David Vallon Talks Dawn Treader
David Vallon as Governor Gumpas
The Queensland Times interviewed David Vallon recently about his role in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader where he plays Governor Gumpas. Here’s what he had to say.
“I am Governor Gumpas who is the Governor of the Lone Islands,” he said.
“He is corrupt. Most, if not all, of the people who arrive (on the island) end up being sold into slavery.
“Of course the heroes get caught up in it and Gumpas, being the baddie, gets his just desserts in the end. It’s a small role, but key to the story line.”
While Mr Vallon wasn’t able to talk in detail about his role or experiences on the set while filming is under way, he said he had jumped at the chance of working with director, Michael Apted.
“He directed Gorillas in the Mist which is one of my all time favourite movies,” he said.
“He is so easy to work with.”
You can read the full interview here.
Sounds about right…
Nice to have this interview. Sounds close to the book. Looks like Governor Gumpas is in good hands. Sail on VDT!
I like the fact that he says he has a small role. I was afraid they would try to turn him into a villian that would be seen throughout the movie.
The way he describes Gumbas sounds good. Nothing to complain about there…yet 🙂
When I saw something new came up; I was so EXCITED!!! But then it was just a boring interview. Still, feel bad for Ben and Skandar. I broke my friend's finger and she went to the hospital immediately. So I know how bad Skandar feels. Eeryone (Especially my friend) teased me so bad! I feel sorry for him.
awesome! I'm so EXCITED!! AHH!!! 454 MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, I'm sure Ben will be all right–it was just a puffy lip. In a way, I sort of feel more sorry for Skandar. Oh, well. Maybe they'll joke about it later. Hey, does anyone else think it's (a tiny bit) funny that "King Caspian" can't even protect himself from a fake sword wielded by a boy who didn't want to hurt him? What if the sword had been sharp, and the person holding it had wanted to actually kill him? He'd have been dead in two seconds. Okay, it's not really funny. Just kind of ironic.
I can't wait!!!
I don't know, I always thought of as Gumpas more of an accountant than anything else. He deals in the slave trade simply because it makes him money, if he could make more money doing something else, he would drop the slave trade and do something else. He's not really a villian, just a stuffy guy who works by the clock and his actions are dictated by what can he get out of it.
Great Interview, Sail on VDT!
All he got was a puffed lip. Nothing big so I don't think they really minded. I have have been hurt much worse by friends before (all accidental). He did an interviewthe smeday so itcouldn'tbe that bad at all, pain wize. Keep the story of Aslan alive!
I never really thought he would look like that. I thought he was bigger, in more ways then one. But he seems to havea good outlook on his role so that is good. Keep the story of Aslan alive!
Your right. It does sound pretty close to the book. Let's hope it stays that way throughout the movie! Long live King Caspian!
I can't wait until VDT comes out!!! I just love the C.S.Lewis's Narnia Books and the movies!!
Lord of the Rings is Great too!!
Thank you for the great movies!!
Yeah, I always pictured him rather…er…overweight, and balding, with a little gray hair. And a bit comical, in a sort of bumbling villain way. But if he's a good actor, I guess it's okay.
Hmm looks interesting.
I am so happy about that too. This should be an adventure movie, not an action movie.
Sounds right! small role as it should be, and description seems traight off the book to me.
I'm happy with this news, very happy indeed. 🙂
"Gets his just desserts"? That makes me a little nervous. I hope it's nothing worse than getting thrown out of a chair.
Well, in the book he loses his job and gets kicked out of his castle. To Gumpas, that was probably a tragedy 🙂 Surely that's good enough "desserts".
Hmm, I wonder why Eustace is hitting him with a paddle? Kind of nervous about that.
haha…you don't have get nervous about everything gP. What did you want him to say. He's not going to come out and give any details of what exactly happens to him. I can't really think of a better phrase to use than "just desserts".
He looks much more evil than I imagend him…Oh well.
Well, shouldn't King Edmund be better at swordplay than King Caspian anyway? After all, he (Edmund) is one of the four kings and queens.
I wouldn't be surprised for them to ramp up the action. You know how it is in the book — Caspian walks in, kicks Gumpas out, and then goes and frees his friends from Pug (who, if I remember right, doesn't give any protest). I can see the filmmakers dramatizing/changing it. I'm not saying I necessarily agree.
Well, at least David knows who and what his character is!
I'm not sure about that part either, it sounds more like something Edmund would do to Pug. Eustace is a Pacifist, he doesn't fight, or hit people with paddles either.
Coolness… =D Sounds like the book part, too!
I saw that part on a video that a fan recorded. He does it accidentally, He's holding the oar and his back is towards Gumoas. Then he turns around for some reason and the oar hits Gumpas' head and he falls over. But I love the look on Eustace's face. He's like; what are you doing on the ground?
Exactly1! that's how I've always pictured it which is even more reason why he shouldn't be doing anything where he would have any need for a stunt double and why he shouldn't leave his house, besides the fact that none of that is in the book
Nothing is right about that. Going from the book, Gumpas never leaves his castle and Eustace wouldn't have been allowed to be in the kind of position where he gets to hold a paddle. The only time when that might just be able to happen is when they're all leaving
I can definitely see that too, and I don't like it. I could totally see that being one of the "battles," which shouldn't even be there in the first place, that Ben was talking about training with swords for. Hopefully that's just for the playful fight with Edmund, though
I disagree, I think my judgement may be clouded because I heard the FotF Radio Theatre version, I do agree that Pug was the more guilty one, by him doing the kidnapping, but I felt Gov. Gumpas, was as Lord Bern said, a chicken hearted man and should have stood up to Pug. I wonder if pug's in the movie?
digory83
Exactly. In the book it's simple and a bit comical. Unfortunately, they'll probably make it a much bigger deal.
this is nice. its about time they talk to actors that are not apart of the primary cast. corrupt? thats a nice description! i never thought of him like that before, but it does fit.
i actually think thats interesting. since eustace probably wouldnt be allowed to even hold an oar, he probably picked it up and, of course not knowing what he was doing, swings it around unconciously. i think its cool if they make it that way, afterall its an important part of the story, so they should make it interesting.
abslolutely Karena! if you havent read lord of the rings, you should, even if you've seen the movies. im telling you its amazing, intense, and just plain awesome!
i it possible that video is available to see on the internet?
Sounds like a cool interveiw!
Pretty sweet!
I actually like that they're not portraying as a stereotypical overweight, balding guy. C.S. Lewis preferred to go out of the way to avoid stereotypes. In fact, in his time, the White Witch was actually very non-traditional, since it was before the Wicked witches in Wizard of Oz and other witches came about, which is how the "wicked witch" became a stereotype. This way, it makes Gov. Gumpas seem like an actual person that gets caught up in the money his islands earn from the slave-trading business.
I agree with all three of you. Governor Gumpas strikes me as a man who cares only about his money and prestige as Governor, and is too cowardly to even acknowledge Pug's slave dealings lest it interfere with his comfortable life.
I think Gumpas looks perfect! David Vallon certainly looks the part! And yeah poor Ben,but at least it was just a swelled up lip, though I do have to say it's pretty cool way to get a swelled up lip. Skandar must feel pretty bad though, I know I would.
Fire Fairy, Oz was written several years before the Chronicles.
Eustace claims to be pacifist, but let us not forget what he did to Reepicheep by his tail…
Why are you talking about swelled lips?
RockaBye, look here: http://www.narniaweb.com/2009/09/barnes-injured-on-dawn-treader-set/
Starlily, They actually use REAL swords! I thought everyone knew that since LWW came out!
narnia resident. I saw it an either Apopplewell.org or some Georgie Henley site. I forget which Georgie Henley site! Sorry.
go to Narniafans.com and type in the search box: Dawn Treader Fliming at the Spit (video). It'll show the part.
is that a video?
You mean sharp swords? Ones that could actually cut you? I didn't know that. Wouldn't that be dangerous? Sorry if these are dumb questions.
i wondered how they're gonna play Gumpas, if he's gonna be a "meanie" or if he gonna be a lazy, corrupt bureaucrat like he was in the books.
just judging by the photos he looks like a meanie, one who would actually be at the slave market watching the auctions; not the type that just locks himself up in his office relying on red-tape to get away with everything.
in any case, i hope that whatever changes they do would make the slave trade issue more compelling. goodness knows its a relevant issue today that nobody wants to talk about.
No, it's a "Word on the Street" news story.
Yes, I do remember when he swings Reep by the tail in a bit of a mean streak. He could possible just blow his top because of the whole slave situation and just start swinging the oar around. I really have no clue, but I am curious to find out.
Starlily, that's just it. They do get cut! I honestly don't know how they don't really hurt each other. It must just be something that gets learned how to do. *shrugs*
thank you aravis
Yes! The movies are pretty good, but the books are outstanding 🙂
Wow. Then I'm surprised Ben didn't get his face cut in half! :O
I hope not! …and don't think so… since he does say "it's a small role" right afterwards.