Subject
Re: Irons vs. Mason vs VN reading LOLITA
Date
Body
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: "Thomas E. Braun" <cawriter@sprynet.com>
>
> May 1, 1997
>
> One item to anticipate in the new "Lolita" movie is the opportunity to
> compare the Humbert of Jeremy Irons with that of James Mason in the 1962
> Stanley Kubrick film. Two of the finest actors ever to take to the
> screen - what more could you ask? Oh, just this: will the new version
> ever be released? Those who cannot wait can make the comparison now, in
> a sense. An earlier blurb in this forum advertised the complete reading
> of "Lolita" by Irons, available as an audio book. In 1981, Mason
> recorded an abridged reading of our favorite novel. It is available from
> HarperCollins Publishers in New York, ISBN #1-55994-634-2. My
> preference: Mason. His reading has more wit, anguish and pathos than
> that of Irons - which is still bloody good. Too bad Mason did not record
> the entire book, but in 1981 the market for audio books did not yet
> justify the expense of such an undertaking. Buy both and make up your
> own mind.
>
> Cheers,
> Thomas E. Braun
> cawriter@sprynet.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Donald Barton Johnson wrote:
>
> EDITOR's NOTE. I haven't heard the Mason reading in many years, so I
> really can't compare it Irons' fine reading. What I look forward to is
> listening to Irons' reading in comparison with VN's recording of certain
> scenes such as the HH-Quilty brawl. The VN recording is, I think, still
> available, although it contains only snatches of the novel.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Braun replies:
Thanks for the reply. It would be interesting to hear from others who are
familiar with both the Mason and Irons recordings. As for VN himself, I
also have his recording of most of Part 2, Chapter 35. VN tries hard, and
does fairly well in conveying the reading the author would have intended -
since he was, after all, the author! However, he was not a professional
actor. His voice is a bit high-pitched and slightly grating - which is
just, don't you agree? After all, for the gods to have given VN both his
writing talent PLUS the sonority and acting talent of a James Mason or a
Jeremy Irons would have been a bit much!
Cheers,
Tom Braun
cawriter@sprynet.com
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: "Thomas E. Braun" <cawriter@sprynet.com>
>
> May 1, 1997
>
> One item to anticipate in the new "Lolita" movie is the opportunity to
> compare the Humbert of Jeremy Irons with that of James Mason in the 1962
> Stanley Kubrick film. Two of the finest actors ever to take to the
> screen - what more could you ask? Oh, just this: will the new version
> ever be released? Those who cannot wait can make the comparison now, in
> a sense. An earlier blurb in this forum advertised the complete reading
> of "Lolita" by Irons, available as an audio book. In 1981, Mason
> recorded an abridged reading of our favorite novel. It is available from
> HarperCollins Publishers in New York, ISBN #1-55994-634-2. My
> preference: Mason. His reading has more wit, anguish and pathos than
> that of Irons - which is still bloody good. Too bad Mason did not record
> the entire book, but in 1981 the market for audio books did not yet
> justify the expense of such an undertaking. Buy both and make up your
> own mind.
>
> Cheers,
> Thomas E. Braun
> cawriter@sprynet.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Donald Barton Johnson wrote:
>
> EDITOR's NOTE. I haven't heard the Mason reading in many years, so I
> really can't compare it Irons' fine reading. What I look forward to is
> listening to Irons' reading in comparison with VN's recording of certain
> scenes such as the HH-Quilty brawl. The VN recording is, I think, still
> available, although it contains only snatches of the novel.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Braun replies:
Thanks for the reply. It would be interesting to hear from others who are
familiar with both the Mason and Irons recordings. As for VN himself, I
also have his recording of most of Part 2, Chapter 35. VN tries hard, and
does fairly well in conveying the reading the author would have intended -
since he was, after all, the author! However, he was not a professional
actor. His voice is a bit high-pitched and slightly grating - which is
just, don't you agree? After all, for the gods to have given VN both his
writing talent PLUS the sonority and acting talent of a James Mason or a
Jeremy Irons would have been a bit much!
Cheers,
Tom Braun
cawriter@sprynet.com