Life Of Lewis Carroll DVD

[Dreamchild]

I'm not sure if this is in the correct part of the forum to post this, but I was wondering whether anybody had any information on this:
www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Lewis-Carroll-DVD-US/dp/B001WB6NBQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1252163983&sr=1-1

As you can see Amazon is lacking on info for this. I'm actually quite interested in getting it, but thought I'd ask here if anyone has actually seen or even heard of it.

[sunset]

This is what I found so far. I didn't know of it's existence, so thank you Dreamchild.


'This intimate documentary takes a look at the life of controversial children's author Lewis Carroll, a mysterious figure to both literary historians and to many who were close to him. Exploring the inspirations and experiences that surrounded the writing of his famous works such as ALICE IN WONDERLAND and "Jabberwocky," the film seeks to remove some of the enigma shrouding the author.'

[Dreamchild]

Thanks for that sunset - oh, and you're very welcome ;D

I'm really tempted to get it now. I know it's not that expensive, but I think I'll wait til my next payday, so if it turns out to be a bit rubbish (which I'm sure it won't but, you never know xD) I won't mind too much

[sunset]

Dreamchild, will you let me know if it was worth your money?
You see I rather see someone else waste their money on rubbish (I'm sure you understand) then doing so myself.

I too am tempted to buy it, but have spend to much money on books this month already, and it's so long till Christmas!

Kind regards,
Jody

[Dreamchild]

Of course I understand, becaauuuse I was hoping someone on here had already seen it and would be able to tell me if it's worth it or not, lol ;D

I caved in yesterday and ordered it. I'm weak!! When it arrives, and when I have watched it, I intend on posting a review

I'm the same with books. I don't have a lot of time to read right now, but I just keep on buying them. I'm so addicted. Ah well, it's coming up to autumn now, i.e. cosy nights of chilling and reading ;D

x

[sunset]

I'll be looking forward to your review!

As for books and time, same here. I am also so impatient that I start reading a book from the back to the front. Two at the same time!

[Dreamchild]

Well, the DVD fiiiinally arrived It actually arrived on Friday but I haven't had the chance to post until now.

I actually really enjoyed it. I did worry that it might be really awful, but it wasn't. I suppose I might have been disappointed with it if I'd paid more money for it, as it's pretty basic (no interviews with Carroll scholars or anything like that) - just a narrator and photos and shots of important locations. And it's pretty much all the information everyone (on here, at least) knows anyway. There aren't exactly any new revelations.

But for £7 it's worth having, just for the sake of having a Carroll documentary on DVD, as there really aren't any out there - not that I know of anyway. It took so long to arrive because it was imported from America (even though it wasn't made by Americans, which I thought it might be), but the DVD is region free.

Personally, I'd probably recommend new comers to watch it rather than full on Carrollians, as it is pretty basic stuff in comparison to the biographies and studies out there.

[mikeindex]

I've tried to find out something about thsi product online, but while there are several retail sites I can't find a single review and only the most vague and uninformative of blurbs.

What line does it take on his personal life? Does it follow the old myth-driven, little-girl-obsessed approach, or does it take some account of the new scholarship?

[mrlollipop]

I have ordered it, but it must be floating across the Atlantic on a li-lo.
I'll give it a detailed review as soon as I have seen it, if no one beats me to it.

[mrlollipop]

Hurray! my Life of Lewis Carroll DVD turned up, after a little wait, and I have now watched it, only once mind you, but I am reporting in...

I would largely support what Miss Dreamchild said above.
It is a 75 minute narration of Dodgson’s life. Its structure is strictly chronological with around 30 minutes on his childhood through to entering Christ Church College. It then concentrates on photography, the Liddells and the Alice books. Snark, Eastbourne and just about everything else after Looking Glass are skated over quite swiftly in the final 10 minutes.

The DVD has no post-death analysis of Carroll or discussion of the subsequent critiques, myths, films or the development and place of Carroll in culture over the last 100 years.

The narration is told by Peter Morgan Jones, who, from the credits, seems to have written the narration. No lilting Welsh tones however; more of an academic school-teacher voice that is interested in fact and isn’t going to entertain any nonsense.

There isn’t going to be anything controversial here. We stick to facts. Anything heading for the usual areas of contention are sweetly side-stepped or succinctly put in their place. And good thing too! Because while we are presented with facts, it is actually an endearing and charming look at Carroll’s life. Mr Jones clearly admires Lewis Carroll and this is his own little golden afternoon of reflection without being overly sentimental. And I, for one, was happy to join in.

Some details of interest to Carrollians might be –
There are a couple of factual errors: i thought I spotted three - around why Dodgson invented the name Lewis Carroll, being dissuaded from taking holy orders due to his stutter and Tenniel refusing to draw the “ant in the wig”. But this is mere frippery.
The 1863 break with the Liddells was briefly attended to, with mention of the cut-pages document and explained by a break to avoid gossip and before we know it, we are back to normal.
The “unwholesome interest in small girls” topic is raised in the context of photography and firmly put in its place with impressive succinctness and authority without being evasive. Well done Mr Jones. Carroll’s friendship with Alice is not exaggerated beyond the friendship with the three Liddell girls, and it is well portrayed as a genuine friendship.
It is very noticeable that there is no mention of any other child friends except a reference to Snark being dedicated to Gertrude Chataway.
The narration is set against many photos of Carroll, the Liddells, etc., and footage of Daresbury, Croft, Richmond and Rugby, Oxford and the Isis, and Guildford. Carroll addicts will have seen all this before (although I’d never seen the Treacle Well at St Margaret's Church before).
I did wonder if a change of pace was needed with some scholastic and expert comments/interviews, but I think this might have lost a little of the charm and taken things down an overly-analytical route.

So in summary, this isn’t a treasure trove for Carroll addicts. It is pictures and facts you will have seen and heard many times before.
But I am glad I bought it and will undoubtedly watch it again. And my daughter, at 11, a Carroll fan but too young to tackle and critically assess the swathe of biographies, will like it, and come away with a good coherent understanding of Lewis Carroll.

At under £6 (and under $10 in the US) why not just get it? It’s not going to particularly either inspire or annoy you. It’s just pleasant. A nice way to spend an hour and feel self-satisfied that you already knew most of these things!
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/Life-Lewis-Carroll-Documentary/dp/B001WB6NBQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1255447443&sr=1-2-fkmr1
Amazon.co.uk: www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Lewis-Carroll-DVD-US/dp/B001WB6NBQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1252163983&sr=1-1