I need a CF fix.

(Lynda)[re: FF] IMO, it was the really bad acting in this scene that destroyed its plausibility, not the actual storyline. IMO it was both. We agree to disagree! (Karen)including the infamous blue patch and the out-of-body experience look Colin gives as Cynthia is not in the shot and it's left to our imagination as to what she is doing. ;-) I taped from Lifetime. I did see the blue patch but *certainly* not the other! Now I'll have to think about what you mean...beads of perspiration are forming on my forehead. Is it getting hot in here again? (Lynda) Joe hoped his love would be a help; however, he was reading a book of psychiatric case studies in the hotel room, so it is likely that he will see that Cynthia has a competent therapist and will co-operate fully in her treatment. I think you've put more thought into this explanation than the screenwriters did! BTW, Karen, to answer your question, perhaps (since it's already started) we should finish this over at film discussions (it's at least another month until MLSF opens, plenty of time). My favorite FP scene is in the restaurant. "It just went off...won't be a regular feature of life...it'll be brilliant" (latter said while looking like a deer caught in the headlights). It's become one of my favorite Firth scenes.

This is the first time Real Player has been explained to me, thanks ladies, I can now save - I have always downloaded and had trouble doing it. I shall endeavour to hear Colin speak Italian!

Just loaded those SiL pics (*yawn*, it took forever). That is a nice one! The chick to the right looks a little like Bette Midler heeheehee. And Marcia, I still don't see any codpieces for you :-(

Re FP: Paul does not say:"It just went off.." He says "It's just a one off!"

If you say so...but that makes no sense. It doesn't matter, it's still a great scene.

"One off" is Britspeak for a one-time thing. Thank you, Steve. Also, Colin is not really speaking Italian in that RAI TV clip from FP. It would've been dubbed. Lifetime's Fatal Woman is missing that incredible look. You'll recognize ladies. ;-) It's always hot in here.

(Eileen)...it'll be brilliant" Yes, that�s so sweet, and very funny. How can a grown up man possibly manage to look so innocent?? Wonder if he had to rehearse that look a lot beforehand or did it just come naturally......my bet is that he gives that face to his wife every day in normal life when he tries to persuade her into something. BUT I�m lustful enough to like that Kiss In The Kitchen episode most of all in FP! Perhaps my own imagination about the following unfilmed proceedings have something to do with it.

(Elena), BUT I�m lustful enough to like that Kiss In The Kitchen episode most of all in FP! That is my favorite too, when he turns and realizes that she has asked him to stay over. That look he gives of puzzlement, then walks over and kisses her. So much is said in that kiss.

Yes, Marcia, you are now a mom-geek! ;-) Brava!

(Karen) "One off" is Britspeak for a one-time thing. One learns something new every day. BTW, what does Paul say after "...my Arsenal boxer shorts. But they're not my best ones..."?? I can't make it out. Elena, did FP open? How many times did you see it? Was the theater crowded? Did the audience seem to like it? (Elena) How can a grown up man possibly manage to look so innocent? I think he looks frightened. He's saying one thing but thinking the opposite (as ODB does so well). my bet is that he gives that face to his wife every day in normal life when he tries to persuade her into something. LOL! How can she resist those eyes?

They're not my best ones. I was running out. There are two others that I place ahead of the kiss in the kitchen, the little montage after they've split up when they fall onto the bed (music: How Can You Hang On to a Dream) and the hugging at the house they're looking at next to Highbury. He's wearing the faded denim shirt and he's so disappointed that Sarah won't let him live on Arsenal's doorstep. What adorable looks! Argh! Elena, do tell about going to see FP on the big screen.

(Eileen) Elena, did FP open Yes it did, I�m going to see it tomorrow with a friend. You see, that cinema is not exactly round the corner, there�s about a hundred kilometres drive to it! I don�t live in Helsinki but in another town that�s so tiny that we don�t have cinemas here at all.

RE 3DOR Chris, if Friends of the Donmar can pre-book from July 5th, does that mean that by the time tickets are available for the general public (July 19th) they may be in short supply? Quite possibly. Last time the Friends got notice of the production and opened ticket sales well before the casting was announced. By the time the casting was public, public booking had already opened. Friends got to buy tix for "Blue Room" well in advance too, although that time the casting was published from day one. It wasn't until the critics went berserk that tickets sold out. This time you have known casting, and a previous run that was highly successful and well-reviewed. I would expect tickets to be scarce once public booking begins. But I could be wrong. (On the other hand, I'm a subscriber to the National Theatre, and it STILL took me two tries to get tickets to the Ian Holm 'Lear' and and Stoppard's 'Invention of Love'. Both sold out to the mailing list during the first booking periods.)

Bugger!!!! RE 3DOR Chris, if Friends of the Donmar can pre-book from July 5th, does that mean that by the time tickets are available for the general public (July 19th) they may be in short supply? Quite possibly. Last time the Friends got notice of the production and opened ticket sales well before the casting was announced. By the time the casting was public, public booking had already opened. Friends got to buy tix for "Blue Room" well in advance too, although that time the casting was published from day one. It wasn't until the critics went berserk that tickets sold out. This time you have known casting, and a previous run that was highly successful and well-reviewed. I would expect tickets to be scarce once public booking begins. But I could be wrong. (On the other hand, I'm a subscriber to the National Theatre, and it STILL took me two tries to get tickets to the Ian Holm 'Lear' and and Stoppard's 'Invention of Love'. Both sold out to the mailing list during the first booking periods.)

One of the good things about FP is the way he relates to children. The baby scene was one of the most poignant I have ever seen. You could sense the longing in it.

Yes, and Eileen, his "it'll be brilliant" look was my favorite, too. He knows he's in over his depth, but he's determined to push on, nevertheless, without the faintest notion of what's involved... I hate to be such a spoilsport about AMITC, the book, but I got it from my local public library. It was so short that I PHOTOCOPIED the entire thing for about $3.60 or so!!!

I was surfing idly today and came across these photographs. Have you all seen them before? http://www.mirrorpix.com/cgi-bin/mirrorpix

Sorry that doesn't get you to the right place. Just do a search on "Colin Firth".

Thanks, Allison. No, I certainly haven�t seen those pics before, not one of them, suppose most of you have. So, that�s the famous vacuum cleaner pic! Hm....I feel a bit bad about it, it�s a genuine paparazzi pic. It�s a bit too much that they were actually photographed carrying that box inside the house. Btw, what is that pic of him & Livia standing in darkness in front of a white house? Anyone know?

At least that one was a posed picture, which means the photographer had permission. Some of the pictures are used on other websites, like the Catherine Zeta Jones and the ones of the cast from Valmont and those young Colin shots. I don't think anybody's had the nerve to post the vacuum cleaner pictures though (but I do have them as well) Such an invasive picture.

So, I saw Fever Pitch in a cinema today, just came in and.....well, what can I say? Most importantly: all of you who have only seen this movie on tape, you�re in for something great when you get a chance to see it on the big screen. It looks MUCH better than the video. Like I�ve said before, I used to feel that the structure of the film was clumsy and I disliked the flashbacks but in the cinema it all seemed to work beautifully. It was almost like seeing another version of the film, a better one! And boy, isn�t Colin lovely in this movie! From the video you get only a faint idea of how adorable his brown eyes really look like in those certain important moments and what a terrific actor he really is.....all those subtle changes of expression in his face that mean so much. I think I�ll have to see it again. I was told it has sold quite well and will run at least for a couple of weeks.

(Karen)I don't think anybody's had the nerve to post the vacuum cleaner pictures though. Someone did have the nerve. It was posted a long time ago and caused much controversy. Was the beginning to the end of a well known site--however, that's a long story.

(Elena) So, I saw Fever Pitch in a cinema today, just came in and.....well, what can I say?... It looks MUCH better than the video. Ooh, goodie. I can't wait!! Eileen, we non-Brits struggled with a lot of the slang but with the help of this support group here at drool, were able to come up with it all eventually. 'Course the Screenplay helped too. A good buy though I forget where I got it. Can anyone help? Speaking of books, KJ, you're not a spoilsport if you can come up with ways for someone to save $15. That is an awful lot of money to spend for 100 pages.

I had never seen those pictures before. How obtrusive!

I believe Marcia is happy today! I'll leave her to tell you why!!

The Mirror and others in that group are now for their tabloid exploits. You really can't blame him for hating the publicity. It's okay if you love like some other actors I could name. But imagine being followed while buying a cleaner etc. I agree with your feelings and certainly won't keep them.

Has everyone seen Lizbeth's Timeline i.e. Valmont - the pics are wonderful I have not seen them before. If you have not seen go check.

(Heide)Ooh, goodie. I can't wait! I hope you can see it soon!! AND how I wish that I could see all his movies in a theater, it�s just so different (obviously! It just haven�t happened to me before that I first see a video and then the real thing, it�s usually the other way round). Imagine Darcy on the broadest possible film screen! Oh..... ..........excuse me a moment, I�m so hot I have to throw some clothes off (it�s very warm in Finland right now, you see :-). Actually, I think we should hire all his movies and a theater for a couple of nights in some suitable country easily accessible to his fans around the world and arrange a Colin Firth Drool Festival! And he�d surely come gladly to tell us about the making of them. It�d be a success.

(Elena) I think we should hire all his movies and a theater for a couple of nights in some suitable country easily accessible to his fans around the world and arrange a Colin Firth Drool Festival! And he�d surely come gladly to tell us about the making of them. It�d be a success. If he were there, "accessibility" be hanged!! Suggest you call it a Colin Firth retrospective though or Firth in the Flesh II ;-) What a thought, seeing P&P on a big screen, well at least on a screen big enough to show Colin in the picture in the sitting room at Hunsford. And KJ, I too have spent a great deal of time over a flashing photocopier. ;-)

From Variety: WAS HE KIDDING? Harvey Weinstein told me he�s thinking of a sequel to �Shakespeare in Love� � this time as a mystery. Harvey was celebrating at Cienega after the �Ideal Husband� screening Thursday at the DGA to benefit the Life Foundation for research on autism. Weinstein prided �Husband� on being another pic from his banner �where the only special effect � is the script itself.� SiL2 - a sort of "Who Shot E.W.?" thing perhaps? Doesn't Harvey know the first rule for making a successful sequel is to can the idea?

(Eileen) Was the theater crowded? Did the audience seem to like it? No, the theater was half empty but only because of the great weather, everybody�s out somewhere getting a tan. The audience was as peculiar as you could expect, mostly young girls, couples of about 30 and young guys of about 17!! When I saw this group of boys entering the theater I thought they�d be disappointed because they obviously came to see a 100 per cent football movie, but I could be wrong. I intentionally listened to them afterwards in the lobby and they were saying things like "too much smooching and all that but then there were some good bits too". People kept tittering quietly but persistently all through the movie and somebody even clapped his/her hands after it! And I spontaneously burst out laughing at something, I don�t remember what. Like I said before, the movie looked new to me somehow.

Elena, was it dubbed or subtitled?

(Karen)Suggest you call it a Colin Firth retrospective though Oh yeah, Retrospective foor Drool like Gravitas for Smooch??! .....No, films are never dubbed in Finland and his voice was ah so great, and the music too. I used to wonder why people want to buy the soundtrack, now I don�t wonder anymore.

Thanks for your FP report, Elena. I can't wait to (finally) see this film. Karen, how did you get hold of the soundtrack -- did you buy it in London? I can't seem to track it down. This is probably a dumb question, but... what was the reasoning behind the screwy release pattern for FP? Am I to understand it was released only in a couple of European countries and Australia two years ago? Why has release to the rest of the world (Scandinavia, U.S.) been delayed so long? I mean, it's not like they were still tinkering with it, a la MLSF, and seems like it could only hurt the film's momentum to release it piecemeal like this.

Re: The soundtrack I purchased the CD over the internet from a place in England. Also, by fluke, saw one on the clearance rack at a Virgin Megastore a little while back and grabbed it. I did check to see if Virgin stocked it and the answer was no. (Susan) what was the reasoning behind the screwy release pattern for FP? There's no reasoning behind it, just what the film company managed to do at the time. I know this is a broad generalization but a great deal of the problem with British films is the lack of effective distribution and marketing arms. However, from what I read, this is finally getting addressed. Channel Four, now Film Four, which made FP, couldn't find distributors in the other countries and certainly did not have the ability itself to show the film. Wasn't it shown throughout most of Europe, including Scandanavia? I could have sworn that I'd heard of it being shown in Sweden. It played in Italy, France, and Germany. Don't know about Portugal or the Benelux countries? Gi? Tineke?

(Karen) Re: The soundtrack I purchased the CD over the internet from a place in England. Also, by fluke, saw one on the clearance rack at a Virgin Megastore a little while back I managed to score a copy of the CD when I was in Singapore last month on business. I was feeling very smug until I read that Karen had found one at the Virgin Megastore! There is one of those about 5 miles from my office - I just should have looked there. BTW, Karen does your copy of the CD have that hideous graphic on the front? No, not a lovely photo of ODB but a poor quality photo of a tiny plastic soccer/football player like you might find on a child's birthday cake paired with a tiny plastic bal erina that looked like it had been snapped off a child's music box. I paid something like $25 U.S. for that after converting currency and it seems for that sum I should have at least gotten a Colin picture :-). Oh well, I mostly bought the CD because it has his voice on it. Sigh. Also, my Singaporean colleague had seen FP in S'pore about two years ago and liked it, so we know it was released there. Not surprising since there are a lot of Brit Ex-pats in Singapore, although my friend is Malayasian/Chinese (and a big Liverpool fan, surprisingly enough which was his main complaint about the movie.)

Got my FP soundtrack courtesy of Evelyn, during her 3DOR pilgrimage to London. I believe she picked her up from an HMV. Karen had found one at the Virgin Megastore! There is one of those about 5 miles from my office - Hey, is that the one by my apartment? I'm stopping by there today to browse for some "productivity music." Will look for FP and let you know if I find it. I've been out of it for a while... will FP definitely premiere here in L.A. on July 9th? Or has the date been pushed back again?

Hey, I'm not guaranteeing that Virgin is going to have it anymore. When I went back to see if I could get any more, the guy looked it up in the system and said it was an "old import" and when they went to clearance it was below "their cost." I think it sold for $10. (Mine cost more than yours, Jana, because I had to have it shipped!! Winter, call Phaedra Cinema and ask about Fever Pitch's opening? The phone number has been posted, but it's also at Murph's site under News. Or call information; it's on (surprise, surprise) Wilshire Blvd. (Jana) it seems for that sum I should have at least gotten a Colin picture :-) Yes, same cover as was shown in the advert following the movie. Jana, open the jewel box and take out the insert. Lots of pictures!! You are definitely working too hard!

(Karen) I don't think anybody's had the nerve to post the vacuum cleaner pictures though. (Jana) Someone did have the nerve. It was posted a long time ago and caused much controversy. Was the beginning to the end of a well known site Weeeelll, so that's what happened...I agree, the shopping pics (esp. second one) make me uncomfortable. I can only imagine how Brad and Gwynnie felt about those infamous paparazzi pics of their vacation a few years ago! (Heide) Eileen, we non-Brits struggled with a lot of the slang but with the help of this support group here at drool, were able to come up with it all eventually Claire's FP site helped me as well. Sorry I missed all previous discussion! Karen's been catching me up. Those were interesting audience demographics, Elena! Thanks for the report. From the video you get only a faint idea of how adorable his brown eyes really look like in those certain important moments Such as when he says "...shows what you know about it then..." (comes at the end of the fixture list discussion). *Sigh* (Susan) what was the reasoning behind the screwy release pattern for FP? I always assumed it wasn't released in the US because there's no mass audience for a film about English football with a star who's not well known here. Of course it makes sense that there was no distributor (duh-h). I'm glad Phaedra stepped up. I'm curious as to how they'll promote it. (Winter) will FP definitely premiere here in L.A. on July 9th? Oh, but it has to! For your birthday! *Thwaaack* That's a virtual smack on the head of Harvey W. for contemplating a SiL sequel. And a mystery? What would the catch-line be in the new one? "I don't know, it's a tragedy?" No sequel, I beg you, no sequel!

(Eileen) I always assumed it wasn't released in the US because there's no mass audience for a film about English football with a star who's not well known here. Of course it makes sense that there was no distributor (duh-h). Same thing actually. Cause and effect. I'm glad Phaedra stepped up. But Phaedra's had it for some time. What are they waiting for? The planets to be in alignment or something? You guys do know that expansion beyond NY and LA will be dependent on how well it does in those two cities. So, if you east and west coast people don't go see it at least 10-20 times each, it may never make it. And we are going to come get you! ;-)

Winter, Hi, are you also planning to go and see MLSF when it opens in LA on the 16th July, I do hope so its great to hear everyone's opinion and gives us in the UK something to look forward to. I wonder if it will have its Premiere in LA, Dame Winter?

According to Clare's site for FP (is it still there?), She was showing articles and reviews from: UK, 3-4/97 and again 11/97 and ?again 6/98..Germany, 5/97...Norway 7/97...Sweden 9/97 and again 5/98...Australia and NZ 8-9/97, and one article from the Toronto Sun 6/98. I think the mid '98 dates were rereleases meant to correspond to a Cup Final or something. French article quoted but no date...

It was released for the first time in Canada during the World Cup. It wasn't shown there before. So why was Finland left out during the 1997 run?

(Jana)I mostly bought the CD because it has his voice on it. More info please! Does he sing? (be still my heart!) and how much of the CD is ODB's voice?

(KJArt) According to Clare's site for FP (is it still there?) Yes--here's the link: Clare's FP Page

No, not in Portugal, I couldn't have missed it, although they completely change the titles instead of translating them. And it hasn't been released on video either :-(

(Karen)Wasn't it shown throughout most of Europe...Don't know about Portugal or the Benelux countries? Gi? Tineke? No, not in Portugal, I couldn't have missed it, although they completely change the titles instead of translating them. And it hasn't been released on video either :-(

Oops, sorry :-(

(Eileen)Oh, but it has to! For your birthday! Precisely! Talk about a tailor-made present! A smooch from Colin himself wouldn't be so bad, either! ;-) (Ann)Winter, Hi, are you also planning to go and see MLSF when it opens in LA on the 16th July Of course, of course! For some reason, I haven't been as diligent about showing up for Jeremy Northam's L.A. appearances (he was here last week), though I'm really looking foward to seeing Colin again. For MLSF- definitely, though I'm going to be a one-woman campaign to promote FP. SB-- Clips from the movie are on the CD-- in-between songs. Mostly Paul's thoughts/musings about football, relationships, anthropologists (!), etc... Went to the Virgin Megastore. No sign of it.

Thanks Winter :)

(Ann)Winter, Hi, are you also planning to go and see MLSF when it opens in LA on the 16th July (Winter)Of course, of course! Maybe we can hook up and make it two-person effort. I can hold Colin down while you extract your belated birthday *samooch*. Of course, more likely it will be just you, me and the other indie film lovers since we have no word yet if he will in fact attend a publicity event in L.A. But heck, if we have half as much fun as at the "An Ideal Husband" screening it'll be great! Amusing conversation, ODB and raspberry mocha.... who could ask for more :-)? (Winter) SB-- Clips from the movie are on the CD-- in-between songs. Mostly Paul's thoughts/musings about football, relationships, anthropologists (!), etc... Yes EsBee, no singing unfortunately just a few clips of ODB's dialgoue from the film. But I must say that his voice blaring out of the stereo in CD quality sounds pretty darn sweet. (Winter) Went to the Virgin Megastore. No sign of it. Oh well, maybe when the film's released they'll stock it again. (Karen) Mine cost more than yours, Jana, because I had to have it shipped!! Yes, but when you factor in the $4,500 for plane tickets to pick it up in person I think you got the better deal ;-). (Well, of course I'm getting reimbursed for that from the boss man...) (Karen) Yes, same cover as was shown in the advert following the movie. Jana, open the jewel box and take out the insert. Lots of pictures!! You are definitely working too hard! Oh dear, now that you mention it I do recall that there were CF photos inside. It's just that ugly jewel box cover staring at me that assaults my sensitivities. And (she says guiltily) I must admit that I'm not working very hard today - I think this is my third post. Hope the cyber police are not watching too closely. Eek! My brain is totally playing hooky today - or should I say skiving :-)?

Jana--you and I are on the same boat! I'm supposed to be grading (I've got a stack of 217 exams on my desk), and am only halfway through. It must be the weather...