Shakespeare Electronic Conference, Vol. 6, No. 0524.  Friday, 30 June 1995.
 
(1)     From:   Douglas Flummer <
 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 >
        Date:   Thursday, 29 Jun 95  20:04:56 CST
        Subj:   SHK 6.0522  Qs: *Prospero's Books*
 
(2)     From:   G.L. Horton <
 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 >
        Date:   Friday, 30 Jun 1995 09:46:25 +0059 (EDT)
        Subj:   Re: SHK 6.0522 Qs: *Prospero's Books*
 
 
(1)----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Douglas Flummer <
 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 >
Date:           Thursday, 29 Jun 95  20:04:56 CST
Subject: Qs: *Prospero's Books*
Comment:        SHK 6.0522  Qs: *Prospero's Books*
 
Greenaway (that is the correct spelling, I now remember) used many of the same
aesthetics in doing "Prospero's Books" that Stacy quotes him on.  One that I
found particularly touching was his use of music throughout both films.  He
used similar avant guarde classical themesthat focused on wordless vocal, I
believe sung by a young male soprano.  He paced the films so that the plot
moved rather quickly (I had to work to keep up with it).  It has been several
years since I have seen either film, so my memory fades a bit, but I would call
Greenaway's adaption to be a rather interesting interpretation that calls for
as much imagination on the part of the viewer as there is on film for the most
enjoyment.  I would expect that if a person does not care for the avant guarde,
then it might be difficult to enjoy.  But I do, and I did, so I recommend it
highly.
 
(2)----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From:           G.L. Horton <
 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 >
Date:           Friday, 30 Jun 1995 09:46:25 +0059 (EDT)
Subject: 6.0522 Qs: *Prospero's Books*
Comment:        Re: SHK 6.0522 Qs: *Prospero's Books*
 
Prospero's Books is available on video.  It is well worth seeing if you are in
the right mood --when I saw it, none of my companions was willing to put up
with the stream-of-consciousness imagery, even given the plethora of gorgeous
bodies: the most patient of them last half an hour, and only I stuck it out to
the end.  The perversities  -- Gielgud reciting Miranda's lines while a naked
satyr child swing back and forth on a trapeze, urinating into the swimming pool
 -- quickly become tiresome, but frame by fame the film is almost unimaginably
beautiful
 
G.L. Horton
 
[Editor's Note: *Prospero's Books* has been discussed several times in the past
on SHAKSPER.  Anyone interested in reeading them can located them with the
DATABASE Function.  --HMC]