There is a short BJD interview with ODB in the Swiss Sonntagszeitung. It is in German, but if someone would like to translate it, I could type and e-mail it (I am not very good at translating).

OK, it wasn't too difficult to find the Sonntagszeitung article online, as a pic of BJ is on the front page. The CF interview doesn't look too long (no pic), so if you can, Nita (or Renate or Carola or Teresa or our many lurking Germans), here's the link to the interview: http://www.sonntagszeitung.ch/sz/szFeinRubrik.html?ArtId=117440&rubrikid=116&ausgabeid=1630 and the general BJD article: http://www.sonntagszeitung.ch/sz/szFeinRubrik.html?ArtId=117438&ausgabeid=1630&rubrikid=116

Cinemax has the September schedule up for Londinium (thanks to Diana for spotting): Title: LONDINIUM Rating Minutes Color Sound Genre TVMA 87 Color Dolby Surround Sound Romance, Comedy Advisories: Adult Content, Adult Language, Brief Nudity Cast: MIKE BINDER, IRENE JACOB, COLIN FIRTH, MARIEL HEMINGWAY, CHRISTOPHER LAWFORD, STEPHEN FRY Description: This breezy romantic comedy traces the romantic ups and downs of two couples involved in the London television world. Very British Allen produces a sitcom for his American actress wife Carly. American Ben, a Seinfeld-bred writer for the show, meets French makeup artist Fiona on the set. Ben and Fiona fall in love just as Allen and Carly are losing interest in each other...but nothing is as simple as it seems. With Mike Binder (HBO's The Mind of the Married Man), Irene Jacob (Othello), Colin Firth (Bridget Jones's Diary), Mariel Hemingway (The Contender). All Showings, All Channels Date Time Channel Sun, Sep 2 10:00 pm MAX East Sun, Sep 2 1:00 am MAX West Wed, Sep 5 8:30 pm MAX East Wed, Sep 5 11:30 pm MAX West Thu, Sep 13 10:00 am MAX East Thu, Sep 13 1:00 pm MAX West Tue, Sep 18 3:00 pm MAX East Tue, Sep 18 6:00 pm MAX West Mon, Sep 24 4:45 pm MAX East Mon, Sep 24 7:45 pm MAX West Sat, Sep 29 1:00 pm MAX East Sat, Sep 29 4:00 pm MAX West

Brief Nudity Our luck, it would be Stephen Fry. ;-)

"Brief Nudity " (K)Our luck, it would be Stephen Fry. ;-) No he's the psychologist. *Putting up the joss sticks;-)* Thank Mari and Diana.I can't wait....

I have started to translate the SonntagsZeitung interview, but have to go now, sorry. Hope I can do it tonight.

*Putting up the joss sticks;-)* Based on TSM, it wouldn't be Mariel or MB (shorts only). My bet is Irene Jacob, probably in a scene with MB. Argh :-(

Candles ? Joss sticks ? Sheesh, I'm going out now to find a chicken to saccrafice. Now if only I could find my voodoo handbook ? O well, I suppose one the spells from one of my nieces Harry Potter books will do.

Here's the translation - forgive me if it is buggy, my favourite proof reader hasn't seen it yet ;-). I can do that look in my sleep Colin Firth about his role as Mark Darcy SZ: Colin Firth, you were Mr. Darcy in the TV film of Pride & Predjudice, now you are Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones. Aren't you fed up with that role? CF: No, because Darcy is not really important in my life. Except when talking with [to?] journalists. SZ: And the female fans... CF: I rarely meet the fans. And my friends don't call me Mr. Darcy. Only the press is bothering [expr? transl = punching] me with always the same questions about this role. SZ: If you are rehearsing the dark Darcy-look in the mirror? CF: Yes, in that style. SZ: And, do you rehearse it? CF: Come on! Not at all. I know that look by heart, I don't need to rehearse it. It's boring. SZ: And still, you have accepted the role of the brooding Mark Darcy in BJD? CF: Yes, because I liked to spoof my Mark Darcy popularity. SZ: It sounds almost as if it is bothering [irritating] you. CF: I have to admit that up to now I don't understand what it is based on. As a preparation to BJD, I have rewatched all episodes of P&P. SZ: And? CF: It is ok. The series is a tidy [clean] piece of tv. Nothing more, and nothing less. I don't get it why some women are so obsessed about it. SZ: You are playing a girl's dream without understanding what makes the girls drool? CF: That's the material point. You can't play other people's dreams. You can only play somebody who you can relate to yourself. That is why I originally refused the Mr. Darcy role. SZ: And then accepted nevertheless. Why? CF: Because one day I discovered something in myself that helped me understanding this man. SZ: What? CF: I cannot explain. It is very personal. It has something to do with my own fears. SZ: Was the contemporary Darcy in BJD easier to understand than Jane Austens aristocrat of the 18th century? CF: Not necessarily. In a leatherjacket, that looks exactly like my own, it is more difficult to feel like a different person. In an eighteenth century costume and high on a horse it just happens [by itself]. Interview: Ewa Hess

LOL, I love it " no need to rehearse THE LOOK. I know it by heart " O so do we Col, so do we....slobbers all over keyboard. And belive me babe, we don't find it boring, far from it.

"CF: I have to admit that up to now I don't understand what it is based on. As a preparation to BJD, I have rewatched all episodes of P&P. SZ: And? CF: It is ok. The series is a tidy [clean] piece of tv. Nothing more, and nothing less. I don't get it why some women are so obsessed about it." Hey, pal...USA Today called it "The Triumph of Television", whether you like it or not. Get over it.

ODB sounds grumpy in that interview. Perhaps Luca is teething and keeping them up at night?

Thanks, Renate, for the translation. Only the press continually bothers me with the same questions about this role. Doesn't this pretty much sum it up and the entire interview? I mean, really, how many times is the name Darcy mentioned? Poor guy. He really should stick to US-based journalists who don't give two hoots about P&P.

ODB sounds grumpy in that interview. Remember, this is the translation of a translation. The original answers may have been quite a bit different.

(CF)I don't get it why some women are so obsessed about it. What? Don't you have any mirrors in your house, Colin? He does sound cranky. But it could have been worse. At least the interviewer didn't ask him about the wet shirt!

Psst, Colin. If you're promoting a movie in which you play a character named Darcy, who is based on another character you played named Darcy, then the press is going to ask you questions about . . . wait for it . . . Darcy! P&P and now BJD are how the general public knows you. Be gracious. And if it annoys you so much, let's see you go after the roles that have the potential to eclipse Darcy in the public's mind.

I recall CF giving similar responses to similar questions way back when BJD publicity was gearing up and articles were starting to come out (March?). I wonder if this interview was actually conducted at that time and is just coming out now.

This interview seems different, though. In the ones he did around the time of BJD's US opening, he had a sense of humor about the whole Darcy thing. Of course he was on a general high at the time because of the new baby. To be fair, I can see how he must be tired of the same questions about Darcy. To Colin, even BJD must feel like old news. Since then, Conspiracy has been on and he's been nominated for an Emmy (for work that he feels is more 'valuable' than what he did in BJD). He has finished work on TIOBE. But everyone is still talking about Darcy. Mari's suggestion of a role that can eclipse Darcy is a good one. But Darcy will probably never go away entirely. If people remember other good things he's done, Colin should be able to deal with Darcy being forever a part of his credits list.

As Nita mentioned, don't base your opinion on this re-translated translation! We don't even know if and how much the original interview was edited, and if the translation hit the tone in the first place. And my translation... it is difficult enough to hit the right words or phrases, let alone the right tone. Further, in the german-language countries - and I think in whole continental Europe - Colin's name is almost unknown, except for a handful of fans we know by name. Oh, I almost forgot: there must be also an unknown number of women who have seen P&P, when it was aired at 9.03 in the mornings. ;-) We've been to the BJD preview, and there was, in a packed theatre, definitely! an audible collective sigh at Colin's first closeup. I conclude, there must be a huge group of secret fans. Almost all BJD reviews (it is to open in Germany on Aug. 23) write about RZ and HG, but Colin is hardly ever mentioned except for his also being in the film. BTW, the reviews are all very good. No Colin-relevant information yet in German press.

Darcy is the only starring role he's done worth writng about.It created a craze in his home country. What does he expect? They're not going to ask him about Matthew Fields, Peter Marshmallow, or, godferbid, the Beared One in Nostromo. Thanks Renate for taking the time to type this up.

I like "the bearded one in Nostromo" those legs, those boots, phew *thud* oops tumbled over :-) but I think Mari's spot on - he must've known what was going to happen with BJD and earlier interviews did seem to have more humour about them. Fingers crossed he's been reading some good scripts over the summer. If not we should have a fanfic conference and write one for him ;-)

I'm with Nita and Renate, lets not accuse him of churlishness regarding the Darcy thang, when the interview is a translation. It can be hard for humour and irony to come across in a translated version. The interviewer may not have even known who CF and was just asking the same tired old questions, that he knew to ask from reading the bio, and got a tired response from Col as a result. I must confess to having a soft spot for Nostromo ( covers face in shame ). I don't know if its the mine scene or the boots......sigh... How stooooopid he looks on those ridculous, runty little horses, almost obliterates the good bits, but not quite.

(Beth)I must confess to having a soft spot for Nostromo ( covers face in shame ). No need to do that....I'm one of three people on this board who likes Camille.... (No coughing from the gallery. You see how well I know all of you;-) Let's just say Colin had a "bad hair day."

(Kate) In the ones he did around the time of BJD's US opening, he had a sense of humor about the whole Darcy thing. You're right. I was thinking about a time just a week or two earlier, at the start of the BJD press onslaught. Have checked Karen's article archive (v. useful page ;-))at the Bucket; this is what I'm talking about: From the Guardian, March 31, 2001 Twice Shy, by Susie Steiner Colin Firth says everything is all right. Really, it's fine�as if someone just bumped the back of his Volkswagen. "I don't mind it at all." He's talking a bit like Gareth Southgate does when the subject of penalties crops up. "I think I've been saying all the time: 'It's all right. It's fine.' How convincing can you be when you say, 'I'm not het up'?" The thing Firth is fine about (so we can all stop feeling guilty) is being a Sex God. He doesn't mind the tight breeches thing, or having to talk in detail about That Pond Scene for the past six years, or knowing that millions of women fantasise about the way his wet shirt clung to his chest, or the way his bushy sideburns fluttered outside Pemberley. "If I spent 20 years training to be an astronaut, the headlines would still say Darcy Lands On Mars!," he says, laughing. But, to be honest, he looks pissed off. And another: from Film Review, May, 2001 Love at Firth Sight, by Anwar Brett /.../ "In a way I think I should just say, 'Okay, I hate talking about it'," he sighs. "But I never do have to talk about it unless a journalist is asking me those sort of questions. It is one of those things where my actual life has nothing to do with this subject. People I know just don�t bring it up, and it never encroaches on my everyday life. "It's only when I get into a room with a journalist that they'll say, 'you really hate this don't you? You want to shake it off?' But I don't. It doesn't do anything for me one way or the other, so it's fine. But I'll still read that 'Colin Firth is still trying to shakeoff Darcy' and this only perpetuates it." *** See what I mean? I also recall we had exactly the same reaction as we're having now. Ooh, it's like deja vu all over again.

he had a bad hair day in Camille? what's done to his hair makes a big difference, I think - look at him in TEP, where its tamed and parted - he looks very young (as Geoffrey was), much younger than All-mushy when in fact CF is older than RF. also he had a parting in Nostromo and his hair looked as if it had blondish streaks - effect of the sun? compare with "Woolly and Wild" in Fever Pitch ;-)

(Evelyn) I'm one of three people on this board who likes Camille.... There's three of you? ;-D No coughing from the gallery Harharheehee! A Camille 'in-joke.' *cough*

Good finds, Eileen. Those old interview bits look like they've been reworked into this interview. Agreed, the problem is one of language. *coughing and clutching camellias to chest* ;-)

LOL. Rachael, the bad hair day had to do with the interview. Sorry, I forgot the winkie ;-)) Evelyn) I'm one of three people on this board who likes Camille.... (Eileen)There's three of you? ;-D Yeah...wise guy;-) Moon and Nan...so there;-) evelyn who keeps trying to recruit new members in the Camille club...with no luck :-(( BTW Wonder what The Divine One feels about Armand. We know he doesn't like Ross and SLOW.

(Evelyn) Wonder what The Divine One feels about Armand. Are you referring to MysteryMan? ;-)

(K)Are you referring to Mystery Man? ;-) ROTF. "Person", pl...let's not get sexist here;-D

I have never even seen Camille ( am getting a stiff neck from constant hanging head in shame ) However if ODB wears frilly white shirts and breechs in it ( and I'm thinking he would, if its a period piece ). I'm gonna move heaven and earth to finds a Blockbuster that rents it. So Evelyn may just have herself a 4th member of the Camille fan club.... na na na na na

Beth, Colin looks absolutely gorgeous in Camille, very young and willowy, worth to have a look. ;-) Perhaps it helps if you turn off the sound: the music is awful, as are some performances of his costars. Greta Scacchi was ridiculously miscast.

I haven't seen "Cecile", though I refuse to hang my head in shame for that. How is it pervy? Talking of which, it is rather jarring to switch (as I confess I have been, half hanging my head in shame) between Fantasy Darcy stories on this website, and Fantasy Archers stories on the Radio 4 message board. Just substitute Lynda and Robert Snell for Elizabeth and Darcy and you'll see what I mean (with apologies to the vast majority of you who don't listen to the Archers.) They probably share some of the same authors, which just goes to show how flexible the human imagination is. BTW, when are we going to get to see Conspiracy over here? Does anyone know?

Can't remember any *frilly* shirts but here's the book cover: Plus there are some fun little bits: But mainly, many of us tend to have this scene etched in our brains... BIG SPOILER!!! LOOK AT OWN RISK!!!

Ooh, goody, the scene where the makeup crew resorts to using White Out. I'd watch it before you na na na anyone, Beth. *cough* ;-) Which are you talking about, Ben, Valmont or Camille? We're multitasking our discussions today.

Yes, that ghostly White Out pallor. ;-) *cough cough* And that music (la duh duh da, la duh duh da--up an octave--la duh duh da, la duh duh da) is really the pits.

Thank you boss...for *all* the pics. He looks adorable; big head of light brown hair.Tight breeches, yeah, yeah. Filmed in 1984 for Hallmark Hall of Fame TV , Gretta Scacchi was 18 years younger and 25 pounds thinner than she is now. Marguerite was supposed to be older than Armand.It's a sweet love story.Heavy cast... John Gielgud plays the a Duke and Ben Kingsley plays Duval, the dad . Beautiful Paris & french countryside scenery. Gorgeous costumes. And I cried at the end. Don't know about Blockbuster stocking it, but for a little more amazon or reel.com was running a special a year ago. Romance Cable Channel shows it about once a year And that music.. Alright...so don't get the soundtrack;-)

oh my goodness, what a wee boy! doesn't he look young? I'm with Beth on this one, never seen it but wouldn't mind. Local video shop has 5 films for 5 nights for a fiver so I have SLOW from now til Saturday wooo hoooo; but then again, why don't they just sell it to me??? hello Ben, enjoyed reading your posts on the old boards, interested to see your post the other day re Hamlet - I saw SRB in July and have tix for Sam West in Stratford in a couple of weeks. Methinks CF made the right decision, i.e. there are too many Hamlets around and SRB and SW are getting top class rave reviews. but Linda and Robert Snell as L+D??? oh Ben *sigh* you've gone down in my estimation ;-)

Well, I don't dislike Camille generally, but I have a problem with Greta. She ruined practically every other scene with Colin - and the dying scene in particular - am surprised ODB didn't lose his patience and slap her in the end. Too much of a gentleman, as always, and not yet sufficiently experienced as a professional actor at that point. He was doing his best to act sort of "around her", bless him, but she just carried on as if he hadn't been there at all... So much for an illusion of a great romance... But I do like Colin in Camille. Don't know if it's enough to be admitted to the Camille club, though.

Poor Greta is toast at this point in time and Colin is on a roll....she had her moment in Camille.(Actually she had her Big Moment with Harrison Ford in "Presumed Innocent" ..on the desk....WOW...a steamer.)

Isn't Greta the one who is married to/living with/making babies with her first cousin? Ew. :-( I know we've had some wishful thinking here about "Beyond Borders" and how it would be right up CF's alley as a strong dramatic role of social relevance. Saw this bit on the Jolie connection, so I can see why she's signed on: Angelina Jolie is to become a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. To prepare for her new role she is visiting Pakistan to see refugee camps housing thousands of people who have fled the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Angelina said: "I'm going there to learn a bit more about the situation. I've already been to Sierra Leone and Cambodia with the UNHCR. "I'm just learning a lot about refugee situations around the world before I'm made goodwill ambassador." The star donated almost �700,000 to the UNHCR from her Tomb Raider earnings after visiting Sierra Leone earlier this year.

(Eileen)Ooh, goody, the scene where the makeup crew resorts to using White Out. I think they also used white-out to gray his hair for the scene at the end, when he's supposed to be older. Much as I love Colin, if you want to see Camille, I'd recommend the really old B&W version with Robert Taylor and Greta Garbo. (But then, I was brainwashed by my mother, for whom Robert Taylor was a huge hearthrob.)

Conspiracy is finally being shown in Canada. It will air on September 8 - goodie!!

....and it will be shown on TMN (The Movie Network), which seems to get HBO movies at a snail's pace!

So do I rent Camille or not ? No,no let me rephrase that.....do I get into my bunny rabbit PJ's one night, have a pint of mint chip ice ceam and a box of Milk Tray for dinner, get absoluley rat arsed drunk and THEN watch it ? Bear in mind, I will have a tape of P&P and a puke bag close at hand, if Gretta Scacci ( or the Milk Tray )is too much for my dainty stomach to take. O Lord, decisions, decisions......sigh....

An article about Barnaby Thompson, the Fragile Films producer of TIOBE from This is London: There is a good reason why producer Barnaby Thompson named his company Fragile Films. "It takes 1,000 calls to make a film happen," he says with feeling. "And only one to make it fall apart." The additional inference, expressed later in the conversation, is that British critics should be kinder to the indigenous product. One bad review can kill a delicate blossom, nurtured by people such as himself over a period of many months, sometimes years. "Why aren't you critics more supportive of the industry?" he asks with some heat. To which one can only reply that it is not our business. Being a man of sound mind and no little intelligence, he eventually concedes my point. But he doesn't like it. For better or worse, Thompson is one of the new breed of UK film producers aiming to create a sound commercial infrastructure for a film industry that has in the past lurched from imminent catastrophe to potential crisis. The advent of Lottery funding and the rise of a gung-ho attitude among a generation of ambitious, profit-oriented film-making mini-moguls has had an undeniable effect on British cinema in the past couple of years. Just how beneficial has yet to be measured. Yet if track records are anything to go by, Thompson can put his mouth where his (or other people's) money is. On one level, it may be easy to scoff at the aesthetic legitimacy of Spice World, Kevin and Perry Go Large and High Heels and Lowlifes; yet there is no denying that they all found their target audience, to a greater or lesser degree, and might all be considered commercially successful. And if you add to that canon An Ideal Husband, Lucky Break and The Importance of Being Earnest, Fragile Films begins to look a more interesting proposition - a model of juxtaposing junk fodder for Cro-Magnon teenagers with respectable middlebrow movies first created by Miramax Films. [Ed note: Hmmm, must add that Cro-Magnon part to my review, huh? *smacking lips*] It has taken some time for Thompson to wise up to the realities of producing movies. Having slaved at the coalface of British documentaries in his youth, Thompson slipped off to America to join Lorne Michaels, veteran film and television producer and creator of Saturday Night Live. Five years later - and with a production credit on Wayne's World and WW2 under his belt - Thompson returned to the UK with an entirely different world view. Suddenly, the audience reaction took precedence over everything else. "To discover movies that had this sudden lease of life above and beyond reviews was intoxicating. Before that, you'd live for the reviews." Basically, he had a Damascene conversion which opened his eyes to the words "seats", "bums" and "on". "We've all sat in films in full cinemas and been in cinemas with five people. Which would you rather have?" [Ed note: Allison?] My immediate answer is that it depends on the film. But that's the essential difference between critic and producer. Yet even the most austere critic must admire the recklessness and chutzpah in his latest venture. In collaboration with two other media partners and one real-estate company, Thompson has acquired the legendary Ealing Studios. And his hard nose for business suddenly softens as he reflects on the dewy-eyed romance of such an adventurous acquisition. "It started off as a mad dream," he says. "I grew up watching those films and most of the movies I've made are inspired by Ealing comedies. We are trying to create a community as a mini Hollywood studio. We have to develop a variety of different disciplines. If we can regenerate the brand we can progress from being less of a facility and more of a studio in the Hollywood manner, albeit smaller." Given the history of those past valiants who have tried and failed to perform a similar resurrection job on the much-loved studios, the latest scheme might be considered folly were it not for the fact that Thompson has covered all bases in his bid to restore Ealing to something of its former glory. Within the consortium which has acquired the site from the National Film and Television School are San Francisco-based digital development company The Idea Factory and the Manhattan Loft Company - which will manage the building and property aspect of the site. Clearly, it is very early days, but the newly acquired studio has already had one high-profile visitor. "George Lucas rented it out for the latest Star Wars picture for two weeks," Thompson says with some satisfaction. "We're very proud of that." Meanwhile, he is busy keeping the middlebrow torch alight with the Oliver Parker-directed Importance of Being Earnest, the "sequel" to An Ideal Husband. At least he is safe enough with the script, credited to one O Wilde. "The main thing that Lorne Michaels taught me was about the script," says Thompson. "Whether it is good or bad is irrelevant. The only question you must ask is: 'Does it work?'"

BTW, when are we going to get to see Conspiracy over here? Does anyone know? Conspiracy is finally being shown in Canada. It will air on September 8 - goodie!! BBC2 have just announced their �96 million Autumn schedules, which include Band of Brothers "dropped" by BBC1. Comedies, dramas, documentaries, blah, blah.......no mention of "Conspiracy". I've very little faith in the BBC! (actually, no faith). If they had bought "Conspiracy" surely there would have been a mention of the Emmy-nominated drama starring KB and CF? Also the Beeb are showing at least three films at the Edinburgh Film Festival (a natural showcase for "Conspiracy", and, I would have thought, last year's DQ). Hope I'm proved wrong. The "highlight" of the schedule seems to be a new comedy series called "'orrible" starring Johnny Vaughn. Can hardly wait.

"The main thing that Lorne Michaels taught me was about the script," says Thompson. "Whether it is good or bad is irrelevant. The only question you must ask is: 'Does it work?'" Huh? How can a script be "bad" but still "work?" Ah, Mr. Michaels, an elegant arbiter of good taste...

It was brought to my attention that CF and HG were up for 'Best Fight' at the Seventeen Teen Awards (I think they were on last night). I think they lost to Save the Last Dance. Hmmm wonder if it was worth me bribing a few of teenage cousins? Nah!

(Kate)Much as I love Colin, if you want to see Camille, I'd recommend the really old B&W version with Robert Taylor and Greta Garbo. Blasphemy...*shudder*. I don't wanna see Camille.It's a schmaltzy story. The only reason is ODB.I never see alternate movies that he plays in. Except the German Conspiracy. Seems so disloyal;-) (Mari)I know we've had some wishful thinking here about "Beyond Borders" I have strong vibes on that one for him....But I fear it gonna take more than candles & joss sticks.

(Beth) So do I rent Camille or not ? No,no let me rephrase that.....do I get into my bunny rabbit PJ's one night, have a pint of mint chip ice ceam and a box of Milk Tray for dinner, get absoluley rat arsed drunk and THEN watch it? Yes, yes, yes and yes. This is a fine film to watch with a bottle of Chardonnay. You might even think it's a comedy. ;-)

(Beth) do I get into my bunny rabbit PJ's one night, have a pint of mint chip ice ceam and a box of Milk Tray for dinner, get absoluley rat arsed drunk and THEN watch it? heehee Beth, like your style of movie-watching, glad there's someone else out there :-) but is Camille rentable? I've never seen it anywhere - is it going to be in the cult or world movie section?

(Rachael)but is Camille rentable? I've never seen it anywhere I didn't think Camille ever made it to PAL. Any of the "cognoscenti" know? Where is Ann W.? She recently got a copy of Camille. (At my recommendation, *hee, hee*) If I could get Emma out of lurkdom, I bet she likes it...story of La Traviata. (To the "coughers" in the gallery...that's an opera;-D

Runs into kitchen to check if there is any Milk Tray left, to counter the effects of a possible ( gulp ) bad Colin Firth experience. ( Went home to Ireland last month and brought an empty suitcase for all the choccy I was bringing back to the States with me ) Boxes of Roses and Quality Street:check Flakes: check, Minstrals: check Twirls: check. Aeros: check Chunky Dairy Milks: check Chunky Fruit and Nut: check Yorkie Bars:check OMG, no Milk Tray !!! Who stole my Milk Tray ? My house insurance bloody well better cover this horrendous crime. I wonder if I can get my Mom to FedEx me some ? It just doesn't feel right commiting to the Camille advenure with out it.

This is the cover of the UK DVD.Thanks to Tineke who posted it on VV I've never even seen this pic before.

Pride and prejudice personified, face to face, staring each other out. Everything's fine, except that he reminds me of Elvis...

Thanks, Rebecca, for the Conspiracy alert. Now I must explain to my brother how I'm a big WWII buff and need him to tape it for me! Wonder if he'll doubt my motives. I found Camille in my local library--must be considered v. educational:-) I enjoyed it but it reminded me of a spoof that Carol Burnett would do. "Oh, I have a cough. What could it mean?" Happened to see Moulin Rouge a few days after finding Camille and noted the similarities. At one point in Camille they even mention the Red Windmill. So I tried to picture CF in the Ewan role and failed. Karen, I love that Camille book cover! But is the P&P DVD cover two photos pasted together, or one photo? What lovely, thick hair (and I don't mean her's).

So I tried to picture CF in the Ewan role and failed. Wow, that's food for thought. Hrm. Can O(AFG)DB sing? I can't imagine him doing the earnest naive innocent thing now, but maybe earlier in his career?

Come on Darce, get a little closer, don't be shy! Love that cover!

LOL Echo, I'm gonna have Burning Love in my head all night long now. Thank you VERY much !!! Still....."I'm just a hunka', hunka' burning love" is pretty apt in this instance isn't it, with emphasis on the "hunk" bit. Sing it to me Colin. Love, love, love that pic. Should Col be of the same height as Jennifer in it ? He really is a good bit taller than her and, I think towering over her all dark and broody looking, would be rather yummy. Still, I suppose you would lose the impact of them eye balling each other, nose to nose, if they were not at the same height.

Lizzie appears to be standing a couple of steps up from Darcy on the stairs (assuming the pic is not a composite), so that explains the "eye to eye" bit. They are wearing the same outfits as on the back cover of "The Making of P&P", so presumably this pic was taken at the same time (Lizzie's full length gloves in broad daylight are a dead giveaway). Darcy is towering over Lizzie all right (how tall is she, anyway?), but is looking less "broody" and more pleased with life in general, so it must be "after" their engagement and/or wedding. As for the "Elvis" look, it never looked so good on "E", IMO. CF would probably cringe mightily at the comparison. (Or maybe he's a closet R&R fan???) Wouldn't mind seeing him shake his booty, though. Maybe a night club scene in BJD2? He could wear tight jeans. . . Drool. . .

How about the black leather jump suit from the 1968 comeback special ? Or there is always one of those awful ( but form fitting ) white 1970's jumpsuits. No, no, I have it.....what about those skimpy swimming trunks from Blue Hawaii ? thud......keels over.

Have not seen Blue Hawaii in recent memory, but thought of speedo on CF just caused heart palpitations. Is that the movie that "I can't help falling in love with you" is from? I think that's my favorite Elvis song. It's sort of appropriate for a P&P theme, don't you think (as sung by Darcy--not that he would ever let go enough to sing it)? Anyway, I think that CF could definitely sing "I did it my way" and mean it. But I must draw the line at '70's style jump suits. They always make me want to laugh at the wearer.

Just got this--looks like it was sent to a number of us who had inquired: Dear Friends of Firth & "Londinium" Sunlight Productions, the filmmakers of LONDINIUM, thank you all for your support and kind interest in the film. We are pleased to announce the U.S. debut of the film on CineMax, HBO's pure movie channel. The Premiere takes place on Sunday, September 2nd at 10:00pm Pacific Standard Time (Hollywood). (Following our earlier Comedy release "The Sex Monster" at 8pm and also starring Mariel Hemingway and Mike Binder. "Londinium" stars Colin Firth, Mike Binder, Mariel Hemingway, Stephen Fry, Jack Dee, Stephen Marcus and Christopher Lawford. Kindly inform your U.S. and Canadian friends. Unfortunately, we do not have the release dates as of yet for France, Germany and Benelux which was sold last summer. The United Kingdom has been slow to take up the charge, however, we continue to do our best and hope to have news to report soon. Feel free to let your U.K. companies know you want your "Londinium"!! We will put any Video Release dates or DVD Release dates on the Website as soon as they occur- which we expect shortly as.... Mike Binder, the writer, director, and star also appears in HBO's "The Mind of The Married Man" television series comedy from Sunlight Productions on Sunday, September 16th at 10:00pm following Tom Hanks "Band of Brothers" (on HBO) Mike Binder also recently appeared opposite Tom Cruise in Stephen Speilberg's "Minority Report". Please look to the soon to be updated and redesigned Sunlight Productions site at: http://www.sunlightproductions.com for further news on "Londinium" , our latest film "The Search For John Gissing" starring Mike and Alan Rickman and Janeane Garofalo, which we have just completed. We appreciate your time and enthusiasm and regret that we cannot reply to individual e-mails as we are engaged in the making of the films themselves on a daily basis. Thank you for your understanding and continued support of our films. Warm regards Jack Binder Producer On behalf of the Filmmakers and Talent Sunlight Productions

(Echo)Everything's fine, except that he reminds me of Elvis... Hmm, maybe he should rethink the length of his sideburns. JE must be standing on a higher step. She is fairly short. When I saw her in "Design for Living" in NY it was during the AIDS campaign and she was in the lobby with other cast members collecting money after the play. I'd guess she's about my height (5'3"), maybe a bit taller.

Hmmm, I've stood right next to JE a couple of times, once when we were both in flat shoes and she's slightly taller than me, so I'd guess 5'7" or so. LOL at the Elvis comparisons, ladies; thank you, thankyouverymuch for the laughs.:-) The Blue Hawaii imagery works for me, Beth. Can picture the final scene in which 'ol Darce is floating on a barge, decked out in one of Marcia's leis, warbling, "This . . .is . . . mah pledge." :-) On the opposite shore, his bride Lizzie awaits, barefoot, adorned in a snug sarong, long hair floating about her shoulders and back (down, Ben ;-)

British Stage Tough on U.S. Imports By Matt Wolf LONDON (Variety) - British boards are laden with a new crop of hit American imports of late, a circumstance that would seem to back up the notion that American and Brit legit have a mutual admiration society. Neil LaBute's ``The Shape of Things'' did so well at London's Almeida Theater at King's Cross that it returned this summer for an encore engagement. Across town at the Hampstead Theater, Donald Margulies' Pulitzer Prize-winning ``Dinner With Friends'' played to near-capacity in the 174-seater and was extended for three weeks; it may get a commercial West End stand after Christmas. ``A Lie of the Mind'' is at the Donmar Warehouse, the Sam Shepard play's second major London showing in 14 years, while Russell Lees' 1995 off-Broadway entry ``Nixon's Nixon'' opened July 20 at the Comedy. And over on Shaftesbury Avenue, 73-year-old American songstress Barbara Cook is back in town, this time to sing Sondheim; a major revival of Tennessee Williams' ``Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,'' starring Brendan Fraser and Ned Beatty, follows her into the Lyric Theater, starting previews Sept. 5. A closer look reveals that the transatlantic love affair seems decidedly one-sided, however. ``There's great respect for British plays'' when they come to New York, said Wendy Wasserstein, the Tony- and Pulitzer-winning scribe of ``The Heidi Chronicles.'' ``Martin McDonagh and 'The Weir' get a wonderful reception (in New York) and they may well deserve it, but there's an openness to the response, and I don't always feel the reverse is true.'' Lynne Meadow, artistic director of off-Broadway's Manhattan Theater Club, has watched several of her venue's plays die in London (''Sylvia,'' ``Collected Stories,'' ``Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune''); only one -- Richard Greenberg's ``Three Days of Rain'' -- saw any real success. ``There seems to be a certain kind of work that just is not embraced'' in London, she shrugged. Pulitzer winner Marsha Norman ('''night, Mother'') cited ``a reluctance in London to give American work a fair shake, while American audiences and critics tend to think British imports are better than anything we could possibly do.'' Norman most recently was repped on the West End by her book for the musical ``The Secret Garden,'' a Broadway long-runner that flopped at the Aldwych Theater early in June. ``I would think more than twice,'' said Julian Schlossberg, the New York producer (''Vita and Virginia''), ``before I would want to open a play in London. The economics are very good -- still much better than New York -- but the attrition rate is even higher.'' Even a Pulitzer Prize doesn't guarantee you won't suffer abroad -- as ``The Heidi Chronicles,'' ``Rent,'' ``How I Learned to Drive'' and ``Wit'' all did, to varying degrees. London isn't necessarily impressed by New York kudos: ''Breathtakingly vacuous,'' wrote one London paper of the 1997 West End preem of Terrence McNally's ``Master Class.'' Sure enough, the New York Tony winner was a speedy London goner -- at a loss of about $550,000. FLOPS TOPS Ironically, sometimes it's the New York flops that are best reviewed in England. Neil Simon's Broadway fast-fade ''Proposals'' won him some of his most admiring British reviews when it opened at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds. Wasserstein said one of the best notices anywhere for her recent Lincoln Center entry ``Old Money'' came from London's Sheridan Morley in the Spectator: He called the comedy ''brilliantly nostalgic and infinitely charming.'' Americans Christopher Shinn, Naomi Wallace and Rebecca Gilman possess a high profile in London, partly because each has premiered work here rather than waiting for a New York imprimatur that may not, in fact, be helpful. THE UNKNOWN AMERICANS On the other hand, American faves such as Paul Rudnick, Christopher Durang and Kenneth Lonergan are just three of the well-regarded American playwrights who are virtually unknown in England. ``Side Man'' got a so-so response on the West End, while ''Hedwig and the Angry Inch'' flopped. The transatlantic relationship, said Simon Curtis, director of London's current ``Dinner With Friends,'' ``is a very complicated thing: Everyone loves America and yet is also sort of nervous about it. There's so much American culture in our faces that people want theater to be protected from it.'' As executive producer of the Donmar Warehouse, Caro Newling and her artistic director, Sam Mendes, have programmed numerous U.S. works into their Covent Garden venue over the past nine years, starting with Stephen Sondheim's ``Assassins'' in 1992. This year's lineup has been top-heavy with American work, from Sondheim's ``Merrily We Roll Along'' and David Mamet's ''Boston Marriage'' -- the latter transferring to the West End in December -- through to ``A Lie of the Mind'' at present and a revival of Lillian Hellman's ``The Little Foxes'' in September. SECRECY KEY? What, then, is Newling's recipe for American theatrical success in the U.K.? ``The best way to open an American play is literally tiptoe it in and present it,'' said Newling. The Donmar programmed ``Three Days of Rain'' several seasons ago as part of a spring season of American imports; unheralded, the play opened to rave reviews and was brought back for a second run that averaged a hefty 95% attendance across eight weeks. By contrast, a New York sensation like Paula Vogel's Pulitzer-winning ``How I Learned to Drive'' averaged 43% capacity at the Donmar -- notwithstanding a production from John Crowley and leading performance from Helen McCrory that were easily the match of the play's New York incarnation. Perhaps prizes simply matter less abroad. ``What is a Pulitzer Prize?'' said Peter Franklin, Vogel's agent at William Morris in New York. ``It's an American prize for Americans given by Americans.'' Tony Kushner, the American dramatist who is equally highly regarded in London, explained: ``Winning prizes, great reviews, being well-known as a writer -- all these things have a different currency in England.'' Kushner's ``Angels in America'' was seen at London's Royal National Theater well before it ever got to New York. ``The British theatergoing public, at least from my perspective, seems to be more independent-minded,'' he said. That can result, of course, in a chilly London reception for American hits, which is particularly dispiriting for those American writers who have always admired their British counterparts. Brits Caryl Churchill, Harold Pinter and David Hare are regularly mentioned by their American colleagues as playwriting gods. Nor are these Americans ignorant of London. LaBute lived in Wimbledon (news - web sites) in 1991, where he began work on a PhD. dissertation on the work of the Royal Court under the tenure of its former artistic director, Max Stafford-Clark. Wasserstein wrote ``Heidi'' while on a fellowship to London in the 1980s, and David Auburn scripted his Pulitzer- and Tony-winning ``Proof'' while living in North London in 1998. Still, the local taste for American work tends to embrace portraits of venality or low life (such as ``The Shape of Things'') but not the John Donne scholar at the heart of ``Wit'' or the literary-minded women who drive Margulies' ``Collected Stories.'' The latter two flopped on the West End. SEDUCED BY THE DARK SIDE ``When American plays simply deal with human behavior,'' said Margulies, ``we fall into a discomfort zone in London. There seems to be a problem for those American plays that don't use the social-economic landscape of people like Mamet or Miller that reveal a darker side of American capitalism.'' Of his widely traveled ``Nixon's Nixon,'' which has so far had three separate British engagements, Boston-based Lees said, ''It's certainly true that the classic American play is domestic, and this is very different; that's been one of its selling points.'' Patrick Herold, owner of the Helen Merrill agency in New York, put it more bluntly: ``If an American play is lowbrow or makes Americans look buffoonish, that seems to succeed far better than anything that is or attempts to be smart or serious, like 'Wit' or (Steve Martin's) 'Picasso at the Lapin Agile.' The British sensibility is, 'No, no, no; we know how to do that. You don't.' `` Not that such perceptions are likely to inhibit American work coming to London. ``Proof'' is deliberately biding its time but could reach Blighty next spring, while Ken Ludwig, Keith Reddin, Angus MacLachlan, August Wilson and Rebecca Gilman all have London productions on tap (in Ludwig's case, three). New York producer Daryl Roth, who has had two U.S. transfers flop on the West End (''Old Wicked Songs,'' ``Wit'') while one mightily succeeded (''Three Tall Women''), sums it up: ''London's tricky, very tricky. But it's still London.''

No! no jumpsuits! I forbid it! and even speedos *shudder* there was a very funny article in a Sunday paper recently about what men should wear on the beach, Rod Stewart illustrated why men should NEVER wear speedos! Now, a nice pair of shorts, (no, not RF pencil legged ones) showing off a trim waist and flat abs, and nice tanned legs *thud* oops where was I? O(AFG)DB sings a little ditty in SIL - not chart topping stuff! In Edge of Reason there's a bit of dancing at Rebecca's house party

Is this a new article by Matt Wolf? It is nearly identical to another he wrote about a month or so ago. What, then, is Newling's recipe for American theatrical success in the U.K.? "The best way to open an American play is literally tiptoe it in and present it," said Newling. The Donmar programmed "Three Days of Rain" several seasons ago as part of a spring season of American imports; unheralded, the play opened to rave reviews and was brought back for a second run that averaged a hefty 95% attendance across eight weeks. Funny (strange) that she failed to mention 3DOR's was part of an American Import series and that only that play got the attendance numbers. Shucks, wonder what differentiated it from the two others? ;-)

Thanks for sharing Jack's Londinium correspondence, Mari. (JB) We are pleased to announce the U.S. debut of the film on CineMax, HBO's pure movie channel. Translation: Cinemax, HBO's pure old, dead movie channel (I'm telling ya, they still air Sixteen Candles in prime time). The Premiere takes place on Sunday, September 2nd at 10:00pm Pacific Standard Time (Hollywood). (Following our earlier Comedy release "The Sex Monster" at 8pm and also starring Mariel Hemingway and Mike Binder. Chuh. Programming genius. :-/ "Londinium" stars Colin Firth, Mike Binder, Mariel Hemingway, Stephen Fry, Jack Dee, Stephen Marcus and Christopher Lawford. How convenient that CF's name is listed first, before that of the writer, director and STAR, Mike Binder. No dummy, that Jack. ;-) And I'm shaking my head at this one: (Variety article) SECRECY KEY? What, then, is Newling's recipe for American theatrical success in the U.K.? ``The best way to open an American play is literally tiptoe it in and present it,'' said Newling. The Donmar programmed ``Three Days of Rain'' several seasons ago as part of a spring season of American imports; unheralded, the play opened to rave reviews and was brought back for a second run that averaged a hefty 95% attendance across eight weeks. Aargh! Aargh! It was the star, stupid!

(M. Wolf article)a major revival of Tennessee Williams' ``Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,'' starring Brendan Fraser and Ned Beatty, follows her into the Lyric Theater, starting previews Sept. 5. Ned Beatty as Big Daddy I can see, but Brendan Fraser? As Brick? I dunno. Yes, the star of TDOR had a lot to do with its success. How many multiple-ticket sales were Drooleurs responsible for? I saw it only once, as it's rather a long commute to the Donmar from where I live (alas). But that play was good on its own merits. I'd like to see it again, even without ODB.

Jennifer is 5'8". You almost got it Mari. Thanks for the correspondence from Jack... "We appreciate your time and enthusiasm and regret that we cannot reply to individual e-mails as we are engaged in the making of the films themselves on a daily basis. " Sounds like h'e the chief cook and bottle washer. Agree with Eileen, it's a shame they dumped Londinium on Cinemax. On the other hand, we *are* grateful, given the alternative.Think:SLOW British Stage Tough on U.S. Import How true, remember how they butchered Lion King, and gave the Olivier to that fairy tale musical that played for a few weeks at the National? PS LK is still the hottest ticket in London. RE: Donmar playing to 95% capacity.Not that he couldn't fill the Colosseum, but they neglected to say that the Donmar seats 250 people. Most HS auditoriums do better than that.

have written to my mate at the BBC ;-) as well as C4 and FilmFour, suggesting they pick up Londinium - will let you know if interesting responses arrive.

Is this a new article by Matt Wolf? Seems to be; was dated today. The transatlantic relationship, said Simon Curtis, director of London's current ``Dinner With Friends,'' Is this the fellow who's married to Elizabeth McG? She's in this, right? BTW, the film version of DWF is HBO's original movie this month, with Dennis Quaid, Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette and Andie MacDowell. V.v. good--I highly recommend. Agree with Eileen, it's a shame they dumped Londinium on Cinemax. On the other hand, we *are* grateful, given the alternative.Think:SLOW I think it will make it to HBO eventually--even TSM did. But, they don't want it to debut there, as then it's branded as one of "their" films and it's not.

I meant to add, I'm glad you wrote your pal and the others, Rachael.:-) It can't hurt. Sunlight is a small operation; I can't imagine that they had many resources to put into marketing it abroad.

Knew it sounded very similar and was probably posted here before because it at least mentioned CF and the cast of 3DOR. Matt Wolf's previous article appeared in the Observer on 6/24. He's not the first journalist to get a lot of mileage from a single interview or series of interviews: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4209230,00.html

The transatlantic relationship, said Simon Curtis, director of London's current ``Dinner With Friends, Yes this is E McG's husband and she is init. It is a very good play. I would definitely recommend it. It is currently at the Hampstead Theatre in London.

have written to my mate at the BBC ;-) as well as C4 and FilmFour, suggesting they pick up Londinium - will let you know if interesting responses arrive. Well done Rachel....you never know your luck! And if not, it looks as though we'll get it (eventually) on DVD. (Dumb question...is DVD universal, ie no problems with format according to region?) I hope "Conspiracy" doesn't suffer the same fate. I found this review at the University of California SB site. It sounds unmissable.... Stunning, utterly memorable HBO production, THE CONSPIRACY Earlier this week, HBO showed its original-made 90 minute film, THE CONSPIRACY---a brilliantly written, dazzlingly acted Anglo-American work based on authentic records that survived of the Nazi's Wansee Conference that was held in 1942, where the various heads of the party and main bureaucratic agencies agreed on the Final Solution of the "Jewish Problem" . . . that is, the agreed-upon extermination of the Jews throughout Europe, who were to be hunted down, rounded up, shipped off to extermination camps, where, the head of the conference (SS General Heydrich, second-in-command of that dreaded organization filled with German Ph.D.s) boasted that they could destroy 2400 Jews an hour. An hour? asks one of the incredulous members at Wannsee, the head of the Gestapo (if I recall rightly). Yes, 2400. Colonel Adolf Eichmann, Heydrich's assistant there---charged with the implementation of the diabolical scheme---was then given the right to speak, and he brought out his log of statistics (the Nazis were keen on detailed notes, detailed bureaucratic notetaking, detailed and punctual carrying out of orders . . . no sloppiness, no lack of discipline were tolerated) and showed that this would mean 62,000 or so Jews a day, 365 days a year, or 21 million in a year, "always assuming that there might be that many Yids in Europe," he added. In fact there were about 9 million practising Jews from Soviet Asia across all of Europe, including Britain (about 1.5% of the European popultions in total), but since the Nazis used racial criteria, not religious, they naturally were determined to root out "half-Jews" and "quarter-Jews" and the like, something discussed in detail by the Wannsee members. The HBO production is an overwhelmingly, emotionally wrench work of virtuoso talent from start to finish . . . not one thing to reproach in it. Fully worthy of Shakespeare's greatest plays, it's one of the 2 or 3 most stunning memorable works I've ever seen on tv in this country or Europe. The grisly, nefarious exchanges at the Wanseee conference are all the more effective for being delivered by some of the best actors in the English-speaking world including that great Irish actor, Kenneth Branagh who plays Heydrich complete with blonde-dyed hair and, believe me, looking like Heydrich to judge by the photos we have of this nice German guy. No one gets too emotional, everyone goes about his business as though he and the others were talking about a boost in munitions output to help the boys at the front, there are breaks for lunch and drinks, then a nice dinner, where of course the petty envies and professional jealousies come out (though everyone fears the SS, even the Gestapo head, if any challenges the SS timetable and methods . . . not for moral reasons, you understand, all were fervent believers in the Germanic mission to destroy European Jewry and make Europe ready for pure German blood as rule and Germanic culture, but they were worried about protecting their bureaucratic turfs)........

DVD is not universal. even the Gestapo head, if any challenges the SS timetable and methods . . . Seems he got his characters mixed up.

(Conspiracy review) even the Gestapo head, if any challenges the SS timetable and methods . . . (Karen) Seems he got his characters mixed up. Seems he also missed CF's performance: No one gets too emotional Thanks for this, Bethan, but didn't we say it was unmissable back in May? ;-) (Evelyn, re: Londinium on Cinemax) On the other hand, we *are* grateful, given the alternative.Think:SLOW Yes, yes. Too true. I thought about that yesterday after I posted. (Evelyn) but they neglected to say that the Donmar seats 250 people We won't quibble with the details. ;-) Yet it blows me away that the Donmar staff can't or won't credit CF for putting all those bums in the seats.

Bethan, here's info on the various DVD regions. As you can see, it's even more convoluted than the picture for videos: Region 0: Universal for cartoons, older films and educational titles. Region 1: Canada, United States and its territories. Region 2: Japan, Europe, South Africa, Middle East. Region 3: South-East Asia, East Asia. Region 4: Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, Mexico, South America, Caribbean. Region : Former Soviet Union, Indian Subcontinent, Africa (also North Korea, Mongolia). Region 6: China. Multi-region DVD players are available on the Internet, but they are very expensive. As a counter move, the film distributors are close to implementing technology which would make DVDs unplayable on a multi-region unit. It's all about fighting piracy.

(Eileen), Yet it blows me away that the Donmar staff can't or won't credit CF for putting all those bums in the seats. Well, you can't have EMcG husband read that and he might be a big sponser for the Donmar some day. ;-) Cheers everyone, I'm back! Had a lovely time in Italy, blah, blah... was most upset that Colin had visited (the wrong lake), Lago Maggiore, instead of my beautiful Lake Como. He does look great in those pictures from Locarno. Imagine my surprise when I read about it Italy! Lucky for me, ODG Karen's phone line was free! Don't have much time now to catch up on everything, but I will. Smoochxxx

Welcome home, Moon! *smooch right back at 'cha* Many thanks for the Locarno tip! Tsk. Too bad CF missed you again.

Benvenuto!! So glad you're home and probably just in time for our long anticipated news of the heart-wrenching film commitment that superceded il Hamleto. ;-)

Moon, welcome back, Smoochacha! :-)