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| Alan Ayckbourn: Frequently Asked Questions - Films, Videos & DVDs | |||||
| This page contains FAQs concerning Alan Ayckbourn on film, video and DVD. If there is a question not listed here which you feel should be listed, please contact: simon.murgatroyd@sjt.uk.com. | |||||
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1) Is A Chorus Of
Disapproval available to buy on video or DVD? 2) Which Alan Ayckbourn plays have been adapted into films? 3) Which Alan Ayckbourn plays have been adapted for television? 4) Which of these adaptations have been made available commercially? 5) Is there a specific reason why so few of these adaptations have been made available? 6) Are the films likely to be released in the foreseeable future? 7) Has Alan ever written scripts specifically for film and / or television? |
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| 1) Is A Chorus Of Disapproval available to buy on video or DVD? | |||||
| A Chorus Of Disapproval, directed by Michael Winner, was released in the UK on a region 2 DVD on 7 May 2007. The DVD has since been deleted but was not a big seller and is relatively easy to find. It was also released on video in 1991, but has long since been deleted. It has never been re-released on video. | |||||
| 2) Which Alan Ayckbourn plays have been adapted into films? | |||||
| Michael Winner adapted A Chorus Of Disapproval and Alain Resnais has adapted Intimate Exchanges into the two films Smoking / No Smoking as well as Private Fears In Public Places. | |||||
| 3) Which Alan Ayckbourn plays have been adapted for television? | |||||
| The following plays have been adapted for television in the UK: Absent Friends; Absurd Person Singular; Bedroom Farce; By Jeeves; Countdown; Ernie's Incredible Illucinations; Just Between Ourselves; Men On Women On Men; The Norman Conquests; Relatively Speaking (1969); Relatively Speaking (1989); The Revengers' Comedies; Season's Greetings; Time And Time Again; Way Upstream. A number of international adaptations have also been made. | |||||
| 4) Which of these adaptations have been made available commercially? | |||||
| Very few of the filmed adaptations have been made available commercially. These are: The Norman Conquests; A Chorus Of Disapproval; The Revengers' Comedies; Smoking / No Smoking; By Jeeves; Private Fears In Public Places. A complete list can be found at the foot of this page by clicking here. | |||||
| 5) Is there a specific reason why so few of these adaptations have been made available? | |||||
| No. In a number of cases, it is known the original prints are no longer in existence. Other reasons arguably include financially viability due to the specialist interest of the films, copyright and rights issues. The quality of the pieces is also an issue as Alan is known to be unhappy with a number of the filmed adaptations of his plays. | |||||
| 6) Are the filmed adaptations likely to be released commercially in the foreseeable future? | |||||
| With the release of Private Fears In Public Places and A Chorus Of Disapproval in 2007, it is unlikely anything is going to be released in the foreseeable future and the website has not been made aware of any forthcoming plans to release material. | |||||
| 7) Has Alan ever written scripts specifically for film / an or television? | |||||
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Despite his love of cinema, Alan has never
written an original screenplay for film, nor has he adapted any of his
plays into filmed screenplays. Contrary to belief, Alan did not write the
final screenplay of A Chorus Of Disapproval. Michael Winner adapted
the play, this was then given to Alan who spent a day revising it and trying
to restore what had been lost. This screenplay was then again adapted by
Michael Winner into the final product which bears little resemblance to the
original play's intentions or motives. Alan has written just one screenplay for television. Service Not Included is a 30 minute piece, written for an educational series, which formed the basis for Between Mouthfuls from Confusions. Alan also wrote a number of sketches for Ronnie Barker's comedy show Hark At Barker under the pseudonym of Peter Caulfield. |
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| Alan Ayckbourn Films / TV Adaptations Released Commercially | |||||
| Title | Year Released | Format | Availability | ||
| The Norman Conquests | 1980 | VHS video | Deleted | ||
| The Norman Conquests | 2005 | Region 2 DVD | Available | ||
| A Chorus Of Disapproval | 1991 | VHS video | Deleted | ||
| A Chorus Of Disapproval | 2007 | Region 2 DVD | Deleted (still available) | ||
| Smoking / No Smoking (Intimate Exchanges) | 1994 (TBC) | VHS video | Deleted | ||
| Smoking / No Smoking (Intimate Exchanges) | 2005 | Region 2 DVD | Deleted | ||
| The Revengers' Comedies | - | VHS Video | Deleted | ||
| Sweet Revenge (The Revengers' Comedies) | 2001 | Region 1 DVD | Deleted | ||
| By Jeeves | 2001 | VHS video | Deleted | ||
| By Jeeves | 2002 | Region 2 DVD | Deleted (still available) | ||
| Private Fears In Public Places | 2007 | Region 1 / 2 DVD | Available | ||