Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here. I'm not familiar with the work of Patrick O'Brien except by reputation. I know that his body of work has inspired a loyal following, and that he writes historically themed nautical fiction. As a result, I don't know how excited I should get at the announcement that Peter Weir might be adapting the books to the bigscreen. Here's "Seward," a first time spy and a major fan of the O'Brien books, to fill you in.
Word has hit the Gunroom (the Patrick O'Brian listserv) that Hollywood is going to move ahead with the long-anticipated film adaptation of one or more of the Aubrey/Maturin novels. Peter Weir (The Year of Living Dangerously, Gallipoli, etc.) is to direct. My source is a message from Adam Quinan that showed up on Sunday night:
This is just in from Fred Wardle, recently returned from Halifax and sailing on the Rose. I have his permission to forward it to the Gunroom and I apologise to any who are duly cross posted.
"Discussions of topics related to Sea Room's books.
"Just home from Halifax and 8 days on the Rose. Here's scoop 1: Peter Weir, he of filmic fame, came aboard the Rose in Halifax for two meetings with Cap'n Bailey. Bailey informs that Weir is scouting ships for an O'Brian film, that the Rose tops his list and that Weir will be clarifyng with the film company (definitely not Disney, I think he said 20th C Fox) on Monday that he is ready to proceed provided that he is given full artistic autonomy etcetera. Filming will take place next summer.
Scoop 2: If the film or Rose's involvement therein fails to materialize, the Rose, with other ASTA vessels, will be sailing the Great Lakes next summer."
In case you don't know, the Aubrey/Maturin novels chronicle the exploits and adventures of Captain Jack Aubrey and Dr. Stephen Maturin of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic era. They have been called the greatest historical novels ever written. Although they languished in obscurity during the '70's and '80's, the series saw an enormous increase in readership during the '90's. I believe they're one of WWNorton's best sellers.
Fans of O'Brian are among the most rabid and protective of all fans. Not surprisingly, most a little wary of what Hollywood will do to "Himself," as the late author is known. The subtle drama of the novels could be lost.
On the other hand, modern special effects may finally be up to showing the raw power of an 18th century man of war. O'Brian's fame grew, in part, from his ability to present the horror of Napoleonic ship-to-ship combat. This was not the putt-putt combat portrayed in so many films. Imagine a thirty-two pound ball of cast iron smashing into a ship at the speed of sound. If the ball itself didn't rip you apart, the exploding timbers would send shards through you. Then imagine an entire broadside of thirty-two pound balls fired at point-blank range at the rate of three broadsides a minute. In the parlance of an O'Brian character, wholesale slaughter ain't in it.
"Seward"
