a new book on an old subject, hot off the presses from its editor, Alex Werner, who requested the use of a couple of illustratons out of From Hell for the seventh and final chapter titled 'Jack the Ripper- A legacy in Pictures', by Clive Bloom, Emeritus professor of English and American studies at Middlesex University. His piece begins: "The East End is both a geographical location and a location for filmic fantasy." which confirms the problem I always felt I was up against when working on From Hell. "It has to be recreated in filmland as a set, so that it is airless, claustrophobic and without escape..." "Jack finally strikes and the set constructed around his absence finally reveals the reason for its construction." I like the caption on the photo at the end on page 266: 'In this publicity shot for The Hands of the Ripper (1971), Eric Porter is caressed by actresses dressed in the obligatory boas and feathers which always signify fallen women in such films. The costumes are Victoriana rather than Victorian." Some great old photos in the rest of the book, most of which are new to these eyes, and I looked far and wide over the years, underline such misconceptions.
(I previously addressed the problem of costume vis a vis film adaptation)
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Bart Beaty continues his examintion of Wertham. "Comics need boogeymen since it is always simpler to blame the outsider for one's own failings than face the truth that is right in front of you."
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Drunk Darth Vader's Jedi assault- BBC NEWS- Tuesday, 22 April 2008
A man posing as Darth Vader attacked a Star Wars fan, who had founded a Jedi Church, a court has heard.(via wee hayley campbell)
Arwel Wynne Hughes, 27, from Holyhead, Anglesey, admitted assaulting Barney Jones and cousin Michael with a metal crutch. They suffered minor injuries.
Hughes, who was drunk and dressed in a black bin bag, shouted "Darth Vader!"
Earlier, when Hughes failed to arrive on time, District Judge Andrew Shaw issued an arrest warrant, adding: "I hope the force will soon be with him.
Labels: From Hell
posted by Eddie Campbell at
16:28
8 Comments:
Not really any point to my question, but has there ever been a jack the ripper musical? And does it star Helen Bonahm Carter as Mary Poppins (that might be the only reason I would watch it)?
Eddy, in From hell did you ever struggle between portraying what you believe to be more accurate (ie, no rubbish on the slum streets, and no girls with feather boas) and what is more beautiful or interesting or fun to draw and view?
As for the Ripper, check out both A STUDY IN TERROR and MURDER BY DECREE for fascinating pre-FROM HELL spins on the Ripper, per crossing paths with Sherlock Holmes. MURDER BY DECREE is in particular a lovely little movie, too long ignored.
Beaty in the warpath -- this will be addressed on my own blog next week! Baety is doing rather too neat a job of become primary Wertham Apologist 101 in a world where precious few can access the original Wertham texts. Luckily, I have all of Wertham's books, save his first (THE BRAIN AS AN ORGAN), and can counter, especially concerning the comics history records. Anyhoot, thanks, Eddie, for all today's post bounty -- (see comment thread to Eddie's prior post, below)
Eddie (and indeed hayley) this logo design cock-up is bound to raise a smile:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/24/nogc124.xml
Ben Smith
I love this quote "...and it is not inappropriate to an organisation that’s looking to have a firm grip on Government spend.”
There's David St. Hubbins Saucy Jack.
Closed in record time
You're a naughty one
Saucy Jack
You're a haughty one
saucy Jack
Working in a bookshop I get emails about upcoming books, this wa sin today's (25/04/08)
"Looking for Jack the Ripper:
Sue Fletcher at Hodder has bought two novels by Carol McCleary starring Nellie Bly, America’s first female investigative reporter.
The first, The Alchemy of Murder, is set in Paris in 1889 and features Jules Verne, Louis Pasteur and Oscar Wilde, who help Bly hunt for Jack the Ripper."
Ben Smith
Eddie,
Clive used to be a lecturer of mine at Middlesex and I am still friendly with him. I thought of Spinal Tap instantly when someone asked if there had been a Ripper musical. The irony is that it wouldn't seem out of place these days. Anyone else remember the Planet of The Apes musical in The Simpsons with Troy McClure or Elephant Man the musical in The Tall Guy?
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