Michael Wood on Beowulf

[Huscarl]

Dave

Michael Wood's 'Beowulf' has since been repeated on UKtv in October again!

I have loved Anglo-Saxon history ever since his enigmatic series "In Search of ...the Dark Ages" (1979-81) which covered the lives and careers of;

Boudicca
Offa
Arthur
Alfred the Great
Athelstan
Erik Bloodaxe
Ethelred II the "Unready/Unræd"
William the 'Conqueror'

What made this fantastic series work was the incredible graphics, stirring theme music and Wood's obvious love for the topic, his personal dynamism and infectious enthusiasm! He bounded through the undergrowth with camera crew in tow!

Sadly, it has never been/never will be released on dvd/vhs, as Michael himself confirmed to me in a lovely email about a year ago.

[davem]

Originally Posted by Huscarl

Sadly, it has never been/never will be released on dvd/vhs, as Michael himself confirmed to me in a lovely email about a year ago.

Did he say why? The book is still available - I assume the Beeb weren't dumb enough to wipe the tapes? Can't think there'd be any third party issues (as with the DVD release of the Jackanory Hobbit, which I read somewhere was vetoed by the Tolkien Estate - along with the 'Tolkien in Oxford' documentary from !967-8).

[Huscarl]

Originally Posted by davem

Did he say why? The book is still available - I assume the Beeb weren't dumb enough to wipe the tapes? Can't think there'd be any third party issues (as with the DVD release of the Jackanory Hobbit, which I read somewhere was vetoed by the Tolkien Estate - along with the 'Tolkien in Oxford' documentary from !967-8).

Well, Michael suggested that because, as he saw it, the original series was filmed in 16mm, that the dvd quality wouldn't be that good, and that they (he and the camera crew etc) were younger and more adventurous than today's offerings?

Maybe he was simply older and wiser, perhaps a little embarrassed by older times and youth? But I think he seriously misjudges the depth of feeling for this great series, and might be subconsciously repressing the idea of getting it released?

I think that, using the history websites as a barometer of feeling, it wouldn't matter if it was in b&w or on vhs :-), so long as we had the series released!?

[davem]

Originally Posted by Huscarl

I think that, using the history websites as a barometer of feeling, it wouldn't matter if it was in b&w or on vhs :-), so long as we had the series released!?

Maybe we should hassle to Beeb.... We've had nothing like ISotDA, & the current explosion of interest in English history would surely guarantee big sales of the series - whatever the picture quality.

[Huscarl]

Maybe we should hassle to Beeb.... We've had nothing like ISotDA, & the current explosion of interest in English history would surely guarantee big sales of the series - whatever the picture quality.

I agree, and have tried the Beeb for clues about a future screening of repeats or sales releases of the series, but have met with bluff but polite indifference.

Here's a draft of the original email kindly sent to me by Michael himself in Feb 2008;-

"Hi *******(Hwaet!!)
Thanks ever so for your kind words about the Dark Age series. I’m glad it helped spark off your love of things Anglo-Saxon.
The series sadly was shot on 16 mm film and I don’t think would stand up to being reproduced on DVD now.
But I hope to do something else in that area reasonably soon: though no doubt we’d never recapture the youthful enthusiasm of our team back then!!
All the best
Michael"