[Hardy-l] Re: Thoughts on 'Tess'

[Niemeyer, Paul J.]

Ah, my ears were burning. . .or my mouse-finger was itching. . .one reaches for the proper expression in this Net-speak age of ours!
 
I'd say the depiction of the "upstart" Alec is a choice of the scriptwriter and director.  The serial pays far more attention to Alec's background and to his relationship with his mother than Hardy did, extending the novel's interest in heredity beyond the d'Urbervilles/Durbeyfields to the Stokes.  Mrs. Stoke-d'Urberville (Anna Massey, in her third time playing a Hardy character) is given a speech where she scornfully describes her late husband's purchase of the old name, denounces his "vanity," and pronounces Alec "a Stoke, through and through" (I think that's the quote).  So we have a family of vain, lustful upstarts.  In the serial, Alec would seem fairly new to the role of rich man, since he vividly describes his father buying books "by the yard" and he even asks his mother who the d'Urbervilles were.  And did I mis-hear, or is the source of old Simon Stoke's fortune given in the serial as chocolate?
 
Though I find the development of the relationship between Alec and his mother interesting--if anything, it allows the scriptwriter to explain things Hardy's narrator says in an efficient manner--one could argue that it gets just a tad too Freudian.  I mean Mrs. d'Urberville expressing such hatred for Alec's cigar and his blowing smoke in her face. . .  But we all know what Freud said about cigars. . .
 
Otherwise, I too was a little thrown by the May dance being held by the seaside, but the dance being held around an ancient stone is a Hardyan touch.  Again, my father was watching this with me--he's never read a word of Hardy and he exclaimed, "This is all paganism!"
 
And, lest I stir the pot, I'm wondering what women here think about the male leads.  I'll be the first to admit I have no clue as to what women find attractive in men, but I couldn't help but find Angel to be gawky and, well, a little goofy-looking.  I suppose I've always seen him as more the Brad Pitt type.  Fire away!
 
Best,
 
Paul Niemeyer 

________________________________

From: Rosemarie Morgan

I agree with you, Fraser, about the Cerealia -  bit of a stretch,
Marlott-by-the-sea! But then the 'startle' for the passing Clare lads was
real so perhaps a little artistic licence is justified here.

Alec, yes, lacks command & authority but since he's an upstart
(manufacturer cum landowner) he might never have possessed classy arrogance
in the first place. Even so, he certainly should be affecting it. Question:
is this a shortcoming in the actor or in the director? (Paul? )


Rosemarie



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