Private Henry Hook VC, Rorkes Drift

[billyturnip]

An interesting article about the real Private Hook.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...y-Hook-film-portrayed-drunken-malingerer.html

Roger

 

[Mark S]

Hi Roger,
There's no doubt Hook has been portrayed poorly.
It seems he deserved some better PR.

Here's a page on Hook which I found very interesting-
Go to the page which is his own account of the battle.
http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/vc/hook.htm

 

[garyjd]

Though ZULU is one of my favorite films it would be neat to see an accurate remake. ~Gary

 

[busso_boy]

well hollywood seems quite keen on remaking everything these day's rather than thinking up new stuff so who knows, maybe while they are at it a better version of "all quiet on the western front"?

 

[vergilius]

you don't see those mustaches now-a-days

 

[billyturnip]

Thanks for your link Mark. I used to work with a guy who's wife was a direct descendant of one of the defenders of Rorkes Drift, can't remember which one now though

you don't see those mustaches now-a-days

Those Victorians knew a thing or two about facial hair

Roger

 

[krom1415]

Excellent read, thanks for posting

 

[Dan Morton]

Marvelous info about Hook - never would have guessed! Hollywood has always sacrified fact for storytelling.

As opposed to a re-make of "All Quiet on the Western Front", how about movies based on the British soldier memoirs, "With a Machine Gun to Cambrai" by George Coppard or "Her Privates We" by Frederic Manning, or if you want a German point of view, "The Storm of Steel" by Ernst Junger, or if you want an American point of view, " Fix Bayonets" by John W. Thomason, Jr. Yes - particularly "Fix Bayonets". John Thomason was a helluva good storyteller!

There are many, many excellent stories of the Great War. Remarque's story was very good, but, for my money, not in the same league as any of these. It's success was much related to the date of publication and the wave of pacificism and antiwar feeling which was sweeping Europe and the US at the time. Same for the movie. Try reading any of these and see if you don't agree.

All the best,
Dan

 

[busso_boy]

Will have to look out for them........Thanks for that Dan

 

[billyturnip]

I would love to see Storm of Steel made into a movie, directed by Mel Gibson of course

erm, in act no, I'd rather read the book again.

Roger

 

[georges64]

Though ZULU is one of my favorite films it would be neat to see an accurate remake. ~Gary

Indeed, it would be welcome! I reviewed last week my dvd and I noticed that the down back of the jackets (among others) were not accurate!

georges.