Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site tekecs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!orca!tekecs!waltt From: waltt@tekecs.UUCP (Walt Tucker) Newsgroups: net.tv,net.books Subject: Re: Space Message-ID: <5264@tekecs.UUCP> Date: Mon, 22-Apr-85 12:57:08 EST Article-I.D.: tekecs.5264 Posted: Mon Apr 22 12:57:08 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 24-Apr-85 03:07:44 EST Distribution: net Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR Lines: 74 Xref: watmath net.tv:2817 net.books:1697 The recent airing of "Space" goes to prove two things that most of you probably already know: 1. Never read the book before watching a mini-series 2. Hollywood can really bastardize some good novels I read the book when it first came out in hard-cover. Consequently, I was interested in how the mini-series treated many of the characters. I didn't expect the mini-series to be 100 % or even 90 % faithful to the book, as that is asking too much. I read a review in the local paper, which pretty much ranked it in the middle as far as mini-series go (Above "A.D.", but below, say "Roots"). Up until the fifth night, although not following the book exactly, I could accept many of the plot changes. Obviously, there was a lot more emphasis placed on sex than Michener places on it in his novel (but, hey, that's Hollywood). There were a lot of things that could have been explained more fully, but that is often hard to do in a mini-series. For example, the Battle of Leyette Gulf was completely ignored (Michener goes into a rather lengthy explanation of what happened; but I imagine this would be hard to portray on TV. It made for good reading, but might as well be ignored for TV purposes), and the problems the Germans had to face to chose who to surrender to in the face of the on-coming forces was never fully explained. Also, a number of minor characters were changed. In the book, the rape between Funkhauser and Leisel never takes place. Nobody does away with Funkhauser and he appears later as a minor character working for Allied Aviation. Mott has two sons, not one. The contrast between Kolff's son (who is a straight A student and gifted muscisian) and the sons and daughters of the Americans are ignored. All these changes to the subplots were acceptable, as they did not affect the major characters. While Part I contained a lot of bedroom scenes to set the mini-series up as your normal night-time soap opera, I was impressed with Part II. The problems faced by the German's coming to America were portrayed well. I was very satisfied with how this one went off. Parts III and IV were mediocre, but I liked all the film clips that were thrown in. The major plot change that I had trouble swallowing, though, was the affair between the Senator and Penny, and John's resulting characterization. In the book, both the Senator and Penny have feelings for each other, but they must each come to grips with the problem in their own mind. Senator Grant's wife is mental mush (much more so than in the TV presentation), and Penny is separated from her husband for many months at a time. While both want to release their sexual tensions, it is much more of an inner stuggle concerning their own morals. In the end, they both remain faithful to their moral commitments, and there is no resulting problem for John to be concerned with. As I said to my wife after Part I, "It'll be interesting to see if Grant and Penny hop into bed. Knowing Hollywood, I bet they do, but that sure would be a major plot change." I guess it is much easier to create an affair than to have to deal intelligently with any form of complicated plot. Which brings me to John Pope, who (in the book) is a straight-arrow type, who bears a striking resemblence to John Glenn. He doesn't smoke, drink, or chase women. He runs 10 miles a day, and is up at the crack of dawn. He is faithful to his wife, while the others are off taking advantage of the groupees. Quite a different character than the one in Part V of the mini-series. By the way, Cindy Rhee was one of the best characterizations on TV. She turned out just like I imagined, and they didn't change anything when when she stated that her goal was to sleep with all six astronauts. All and all, I guess I would have to agree with that reviewer who ranked this mini-series in the middle. I don't watch that many of them, but it was a lot better than some I have seen, and worse than others. My suggestion is to read the book, which is heads above anything you saw on TV last week. -- Walt Tucker Tektronix, Inc.