Today Radio 4 begins its Classic Chandler season. Consequently, we have a new Philip Marlowe in Toby Stephens. I must admit that my first reaction to this bit of casting was not that positive. In the trailers, Stephens’ American accent sounds a little strained. Why not just cast an American, I thought? Then a friend very reasonably reminded me that Equity rules might rule out this option. Then I considered the logistics of casting a season of eight plays with ex-pats. And then I wised up.
Stephens is a very good actor, after all (and the son of a great Sherlock Holmes!) and the clip below shows that he is passionate and knowledgeable about Chandler’s world. I shall try to be less grumpy in the future.
The rumpus kicks off today at 11.30 AM with A Coat, A Hat and a Gun, a half-hour feature on the life of Raymond Thornton Chandler (Chris’ blog has a nice piece on this subject here).
Tomorrow, the afternoon play at 2.15 PM is Double Jeopardy by Stephen Wyatt. I think I’m even more excited about this than by the new Marlowe adaptations. It’s a play about Chandler and Billy Wilder going ten rounds over the writing of Double Indemnity. It’s got Patrick Stewart playing Chandler. Yes, that’s right. Patrick Stewart. And Adrian Scarborough as Wilder! Oh, and it’s written by the man who wrote this. Yum, I can’t wait…
The season continues with the Toby Stephens plays every Saturday this February. So, we’ll be treated to The Big Sleep on the 5th, The Lady in the Lake on the 12th, Farewell My Lovely on the 19th and Playback on the 26th, all being broadcast 2.30-4.00 PM. Later in the year the season will conclude with The Long Goodbye, The High Window, The Little Sister and Poodle Springs (presumably following the Robert B. Parker version?).
In other words, we’re being spoiled silly. I, for one, plan to listen to these little beauties with a fedora perched on the back of my bonce and the venetian blinds down…
Snap! Also thought it esstential to have an American Marlowe, but Stephens does a very credible job. Despite Chandler originating here, very little of his works are generally performed or recorded in Britain, so hat tip to the BBC in this really welcome season. Big thanks Nicolas – the trails have only mentioned the four titles. Whoopee to read here the other four main books are to be broadcast later in the year.
Hello Jenna! Thanks for commenting and welcome to Squeezegut Alley!
I’m very glad that the BBC are broadcasting all of the novels too! The decision to do Poodle Springs is unusual… I’m going to post some reviews of Double Jeopardy and The Big Sleep later this week. It’ll be interesting to see if our opinions match up!
The BBC have already made the Philip Marlowe stories as radio plays with Ed Bishop and a totally American cast. I don’t understand why they want to remake this series when Ed Bishop and Co produced the definative series.
Hi Steve, thanks for commenting! I never reviewed the Toby Stephens dramatisations for just this reason. I couldn’t work up any enthusiasm for them, especially as they compared so poorly to the wonderful Ed Bishop versions. I would heartily recommend Double Jeopardy, however. The sequel is broadcast today on Radio 4, Strangers on a Film, which details the working relationship between Chandler and Alfred Hitchcock. I’m very much looking forward to it!