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Major Pettigrew's Last Stand


An enchanting tale, brilliant in its simple yet profound insight into human ...
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Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

Created: 05/04/11

Replies: 35

Posted May. 04, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
paulak

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 264

Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

Every time I read a book, I think about who would play the main characters. So what do you think for Major Pettigrew's Last Stand? For Mrs. Ali, I was thinking of Shohreh Aghdashloo, an Iranian actress who appeared in The Stoning of Soraya M. She was terrific! I'm stuck on Major Pettigrew. For Roger's girlfriend, Sandy, I thought of Charlize Theron or Uma Thurman.


Posted May. 05, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sepidehb

Join Date: 05/05/11

Posts: 1

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

I kept imagining Christopher Plummer as Major Pettigrew and Jude Law as Roger. As for Mrs. Ali, I too, thought of Shohreh Aghdashloo.


Posted May. 05, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Auntie Mame

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 31

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

Jude Law would be fantastic as Roger! Shall have to give more thought to who would be a good fit to play the Major.


Posted May. 06, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
trezelineb

Join Date: 04/24/11

Posts: 16

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

I really cannot think of who would play the various characters well. I am not into movie stars so much and can't really say who should play whom.


Posted May. 06, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
paulak

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 264

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

I had a thought last night about who could play the major -- what about Michael Cain? Or, is Peter O'Toole still alive? Isn't it awful that I don't know that. Even Anthony Hopkins might be good (I am thinking back to his performance in Remains of the Day.)


Posted May. 06, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

I think Michael Caine's accent would be wrong and, dare I say it, both he and Peter O'Toole would both be too old - they're both almost 80, whereas I think the Major is a decade or so younger. How about Clive Swift who played Richard Bucket, the long-suffering husband of Hyacinth Bucket in the British comedy "Keeping Up Appearances"? He has the slightly bumbling but charming demeanor that I associate with the Major.


Posted May. 07, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lesliew

Join Date: 05/07/11

Posts: 4

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

I'm not quite sure this book would adapt well to a movie...but Jude Law as Roger is spot on!!!


Posted May. 07, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
virginiaw

Join Date: 05/07/11

Posts: 7

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

I am not up to date on current movie stars so I think Alec Guinness would be the perfect Major Pettigrew. I have no idea of whom I would select to play Mrs. Ali or Roger.


Posted May. 07, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

I agree, someone like Alec Guinness would be perfect, but sadly not Sir Alec himself, who died a decade ago.


Posted May. 07, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sandrae

Join Date: 05/07/11

Posts: 4

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

I see Colin Firth - with makeup which ages him - as Major Pettigrew and happen to agree with Jude Law as Roger. That is as far as I've gotten with the casting :)


Posted May. 07, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lesliew

Join Date: 05/07/11

Posts: 4

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

Okay...Tannistha Chatterjee as Mrs. Ali woud be great. You would have to use quite a lot of engineering to make this actress look older. How about reviving Hugh Grant as Major Pettigrew??? I love Colin Firth, but he would make a great DD.


Posted May. 07, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

Hugh Grant - noooo! Way too young, and even if aged, I reckon too smooth!


Posted May. 08, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lesliew

Join Date: 05/07/11

Posts: 4

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

Have you seen Hugh lately????? He is almost 50 you know!!! Age him a bit more and....don't you think??? He has those cute "crinkly" eye wrinkles!!! and with his new shorter hair cut. He may be a bit blustery for Major P. though.


Posted May. 08, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

Just don't see Hugh Grant in the role! Still holding out for Clive Swift http://www.naxosaudiobooks.com/cliveswift.htm :)


Posted May. 08, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
againstthetide

Join Date: 04/14/11

Posts: 20

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

I am totally voting for Michael Caine for Major Pettigrew - - I seriously thought of him immediately!

Jude Law would be great as Roger . . .


Posted May. 12, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Pepper

Join Date: 04/14/11

Posts: 12

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

I can see John Goodman in the role of Major. He has been credible in every role to date, from Fred to Babe, to SPeaker of the House. Love him. And he has lost quite a bit of weight recently.


Posted May. 15, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
princessa

Join Date: 05/15/11

Posts: 10

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

How about Patrick Stewart as the Major?


Posted May. 15, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Auntie Mame

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 31

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

I adore Peter O'Toole, who just turned 76, but think he's a bit too frail for the part. Michael Caine can pretty much adapt to any accent he chooses, in "Zulu" he had a veddy upper class accent. I think Michael Gambon might be a good choice. After seeing him in "The King's Speech" I now can see him as the Major.

Probably my first choice would be Richard Easton. He's not well know for films, but has a long career on Broadway. He's the right age and a wonderful actor.

I'd also like to find a role in the movie for Alan Rickman, he's a personal favorite of mine.


Posted May. 15, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

Good thought. Patrick Stewart is the right age and also more than capable of portraying the correct military bearing and accent.


Posted May. 16, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
carolynd

Join Date: 05/16/11

Posts: 35

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

I instantly saw Michael Kitchen.


Posted May. 17, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Auntie Mame

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 31

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

I read this book on Kindle so it's not easy for me to find the names of the minor characters. However, there are several roles for great British actors/actresses among the members of the Major's country club.

How about Harriet Walters as the Major's sister-in-law?


Posted May. 17, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

attachment

So many great suggestions! I've put together a montage of 5 of the actors that have been suggested in this discussion: http://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/images/posts/2011-05-16-major-pettigrew-actors.jpg


Posted May. 18, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Auntie Mame

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 31

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

After seeing all those fellows side by side.......... I'm casting my vote for.......... Michael Kitchens!! He would do a fantastic job. He's not flashy, he can play a gentleman, show his soft side but also be righteously indignant when necessary. Plus I can easily see him play the romantic scenes. IMHO Michael is perfect.


Posted May. 20, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
bgw

Join Date: 05/05/11

Posts: 4

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

I can definitely see Patrick Stewart in the role of Major Pettigrew but the actor I thought of was Geoffrey Rush. As for Roger, I am more in favor of Clive Owen than Jude Law. Roger strikes me as more of a cookie cutter figure and I think Jude Law somewhat pops off the screen and might be too dynamic for the part.


Posted May. 25, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
shirleyf

Join Date: 04/25/11

Posts: 63

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

I think that Colin Firth could pull it off as the Major with maturity and pretenion and just hte right amount of rigidity,and Jude Law as Roger. I'm not so sure about the women


Posted Jun. 05, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
againstthetide

Join Date: 04/14/11

Posts: 20

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

bgw - Clive Owen is one of my very favorites, so I'm with you!!!


Posted Jun. 06, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dianes

Join Date: 05/16/11

Posts: 68

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

What about Anthony Hopkins? I know that he can play creepy really well but I think he is a tremendous actor in other parts as well such as the father in Legends of the Fall. Or Jeremy Irons, I think he has the bearing and he is a stage actor as well.


Posted Jun. 08, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
tbobw3

Join Date: 06/08/11

Posts: 1

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

attachment

I'm in complete agreement with carolynd and Auntie Mame that Michael Kitchen would be perfect. All too many people are unfamiliar with him, but he is an amazing, very subtle actor who expresses greater depth of emotion with a few facial expressions than many performers can with lengthy speeches. If you have never seen him in "Foyle's War" you owe it to yourself to check it out. Like Major Pettigrew, Foyle is a quiet, fair-minded, polite sort of man, but has a steel streak when he needs it. Foyle is probably a bit more secure than Pettigrew, but if you have seen Kitchen in other roles, such as "Reckless" or "Alibi," you know how wonderfully he can do insecure, too!


Posted Jun. 09, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
julied

Join Date: 06/09/11

Posts: 4

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

Patrick Stewart is right on! Jude Law as Henry is perfect.


Posted Jun. 13, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
susanne

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 5

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

Anthony Hopkins for sure to play the Major and Jude Law as Roger. Not sure about Mrs. Ali.


Posted Jun. 13, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dianes

Join Date: 05/16/11

Posts: 68

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

Can definitely see Anthony Hopkins playing the major with Colin Firth as Roger.


Posted Jun. 14, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
SarahD451

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 14

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

Michael Caine as MP is brilliant, and I love the idea of Jude Law as Roger. I could see Gwyneth Paltrow as Sandy...


Posted Jun. 16, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
maried

Join Date: 06/16/11

Posts: 1

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

Why am I depressed about talk of casting for a great book? Because almost always (see Water for Elephants), a good book is a bad movie.


Posted Sep. 14, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
tswaine

Join Date: 09/14/11

Posts: 94

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

I think Michael Caine would be excellent as the Major. He does adapt very well to every role he plays. When I was reading the book in my mind I did have someone who looked like Jude Law playing the Roger role! As for Mrs. Ali, I'm not really sure who would be good for her.


Posted Sep. 24, 2011 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
VictoriaB

Join Date: 09/24/11

Posts: 1

RE: Casting Major Pettigrew, The Movie

Consider Bill Nighy, ye Gods of Casting.
I have loved him in every role he has taken on.
Or on a different tack, John Cleese?

Much as I love Michael Caine, he is too old.


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