SPOILERS!!! Book - THE LITTLE WHITE HORSE - SPOILERS!!!!!!
Welcome Everybody, This thread concerns itself with English-born Elizabeth Goudge's book, THE LITTLE WHITE HORSE, originally written in 1946. Currently it's the basis for a film, now in post-production, called THE SECRET OF MOONACRE, starring IOAN GRUFFUDD, Dakota Blue Richards, Tim Curry, Natascha McElhone, Juliet Stephenson, Augustus Prew, Andy Linden, Michael Webber, and George Mendel. A projected release date for the film is Autumn, 2008. Further film updates will be given as they are received. Please feel free to join us in exploring this unique little tale, as we try to unlock the secret(s) of this most enchanting land and its residents.

Last night I finished chapter one and part of chapter two while walking my dog this morning. I found the book delightful with a lot of vivid and colorful description. It made me so want to just read it late into the night until I finished, just as I did as a kid. I hope IMDB is correct when it says that Ioan is playing Sir Benjamin. As he has said there is always make-up or they may just be changing the look of Sir Benjamin which so far would be fine with me. I'll be reading some more tonight. Moonacre sounds like a fantastic place that I can visualize from what Goudge wrote. May give me something to dream about. :mrgreen:

I know exactly what you mean when you mention the use of description. Wait until you get further along and you'll see,I think, how well the details given in those descriptions enliven the action of the story,too.----------------It's interesting that you should fall upon the idea of "color" at this point, because I noticed it right away myself!---------------Dreamy though Moonacre seems, it does have things about it that it is withholding, however..........

It's funny when I chose the word "color" - I thought about the fact that silver is so prominantly mentioned and I don't really think of that as a color, but everything and all colors seem to be enveloped in it. I'm at the point now where they are headed off to church in the village.

How are you finding Sir Benjamin to be thus far? IF I were a betting person (which I am not), but IF I were,.........I'd wager that they won't have Ioan look like the one in the book. I feel that he'll be portrayed as a very dashing, a bit older, yet handsome and stately gentleman. ( Probably completly wrong there, but it's fun to guess anyway!)----------Maria impressed me as the tiniest bit bratish right at first and spoiled, but I got over that as I went further along, then I figured out that it's just an air of independence she has about her from the outset.

As Ioan has said in the past, "There's always make-up.", but like you, I'm hoping they let him look more like the Ioan we know than the Sir Benjamin in the book. I'd hate to see all that beauty go to waste. Though, I do think Ioan beautifully suits Sir Benjamin in charm and grace. Natasha McElhone is about the same age as Ioan and she is in it too, so maybe they are going with a younger cast. Characters play differently in the movies now than if the same movie had been made in the 40's. Back then, they could have cast a venerable character actor in that role like Lionel Barrymore or the guy who played the Wizard in Oz, not so likely today. Though I must say that is not bad for us.

I can so plainly see in my mind's eye Ioan playing this role.Maybe you will be seeing it too, even more vividly as the story goes along. I can easily visualize him dressed as the author depicts him, and can plainly watch his actions with Maria, Miss Heliotrope, Digweed, and the animals up to the point where you said you had read. To me, that says a great deal about the author and her skill with description and style.

Oh, I can definitely see Ioan in that role as I read. And I do love her description. I had this horrible thought last night when I looked up the director and I thought I hope they aren't making an animation and thereby making the characters look as described, especially since the Director came from an Animation background. But, his most recent film Bridge to Teribithia was live action and there are no references to it being animated, so I was relieved. Much as I love Ioan's voice, I really want to SEE him in this role. I'm to chapter 5, but had family visiting from yesterday to today, so I didn't get much further. I suggested my sister read it to her two kids who are in first and fourth grade. And I LOVE your new avatar. Great picture.

You know,GG, I hadn't even given ANIMATION a single thought! Ohh nonononono!!!!! Not that,please! -------------- I don't really think so though, because doesn't it say someplace in the other MOONACRE thread that they were shooting/going to shoot some places like the opera house, some forest somewhere around Budapest, and some other location-type things were given, soooooooo that makes me think otherwise. Besides, Budapest looks SO pretty,-----that it would be an awful shame to let IOAN, and all that scenery, go to waste!!! ------------------------ Chapter Five! You're coming along well. How are the ANIMALS striking you by this time? And Miss Heliotrope? I like the Old Parson, too. He's kind of an interesting old thing. AND,Robin? For a while, I debated with myself about whether or not Ioan would have a DOUBLE ROLE or not (Mostly because of the description Goudge gives of him.) BUT,---I have since scrapped that idea----------can you possibly see why I might have thought it though???? --------------------- And my new avitar, thanks, I really love it too!!!!! It's one of the pics from the ESSENTIAL POEMS thread.

Oh yes! I can see why the description of Robin reminds you of Ioan. He would have been perfect for the role during his Pobol Y Cwm days. He would have had to let his hair go natural rather than slicking it down, but he would have been perfect. Or maybe his Poldark look. As for the animals, especially Wrolf, I can't wait to find out how they all fit into the secret. In real life I believe that animals understand a lot more than we usually give them credit for, so its easy for me to believe fantasy animals can have human characteristics. I'm really enjoying this book.

Yes, it's an enjoyable,if not thought-provoking,read. I like the little smatterings of light poetry that are included within the story too. It adds a bit of whimsy to the tale. My favorite animal is Zachariah. Have you met him yet? Quite a "fellow"! Wonder what they will do with these animals,plot-wise,in the film? Should be interesting to find out.

Being as I was at home all day yesterday, I got through the middle of the ninth chapter. So, yes I've met Zachariah, Marmaduke Scarlet and Loveday. Loveday and Maria are just now going to the Old Parson to give back the Monastery to God. I like the way she uses the animals in contrast to the humans. The animals have the qualities most humans aspire to, such as loyalty, humility, selflessness, etc. And the humans, no matter how nice or kind they are have faults that can trip them up. The animals serve the function of guides if only their human counterparts will listen. I enjoy the poetry, too and how she fits into it hints to the plot's direction and roles the characters will play in the future. I've been a bit surprised about how religion underpins so much of what is going on. Not that I mind at all, but you would rarely find that in a modern day story. Awhile back, I remember reading that Natascha McElhone was playing several roles in the movie, so I wonder if maybe they are using human voices for the animals, but when I looked on IMDB, it only shows her in one role and nothing about the animals. Some messages hint that they are making major changes to the book, so I guess we will just have to wait and see. I'll just have to guess some more when I'm finished with the book. :roll:

Being sick has some advantages as I am nearing the end of the book. Maria has just found the pearls and Wrolf has come under her window. As an adult, the foreshadowing in the book has made it easy to guess what will happen next, but for a child I could imagine how thrilled I would be with the sense of adventure and danger. As a filmmaker I can see how exciting the chase scenes from Black William's castle could be to film. Plus the book is not extremely long and has some great characters. As an actor, some of the roles would be fun to do. Can you imagine Tim Curry as Cocq de Noir? Hilarious and scary at the same time.

Have you ladies joined the Forum at the official site yet? They seem to be having similar discussions over there. I haven't got hold of the book yet, so I haven't signed up. Let me know how it goes if you do?

Whoops! I'm falling behind on my posts here, aren't I? GG, your comment about Tim Curry rings true for me too. I can picture him clearly doing the full actions described in this story-----and, no matter what they do to the original (not MUCH,I hope!!), he's going to make a great Black William/Coc de Noir! I can just see that little surly twinkle in the eye,and smirkish curl at the corner of his mouth. . . . . . . . . ----------I'm not exactly sure about the appeal of this story for the very young child. Although the VISUAL APPEAL is definitely there by all accounts,............and,of course, there ARE the animals, which very little ones would,no doubt love----especially,if they TALK! But, really little kids can't grasp the levels this story has, tho' I do think that older children (ages 11 - 14) will get the more subtle qualities, character quirks, and humor of the story. What do you think? ----------------AND, What of THE LITTLE WHITE HORSE???? Have we figured out this illusive creature yet??? Does he really exist? Is he a figment of imagination? Can he ever be captured? (TO BE CONTINUED . . . . )