Thanks, Anne! That's the best intro to cricket I've heard for 25 years! My hubby once tried to explain it to me, and all I can remember is that "when they're in the're out, and when they're out they're in..." 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 Sorry all for slipping a personal note, but it can't be avoided... :-) RENATE - Your email is not working, it returned my message twice today.

Botham is but he was one of our greatest all-rounders, could bat bowl and field brilliantly, could probably score a 100 runs on his own!! And like Flashman he could bowl a maiden over (cricket joke for UK and Aussie droolers):-) Best thing about cricket are the names given to places on the field: silly mid on, short square leg, fine leg, etc, etc. It's a life time study!

If no one minds, I've copied over the baseball, football and cricket comments to Topic 72. These Colin topics fill up so quickly. ;-D My football answers will be there, Gi. And please continue Anne. I'm still having a hard time visualizing what is going on.

Oi! Thanks, Alarmarami, for alerting me re mailbox. When my mailbox was so quiet I wondered already if everybody went out for a 24hour cricket match. Now I wonder what happened to my sent messages. Karen, did you get my mail last night re #110, and the link from http://www.firth.com ? Please use this as emergency mail: threedeers@yahoo.com , thanks. Kjart, here's the reply to your question, how to "succeed badly". My mailbox did. :-P

Since Renate will be linking topic 110 to www.firth.com on Sept. 10th for his birthday party celebrations, I thought we might as well do all our preparations for Firthday at 110. The preparations will not show up since the linking will be set up for Sept. 10th only. Is it agreeable to everyone? BTW, thank you Renate!

Since Renate will be linking topic 110 to www.firth.com on Sept. 10th for his birthday party celebrations, It is already linked! Did I get your intentions wrong, Karen? Let me know - here or on #72 - if you want me to un-link it again. My email is still kaputt.

Renate, you did a fabulous job! You also made it so easy to log on and that even Colin will be tempted to do it! Brava! Let's go on with the original plan of preparing for Firthday on topic 72 and having the party at 110 on Sept. 10th. :-D

Moon, thanks a lot for the flowers, but actually I didn't do much. Glad you like it, anyway. :-)

Renate, the link is fine from firth.com. Non-droolers will be steered to the beginning of the celebration, but the rest of us will come in the usual way. As far as I'm concerned, if the party room is opened early then people can drop off their presents all week. If others would prefer to hold off, that's OK by me.

Moon, thanks a lot for the flowers, but actually I didn't do much. Glad you like it, anyway. :-)

How many times do I have to remind everybody: do not go off-line and then on again when the last post showing on any of these boards is your own: it will post itself again. One of those Yapp shortcomings.

Article about David Morrissey in the Telegraph. Check out the 3DOR and Colin mention btw, I think the writer went a little too overboard in his praise of DM, sheesh!! Master of the roles The face is familiar if not the name, but actor David Morrissey always makes an impact. He talks to Jasper Rees DAVID MORRISSEY is one of those actors who are too good for their own good. However well he performs, however many millions see those performances, he fails to worm his way into the public consciousness. Could you put a face to the name? Or a name to the big, podgy face with its petite, delicate features? He leaves no footprint of one role in the next. He plays the common man uncommonly well, and no one is better at allowing a character's inner troubles to ripple across his face. But there is nothing to connect his Bradley Headstone in Our Mutual Friend to his sunny Kiffer in Hilary and Jackie or his tortured tax inspector in Holding On. Like Ian Hart and Cathy Tyson, he is a graduate of the Liverpool Everyman's youth theatre, but unlike them he seldom plays Scousers. The ability to disappear into a role is, to Morrissey, what acting should be - "You watch the character," he says; "you don't watch me performing." And yet so complete is this sense of never knowing what you're going to get with Morrissey that it may have hampered him. "There is a danger there," he says. "You sometimes hear about jobs and then the backers don't know who you re. You go, 'Well, have they seen this?' and they go, 'Oh yes, they've seen that, they've seen this, but they don't know who you are.' And you go, 'I don't want them to know who I am. I just want them to know my work.' " This November he will be back at the Donmar Warehouse in Richard Greenberg's Three Days of Rain, a masterly chamber piece that ran for two weeks earlier this year. No doubt he'll once more watch the mounds of fan mail grow on the dressing-table of his co-star Colin Firth. But if Morrissey is not a backer's actor, he is a writer's actor (he is married to the novelist Esther Freud). He has been in two series by Tony Marchant (Holding On and Into the Fire), and Pure Wickedness (which starts next Tuesday on BBC1) is his second go at Lucy Gannon. In Gannon's Big Cat, he played a bruised loner whose fear of physical affection turns him slowly to psychopathic thuggery. In Pure Wickedness his Achilles' heel is not antipathy to sex, but fondness for it. He plays Frank, a window-cle ner from a Midlands village who married young, has four children and a sideline in philandering. His affair with the frustrated wife of a GP is of a different order of infidelity, however. Because of his role in Big Cat, as soon as he thundered boorishly on to the screen in Pure Wickedness I assumed that Morrissey would again be the villain of the piece. "Anybody watching it is looking for me to be the bad man in the story," he says. "Sure, I leave my wife and four kids, but viewers are looking for something extra - another wife and family, a disease - to make it removed from their life. And actually when he's just a man who has fallen in love and left his wife, it's like, 'Oh no, we can't ave that - that could be me!' I think it's the biggest fear that people have. My biggest fear is that my wife will meet someone else, fall in love and go off." Aspirational Frank may be as close as Morrissey has come to playing himself. "When [the GP's wife] wants to go cold on the relationship," he says, "it's to do with his class, the fact that he's not educated enough, and I found that very familiar." Morrisey was brought up in Knotty Ash, Merseyside, failed his 11-Plus and "became wallpaper in the classroom". An early passion for film was encouraged at the Everyman, where Alan Bleasdale and Willy Russell were writing plays for a company that included Julie Walters, Pete Postlethwaite and Jim Broadbent. "Actors held no mystery for us. They weren't people who were being knighted all the time, and you'd see them on the television. So it did seem an achievable prospect." He left school at 16, joined a company in Wolverhampton, and was cast as the lead in Russell's One Summer, Channel 4's first ever drama series. He went to Africa for a few months and by the time he came back it was on the box. "I got back to Lime Street and there were people looking at me, saying, 'I really like the show.' " He then went to Rada - "the one thing I wanted to do" - and from there it was straight into theatre: Cheek by Jowl, the Royal Exchange, the RSC and the lead in Peer Gynt at the National. Three Days of Rain was the first time he'd set foot on stage in five years. "On a film set is the happiest I am in my life. Every day is a challenge. In theatre there is a point when boredom kicks in." Morrissey has embraced his craft with the zeal of someone who assumed from his education that he would slip through the net. He reads avidly, has directed a short film about the meeting between Napoleon and the Pope, and this summer has been filming a Charles Bukowski short story. Forthcoming roles include a university lecturer in Fanny and Elvis, a comedy written directed by Kay Mellor. This month he is filming Some Voices, Joe Penhall's play about a care-in-the-community schizophrenic. It's as if Morrissey chooses roles like a getaway car. Despite all the sharp turns, one guideline keeps him moving in a constant direction. "The only thing you can use as an actor," he says, "is good writing."

Yes, but I did find this part amusing... No doubt he'll once more watch the mounds of fan mail grow on the dressing-table of his co-star Colin Firth. Think the author went to see 3DOR and saw the throngs of Volvo-drivers waiting to meet the man himself ;-)?

(Arami) How many times do I have to remind everybody: Not everybody. Just me. :-P And please, keep on reminding me, perhaps one day I will recall it *before* I hit "submit"! ;-) ---- Thanks for the Morrissey article, Karen, very interesting. I thought he was very good in 3DOR, and I would like to see him in something else.

No doubt he'll once more watch the mounds of fan mail grow on the dressing-table of his co-star Colin Firth. Now you know! If you want to send a personal to Colin, it will get to him at the Donmar. You just have to wait for 3DOR. Thanks for the article, Karen. Now who will write to Jasper Rees demanding one of Colin?

Thanks Karen, I didn't like DM in 3 DOR...he played the American Pip/Theo as if he came out of "Guys and Dolls" ....and after reading the interview, I like him less. ***** The Donmar Box Office crew is v. good about delivering anything backstage.

Good to know that, Evelyn ;-)

Jasper Rees has already interviewed Colin twice (at the time when FP came out in the UK). He's apparently an old mate...I seem to remember him writing that he'd known CF from his theatre days and how after the interview they went off to a pub together to catch up on all the news. He also described how Colin had written a piece about filming "A Month in the Country" for him, and that it was well-written but too long. (JR has also interviewed JE). I should think that if you want something to reach CF (a good luck card, or whatever) it's much more likely to reach him via the Donmar address than his agency!! Flash Harry...G M Fraser has a new Flashman book coming out this October (in hardback) "Flashman and the Tiger" It seems very probable that Prince William will open the Millenium Dome....his first public duty (lots of press coverage!)

(Me)How many times do I have to remind everybody: (Renate)Not everybody. Just me. :-P And please, keep on reminding me, perhaps one day I will recall it *before* I hit "submit"! ;-) I have to keep reminding myself - sometimes in vain. And you don't even need to hit "submit" twice: the sequence is: 1.write message, 2.hit"submit", 3.go off-line, 4. take a break, 5.forget what you've just done, 5. return to the screen, 6.go on-line, AND 7. voila, Yapp posts your previous message AGAIN. It took me nearly two years to fathom some of the caprices of the wretched program. And now back to the normal schedule... :-)

I guess I should post this over at #121, but it it's not exactly "discussion" more disappointing news. I phoned Miramax to ask about MLSF in the UK. Asked when it was going to be released, and was told that "no release date was scheuled for the UK". I said "It is going to be released?". Answer " Eventually, yes" Eventually!!! How lukewarm can you get. I've now lost all hope of a nationwide or even a selected release...I think it will be just one or two cinemas in London. And as to the date...well, I've already seen advance publicity for "Theory of Flight" (early Oct nationwide) and "The Winslow Boy" (early Nov nationwide). Y2K? I doubt if Miramax are planning any publicity. What is it with their attitude to this movie? Very disappointing. The Hollywood Reporter did give MLSF 5 stars, right?

For those *not* reading Topic 121 (MLSF spoiler), I'm repeating some news in answer to Mary's question but should be considered news for everyone: ...about the video of MLSF. You won't believe it, but the Miramax site now says the video will be available on May 4. I assume 2000. Probably because those 22 copies of the film have to make it around the globe by pack mule. ;-D Here's the url: http://www.miramax.com/mm_front/owa/mp.entryPoint?action=1&midStr=566 And I just noticed that Miramax no longer has MLSF listed under the category of "Now Showing" with AIH, Life is Beautiful, Outside Providence, and the Very Thought of You, but has moved it to the category of "Coming Soon to Video"!! Are these people out of their minds!! (Bethan) Eventually!!! How lukewarm can you get. That is so typical of Miramax's attitude here in the US as well. I've never seen such disinterest in a movie before (but, then again, I've never followed one so closely). Miramax has adopted a new Internet strategy for both Outside Providence and the Talented Mr. Ripley. It is doing separate and more elaborate websites (those are just two I looked at). It did slightly more at the Miramax cafe for the new Joe Fiennes movie (The Very Thought of You), with the additon of a couple of stills. I am shocked beyond belief that it has moved MLSF out of the "Currently Showing" category!

(Karen) Re: prestigious...This way it shows his appearance is of a "star turn." I agree. It's also a great way to lure viewers ...as if some of us need to be lured! (Evelyn) now will someone pleeeze read that book [TTOS] and not leave Bethan and me hangin' out there? Sorry, we're too busy reading Flashman books! ;-) Will add TOTS to my reading list, though. I'm also reading Flashman and the Redskins, Lynda. Haven't made it to the Apache wedding yet, but he's just married the madam from the New Orleans brothel. Looks as though he has 'weddingitis' in this one! Glad to read MLSF is still playing in Chicago, Karen. From the sound of things at 121, I thought it was pulled from theaters and on its way to video. Bethan, rally up your patience and fortitude. You will need plenty of both when dealing with Miramax about this movie. At least it sounds as though the outcome will be better than SLOW!

I started my post (above) before I saw your last one, Karen.

But The Very Thought of You failed miserably in the first week and took half of what MLSF took in its first week, oh hope that makes sense, I am so annoyed about Miramax, what is the matter with them, there are so many far far worse films out there, in fact this isn't a bad film . Haven't had time to phone Miramax Bethan, but will have a go tomorrow, we can let this lie. I see it is to be release in Australia on the 11th November, so I guess we won't get it in November, if there are really only 20 copies

(Ann) I am so annoyed about Miramax, what is the matter with them I dunno; maybe this is the way they treat every film that doesn't feature Gwyneth or Rupert. *meeeooowwww! hiss! hiss!*

That is so true, Eileen. Gwynneth is again on a mag. cover, and I have already seen a preview for her film (sorry forgot the title), takes place in Italy with Aiden Quinn as co-star. My local art house told me that MLSF would be there in Sept. THEY BETTER NOT LET ME DOWN!!! I feel for you Bethan, hang in there. :-)

*snicker snicker* (from Variety) The weekend's other major opening fared even worse. Miramax's "Outside Providence" was unable to take advantage of the Farrelly brothers connection to the film (as writers only) when the film finished outside the Top 10 at No. 11. The film made about $3.2 million in the four days in 1,050 theaters for an average of $3,048. The cume on the coming-of-age film, which also opened Wednesday, is $3.8 million. ************ Let's see, didn't MLSF average $10,000 per week in its opening weekend? Full box office results for the holiday weekend probably won't be out till later today or even tomorrow. Then we'll find out how many theaters MLSF is playing in. (Eileen) Sorry, we're too busy reading Flashman books! ;-) hee hee. I told Evelyn that I would take a break from Flashman and read TTOTS next, but I find it difficult to put down a book that has lines like this: "including Mrs. Leo Lade, smouldering at me across the table under a heap of sausage curls, and in a dress sp decollete that her udders were almost in her soup." (AnnW) But The Very Thought of You failed miserably in the first week I read similar bad/lukewarm reports about this one too.

For London travelers (one degree of separation): The Olivier award winning play "The Weir" is getting a new cast at the end of September. Included are Ruth Gemmell ("Fever Pitch") and Miles Anderson ("Oliver's Travels" and lots of BBC/ITV). Also Anthony O'Donnell and Daniel Flynn, both excellent actors out of the Almeida Company.

A correction regarding the Gwynneth movie shot in Italy, he co-star is Matt Damon. The story takes place during the fifties, loved the clothes.

You mean The Talented Mr. Ripley. It's a Miramax/Paramount production. I'm sure they'll be shoving it down our throats long before it opens in Dec. *** MEMO To: Miramax PR Dept. From: Harvey Weinstein Subject: MLSF Promotion/Release Schedule Please be advised that all funds dedicated to above-captioned subject must be diverted immediately to the Talk budget. The bills from the kickoff party are coming in. Mayor Rudy and those other bozos from the National Park Service are threatening to break my fingers if we don't pay up quick for using Liberty Island. Your immediate attention would be appreciated. The bums are outside banging on my door. *** :-)

Ah!! Now I understand. Also, I heard that Harvey ordered a box of his favorite cigars so they couldn't make any more prints of the film. Priorities!! BTW, from what I've seen on The Talented Mr. Ripley, the premise looked pretty interesting.

(Moom)I feel for you Bethan, hang in there. :-) Ditto,... Bethan/AnnW/Allison. Or as Our Leader would say:..."Ah feel yo'pain". I know...not funny...but at least you have hope...so many of the US fans never will see it on the big screen. ***** ( Chris)For London travelers (one degree of separation): We must not forget Jennifer at the National in Summerfolk.

Evelyn - so many of the US fans never will see it on the big screen actually perhaps some US fans will get to see it in the UK if they keep postponing the release date for MLSF, at this rate it could be playing in London in January 2000.

sorry - Evelyn - so many US fans never will see it on the big screen actually perhaps some US fans will get to see it in the UK if they keep postponing the release date for MLSF, at this rate it could be playing in London in January 2000.

Karen please help, I was trying to do italics, what am I doing wrong. How do you close the italics!!??

Sorry, what I am going to say seems direct your attention to a different subject (or can't I? Is it possible?). That does not mean that I am not interesting in MLSF, I do LOVE to see this movie if I can ever hope so BUT not likely to happen in my case. So I sort of glad that it moved to "Coming to video soon..." category, now I at least have a HOPE!!! Now, you must allow me to tell you, ever since my first acquaintance with CF through P&P2 (I've never heard his name before then), I came to realize that how ardently I admire and love the actor! Never in my life up to now, I felt so helpless to DROOL over some one whome I definitely never will meet in person. I often laugh at myself over my fantasies and think that I am mad indeed. How I am glad to find this conference! And feeling such relief to know that I am probably a normal humanbing. I have been ra bling here for months and just wanted to sit in a corner of the chat room to enjoy (and I have , very much) your conversations. Today, some how I want very much to give in my reserve and join you. Hope you guys can bear with my Enlish which is not my native. It took me a long time to come to a decision of viewing CF's other works other than P&P2 which I have lost count of times watching it. I was afriend that my image of CF will be altered by his other insignificant roles since he hardly played leading man before Mr.Darcy. This is the order of movies that I have seen (started two weeks ago): SIL, Thousand Acres, Valmont, Apartment Zero. So far so good, he seems to play villains (or some one who was NOT good) all the time BUT he is still dear to me (his hansom feature just irresists to me no matter how bad he became)and I'm very impressed with his acting too (especially Apartment Zero). And, I watched The Advocate last night. I don't know what to say. I had this such weird feeling and struggled in my couch tring not to stop the VCR. First of all, I hit the story, the dark, barbaric society disgusted me although I understand that it was a true story. I never liked nudity in a movie especially without any love/passion and this one really makes me sick to my stom ch. And to all of that, I saw CF NUDE and having sex (not making love, I dare say) too!!! I still don't know what to say. Just feel WEIRD!!! I am really sorry for CF, he has to make ends meet, I guess. Does any one here actually like the movie? Despite of my WEIRD feeling towards TA, I am so glad that my feelings to CF are unchanged. Sorry for drag this so long, I just have to get it out!

Yessss, Well blow me down, it seems to have worked, well done Rich (that's my son). The only thing I don't understand, the last posting was the first posting!! Bethan did you mention to Miramax today, that despite the lack of publicity, advertising and promotion MLSF has already make half a million dollars in the US, it surely deserves some decent promotion in the UK, where I have a feeling it will do quite well, when and if it eventually opens.

Welcome Xian, but why are we back to italics, I'm sure its nothing to do with me!! Xian, I agree about TA, not one of my favourite CF movies, you should try to see A month in The Country, Tumbledown and Fever Pitch,( my 3rd favourite CFfilm after AMITC and P&P. ) Can't wait to see MLSF, though, it sounds wonderful.

Welcome Xian. You have definitely come to the right place; we all feel the same way about this man. I too am still catching up with Colin's earlier work, but haven't found any that I don't like; just some I like more than others :-)

Welcome Xian! I liked Colin in the Advocate very much, including the wig. You will have to check out topic 98 and catch up with our CF film discussions.

WELCOME XIAN, Didn't I talk to you once in Chat Room? We're happy to have you ....The Happy Droolers, that's us!!:-) You have certainly seen a lot of Colin's projects.You'll have to join in our discussion board,,,#98. We just finished Femme Fatale. And our hosts tell me that we will start another after Colin's Firthday on Friday. We all have our favorites...but you know what? ...after the discussions I have gotten to like them all for different reasons. **** Don't apologize for your English...you're doing great :-))) ***** Ann, if more events get piled up on January...I'm gonna have to go for the month!!Think of it this way....a Christmas time release for MLSF wouldn't be all that bad...still time to be considered for a BAFTA. Now, promise you'll stay with us, Ok?

The last line was mean't for Xian...Got lost in the posting somehow. (does not mean that I don't want AnnW. to stay also....:-)))

Wellcome, Xian, and your english is perfectly comprehensible. Stick around!

Welcome Xian. I have to admit that The Advocate is one of my favorite CF movies (and it got some pretty good critical notices when it was released). I don't think that this is a film that belongs in the P category - one that CF did just for the money. DB looks pretty delicious, his supporting cast is quite good and The Advocate makes some insightful comments about law, political manipulation and hypocrisy which are as pertinent today as in medieval times. It met my major criteria for a worthwhile film - it made me thi k and it made me feel. I've finished Flashman and the Redskins and found it excellent. It's full of surprises and Flashy surpasses himself as a bounder, but it also made me tear up at one point; tell me, Eileen, if it has that effect on you.

Xian!! So glad to have you coming out that corner. Don't worry about your English. We understand you perfectly. You've seen many good performances from Colin (P&P, Valmont and Apartment Zero), each one of his roles is so different from the other. You are so right when you said he plays not so perfectly nice characters. That makes them so interesting to us and to him as an actor. I do like the Advocate. It's not great, but it is a funny commentary on those times - the late Middle Ages. Things were very different then and I find it useful to think of it that way. I join in the welcome and hope that you'll continue to play with us. We're all normal human beings too! ;-D ************ Ann, glad that your son helped with the italics situation. I deleted a couple of multiple postings from you. Hope you don't mind, but those italics were making me dizzy. No content lost. No censorship. ;-D If the italics are still there for anybody. Leave the topic and come back in again. If the *bad* (unclosed message) is still on your monitor, everything that follows will be in italics even if the tag was closed in a subsequent posting. The italics have been fixed!! Trust me.

(Xian) what I am going to say seems direct your attention to a different subject Thanks for joining us and for changing the subject. I often laugh at myself over my fantasies and think that I am mad indeed. How ...And feeling such relief to know that I am probably a normal humanbing. I know I laugh at myself all the time too. Are you sure we're all normal though? ;-) So far so good, he seems to play villains (or some one who was NOT good) all the time BUT he is still dear to me You're a true fan if you love our boy no matter what his character is like. Give The Advocate another chance. As the others have said, it's one of the favorites here. Maybe next time you watch it, you'll be able to overlook the parts that make you uncomfortable and be able to concentrate on just the story. It really is very good. I'm glad the other ladies here have welcomed you so warmly. I hope other lurkers out there will be encouraged to join us as well.

Evelyn: Didn't I talk to you once in Chat Room? I don't think so. I did not have the courage until today :) Moon: I liked Colin in the Advocate very much, including the wig. Lyndaw: I have to admit that The Advocate is one of my favorite CF movies... I all astonishment!!! I must missed the wig or some thing there and I think I will go back to watch it again (I still have four more nights or I should say four more times to watch? I'm not sure I can complish that without four buckets of ice cream to calm me down!). Evelyn: You'll have to join in our discussion board,,,#98. Moon: You will have to check out topic 98 and catch up with our CF film discussions. I'm on my way... Evelyn: Now, promise you'll stay with us, Ok? Gi: ...Stick around! I'll be back (from #98, of course). Thank you all!

(Xian) I'm not sure I can complish that without four buckets of ice cream to calm me down!). Very funny!! I'll have to use that excuse the next time I feel like having some ice cream. OK (close your eyes, Heide) here is the weekend box office results: MLSF was only in 19 theaters this weekend. It did move up one rung from 60th to 59th place and its gross was $59,152 (up 41%) for a cumulative gross of $573,375 in 46 days of release. The per screen average was a very respectable $2,850. Runaway Bride (in 2nd place) get $2,856 per screen. The highest ranked Indie film is Run Lola Run in 28th place; it averages 2,324 per screen, but has expanded greatly in terms of number of theaters (currently 172) and has made $5.5 million in 81 days of release. The other big indie is Red Violin in 29th place. It average $1,683 per screen and is in 235 theaters now. So that its cumulative gross is a very impressive $8.3 million in 88 days of release. Those kind of comparisons really make me wonder what kind of dollars MLSF could be grossing if they put it on more screens rather than less. :-(

(Karen) Those kind of comparisons really make me wonder what kind of dollars MLSF could be grossing if they put it on more screens rather than less. :-( Put it on more screens and bothered to inform the public that there such a movie out there.... Welcome Xian! And, I watched The Advocate last night. I don't know what to say. / ... / Does any one here actually like the movie? I liked it very much. The earthy atmosphere fit the time and place that Advocate was set, and you had to take some of it tongue-in-cheek. It shocks on first exposure, but once you get used to it, you enjoy that rather grimy experience of being in another culture with entirely different attitudes and beliefs. Challenges some of our own attitudes that we so take for granted ... we assume that everyone shares them ... and ought to ... but they don't! CF was gorgeous and the costumes were spectacular. (Convinced me he can wear *anything* and make it look good!!) ;-)

Also he can wear nothing and make THAT look good!! ;-P~~~

Welcome, Xian, so glad you found the courage to join us. It's always nice to get a new perspective on CF's projects. Re: MLSF -- MLSF actually gained a screen in my neck of the woods. No longer playing exclusively at one theatre in Cambridge; now at one theatre in Arlington and one in Newton (the 'burbs!). So we get two of those coveted 22 prints;-) Re: one degree of separation -- MEM is on front page of today's Herald. She's in town filming "The Perfect Storm" with George Clooney. Definitely a step down from working with ODB;-D

Here's a pic of the Nunnery on the Isle of Man, where Relative Values is being shot. It's owned by millionaire business Graham Ferguson Lacey and is currently a private residence, but recent speculation has the site becoming the IOM College's business school in the near future. I've put together some historical info, which will be on Murph's site.

Thanks Karen....neat pad....but Marshwood House in RV was in East Kent! ******* Meluchie has some SIL Pics in DVD on: http://members.xoom.com/morgaine/sil/index.html Also some gorgeous DVD's of P&P on: http://members.xoom.com/firth_place/pp.html Slow download on these Also until the problem is resolved, don't try to put the pics on Spring topics ...it won't work...trust me. If anyone has a favorite request for a pic she asks that you email her at meluchie@grin.net

Welcome Xian! Thanks all for your words of encouragement re. MLSF. What cheeses me off (that's putting it mildly!) is that I get the distinct impression Miramaax have no strategy for or interest in MLSF in the UK. Movies are promoted differently over here. All Miramax have to do is get some interviews with CF (and photos on the front covers!) in the Telegraph colour supplement, Mail on Sunday, and Sunday Times, including favourable comments on MLSF (great reviews in the US etc), and maybe some advertising on Classic FM radio (the Simon Rattle connection), and they've rea hed a target audience of 5million. If only 5% go to see MLSF, it will be a success! But to do all this, they need a date for release (not too difficult surely)and some forward planning! He was very cute in "The Advocate" and even cuter in "Hour of the Pig"! Although I must admit the first time I saw certain scenes, I thought "oooh, Mr Darcy!" and hoped that no-one would be watching (it was on terrrestial TV). And then I watched my recording and pressed re-wind (just for another quick look), and then another...and another. Very cute, as I said! Lovely pic of The Nunnery, Karen. I'm sure this movie will be a good looker. And they have been very fortunate with the weather...it's been absolutely brilliant for the last ten days or so....so any exterior location shots will be impressive.

(Susan) MEM is on front page of today's Herald. She's in town filming "The Perfect Storm" with George Clooney. Definitely a step down from working with ODB;-D Indeed! Perhaps MEM can pull more from George than ER's Doug Ross in different clothes. Welcome, welcome, Xian. The Advocate was a bit different, wasn't it? I first watched it, Apt. Zero and Valmont back-to-back. My head was spinning! If the nudity made you uncomfortable, then be warned: stay away from Playmaker for awhile (either that or stock up on ice cream!). Thanks for the Nunnery pic, Karen.

Thanks for the photo Karen, shame about the satelite dish!!

Bethan/Ann ...You might ask Miramax, the next time you call ,if they will distribute MLSF in the UK. I thought that when we called about the premiere of SIL they referred us to another distrib.

Hi, I have just visited Murph's guestbook and someone has written that they have met Colin on the Set of RV., she lives next door, has autographs watched some filming and says he looks just as good in the flesh, well we know that ladies don't we, what a lucky lady and I bet he was just as charming to her as he was to his Firthfans in March at the Donmar.

Following is an article which was in an Australian Sunday Paper (The Sun Herald) over a week ago. A lady at work told me about it but her husband had thrown out their copy. Some people just don�t understand how important these things are:-). Anyhow, it took me a while to track it down but here it is. There were about ten men on the list but I don�t know why or how the people who voted were chosen. Other than Colin, Sean Connery is the only other actor on the list.. ************ "BLOKES WE LOVE" Colin Firth, actor Nominated by Susan Johnson, novelist Two words: wet shirt. If you�re not already swooning, you obviously missed Colin Firth�s sodden Mr Darcy climbing out of the pond in the celebrated TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. That single scene cemented Firth as a sex symbol and sent sales of Jane Austen novels soaring. But for Johnson, author of Chaos and Flying Lessons as well as a recent memoir, A Better Woman, Firth�s appeal is his lack of sexuality. "He was devastatingly handsome as Darcy but in other roles he�s completely different," she said. "As an actor, he can climb out of his own flesh. He can assume sexiness, or be virtually sex-less. In Fever Pitch he played a man dumb to his own emotional life. In Shakespeare in Love and The English Patient he was unrecognisable. "He has the same talent Marilyn Monroe apparently had in real life, to make himself anonymous. To me, that�s real star quality." While many authors are notoriously critical of films adapted from books, Johnson praises Firth�s ability to interpret literary characters. "When you read a book, you bring your whole emotional history with you. You turn it into your private book and it can be difficult for an actor to replace the imaginary person you�ve created. But he�s very good at reading a writer�s intention towards their characters," she said. Johnson pays Firth the ultimate writer�s tribute: she�d love to see him in an adaptation of her work. "He�d be great as Martin, in Hungry Ghosts, who�s a real bastard but devastating to women. But then, he�d also be great as Billy, the acrobat in A Big Life, who�s a very sensitive bloke. He can play just about anything. *************

Thanks for that Cathey, obviously a lady of good taste. BTW I have often wonderered how big was P&P when it was first aired in Australia, did it have the same effect on the females of Australia and it did in the UK?

"as" it did in the UK.

Thanks, Cathey, for the article. Perhaps Susan Johnson has attempted to interest him (or his worthless agent) in her novels. Firth�s appeal is his lack of sexuality. Who is she kidding? ;-D

(Ann W) I have often wondered how big was P&P when it was first aired in Australia, did it have the same effect on the females of Australia and it did in the UK? I cannot speak for the rest of the country, but amongst my circle of friends we all watched it and thought it wonderful, although I was the only one who became utterly and completely obsessed. From the women on the staff at work, only about three seem to know who/what I was raving over. A couple watched it (or parts) when it was re-screened recently, but couldn�t quite understand where I was coming from (silly girls). The good news is that my 23 year old niece has borrowed my copy and said she "really enjoyed" it. I�ve told her to watch it a second time ~ although she is on a time limit because I said I can�t live without it for more than one week ;-) (Karen) Firth�s appeal is his lack of sexuality. Who is she kidding? ;-D I knew this would cause a comment. I nearly added my own when I typed that part. I guess not everyone has our intelligence and insight :-)

Oh yes he did, there are so many of us in Oz. P.and P. is repeated over and over again. We have seen most of his works here before that but I suppose like myself did not recognise who he was until Darcy. I think most would agree with the article by Susan Johnson. One of our greatest journo's Ita Buttrose was asked once what she wished most to go to bed with oh Darcy she sighed - another Closet admirer - we are many I think.

Interesting article from The Hollywood Reporter: Indies cast beguiling spell (Thurs., Sept. 9, 1999) By Thom Geier NEW YORK -- It was the season of the witch. The witch, of course, was "The Blair Witch Project," the film that took cinema verite to a whole new level, put newcomer Artisan Entertainment on the map and shook up the movie business more than any other independent picture since "Easy Rider." Within days of the picture's going wide, every studio in town was attempting to emulate a marketing strategy that had defied the biggest challenge facing the indies: How do you sell a low-budget picture against mega-flicks from "Star Wars" on down without blowing your entire funding on a few television ads? Artisan turned to a new alternative: the Internet. And while the film's premise and mythology were uniquely suited to the Web, the online strategy will likely have an impact on how both studios and indies find their audiences for years to come. For indie distributors other than Artisan, the bad news was that nothing came close to "Witch's" success. The good news was that, quietly and almost unheralded, this was in many ways a terrific season for the independents. In fact, the nation's art houses enjoyed one of their best summers in recent memory. At least six art house releases are poised to cross $5 million at the boxoffice this summer, compared with just four last year. In addition to "Blair Witch," G2's "Tea With Mussolini," Lions Gate's "The Red Violin," Miramax Films' "An Ideal Husband ," Sony Pictures Classics' "Run Lola Run" and Artisan's "Buena Vista Social Club" all performed superbly this summer. This tabulation does not include Fox Searchlight's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and USA Films' "The Muse," higher-budgeted films which were immediately targeted to a wide release and which to date have earned $16 million and $8 million, respectively. Why the success? In a summer that saw Hollywood move increasingly away from more mature audiences, there may have been no studio fare to compete with the indies. "I don't think Hollywood had really great alternatives for adult audiences," said Dick Morris, a veteran indie exhibitor in the Southeast. Films like "Mussolini," "Winslow" and "Husband" are old-fashioned films that appeal to the "Masterpiece Theatre" crowd, he noted. While "Blair Witch" broke records in art houses around the country (before transferring to commercial theaters), it did not detract from the art house audience, appealing as it did to a more mainstream crowd. That left art house movies with a wide-open field, and many of them made the most of it, getting word-of-mouth that kept audiences rolling in. "We love those films like 'Buena Vista Social Club' that just play and play and play," said Doug Freed of Landmark Theatre Corp. "Buena Vista" was Artisan's other summer success. Wim Wenders' Cuban jazz documentary, a low-cost acquisition, has grossed $4.5 million nationwide so far (though curiously the film didn't catch on in Cuban-friendly South Florida). If Artisan reaped the benefits, the riches weren't spread throughout the community. Paramount Classics, which has quietly been moving into motion a year after Ruth Vitale and David Dinerstein were named to head the company, made little impression with its first few releases, while other titles from Trimark and the Samuel Goldwyn Co. similarly struggled to break from the pack. The early part of the summer was so dominated by the "Star Wars" prequel, said Searchlight president Lindsay Law, "if you had a movie that you thought could expand beyond the art houses, you'd be hard pressed to get the screens for it." "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace" also pushed back studio releases to later in the summer. "August wasn't the normal dead time," Law added. Because of that, this year he avoided his usual practice of opening a potential crossover film in late summer as he did last year with "The Slums of Beverly Hills" and two years ago with "The Full Monty." Several films -- like Lions Gate's French-language "The Dinner Game" and Fine Line's gay romantic comedy "Trick," both of which may have crossover appeal -- will be rolling out to several major markets in the early fall as more screens become available. As the fall gets under way, the indies may return to normal. Few of them expect a summer like this to happen again. Even though Artisan is already developing a sequel to "Blair Witch," almost nobody thinks that the "Blair Witches" will become a trend in the industry. " 'Blair Witch' is the best release of a specialty film in 20 years," said Morris. "We sometimes ask ourselves, 'How do you expect these little films to compete with the big blockbusters?' But here's a horror film that doesn't have spurting blood, special effects or the entire cast of 'Dawson's Creek,' " notes Lions Gate Releasing co-president Mark Urman in admiration. "The fact that that film can happen, and happen on that scale, is gratifying." But no matter how many incantations witch wannabes might mutter, don't expect it to happen again.

Thanks for the articles, Cathey and Karen. I admit that when I read this Two words: wet shirt. my first reaction was "here we go again" but Susan came through by moving on...except Firth�s appeal is his lack of sexuality. Poor choice of words! In a summer that saw Hollywood move increasingly away from more mature audiences, there may have been no studio fare to compete with the indies. Pshaw! I thought Big Daddy was captivating. *giggle* both of which may have crossover appeal I wonder how "crossover appeal" is determined.

Thank you Cathey and Karen, I enjoyed reading both. A reminder! Tomorrow Sept. 10th CF turns 39! Please join us at his "virtual" birthday party at topic 110. He has been forwarded an invitation through his agent, thanks to Evelyn. Might we expect him to collect his presents at cf.com? See you there! :-D

It might be a stupid question: Can any body explain how the birthday party to be held virtually? The detail of the party plan please? I have no idea what I should do. Will it be a celebration while we chat along? Thanks a lot!

Evelyn has gotten her wish. My Flashman's Lady book was missing all sorts of pages and I couldn't continue. So, I've picked up TTOTS.

Xian: Moon will explain all to you.

Xian, I notice you have posted on Darcy drool, well, just find topic 110 in the same way and post your birthday wishes. We are practicing posting our "virtual gifts" on topic 61 if you wish to experiment with an html as a present. Anyone who wishes contributes to at a "virtual" party, some even come on camel backs. Ay Marcia?

Xian, here's a link for Ann's HTML guide, check it out. http://www.spring.net/~anneh/toota.html

There is a message on Lisbeth's timeline guestbook from someone whose daughter worked as an extra on SLOW!! No details though.

Apparently the British Film Istitute/Channel 4 have brought out a report on "Black films" in the UK. Very, very critical about funding and distribution. Films focusing on mainly black communities (as does SLOW) are not regarded as having any Box office potential. (Significantly the only other Arts Council funded film that failed to find a distributor was one about the Chinese immigrant community in London.) MLSF...am feeling more positive. Having read the seemingly endless reviews of films being shown (non-competition) in Venice makes me realise just how many films there are out there, struggling. MLSF will at least go to video (both formats), unlike most indies. "Flashman" is addictive...now, I've finished "Flashman at the Charge"...another marvellous read.(Includes the Charge of the Light Brigade). Can't decide which is my favourite book. A couple of very funny sexy/romantic encounters which could (just) make it to the screen! Not quite R-rated!.

(Bethan) "Flashman" is addictive. Isn't it? I can't remember the last time I spent several weeks without any TV (not even DB's videos). I am not looking forward to finishing the last book. Have you reached the actual Charge and why Flashy leads it - hilarious! I can understand why some readers refused to believe The Flashman Papers were fiction - never has a fictional character seemed so real to me as Sir Harry, V.C.!

He can play just about anything. Does that sound familar. Andre Davies said the same thing about him. Wilde is on Showtime tonight at 10:00 ET if anyone is interested. Clive Derbyshire seems to feel the same way about ODB as G.P, M.E.M and so many other people who have worked with him. He seems to charm everyone who meets him.

That should be Wilde is on Showtime.

An update on the Sea Wolf from THR: 'Wolf' packs it in at Columbia Columbia Pictures' remake of "The Sea Wolf" has run aground. The Imagine Entertainment-produced film was recently put into turnaround by the studio when it became clear that the key personnel could not fit the project into their schedules, a Columbia spokeswoman said. The long-in-development project, based on Jack London's novel about a tyrannical sea captain, was to start shooting in the fall. "Wolf" looked as if it was finally coming together for producer Brian Grazer when veteran helmer John Boorman ("The General," "Deliverance") came on board (HR 5/6). Though "Wolf" has no stars attached and is now on Columbia's back burner, Boorman eventually wants to make the film, sources said. Grazer has been developing "Wolf" for 15 years. Several writers, including David Koepp ("Stir of Echoes"), have taken a pass at the script. Director Ron Howard and Oscar winner Nicolas Cage were once attached to the project. Sources noted that Columbia originally wanted Sean Connery to star in "Wolf," but the actor passed. [...] Sources noted that although Boorman is still attached to "Wolf," he is eyeing another adaptation for Columbia: John Le Carre's "The Tailor of Panama." Boorman and Le Carre are co-writing the "Tailor" script. ********** Miramax is well-known for picking up films in "turnaround" from other studios and succeeding (SiL is its best example), although it still might mean working with that overgelled Grazer! ;-D Perhaps there's hope for Colin to be cast in the Le Carre-Boorman film.

Well, i bought my first Flashman book, and plan to start it tonight. :) The ladies at the used book store i shop at nearly fell over laughing when they saw me browsing in the military history section (i always buy romance novels) but once i had explained my sudden interest in Flashman, they promised to watch the movie when it's shown in the US. :)

Love the Birthday stuff over at #110! Colin was featured in The Times Birthday list ("Mr Colin Firth, actor, 39"). He was the youngest by over 10 years. Mostly the great and the good...Harvard University professors, House of Lords, opera, good works etc, a smattering of show biz. Arnold Palmer has the same birthday. Not so good news. Was determined to be pos-i-tive about MLSF, but I've just seen a listing of films opening in the UK in the next few months... and not a mention of MLSF! :-( Also movies like "Ravenous" (cannibalism, bad reviews, Robert Carlyle) and "The Trench" (First World War effort written/directed by William Boyd (who wrote "Dutch Girls") are getting nationwide (200 prints) releases in the next two weeks, and I know they were both filmed just over a year ago. I just can't understand why there are ju t 20 prints of MLSF...for the entire GLOBE!! Delivery by pigeon post. We've also got a major Film Festival in our area at the moment, showing most of the independents which have recently opened in the US.."Winslow Boy", "Run Lola Run". Again, predictably, no MLSF. Miramax...what are you doing? :-((

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Sorry for the error, Bethan - obviously you've read the Charge part if you've finished the book. SB, let us know what you think of Flashy; which book have you started with? (Bethan) but I've just seen a listing of films opening in the UK in the next few months... and not a mention of MLSF! How far ahead does the listing go? Maybe Miramax is going to give it a December release in the hope of some BAFTA attention?! Don't give up. We are still waiting for Fever Pitch - has anyone heard anything yet?

(Lynda) We are still waiting for Fever Pitch - has anyone heard anything yet? Actually, yes, now that you mention it. There was so much going on with the birthday celebration and - it wasn't time critical (!!) - so here goes: Phaedra now says (as of Sept. 9) that the film will be released on October 15 in New York and LA to follow within 3 weeks and further markets beyond that. It is also in the process of negotiating a video release deal, but it would be no earlier than six months after the theatrical release. There had been reports from both LA and Canada that videostores were to receive shipment of Fever Pitch on September 28th. This is *news* to Phaedra. I wonder if the Canadian company that released FP last summer had the ability to distribute it on video and has proceeded. Wouldn't that be a riot?

(Bethan)....Love the Birthday stuff over at #110! But we missed **you** Bethan/Allison. Colin missed you too;-) Wha' 'appened??

According to Mari, on Saturday's Access Hollywood show they announced there would be an interview with Julie Andrews on Wednesday from what looked like the film set of Relative Values. Get your VCRs ready!! ;-D

I just finished checking out 110 -- what a riot:-) You all outdid yourselves! Hope Colin and/or his agent checked it out. Sorry I had to miss it; Friday was a day from hell. (Bethan) Colin was featured in The Times Birthday list ("Mr Colin Firth, actor, 39"). Don't know if anyone already mentioned this, but Colin was also in "Entertainment Tonight"'s birthday list on Friday -- a first for him. Ironically, Ryan Philippe, who played the Valmont character in "Cruel Intentions" (is that the right name of that film?), has the same birthday!

....Colin was also in "Entertainment Tonight"'s birthday list on Friday -- a first for him. ET was pre-emted here for a stupid tennis game....but he was on it last year too...Also he was on etonline.com website..under Celebrity Birthdays(thanks to Karen) wearing his "Premiere suit".

...Colin was also in "Entertainment Tonight"'s birthday list on Friday -- a first for him. Nope. He was mentioned the year before last. I was pretty surprised last year when he was not. I taped (I think) ET that night on it's middle of the night replay since it was preempted here by tennis as well. Haven't checked it out yet. Might not have even taped the right sequence since all the times seemed to be *off* that night due to the tennis highlights, rain delays, etc.

my son was watching some programme on TV last night...the most memorable 100 moments on TV ever this century, or something similar. Covered mostly world events and sport (ie the real as opposed to fictional world). Moon landing, JFK assassination, Mandela's release, Berlin Wall,Diana's daeth, England winning World Cup etc. He said that the last episode of "Blackadder" was ranked 10, and added for good measure tht "Mr Darcy coming out of the pond" was number 25! The last episode of "Blackadder" I might exp lin was more than just the last episode of a comedy series. It showed Blackadder and his fellow soldiers going "over the top" at the Battle of the Somme, and then froze the image and merged it with images of fields of Flanders poppies. They really were "killed", and it was inexplicably poignant, not a comic moment. Anyway Darcy and his wet shirt are in very august company!!

(Bethan) ... the last episode of "Blackadder" was ranked 10, and added for good measure tht "Mr Darcy coming out of the pond" was number 25! Seeing as how we have just established (on 112) that there was NO scene of "Mr. Darcy coming out of the pond", I would imagine that would remove it from consideration. :-) (Or maybe they are confusing it with some other P&P scene that really DOES exist!?!) ;-D

(Evelyn)But we missed **you** Bethan/Allison. Sorry not to join in all the fun on 110. That is partly because I am a cyber dunce but also because life is very hectic at the moment and when I do get the opportunity to sit at my PC some member of my family always materialises at my shoulder! No time to myself. Loved all your wonderful messages and pictures. I do hope someone showed Colin the celebrations he inspired. I saw the 100 great moments on Channel 4. Colin was in very good company - though M. Prtillo losing his seat at number 3 in the list, I thought was extaordinary (Nobody outside the UK will understand what I am talking about)but what did you think of that Ann or Bethan? In the Sunday Telegraph magazine there was a feature on filming in the Isle of Man. Mention of JA and RV but not CF. Almost eveyone else you have ever heard of has apparently been there filming in the last year.

(Evelyn)But we missed **you** Bethan/Allison. Sorry not to join in all the fun on 110. That is partly because I am a cyber dunce but also because life is very hectic at the moment and when I do get the opportunity to sit at my PC some member of my family always materialises at my shoulder! No time to myself. Loved all your wonderful messages and pictures. I do hope someone showed Colin the celebrations he inspired. I saw the 100 great moments on Channel 4. Colin was in very good company - though M. Portillo losing his seat at number 3 in the list, I thought was extaordinary (Nobody outside the UK will understand what I am talking about)but what did you think of that Ann or Bethan? In the Sunday Telegraph magazine there was a feature on filming in the Isle of Man. Mention of JA and RV but not CF. Almost eveyone else you have ever heard of has apparently been there filming in the last year.

I have the Channel 4 "100 Greats" news and a loverly picture on my news page. Murph

Thanks, Murph! Pretty amazing that Mr. Darcy can compete with the moon landing as a memorable moment. Of course I understand it mind you, but I'm kind of surprised the rest of the world feels the same way :-).

I forgot to say that one of the FOF listers from New Zealand has the European version DVD of SIL. In a scene at the end that was cut afterwards, you can clearly see Colin/Wessex drowning while holding tight to his chest of money. I say that this view is purely the midnight fantasies of Shakespeare, and cannot be true. We all know that Wessex and Viola went to Virginia, where he became a new man. Murph

(Bethan) Anyway Darcy and his wet shirt are in very august company!! Thanks Bethan. We can always use reminders of what an impact that scene had on your viewing public. Wonder how it would have registered in the US if P&P had aired on a major network? You know, the beach scene in Thorn Birds always rates way up there in terms of memorability. I think it topped the list as most romantic scene ever on television. ;-D The dripping Darcy would surely have rated as second most sexy... that is to formally dressed Darcy!!

(Allison) That is partly because I am a cyber dunce That *part* we can rectify. ;-D

Not really anything we didn't know before, except the name of the film: Blackadder's sidekick Baldrick, best known for his creativity with turnips, proves he can be even more imaginative by building a time machine. The bumbling man-servant - played by Tony Robinson - builds a copy from Leonardo da Vinci's designs in the new film Blackadder Back And Forth. The film, in which the comic pair travel through the ages, can be seen by visitors to the Millennium Dome from January 1, 2000.