Gresham Excited to See Puddleglum in ‘The Silver Chair’
Douglas Gresham (stepson of C.S. Lewis, co-producer) was asked which character he is most excited about bringing to life in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair. Watch the video here.
DG: “The character I am most excited about filming in The Silver Chair, I think, has to be Puddleglum. Puddleglum is a unique character and also a unique species. All of the dwarfs and things we find in Narnia come from previous mythologies or other places. But, Puddleglum is a marsh-wiggle. The marsh-wiggles are the only species that Jack himself actually invented out of his own originality and his own mind. And he’s modeled after the old gardner we had at the Kilns in Oxford who was outwardly a very dour pessimistic guy, but inwardly was a huge optimist. His name was Fred Paxford. So, Puddleglum is the guy I’m really longing to see on film.”
DG: “The character I am most excited about filming in The Silver Chair, I think, has to be Puddleglum. Puddleglum is a unique character and also a unique species. All of the dwarfs and things we find in Narnia come from previous mythologies or other places. But, Puddleglum is a marsh-wiggle. The marsh-wiggles are the only species that Jack himself actually invented out of his own originality and his own mind. And he’s modeled after the old gardner we had at the Kilns in Oxford who was outwardly a very dour pessimistic guy, but inwardly was a huge optimist. His name was Fred Paxford. So, Puddleglum is the guy I’m really longing to see on film.”How do you think Puddleglum should be brought to life? How much CGI, if any, should be used? Here is Lewis’ description from the book:
As they drew nearer, the figure turned its head and showed them a long thin face with rather sunken cheeks, a tightly shut mouth, a sharp nose, and no beard. He was wearing a high, pointed hat like a steeple, with an enormously wide flat brim. The hair, if it could be called hair, which hung over his large ears was greeny-gray, and each lock was flat rather than round, so that they were like tiny reeds.
[…]
They now saw that he had very long legs and arms, so that although his body was not much bigger than a dwarf ’s, he would be taller than most men when he stood up. The fingers of his hands were webbed like a frog’s, and so were his bare feet which dangled in the muddy water. He was dressed in earth-colored clothes that hung loose about him.
– The Silver Chair, ch. 5
Read our character profile for Puddleglum.
Can't express how important it is to me that they get this character right!
He's not Eeyore. He may always be voicing the worst possible situation, but he never seems very sad. He is always putting a bold face on. He is the one that encourages Jill and Scrubb not to be discouraged when they are trapped in Underland. And he even tries to look on the bright side when death seems certain underground: it'll save funeral expenses.
Got to get Puddleglum right! He's got one of the best quotes in the book and, in fact, the series:
"Suppose . . . suppose we have only dreamed and made up these things like sun, sky, stars, and moon, and Aslan himself. In that case, it seems to me that the made-up things are a good deal better than the real ones. And if this black pits of a kingdom is the best you can make, then it's a poor world. And we four can make a dream world to lick your real one hollow . . . As for me, I shall live like a Narnian even if there isn't any Narnia."
Me too! Can't wait to see Puddleglum in live-action movie. 😀
Respecto Biggle!!
"I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia."
They must get Puddleglumm right,I have always been worried that he might be misrepresented as a depressed pessimistic character which is not who Puddleglumm is hopefully David Magee and whomever the director ends up being share Mr Gresham view.
Just give it to Jason Flemyng. Perfect choice for the part imho
I can't wait to see Jill Pole!
Yes, Puddleglum is definitely the character to get right, which will make or break the film. Whoever it is who plays that character will also need to do better than Tom Baker's Puddleglum, in the BBC version. Fortunately I think Puddleglum is a character that is a good challenge for a competent actor.
Good suggestion. My vote is for Burn Gorman or Rufus Sewell.
I also hope that they get him right. Tom Baker was a great Puddleglumm in the BBC series, I had hoped someone like Allen Rickman could have played him this time.
Yes, I can't wait to see it too, but c'mon! Let's release this movie already for CRYING OUT lOUD!!
Reepicheep will always be my favourite character, but things that have happened in my life recently have made me appreciate Puddleglum's "Put a bold face on it" outlook more than ever and he's become even more special to me than he already was, so it's very important to me that Puddleglum is done right.
Film-makers would be wise to draw on Douglas Gresham's experience because he knew the real life Puddleglum – Fred Paxford!
Sounds good. I'm really excited to see where they go with this film and Puddleglum himself.
I agree. Jill and Puddleglum are the core characters of the book. They must be carried by outstanding actors. The other characters are secondary to these two. Aslan is considered separately.
Tom Baker did an amazing job with Puddleglum and I think he captured the expression, voice and character of the him perfectly! I don't think any CGI should be used (unless they try to make the actor taller like Jack in the 2010 Alice in Wonderland). What the team was capable of in the past films is incredible and I don't doubt that they will be able to en-capture Puddleglum as well as they have with the other characters!
Tom Baker was just as great in his role of Puddleglum as he was playing Dr. Who. Let's hope that the actor who plays him will be good, although he might not equal Baker's performance.
I vote for "Andy Circus" as possible actor for puddleglum. His natural charisma and versatile voice, not to mention his history with tokens franchise, I feel make him almost a perfect match for the role. no?