Carpathian Castle

Another purchase from last years' Book Fair that I finally just got around to reading. For those that are interested, the 2012 Printer's Row Book Fair will be held on June 9th and 10th. James Bond author Raymond Benson will be attending as well.

Carpathian Castle by Jules Verne

Published by Ace Books in 1963

A traveling merchant stops by a small village in the Carpathian Mountains and sells a telescope to a shepherd, in fact, it's the first telescope that anyone in town has ever seen. The village is situated close to an old castle that once belonged to Baron Rodolphe de Gortz, who hasn't been seen for the past twenty years. Enjoying the new telescope, Frik, the shepherd, begins to study the mysterious castle when he notices smoke coming from the castle's keep. Believing that evil spirits are living in the castle, Frik heads back to the village to confer with the towns people on what he has seen. They meet in the village inn where it is decided that Nic Deck, the forester, and Dr. Patak will hike to the castle and find out what is going on. It is then that a mysterious voice warns them not to enter the castle. A search is made of the entire building, but no one is found.

Nic Deck and Dr. Patak, reluctantly I may add, leave early in the morning for the Carpathian castle. The way is treacherous and they don't reach the castle until after nightfall. The drawbridge is up so they are forced to camp outside. Time passes and the castle lights up with an unholy light and the bell in the chapel tower rings frantically until it suddenly stops and it is dark and silent once more.

When morning comes, Nic is determined to enter the castle and searches for a way inside. Seeing none, they go down into the moat and Nic begins to climb the drawbridge chain. Dr. Patak wants to run away, but he is stuck in place as if he is caught in some kind of trap. Nic grabs begins to climb when he is suddenly shocked, looses his grip on the chain and falls to the bottom of the moat, unconscious.  Another day passes and a group of men from the village set out to find Nic and Dr. Patak. They don't make it far when they find the pair making their way back.

While Nic is recovering, a two strangers come to town, Count Franz de Télek and his servant. The count takes a passing interest in the goings on at the castle and tries to convince the townsfolk that it is more likely that a band of brigands has taken up residence in the castle and is using local superstition to keep them all away. That is, until he finds out the castle belongs to Baron de Gortz. For Count de Télek knows that de Gortz is alive and holds him partially responsible for the death of his beloved La Stilla.

The Count stays at the village a few days and then sets out for the castle, unbeknownst to the villagers. Upon his arrival, he sends his servant on to the next town to await his arrival or to fetch the police and come to his rescue. de Télek sees La Stilla on the battlements and believes that she has been kept prisoner by de Gortz for the past five years. He must rescue her at all costs. Finding the drawbridge down, the Count enters the castle. He is so enthralled with his mission, he takes no notice that the gate is shut after his entrance. After being locked in the crypt, Count de Télek escapes and finds his way to de Gortz's private chamber where he hears La Stilla singing. He is prepared to strike de Gortz down and rescue his beloved until he sees her, he drops his weapon and is entranced by her - but it's not her. It's only an illusion created with mirrors which the Baron smashes causing the Count to faint.

de Gortz grabs a mysterious box and runs out of his chamber just as the police arrive. A stray shot destroys the mysterious box, de Gortz blows up the castle and himself with it. It is then that the story sheds its inspiration from Stoker and Leroux and becomes purely Verne as all the supernatural elements are explained away as scientific inventions.

 

The Collectible World of 007

After watching the new Skyfall trailer a few times, I finally decided to start working on this project I've wanted to do for quite a while now. I enjoy collecting movie memorabilia and have amassed quite a few items; most of them being James Bond related. Years ago, I even toyed with the idea of creating a website devoted to James Bond collecting, but it never really got off the ground. Besides, I think these short little videos might be more fun.  Let me know if there is any interest in this series, and more episodes will follow.

Such A Tease

It has been a rather exciting time for Bond fans these past few days. First we've had the release of the teaser poster for Skyfall and now the first teaser trailer has just been released.  It was nice to see 007 using the trusty PPK once again, but I would have liked to hear the familiar theme music.  But as teaser, it worked; it has caught my interest.  It looks like James Bond Will Return... and in Imax too.

 

Sharpe's Enemy

Sharpe's Enemy is chronologically, the fifteenth book in the Sharpe's series by Bernard Cornwell. It was first published in 1984, making this the fifth book that Cornwell wrote in the series. It has to be said that Bernard Cornwell is one of my favorite authors and he doesn't disappoint here.

  

For those that aren't familiar with the character, Richard Sharpe is a soldier in the Peninsular War and is promoted from the ranks after he saves Lord Wellington's life on the battlefield. The stories follow Sharpe, his friends and his enemies through the war.

   

Sharpe's Enemy by Bernard Cornwell

Published by Harper Collins in 1994

   

Sharpe's Enemy begins in December of 1812 when a ragtag army of deserters from the British, French, Spanish and Portuguese take over a small Spanish town, raping and pillaging it during a holy day. Two women who were visiting the old convent are captured and spared the indignities of Pot-au-Feu's men - which includes the most odious Obediah Hakeswill.  Lady Farthingdale and Madame Dubreton are taken prisoner and will be held for ransom. To make matters worse, the survivors of the massacre are saying that the British are responsible, making the shaky alliance with Spain all more shakier.

The task falls to the newly promoted Major Sharpe to deliver the ransom money and retrieve Lady Farthingdale, the wife of Sir Augustus Farthingdale. Sharpe and his good friend Patrick Harper travel to the town where they meet French Colonel Dubreton who has come to pay the ransom on his wife. They gold is taken, but they are not allowed to have the women. Further ransom is demanded and the heroes leave, heading back to their own lines.

Major Sharpe is then given command of a small force to rescue the hostages on Christmas Eve; which he does, capturing Pot-au-Feu in the process, but the slippery Hakeswill escapes. Lady Farthingdale isn't all she appears to be as she is really Josefina, someone who Sharpe is intimately familiar with.  Lord Farthingdale arrives in the morning with the main force to clean up the rest of the deserters from the adjoining castle. Hakeswill is eventually caught, stripped and thrown into the castle's dungeon with the remainder of the deserters.

The French arrive after the battle has been won and pleasantries are exchanged. The French are adamant that the British leave in the morning. They have been sent to destroy the castle and they intend to do it, even if the British are there. Seeing himself up against an insurmountable force, Sir Augustus agrees to the French demands; which doesn't sit well with Sharpe. Sharpe's wife, Teresa, who is fighting with the Spanish partisans arrives to wish her husband a merry Christmas. He sends her to get reinforcements as he intends to hold the castle as something doesn't seem right the story the French have told them.

After effectively blackmailing Sir Augustus with the knowledge of who is "wife" really is, Lord Farthingdale agrees to head back to the British lines, leaving Sharpe in command. The French are amassing troops to occupy the castle and invade Portugal in an effort to drive the British forces out of Spain. Under the expert command of Major Richard Sharpe, the British are able to hold the castle until reinforcements arrive and thwart the French plan. During the battle, Hakeswill is able to escape yet again, this time killing Sharpe's wife in the process and then surrendering to the French.

Colonel Dubreton witnessed the death and returns Hakeswill to Sharpe. Lord Wellington praises Sharpe for his actions and offers his condolences on the loss of his wife. Colonel Hogan, Harper and a few of Sharpe's friends get him drunk to help get him on the road to recovery. Obediah Hakeswill is executed by firing squad for desertion and the final bullet is fired by Sharpe himself, thus ends the life of Sharpe's Enemy.

 

The Thief of Budapest

Season 1 - Episode 3
 

Directed by: John Patterson 
 

Co-Starring:  Bruce Abbott

Michael Constantine

Sid Haig

    

The opening gambit sees MacGyver going after an unnamed king's stolen horse. A tribal leader has stolen the horse to provoke the king into a small war. Mac sneaks into the camp, knocks out a guard, saddles the horse and rides off all while the tribal leader is out playing with his sword. A chase ensues and it seems as if MacGyver is about to be caught for good when a helicopter with a tow cable appears out of nowhere and picks up Mac and the horse.

The main story begins with Mac in Budapest on a mission to retrieve a list of KGB agents from his old buddy Nicolai Grodsky with a road rally being in town as a bonus. While waiting around for his contact to show, a young gypsy girl named Jana picks MacGyver's pocket. He catches her in the act only to let her go and she steals his knife again. Grodsky appears, so he has to forget about it, for now. It turns out the KGB are also watching him. They are waiting to see who he meets to pick up the list of names, which is concealed in an old pocket watch.

They begin to leave to make the exchange when our little friend Jana picks Grodsky's pocket and steals the watch. In the ensuing confusion, the KGB confront Grodsky who takes off and his hit by a truck and killed. The Russians naturally assume that MacGyver has the watch until they review their surveillance footage. The race is on to locate the girl and obtain the list.

Mac tracks Jana down at the same time that the Russians find her family. They are taken to a work camp and Mac has to bust them out as Jana gave the watch to her brother and only he knows where it is. Using this episode's only MacGyverism, Mac uses some salt, sugar and weed killer to cause a chemical reaction which makes an explosion; which is all he needs to steal a truck and break the gypsy family out of the camp.  The only problem is that Jana's brother has already sold the watch.

Needless to say, Mac tracks down the fence who has the watch and is able to talk her into giving it to him. Unfortunately, the KGB has also tracked her down. Mac makes a quick escape out the back where Jana and her brother are waiting to pick MacGvyer up, but they want something in return for helping him. They want to go tot he US.

  

  
Mac comes up with a plan using the road rally as a cover. They steal three Mini Coopers and borrowing footage from the Michael Caine film, The Italian Job, Mac causes a traffic jam and the three cars race about the city while being chased by the police and KGB. A good portion of the chase from the film is used in this episode, only slightly re-edited and a few cutaway shots of Richard Dean Anderson and the other actors in the cars added. Our intrepid heroes manage to cross the border into Austria just as the KGB catch up to them. A short phone call later and the gypsy family has been cleared for entrance into the United States. Mission accomplished.