Edgar Allan Poe

[sacateca]

i love Poe. The first story i ever read from him was 'the Island of the Fay' and it's still my favourite, another close one is 'Silence - a Fable' (just mentioning these, nothing against his more popular stories, either!)

[AE35Unit]

I love Poe too, I have a large omnibus of his stories and poems etc. I've not yet read The Raven but alwways thought it was horror-i certainly enjoyed the vincent price movie,very creepy!
The pit and the pendulum is one i like, much much scarier than the film version!

I really want to get into horror but i dont know that many classic authors,who to look for etc. I have some Conan Doyle and I've read some M R James in the past but need to learn more.

and its about time a film was made about Poe's life1

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by AE35Unit

and its about time a film was made about Poe's life1

Bite your tongue! Can you imagine what Hollywood would do with this one? We'd certainly end up with the drug-crazed, drink-addled, degenerate misfit foisted on us by Griswold....

Incidentally, speaking of this idea, I recall that as far back as the 1980s, there was talk of Sylvester Stallone wanting to do a film about Poe... with himself in the role! (This may be pure nonsense, but I did come across it in various sources on current Hollywood projects, and considering that industry... it's really not that far-fetched....)

[Fried Egg]

I recorded the "Masque of the red death" on television the other day, planning on watching it tonight. Anyone know if it's any good (just so I can prepare myself for disapointment)?

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by Fried Egg

I recorded the "Masque of the red death" on television the other day, planning on watching it tonight. Anyone know if it's any good (just so I can prepare myself for disapointment)?

Which version? If it's the Roger Corman film, with Vincent Price... while it has some problems now and again, overall it's a very good film, with some sterling performances, superb camera work, and a stunning use of the color motif so important to the story. A beautiful film to watch, and in many ways captures the Poe story to a surprising degree. (It also has as source material, the tale "Hop-Frog", which blends into Prospero's court quite well....)

[HoopyFrood]

It assume it's that one, as that's the one I watched the other night (or at least the latter half). I enjoyed it -- a very bright, garish film with, as J.d says, some great use of lighting. I liked the merging of the Hop-Frog tale, I rather like that short story. And I was playing "Spot the Poe Tale", as I'm quite sure I saw a raven, mention of a heartbeat, and a something rather pendulum-like........

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by HoopyFrood

It assume it's that one, as that's the one I watched the other night (or at least the latter half). I enjoyed it -- a very bright, garish film with, as J.d says, some great use of lighting. I liked the merging of the Hop-Frog tale, I rather like that short story. And I was playing "Spot the Poe Tale", as I'm quite sure I saw a raven, mention of a heartbeat, and a something rather pendulum-like........

Yes, it was certainly the best of the Corman Poe films, with a script co-written by Charles Beaumont; so such references are quite likely.

[nomadman]

I've always been most taken with Poe's nautical tales. The Maelstrom and Ms in a Bottle perfectly capture the the awesome impersonal power of the seas, whilst the Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym (one of his few novels) contains some wonderfully memorable scenes. Of his horror, I've reread Fall a number of times. A perfectly crafted tale. Imp of the Perverse I find disturbing for a number of reasons (I think it may have struck a chord...). His various miscellaneous tales vary in quality. Domain of Arnheim I found unique and dreamlike; Le Duc de L'Omelette was, uh, not my favorite.

[Kostmayer]

Have read a couple of his shorts.

And listened to the album "Tales of mystery and imagination" by The Alan Parsons Project

No really, its good.

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by nomadman

.....Le Duc de L'Omelette was, uh, not my favorite.

Ummm, HPL tended to call such things from Poe's pen "laboured pseudo-humour". On this one, I'd say he was right (though I do have rather a fondness for "Bon-Bon"... and "How to Write a Blackwood Article/A Predicament").

As for Pym... actually it was his only completed novel; The Journal of Julius Rodman was, I believe, intended to be of novel length, but he never completed it -- and, after having read it a few years ago, I can rather understand why. It's probably the only time I've ever had to truly grit my teeth to get through something of Poe's....

Kostmayer... I'll back you up on that. It ain't quite Poe, but it is a rather good album....

[AE35Unit]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

Bite your tongue! Can you imagine what Hollywood would do with this one? We'd certainly end up with the drug-crazed, drink-addled, degenerate misfit foisted on us by Griswold....

ah but who said anything about Hollywood! Why not a british or european film. Incidentally Hollywood have made some pearlers in the past

Incidentally, speaking of this idea, I recall that as far back as the 1980s, there was talk of Sylvester Stallone wanting to do a film about Poe... with himself in the role! (This may be pure nonsense, but I did come across it in various sources on current Hollywood projects, and considering that industry... it's really not that far-fetched....)

now that does sound crazy! BTW I've never seeen a photo of Poe,anyone?

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by AE35Unit

ah but who said anything about Hollywood! Why not a british or european film. Incidentally Hollywood have made some pearlers in the past

Oh, I agree with that last... but "the past" is, for now at any rate, the operative phrase, I'd say.... and when they get it into their heads to do biopics... *shudder*

now that does sound crazy! BTW I've never seeen a photo of Poe,anyone?

Well, this wiki article has a copy of what is certainly one of the most famous:

Edgar Allan Poe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yahoo! Image Detail for www.hoerspielhelden.de/news/rezensionsspecial/poe2.jpg

As for a description, you might want to look at the final paragraph here:

Poe's Life - PoeMuseum.org

[HoopyFrood]

Apparently one of my friend's lecturers looks like Poe but without the moustache. I may have to infiltrate and see if it's true one day.

Just thought I'd mention that...

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by HoopyFrood

Apparently one of my friend's lecturers looks like Poe but without the moustache. I may have to infiltrate and see if it's true one day.

Just thought I'd mention that...

Whereas John Astin looks a fair bit like him with the moustache!

Yahoo! Image Detail for www.astin-poe.com/smallpoe.jpg

[AE35Unit]

Thbanks JD,that was quick! He looks menacing doesn't he! A bit like Chopin actually!
Hoopy,fantastic avatar you got hun,love the nebula background! Combines fantasy and SF nicely!