04-04-2007, 02:53 AM
Mike wrote:
Hi Mike
I am not sure about this instance but the producers may have actually asked but thought helmets looked better. For instance a British reenactment group (The Diehards) were involved in the production of the recent remake of 'The Four Feathers'. The classic 1930's version set the story during the Sudan campaign of 1898 but the new version correctly followed the narrative of the book which takes place during the Gordon relief expedition, a decade earlier.
One climatic scene depicts the battle of Abu Klea when the British camel corps were attacked. The expedition itself was one of the last times the redcoat was seen in action (General Gordon had actually requested that the relief force should wear red!) but the camel corps a specially created unit was fitted out with a distinctive Grey uniform and khaki trousers. While this uniform was correctly worn in the Charlton Heston film 'Khartoum' depicting the same event, the makers of 'The Four Feathers' choose to show the British in redcoats! Not only that but the camels were missing as well and the British are shown marching on foot. evidently film makers think the public are even less informed nowadays than audiences of forty years ago. However I think in this instance one can understand why the filmakers did what they did and the scene does look impressive. Nevertheless adding insult to injury in the new film the British lose the battle, when in fact historically they won!
An article on the making of the film by one of the re-enactors involved provided some interesting insights. Some of the costumes used were actually quite old and I have seen and heard of this before. At least one pith helmet had appeared in the sixties film 'Carry on up the Khyber' worn by the late Roy Castle! One wonders therefore what happened to the much more accurate uniforms from 'Khartoum'! The film company had also gone to some expense to build a fairly decent replica of one of the British artillery field pieces which had played a significant role in the real battle because they had a tendency to jam at critical moments, like when the enemy are about to break into your square! Having dispensed with Grey uniforms, camels and history it is no surprise to discover that even this accurate prop ended up on the cutting room floor!
It is not unusual even if re-enactors are involved and participate as extras that they will be asked not to wear their own kit but what is provided by the wardrobe department. This happened in 'Gladiator' when several groups were asked to provide 'bodies' but not armour. The re-enactors role in 'The Four Feathers' appeared to have consisted principally of drilling the Morrocan extras and providing period rifle and equipment sound effects and British faces in the front ranks!
There are occasions when this is not the case such as 'Glory' and 'Gettysburg', which both relied heavily on entire and fully equipped re-enactment societies.
Graham.
Quote:There was a historical epic of the English Civil War made a couple of
years ago called: To Kill A King. The musketeers were wearing
pikemen's helmets. The producers didn't think to ask the Cromwell
Association - we could have told them (and the authentic felt hats
would even have been cheaper to make than the helmets, too)!
Hi Mike
I am not sure about this instance but the producers may have actually asked but thought helmets looked better. For instance a British reenactment group (The Diehards) were involved in the production of the recent remake of 'The Four Feathers'. The classic 1930's version set the story during the Sudan campaign of 1898 but the new version correctly followed the narrative of the book which takes place during the Gordon relief expedition, a decade earlier.
One climatic scene depicts the battle of Abu Klea when the British camel corps were attacked. The expedition itself was one of the last times the redcoat was seen in action (General Gordon had actually requested that the relief force should wear red!) but the camel corps a specially created unit was fitted out with a distinctive Grey uniform and khaki trousers. While this uniform was correctly worn in the Charlton Heston film 'Khartoum' depicting the same event, the makers of 'The Four Feathers' choose to show the British in redcoats! Not only that but the camels were missing as well and the British are shown marching on foot. evidently film makers think the public are even less informed nowadays than audiences of forty years ago. However I think in this instance one can understand why the filmakers did what they did and the scene does look impressive. Nevertheless adding insult to injury in the new film the British lose the battle, when in fact historically they won!
An article on the making of the film by one of the re-enactors involved provided some interesting insights. Some of the costumes used were actually quite old and I have seen and heard of this before. At least one pith helmet had appeared in the sixties film 'Carry on up the Khyber' worn by the late Roy Castle! One wonders therefore what happened to the much more accurate uniforms from 'Khartoum'! The film company had also gone to some expense to build a fairly decent replica of one of the British artillery field pieces which had played a significant role in the real battle because they had a tendency to jam at critical moments, like when the enemy are about to break into your square! Having dispensed with Grey uniforms, camels and history it is no surprise to discover that even this accurate prop ended up on the cutting room floor!
It is not unusual even if re-enactors are involved and participate as extras that they will be asked not to wear their own kit but what is provided by the wardrobe department. This happened in 'Gladiator' when several groups were asked to provide 'bodies' but not armour. The re-enactors role in 'The Four Feathers' appeared to have consisted principally of drilling the Morrocan extras and providing period rifle and equipment sound effects and British faces in the front ranks!
There are occasions when this is not the case such as 'Glory' and 'Gettysburg', which both relied heavily on entire and fully equipped re-enactment societies.
Graham.
"Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream" Edgar Allan Poe.
"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.
"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.
"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
