Twlldun
@twlldun.bsky.social
Pragmatism. Is that all you have to offer?
Sure but that loses it the punchline, which is the point that makes the anecdote amazing
December 1, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Sure but that loses it the punchline, which is the point that makes the anecdote amazing
Reposted by Twlldun
I read a version that was about Empire of the Sun, which he went on to write anyway. Seemed more likely.
December 1, 2025 at 8:02 PM
I read a version that was about Empire of the Sun, which he went on to write anyway. Seemed more likely.
And, indeed, the idea that that Spielberg is going to see what he wants for the shark movie in the writer of - at this point - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and Travesties?
December 1, 2025 at 7:58 PM
And, indeed, the idea that that Spielberg is going to see what he wants for the shark movie in the writer of - at this point - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and Travesties?
This was the era of Milius (who did some script work on jaws as I recall?) and Lucas and Bogdanovich and Ashby and Towne. The milieu is out by a decade
December 1, 2025 at 7:52 PM
This was the era of Milius (who did some script work on jaws as I recall?) and Lucas and Bogdanovich and Ashby and Towne. The milieu is out by a decade
Another reason why it doesn’t work is that Jaws is made a full 6 years before chariots of fire and Colin Welland’s “the British are coming” bit at the Oscars. New Hollywood just *wasn’t* knocking on the door of British screen writers in the mid 70s. That wasn’t a thing.
December 1, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Another reason why it doesn’t work is that Jaws is made a full 6 years before chariots of fire and Colin Welland’s “the British are coming” bit at the Oscars. New Hollywood just *wasn’t* knocking on the door of British screen writers in the mid 70s. That wasn’t a thing.
Reposted by Twlldun
I remember it being about empire of the sun, too, but can’t remember where I read / heard that.
December 1, 2025 at 7:19 PM
I remember it being about empire of the sun, too, but can’t remember where I read / heard that.
I mean it’s a great film! It’s just not a film Tom Stoppard - who at this point was not writing BBC TV scripts, let alone Hollywood scripts - was invited to write by Stephen Spielberg - who at this point was not employing British playwrights, let alone the best British playwright of the 20th century
December 1, 2025 at 7:16 PM
I mean it’s a great film! It’s just not a film Tom Stoppard - who at this point was not writing BBC TV scripts, let alone Hollywood scripts - was invited to write by Stephen Spielberg - who at this point was not employing British playwrights, let alone the best British playwright of the 20th century
Reposted by Twlldun
Patrick Marber says Stoppard really liked Jaws a lot and watched it often. Don't know whether that also plays into it.
December 1, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Patrick Marber says Stoppard really liked Jaws a lot and watched it often. Don't know whether that also plays into it.
He was the script doctor behind the best written Indiana jones movie (the third) so
December 1, 2025 at 7:14 PM
He was the script doctor behind the best written Indiana jones movie (the third) so
There’s never been any mention of Stoppard’s alleged involvement in the jaws script and there’s been a lot written about the production of jaws
December 1, 2025 at 6:54 PM
There’s never been any mention of Stoppard’s alleged involvement in the jaws script and there’s been a lot written about the production of jaws
It’s - I believe - mangling together a later story about *Empire Of The Sun*, a full 13 years later (during Spielberg’s “work with prestigious British writers” phase) with Jaws.
December 1, 2025 at 6:52 PM
It’s - I believe - mangling together a later story about *Empire Of The Sun*, a full 13 years later (during Spielberg’s “work with prestigious British writers” phase) with Jaws.
That Spielberg approached him to write Jaws but he turned him down because he was writing a BBC radio play.
December 1, 2025 at 6:50 PM
That Spielberg approached him to write Jaws but he turned him down because he was writing a BBC radio play.
Maybe on both but that just illustrates the point more doesn’t it. Sacking your chancellor is a pretty substantial act and almost always destroys your government’s credibility.
December 1, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Maybe on both but that just illustrates the point more doesn’t it. Sacking your chancellor is a pretty substantial act and almost always destroys your government’s credibility.
“By the end of 2029, welfare spending will increase by 0.3% of GDP”
December 1, 2025 at 3:51 PM
“By the end of 2029, welfare spending will increase by 0.3% of GDP”
Eh I don’t think that’s the case, Javid resigned on a point of principle. I don’t think resignations count otherwise I’d include - say - Lawson.
December 1, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Eh I don’t think that’s the case, Javid resigned on a point of principle. I don’t think resignations count otherwise I’d include - say - Lawson.
Obviously moving them doesn’t count. Obviously them resigning doesn’t count. So it’s basically one every 30 years and each time it happened it destroys that government’s cred.
December 1, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Obviously moving them doesn’t count. Obviously them resigning doesn’t count. So it’s basically one every 30 years and each time it happened it destroys that government’s cred.
Yeah as I say above “In this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear” is both a better and more elegant quote and - by your translation - seems to be more accurate?
December 1, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Yeah as I say above “In this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear” is both a better and more elegant quote and - by your translation - seems to be more accurate?
Is the previous quote maybe a translation *back* into Italian of the French mistranslation?
December 1, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Is the previous quote maybe a translation *back* into Italian of the French mistranslation?
I mean, in comparison to Tony H, he’s got a 35 year meaningful movie career.
December 1, 2025 at 1:11 PM
I mean, in comparison to Tony H, he’s got a 35 year meaningful movie career.