C.S. Lewis, author of the classic children’s “Narnia” books which are about to make their big screen debut, was “absolutely opposed” to a live action version of his stories, a newly published letter shows. The letter, posted on the literary Web site Nthposition.com, revealed that he had strong feelings about how his book should be used.
“I am absolutely opposed — adamant isn’t in it! — to a TV version,” he wrote to BBC producer Lance Sieveking, who had created a radio version of his book which had met Lewis’ approval.
Although Lewis, who died in 1963, said he would have considered a cartoon version, his letter suggests he is unlikely to have approved of Disney’s interpretation, particularly its computer-generated Aslan.
“Anthropomorphic animals, when taken out of narrative into actual visibility, always turn into buffoonery or nightmare — at least with photography,” he wrote.
“Cartoons (if only Disney did not combine so much vulgarity with his genius!) would be another matter. A human, pantomime, Aslan would be, to me, blasphemy.”
Excuse me if I disagree with Reuters here, but this does not, in any way, discount film as a means. It very clearly states that pantomime with a HUMAN as Aslan, like the old BBC versions of the series, are what he would be distasteful of. However, I submit that if Lewis were alive today, he would have seen the great step forward that we’ve made in technology, and upon seeing this film, he would have agreed that it is possible to fulfill. When he wrote that letter, computer animation in film was still about 25 years away, and about 33 years from being at a good enough point to do realistic creatures (re: Jurassic Park). It’s a shame that people might take this to mean that he wouldn’t enjoy this new Walden Media version of Narnia. Afterall, it’s not pantomime, is it..it’s CG.
From NthPosition.com:
The Kilns,
Headington Quarry,
Oxford
18 Dec. 1959Dear Sieveking
(Why do you “Dr” me? Had we not dropped the honorifics?) As things worked out, I wasn’t free to hear a single instalment of our serial [The Magician’s Nephew] except the first. What I did hear, I approved. I shd. be glad for the series to be given abroad. But I am absolutely opposed – adamant isn’t in it! – to a TV version. Anthropomorphic animals, when taken out of narrative into actual visibility, always turn into buffoonery or nightmare. At least, with photography. Cartoons (if only Disney did not combine so much vulgarity with his genius!) wld. be another matter. A human, pantomime, Aslan wld. be to me blasphemy.
All the best,
yours
C. S. Lewis[Letter to BBC producer Lance Sieveking (1896-1972), who has written at the top: ‘The Magician’s Nephew’ and, after the address, the phone number “62963”.]
