Did Anyone Watch the Stonehouse Drama? Strange Characterisation.
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I am old enough to remember this episode in British politics, although I didn't follow very closely. However, I also watched the accompanying documentary and I was surprised at how Stonehouse was portrayed so differently in each. Matthew Macfadyen played him (obviously as directed) as a bit of a bumbling fool, socially inept and awkward, almost to the point of special needs. I was left wondering how he ever attained high office let alone maintained his positions.
In contrast, the documentary showed him as a good looking, intelligent, arrogant, strong minded, erudite and even charismatic man.
I know dramas often state that poetic licence has been taken but surely if you are telling the story of a real person, especially within living memory, with film and interviews to back up his personality, it behoves the film makers to portray the person as near as they can to reality.
When there are different versions of a story I always try and locate the one closest to the original.Even and especially fiction novels as well.
MelissaLee1 yes that's what I was trying to say, the documentary showed the real person and he came across as nothing like the character portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen. It's a shame as MM is one of my favourite actors and I would have liked to see him play JS as he really was.
I watched the start and turned it off. I don't know when it happened as for bumbling fool attaining high office. That's how boris acts
Imnotcheap ha ha, that's true, seems to be a politician's chief characteristic.
Did you turn off because you weren't liking it? I guess it could seem boring to those who never heard of it. It started mid seventies. I remember them all, the Profumo affair, Lord Lucan's disappearance so I guess I find it interesting.
Lynibis yes I got bored I was born in 78 so guess that's why I don't remember. I did find the lord lucan case interesting read he might be alive and living in Australia
Imnotcheap Lord Lucan disappeared before all the Stonehouse stuff and it was funny in the programme as the police arrested John Stonehouse in Australia after mistaking him for Lord Lucan!
Imnotcheap yes like a lot of dramas, it did improve after the lead up to his disappearing act.
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