- Title: FJ-HRN-721
- Summary: Richard Griffiths/The History Boys: HRN-721 The History Boys Richard Griffiths
- Description:10:40:59 - A01. HRN-721 In: 10.40.59 Out: 10.41.31 Sound bite: Richard Griffiths Two years now, March 04, March the year 2004. That was the read through and then we did 500 sold out performances plus the movie and finally we parted company with a wet ripping sound at the end of September. And I will probably never do it again. I dont know. I just have that sense. 10:41:38 - A02. HRN-721 In: 10.41.38 Out: 10.42.32 Sound bite: Richard Griffiths Yes, it was open out some more and Allen introduced some new characters, quite minor characters but played by terrific actors from the national theatre company who would normally front their own shows. They were just keen to be in an Allen Bennett thing you know because Allen Bennett is this strangeI think if we were in Japan he would be regarded as a national treasure. He certainly is in Britain. When we first start, I remember Nick Hytners idea was that really whatever we did was irrelevant because the star of the show was the author because that is for sure what the audience would come to see, or hear one of his plays. And whoever did it, that was incidental. 10:42:49 - A03. HRN-721 In: 10.42.49 Out: 10.44.17 Sound bite: Richard Griffiths Well certainly in Britain. I think members of the Ivy League would have something say about that, quite rightly you know. I hear amazing things about the University of Tokyo but it is notI know what you are saying. Its very toughbut it is the consideration that is going on in all the bigcountries. Certainly in America I have to sense from the New York audiences that problems and the concerns form the parents, which you dont see in the film, except in a round about way because someone might complain and someone talks about that. They seem to be universal to those societies that have high levels of education as a system and this degree of ferocious competition is obvious in America, it is obvious in Asian and the rest of the English speaking world. Everyone wants to do better. I mean kids get told this but they do not want to hear this that education is the best way to improving your life and career. And usually they go yeah yeah yeah, because they dont want to have to sit through all that stuff. And they never understand that you already did so it is very important but it mustnt be boring. 10:44:22 - A04. HRN-721 In: 10.44.22 Out: 10.47.05 Sound bite: Richard Griffiths Its a very good way of describing it. A critical thinking course. That is a new phrase for me. But it does talk to it cause it is about whos system or whos approach is the one that is best. And you get the story shows you three approaches, there is Mrs. Lintott, which is ABC, down the line, fact fact fact fact fact. Which is quite a dull way of doing stuff. Learning by rote almost. 2 and 2 is 4 and all that stuff. Then there is Irwin who is flashy and intellectual bluffer who shows you the quick way to get through the cocktail ? and know what Julius Ceasar sayand you know three facts about him and spin them around and stand them on their heads and come up with something quite shocking and youll have an audience. There is that way which is regarding education as a ticket to be punched. You need these ticks here, tick tick tick tick tick tick, pass, bingo you get your degree. There is that way of looking at it which is a very appealing seductive way. And third way, Mr. Hector, which is the hardest way of them all. Which is the charismatic guy who has so much knowledge and passion and tries to talk about it that his audience picks up on it and gets excited. But I think, see in England there was a lot of talk about education systems and this is about education and history and I think no, no, to me the word I hear in the play, I mean I did it all for two years now and every night the words that hit you on stage, hit me, were heart and love. And it is about heart and love and Hectors main idea is when you are in love, I mean really in love and completely vulnerable, especially when you are young, and maybe especially the first time around, you get so beaten up by the process that that is the true learning in your life. You learn loyalty, affection, kindness, cruelty, treachery, faithlessness, generosity, forgiveness. All of those biblically important things, they are all taught to you by the experience of being in love. 10:47:18 - A05. HRN-721 In: 10.47.18 Out: 10.49.31 Sound bite: Richard Griffiths I know what you are going to stay, there is an inappropriate relationship, right. Why II had a big fight with a lady in New York on a TV show and I said, she used the P-word, Pediphile. And I said, can you define it for me? She looked at me like I was a jerk. Because I said I dont think you know what it means. I mean what is the age of consent in America? And she said what? I said, well okay, when it is okay with the authorities if you go to bed with somebody, what age do you have to be. And she didnt know. She wasnt sure. Could be 21, could be 18. All of these guys that are going to Oxford, they have done their entire schooling, they are going back over aged to do this extra cramming. All of them are old enough to join the army, vote, buy a house. All that is different in whatever Hectors attraction to the boys is it is an older guy with younger people but they are not kids. He is not, you know what I saying. What are you doing sir? And what is he doing? You are trying to figure out what he does. I had it out with Allen Bennett and I said what is he do? Oh I dont want to talk about that, no no no. I dont want it to be specific. I want it to be vague and naughty. And regrettable but not criminal, arresting or like that. But Allen, why? I dont want to go into that, it is just very important to the play, bare with me. Which is a bunch of help isnt it? It is like getting a tire change by a fish you know? It is just not going to happen. Sothe funny thing is that with Hector it is inappropriate, with everyone else is having sex all around him in the story and nobody is once referred to it or upset by it. There is nothing to upset you really. Except if they are kids. I mean I get the knife out and skin them alive. People who do that wit
- Collection: Historic Films
- Producer:Historic Films
- Transmission Date:01/01/2006
- Rights:On request
- Decade: 2000s
- File Name: FJ-HRN-721