Voices Part V - More of The Hobbit Cast: Poetry and Humor

I continue my occasional Voices series with more of the cast of The Hobbit.  I'm always interested in the effect of an actors voice on the roles they play and on the audience, and also love to find poetry readings or audio books by favorite actors.  I'm also curious about the cast of The Hobbit and hope to continue my exploration of their voice work  while they work on the films, the first one is scheduled to open in 2012.

I've probably seen  more of Benedict Cumberbatch's television work than that of any other young British actor.  For some reason U.S. Public Television stations have acquired almost everything that Mr. Cumberbatch has made in the last few years.  So I'm very familiar with him as an actor, though I know nothing of him personally.  I've seen him in period and contemporary dramas and he's a very versatile and excellent actor.  He has a very deep and often mellifluous voice which I enjoy.  

Recently there's been a flurry of news when his Sherlock co-star, Martin Freeman, mentioned, before any official announcement, that he was also cast in The Hobbit. The rumor mills and predictions are going full force, and most seem to think he has been cast as the voice of the dragon, Smaug.  Oddly enough, I've never seen Benedict Cumberbatch play a true villain, so if he is Smaug, this will be interesting. 

Calexora mentioned in a comment on Voices Part IV below that she was curious about his voice. Below you can listen to Benedict Cumberbatch reading the poem Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge: 

Update on June 16, 2011:  Benedict Cumberbatch will be the voice of Smaug in The Hobbit:

http://www.slashfilm.com/benedict-cumberbatch-voicing-smaug-the-hobbit/

I tried to find readings of any kind with Martin Freeman to listen to his voice in an unexpected role, but so far have been unsuccessful.  But I did find this clip, apparently in answer to an interview question, that sounds to me more like a monologue from a one man play called "Martin Freeman".  Mr. Freeman is obviously a naturally funny man, but having seen him in Sherlock, I also now know he's a very good dramatic actor.  I can't wait to see him as Bilbo Baggins.


Martin Freeman- I Would Cook Jesus Pasta:

When Sherlock aired in the U.S. on PBS (Public Television) in 2010 I wrote my impressions of the program, before I knew either actor would be cast for The Hobbit. To read my post click on the link:
http://whiterosewritings.blogspot.com/2010/10/elementary-my-dear.html


Would a post about The Hobbit be complete without the great man himself! No, I don't mean Peter Jackson, though he is a great man also, I mean J.R.R. Tolkien himself,  author of  The Hobbit and Lord of The Rings and creator of a fantasy world that can seem just as real as the one we all inhabit. Below is a video clip of Tolkien reading a poem in Elvish, a language he created:

Below is a translation of the poem that was posted in the comment section of the above video:

For now the Kindler, Varda, the Queen of the stars,

From Mount Everwhite has uplifted her hands like clouds

And all paths are drowned deep in shadow;

And out of a grey country darkness lies

On the foaming waves between us,

And mist covers the jewels of Calacirya for ever.

Now lost, lost to those of the East is Valimar!

Farewell! Maybe thou shalt find Valimar!

Maybe even thou shalt find it! Farewell!

From all accounts Ian Holm will also be in The Hobbit as the old Bilbo.  It's going to be a treat for all Lord of the Rings movie fans to see him again, and to see him in the same films with Martin Freeman playing the younger Bilbo.  I've seen Ian Holm through the years in everything from Shakespeare to playing Napoleon Bonaparte, from comedy to drama, and he never fails to give an amazing performance. He also has a very distinctive voice, and though he can inhabit a role, you always know it's Ian Holm.  In the video below he reads "There's Hope..." a poem by Anno Birkin (1981-2001).

Of course, I can't have a post that mentions The Hobbit without mentioning my favorite voice of all, Richard Armitage, who is playing Thorin Oakenshield.  Below is one of my favorite readings by RA, I often listen to it if I feel particularly melancholic.  The poem is called "Code Poem for the French Resistance : The Life that I Have" by  Leo Marks:

There are several videos of RA reading this poem, but I was inspired to make my own little version.


The poem itself has a very interesting history.  The poem is really a poem code or poem cipher written/created by Leo Marks, who was a cryptographer during World War II.  Marks wrote the poem for use by agents during the war. The poem was also about Marks former girlfriend who died in a plane crash.  A very appropriate poem for Lucas North I think.  


To read more about the curious story of this romantic poem and the fascinating people involved, check out the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_Samuel_Marks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violette_Szabo

I hope to continue the Voices series of posts and to continue to feature more actors from The Hobbit. Would love your comments as always.

Elementary My Dear

Yikes! I didn't realize it’s been so long since I posted. 

I was lucky enough Sunday night to watch my favorite Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke in a repeat of the old series just before watching the new BBC series “Sherlock” a 21^st Century version of the world’s most well known detective.  I hope one day to write about Jeremy Brett and Sherlock Holmes, but today I want to write about the new series and the first episode. 

Usually I’m not a big fan of changing the time period of my favorite books or plays.  I prefer the original.  Even Shakespeare which seems to constantly be modernized only works for me occasionally (“West Side Story”, Kurasawa’s “Throne of Blood” and “Ran”, “Shakespeare Re-told” are a few).

I didn’t buy the modern Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as Conan Doyle’s creation, but I did buy them as an enjoyable addition to Masterpiece Mystery on PBS (U.S. Public Television) and British TV detectives.

As the new Sherlock, Benedict Cumberbatch is rather sexy . I must confess I’ve seen him in many UK TV productions and though he’s a very good actor, this is the first time I’ve found him sexy.  (Isn’t Benedict Cumberbatch a wonderful British name! Good thing he’s a British actor, if he was here in the US they would have told him to change his name to Ben Batch).   He does a marvelous job of capturing the literary Holmes' hyper activity and arrogance, but makes the character his own by not taking on any of the mannerism of film and TV Sherlock’s we know so well.  I felt this Sherlock comes across as the tortured artist in some way more than the calculating detective. But I liked the fact I couldn’t really compare him with Jeremy Brett’s performance or any other Holmes. This character is very 21^st Century, right down to the nicotine patch!

I was most curious about seeing Martin Freeman in the role of Dr. Watson since he’s just been cast as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit. I had seen him in “The Old Curiosity Shop” and in brief scenes of The Office, but nothing more before. Movie Star in the making Freeman is a very modern Watson.  Though Cumberbatch’s  character retains most of the Sherlockian canon,  this John Watson is a new creation, both by the scriptwriters and Mr. Freeman.  No buffoon here like some of the earlier movie Watson’s, and no cozy and fatherly Watson like Edward Hardwicke’s portrayal.  This is a Watson who is a man to be reckoned with, a doctor, a soldier, a man’s man in some ways.  Makes a great contrast to the free spirited and uncontrollable Sherlock.   

Greatly enjoyed seeing the always reliable Rupert Graves as DI Lestrade looking very handsomely boyish with gray hair. (If only I looked prettily girlish in mine!  I worship the gods of hair color.)  I also love the scenes with Holmes brother Mycroft who apparently is a member of MI5 or 6! (Calling Harry Pearce!).

Why is it that men can do wonders with those scarves, wrapping them around for such dashing effect?

A great first episode of a new series that I enjoyed so much more than I thought I would.  Look forward to next Sunday and getting to know the new Holmes and Watson a bit more.