Great Proofing Errors through the Ages

[desperance]

Oh look, '70s TV geekery. Worse, English '70s TV geekery. But I've just watched a rerun of the first-ever episode of Up Pompeii, and I do just love this.

The episode is based around the Miss Vestal Virgin competition, AD 72 (okay, look, it's British '70s humour, okay? Never mind that, just watch the numbers). The characters say so, and it's written on the posters advertising the event. Then, at the event, there's this big banner at the back, which reads 'Miss Vestal Virgin, AD 79'. And no, it's not a particularly curly 2, it's definitely a 9. And at some point during filming, someone must have noticed. But rather than correct it, reshoot it, remake the props, they just ignored it - only the next time we visit the event, the end of the banner has been judiciously wrapped a couple of times around its pole, so that the 9 has completely disappeared. Oh, how good is that...?

Comments

[martyn44.livejournal.com]

My jury is still out about Up Pompeii, which was basically a rip off of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Howerd's Lurcio was pretty much a rip off of Phil Silvers' stage character. On the other hand, maybe it is like comparing Zero Mostel's Max Bialystock to Nathan Lane's. They are the same, but different. Disengage critical brain and put your laughing tackle in gear.

The jury went home a long, long time ago about I, Claudius. Every so often the BBC puts on a drama that is seminal (I am old enough to remember seeing Talking to a Stranger, Robin Redbreast and Home on the Range not to mention Culloden, War Games and Scum) Claudius is one of those. The trouble is, I don't think she's got the balls to do it now. Remember the reaction to Ian Kennedy Martin's 'black flowers'?

[desperance.livejournal.com]

My jury is still out about Up Pompeii, which was basically a rip off of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Howerd's Lurcio was pretty much a rip off of Phil Silvers' stage character. On the other hand, maybe it is like comparing Zero Mostel's Max Bialystock to Nathan Lane's. They are the same, but different. Disengage critical brain and put your laughing tackle in gear.

I think that's exactly right - and adding, of course, that Howerd recreated the Zero Mostel parts (Prologus/Pseudolus) in the original London production of "...Forum", so was perhaps more entitled than anyone else to carry it forward into a spin-off UK TV production.

And I do agree with you about Claudius too, but I did need to see it again to be sure. Vivid memories from adolescence are no true guarantee of quality.

Wasn't 'Scum' banned originally from the TV? I remember seeing it as a film release, in '79 or '80, but I thought it went to the movies because it wasn't allowed on TV.

[martyn44.livejournal.com]

'Scum' was, of course, banned before transmission, unlike War Games and Culloden (not exactly dramas but very 'dramatic') which were only banned after transmission, once the horses were well and truly scared.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm not sure about BBC not being daring anymore. I watch Spooks, and it's damn good, fairly topical and not kowtowing much to government policy. A far cry from the pablum that passes for dramatic telly over here in France. They even shot a French remake of The Office and, my, my, my... they should have shot the poor thing dead, for sheer mercy.

I'll grant that Spooks is not I, Claudius, but it's still a fine production.

Another thing I'd like to see on DVD is that biography of Shakespeare with Tim Curry as the Bard (and as I remember, he was quite brilliant). I missed the last episode and though I can more or less imagine what happens, I've wanted to catch up ever since. But no VHS and no DVD. - sigh -

[mantichore.livejournal.com]

Crumbs, forgot to log in. So I should add here the previous message on Spooks and Shakespeare (was that series called "Will", or am I misremembering?) is from me. Ò_____ó

[desperance.livejournal.com]

It was called 'Will Shakespeare', and has at some time been available on video, as witness this (http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Boulevard/2587/timbio.html)...

[mantichore.livejournal.com]

Thanks. In the States, it seems. A couple of no-frills DVD should take care of a new release. I'd really be curious to see it again. The recent DVD release of Andrew Birkin's The Lost Boys was another long-deferred pleasure.