PRINT SOURCE: Thomas Raddall Fonds, Correspondence. From Thomas Raddall to Helen Creighton, 15 December 1963. MS-2-202 39.19.
Subject HeadingsIn a letter to folklorist Helen Creighton, T. H. Raddall expresses satisfaction with the use of Nova Scotia folk songs in the television adaptation of his novel, The Wings of Night. Although concerned with some interpretive decisions and changes made in the characterization of his heroine, he is generally very pleased with the television adaptation. He ends the letter with his reasons for heartily disliking professional writers' conferences.
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Miss Helen Creighton 26 Newcastle St. Dartmouth, N.S. December 15/63 Dear Helen: The inspiration of Nova Scotia folk song music in "Wings of Night"1 really belongs to Ron Weyman, the dir- ector of the TV film, and his playwright. Actually I was not consulted on the TV script, except on one or two minor points. Indeed the standard contract one is required to sign, on selling the rights in a story, contains a clause to the effect that the author will have no say in the film or TV production. This is, of course, the standard practice of the motion pic- ture business, evolved from a long experience of book authors screaming murder whenever their story is twisted or mutil- ated to suit the film playwright. Actually, if the film people had consulted me more, I could have saved them several bad boners, including one that -- when detected -- makes a farce of the courtroom trial, which is the principle part of the story. It will be interesting to see how many people do detect the anachronism. On the whole the play and the direction were very good, and the casting was excellent. I confess I was dubious when Weyman informed me that "a folk-singer named Karen James"2 would play the part of Tally in my story. However when I saw Miss James on location here for the outdoor shots I was quite happy about the choice. Quite apart from her singing talent (a talent I had not given Tally in my story) she had exactly the combination of healthy good looks and rather shy charm of the person I had in mind, and she played the part beautifully. The film device of having Neil hear her singing a Nova Scotia folk ballad before actually seeing her, and the use of her song as motif music for the opening, fitted the story well indeed, and the acknowledgement to you was not only graceful but the proper thing to do. I have not heard from Will Bird about the convention next June. As you know, I have never liked the notion of anyone (including me) pontificating about the literary art. Art comes by instinct, and no one can lay down rules for it without betraying himself as a stuffed shirt or a fool. I've seen and heard too much of that when authors and would-be authors meet. Edith joins me in greetings, |
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2. Karen James, born in 1940 in Toronto, was a coffee-house folk-singer in the 1960s.