Friday, January 4, 2008

NEWS: FLASH

George MacDonald Fraser has died at the age of 82. He was the author of the series of books that were supposedly the memoirs of Sir Harry Paget Flashman, the cowardly scoundrel who rogered his way through many of the most historic events of the 19th Century and into the 20th.

Although he did scribe a few things for Television, I bring up this notice of his death because a few years back I chose Flashman as the perfect candidate for a series of TV specials based on the books. Harry Flashman already did appear in Toobworld, as a bully of a lad in 'Tom Brown's School Days', from which Fraser purloined the character.

It's still a good idea, and if it could be said that any good comes out of George MacDonald Fraser's passing, then I hope it might bring attention to this character and how suited Flashman is for Television, a la Horatio Hornblower, but with the irreverence of a Benny Hill.

Maybe it's true I have David Tennant on the brain too much, but I could see him as Flashy (more due to 'Casanova' than to 'Doctor Who'), with Philip Glenister in a supporting role.

BCnU...
Toby OB

1 comment:

Terence Towles Canote said...

I just heard about this yesterday. It makes me sad. I always loved the Flashman novels. And I have to agree. A series of Flashman TV movies (like the Hornblower or Sharpe ones) would be great.