| Heath Ledger as Harry Feversham in the 2002 production of The Four Feathers. This was the fifth filmed version of A.E.W. Mason's 1902 novel of the same name. While splendidly photographed and generally well acted the film suffers from an overly and openly revisionist approach to history that one can only assume was done to forward the directors personal points of view on the subject. One inexplicable change was the shifting of the films setting from Kitchener's 1896 campaign to the 1884-85 Gordon Relief Expedition. Another and even more glaring was the depiction of the Battle of Abu Klea which was shown as a small skirmish and a British defeat. In reality some 1,500 British troops were victorious in that battle withstanding an attack by some 12,000 dervishes. Another minor though equally bewildering change was the alteration spelling of the lead character's last name form the orginal Faversham to Feversham. Digital Production Still 6.5 Inches x 10 Inches (16cm x 25.5 cm) 300 dpi Tiff Format Miramax Films and Paramount Pictures Hollywood, California, United States 2002 |
