简介：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.…