Mortimer attacks Hollywood Brideshead

Sir John Mortimer has attacked a much-anticipated Hollywood adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel Brideshead Revisited, claiming that integral themes of the book - God, homosexuality and Aloysius the teddy bear – have been left out to make the film more palatable to mass American audiences.

Mortimer, 85, who wrote the screenplay for the much-admired 1981 British television version, says he has heard "terrible rumours" that these themes will be ignored in the new film. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Sir John said: "It is entirely a book about God and homosexuality."

Mortimer was particularly concerned about Aloysius being cast aside. He warned Jeremy Brock, a co-writer of the Hollywood screenplay: "If you were to take out the teddy bear it would be an outrage to Evelyn Waugh."
But Brock insists the bear will appear, along with the religious and sexual themes. However, he hinted that the film's main thrust would be the social angle, saying he thought that "the idea of Charles Ryder breaking into a charmed circle" was "very relevant for people now who feel they are outsiders".

The book, of course, tells of the close friendship – some say homosexual love affair - between two Oxford students, Ryder and Lord Sebastian Flyte. After Sebastian takes to drink, Ryder falls in love with his sister Julia.

As reported on The First Post, the new film is far from a rigid adaptation. Julia Flyte (portrayed by Hayley Atwell) appears in scenes set in Venice, which are not in the book but have been introduced in order to condense the storyline.