Two weeks ago HBO announced that David Simon (The Wire) and Tom Fontana (Oz) have been signed to write and produce a new historical miniseries. It’s based on James L. Swanson’s non-fiction bestseller about John Wilkes Booth’s flight after Lincoln’s assassination, "Manhunt: The 12 Day Chase for Abraham Lincoln’s Killer." Now, given the magnetic topic, a perfect vehicle for Simon and Fontana, and HBO’s recent triumph with "John Adams" we have something to really look forward to.
But, ultimately, what will we see? Simon and Fontana have suggested that they’ll tell the story through the minor characters. That proposition was intriguing, so I sat down and read Swanson’s "Manhunt" to see how well the portraits of the peripheral characters were drawn. The resounding verdict is that a "Manhunt" miniseries will be magnificent. Simon and Fontana have had so much experience and success with big casts in complex dramas (especially with lesser know actors who have remarkable real life credibility)--they'll knock this out of the park.
I’ve picked eight of my favorite characters to briefly describe so you can see how this “tell the story through the peripheral characters" might work.
Doctor Charles Leale: An Army surgeon sitting in the dress circle at Ford's Theater, who as the first physician to the scene, by default becomes Lincoln’s physician. The heroic Leale, through a quick diagnosis, CPR and removing blood clots from Lincoln’s brain extends the never-to-return-to-consciousness President’s life by seven unbelievable hours.
Laura Keene: The actress starring in the performance of the mediocre play “An American Cousin” at Ford’s Theater that auspicious night. Keene recognizes the theatrical tableaux emerging in Lincoln’s box, and the opportunity to be immortal. She rushes to President Lincoln to cradle his head and her dress becomes soaked with blood.
-Photo-B%26W-Resized.jpg)
Lewis Powell: A rabid Booth co-conspirator. Commissioned by the master planner Booth, Powell is sent to kill Secretary of State William H. Seward. Powell leaves a bloodbath but fails due to the remarkable resistance from Seward’s family and servants. Booth's larger plot is unfulfilled.
David Herold: Another young and naive Booth co-conspirator who follows the Lincoln assassin to the bitter end because of his Booth idolatry and hero-worship. Despite any true involvement in the plot or political interest whatsoever (even though he ultimately hangs for his sins), he just wants to be around Booth around the clock.
William Stanton: Lincoln’s Secretary of War and Director of the manhunt...Stanton witnesses Lincoln’s death in a boarding house and then remains there alone weeping over his corpse before commanding soldiers to wrap the naked Lincoln in an American flag and transport the late President to the White House in a pine box for an completely unnecessary autopsy. Vivid stuff, very vivid.
Thomas Jones: Noted member of the Confederate Secret Service and southward Underground Railroad conductor who hides Booth and Herold in a pine thicket for five days while the entire world searches. Jones rides out from his Huckleberry Hill farm (pictured below) to bring Booth newspapers every morning so he can read what he, as an actor through and through, sees as his dramatic reviews of Lincoln's assassination.
The Garrett Brothers: Sly farmers at the last stop of the chase who, ironically, lock Booth & Herold in the barn behind the house below to prevent them from stealing their horses. This fortuitously imprisons Booth and Herold in a trap from which they can’t escape. Herold surrenders. Booth is burned out and then shot as he attempts his last stand.
That's just the beginning. I could have discussed 20 more minor characters. Just to reemphasize the big picture. This is great screenplay material filled with vivid portraits of the secondary players who will lend remarkable color and interest to the piece.
More on marketing the "Manhunt" miniseries (oh…but for a new name to start with) in my next post, but just consider the above snapshots as a series of 30 second TV promos. And that’s just the beginning. This is an unbelievable marketing opportunity too.
Scott Lackey
New York, New York
Posts
4 comments:
Just finished Manhunt and must say am really excited for the mini-series. The book was so incredibly vivid I could see the scenes with my minds eye and almost smell them as well.
JETER
I am a twenty-two yr. resident of charles county maryland.Nursing a bum shoulder not only gave me the opportunity to read Manhunt nearly non stop,it also allowed me to become very familiar with Booths entire escape route first hand.(took my own tour)
The home of samuel cox I find most intresting as it was previously owned by Gus.Brown whose son was DR.GB phys to Geo Wash.and daughter Margret who married Thos. Stone signer of the Declaration of Independence.The main part of this home is still standing (barely)and is now around 300 yrs. old.A portion of land owned by Samuel Cox is now occupied by a decendant of the Zachia indian tribe that inhabited the lower Zachiah swamp.I have befriended this man by a simple handshake and a smile. Oh! and many hours of sharing stories about history. Booth and Herolds horses were killed on this gentleman's farm.(Part of the swamp is on his property.)About a yr ago he found a stirrup and parts of a bridle along the edge of the swamp.not being fully aware of what he had just found,he placed it in a bucket w/ some other item he found near the swamp in yrs past.After researching the trial test.of the man who rented HEROLD HIS HORSE ,i am convinced that this is indeed from either Booth's or Herold's horse.Long story short; He has agreed to take me to this spot to search for the other stirrups,horseshoes or any thing else a metal detector may reveal. MANHUNT; THE BEST STORY I'VE EVER READ!
I like to fix things all the time, and i always have a lot of cables around me, around my house. But i believe they are very useful, like this blog. I liked it very much.
buy viagra
I read this book when it first came out. A very good read, more like a novel than non-fiction. The main focus of the book is the actor Booth and his co-conspirator Herold. Apparently those who have considered making a movie version are unwilling to make those two villianous characters the main focus and will give more attention to those who hunted them down.
Post a Comment