Your Smith characterization was fascinating. Thanks.
-- Stephan
On 8 Jan 2006, at 19:36, Melinda Skinner wrote:
> There is so much wrong with the film from a historic point of view,
> but John Smith was in his 20s.
> From the age of 19, he had been a soldier who fought in wars in
> eastern and western European (as a mercenary), was captured and a
> slave to the Turks, escaped to travel and sail with pirates, and
> was an all-around "adventurer" to say the least. By the time he
> got to Jamestown, he may have been "old" as far as experience goes,
> but he was only 27.
> Pocahontas was probably 10 or 11-- most likely having a shaved head
> and wearing little more than a few decorations on her body except
> in cold weather; Smith never wrote nor claimed any "romance" with
> Pocahontas. (As a matter of fact, one noted English historian
> speculated that, since Smith had been captured by the Turks-- and
> it was their general practice to castrate their adult, male
> captives-- and there is no record of Smith having any relationship
> with any female-- his sexual ability may well have been seriously
> diminished, if not nonexistent.)
> I have seen scenes of the film but haven't seen the whole thing. I
> have heard
> that it is beautiful to behold (and should help tourism to
> Virginia) but WAY off the real story. Too bad they didn't cast a
> heartthrob as John Rolfe so he could have had the steamy scenes
> with Pocahontas.
> -Melinda Skinner (educational writer/researcher, among other things)
>
> -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: Louise Bernikow <[log in to unmask]>
>> In a message dated 1/3/06 1:25:46 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>> [log in to unmask]
>> writes:
>>
>>
>>> From the previews, it is a perpetuation of the John Smith-Pocahontas
>>> "romance" which never happened...she was a child and there are
>>> indications
>>> that
>>> John Smith made up the story to make himself look like a hero! I
>>> direct
>>> interestedJoh
>>
>> From beginning to end, it's a dumb distortion of everything we know.
>> Farrel/smith is in his early 20's! The "naturals" attack j-towne
>> fort with
>> pocahontas
>> inside. they have bizarre body/face paint, unlike any pics i've
>> ever seen. the
>> "maids" who come-glimpsed mostly in the background-are middle-aged.
>> pocahontas has a kind of english nanny (not the clergy) turning
>> her into an
>> english
>> lass. she is received at court by king and queen. and on and on. i
>> can't imagine
>> why malick has done this- the history is so much more interesting,
>> the
>> story/characters here have no responses we can read (except for
>> the mooning love
>> story and I think p. looks polynesian, not native am. ) so there
>> is no insight,
>> no
>> real emotion, no understanding.
>> weren't there people on this list who worked as historical
>> consultants on the
>> film? would love to hear from them.
>> it does look filmed at the Jamestown restoration. true?
>> Louise Bernikow
>>
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