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 >> >> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the >> instructions >> at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the > instructions > at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html