冒险故事  

Rattigan’sowndramaticstudyofAlexandertheGreat.StarringSeanConnery,MargarettaScott.DirectedbyKarelReisz.OriginallybroadcastJune12,1961.Approx.110minutes.　　AtruecuriohasbeenthrownupbytherecentBBCreleaseoftheTheTerenceRattiganCollectionDVDbox-set(seehereforanintroduction).Theearliestproductiontobeincluded,the1961stagingofAdventureStorywasinfactthesecondtelevisionpresentationofRattigan’shistoricaldramaaboutAlexandertheGreat.TheBBCproduceditfirstin1950(norecordingwasmade;detailsarehereatMemorableTV),theyearafterithadfailedintheWestEnd.Quitewhyitwasaccordedtwoproductionsinjustoveradecadeisamystery–especiallysincethisoddball1961productionrevealsalloftheweaknessesofthetext.　　MichaelDarlow’sonlinebiographyoftheplaywrightnotesthatcriticsofthestagepremiere,whichgavePaulSchofieldhasfirststarringrole,feltthatRattigan’s‘naturalisticdialoguewasnotuptothedemandsofepicdrama’.Certainlythefirsthalfandmoreofthedramaplayslikeaslightlyludicroushistoricalpageant,andonlytowardstheenddoesitbegintoexploresomethingmoreambitiousandambivalent,asAlexanderfacesuptothereasons(seekinghisdeadfather’sapprovalandhismother’slove)whyhehasbeendriventoconquertheknownworld.　　SeanConneryismostdefinitelythereasontowatchitnow,shiftingfromboyishcharminthefirstscene(thereisaframingprologueofAlexanderonhisdeath-bed,above)todebauched(theoddglassofwine,vaguelyhomoeroticembaceswithhiscompanions)andtormentedanguishtowardstheend.