Schalcken the Painter
| Schalcken the Painter | |
|---|---|
 DVD Cover | |
| Directed by | Leslie Megahey |
| Screenplay by | Leslie Megahey Paul Humfress |
| Based on | Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter bySheridan Le Fanu |
| Starring | Jeremy Clyde Maurice Denham Cheryl Kennedy John Justin Ann Tirard Anthony Sharp |
| Cinematography | John Hooper |
| Edited by | Paul Humfress |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | BBC |
Release date |
|
Running time | 68 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Schalcken the Painteris a 1979 British televisionhorror filmbased on the 1839 storyStrange Event in the Life of Schalken the PainterbySheridan Le Fanu,and starsJeremy ClydeasGodfried SchalckenandMaurice DenhamasGerrit Dou.[1]It aired on theBBCas an episode ofOmnibuson 23 December 1979, following in the tradition ofA Ghost Story for Christmas.[2]
Plot
[edit]The painterGodfried Schalckensees his true love, Rose, the niece of the artistGerrit Dou,wedded by contract for a large sum of money to Vanderhausen ofRotterdam,a strange and ghostly figure. Filled with dread, Rose begs Schalcken to run off with her to save her from the marriage, but he is cowardly and ambitious and wants to continue his studies with Dou; instead he says he will buy back the marriage contract when he is successful.
The marriage goes ahead as agreed, and nothing is heard of Rose until she escapes some time later and returns home distraught and starving and begging for protection, but she is pursued by her ghostly husband and disappears.
On the death of Dou a melancholy Schalcken lingers in the church after the funeral service, where a terrifying encounter with his former love leaves his senses reeling.[1][3][4]
Cast
[edit]- Charles Grayas the narrator
- Jeremy ClydeasGodfried Schalcken
- Maurice DenhamasGerrit Dou
- Cheryl Kennedyas Rose
- John Justinas Vanderhausen
- Anthony Sharpas Gentleman
- Roy Evansas Coachman
- Ann Tirardas Brothel Madam
- Val Pennyas Lesbia
- Victor Dearas Manservant
- Rosemary Jenneras Maidservant
- Eric Francisas Goldsmith
- Amanda Carlsonas Francoise
- Helena Claytonas Hendrijke
- Charles StewartasRembrandt
Production
[edit]
A fictional tale woven round the lives of actual historic figures,[1][3]the television film is a 70-minute-long adaptation ofLe Fanu's 1839 gothic tale "Strange Event in the Life of Schalken [sic] the Painter ", directed and adapted byLeslie Megahey.[4]When Megahey was offered the opportunity to overseeOmnibus,the BBC’s long-running arts documentary series, he accepted on condition that he could makeSchalcken the Painter.He shot the film in the style of adocudrama,using a minimum of dialogue. Megahey has stated that he was influenced in the making of the film by the Polish directorWalerian Borowczyk,whose 1971 filmBlanchealso shows the fate of a young woman being decided by rich men, without consideration of her feelings or opinions.[2]
Like the earlierWhistle and I'll Come to You,Schalcken the Painterwas listed as an episode ofOmnibus.[1]It aired on 23 December 1979, filling the slot traditionally taken in previous years by the BBC’sA Ghost Story for Christmas.[2]
The actorVincent Pricewas initially considered for the Narrator but it was decided his voice would be "too camp", andPeter Cushingturned down the role as being too dark. Finally the actorCharles Graywas cast.Arthur LoweofDad's Armyfame was considered for the role ofGerrit Dou,but he was unavailable and the role went instead toMaurice Denham.[5]
The sets and atmospheric lighting used in the film are based on the backgrounds of the paintings byVermeer.[5]Paintings by Schalcken showing young women holding candles in dark rooms are used throughout the drama, but the final image, again showing a young candlelit woman, but this time with a man in the shadowy background drawing his sword, was created for the film, based on the style of Schalcken.[5]
Megahey subsequently used the same narrative device of combining historical figures with the paintings of the lead subject on the 1987 productionCariani and the Courtesans.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcdAngelini, SergioSchalcken The Painterat theBFI'sScreenonline.Retrieved 2014-11-10.
- ^abcFuller, Graham 'Why I love... Schalcken the Painter'– theBritish Film Institutewebsite – 29 April 2014
- ^abSynopsis ofSchalcken the Painter–British Film Institutewebsite
- ^abSchalcken The Painterat theInternet Movie Database.Retrieved 2014-11-10
- ^abcInterview withLeslie Megaheyon theSchalcken the PainterDVD extras