1906 (novel)
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1906 is a 2004 American historical novel written by
Background
Synopsis
Set during the time of the great San Francisco earthquake and fire, this novel is a story of corruption, romance, revenge, rescue, and murder, based on recently uncovered facts that stand to change the understanding of what actually occurred in the weeks and days before and after the earthquake of April 18, 1906. In a narrative told by reporter Annalisa Passarelli, the novel describes
Annalisa Passarelli is a music critic for The Evening Bulletin and is secretly helping the police gather evidence of corruption related to the incumbency of Mayor
Critical response
Publishers Weekly wrote that the book was an "imaginative and dense interplay" of both fact and fiction surrounding the events of the great quake. While observing that the through plot and numerous sub-plots, the storyline generally worked. It was offered that the author used "too many B-movie theatrics"[1] and the love story portion of the book suffered. Those weaknesses aside, the reviewer wrote "there's plenty of suspense to keep readers turning pages to the bittersweet conclusion."[1]
Contrarily, Kirkus Reviews offered that Dalessandro's mixing of historical fact with fiction "pays off with an exciting and vivid depiction of history."[2]
Potential film adaptation
Concept
The original idea for a screenplay came to Dalessandro when researching 1906 as a prequel to his 1993 historical mystery novel Bohemian Heart. He had finished a 38-page outline and six chapters of the novel when his manager suggested the success of Titanic would make the project salable.[4] When the concept was pitched to production companies in July 1998, there was an instant bidding war, and within 24 hours a script had been sold to Warner Bros. Pictures.[3][10][11] Film producer Len Amato wanted Dalessandro to write at least three drafts.[3] After completing the drafts, Dalessandro returned to writing the novel and published it in 2004.[3][4][12]
Film pre-production
The estimated budget of the film adaptation was $200 million. Due to the massive size and scale of the project, the film was being financially backed by Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar and Warner Bros. Pictures. The project would have been the first time Pixar had been involved in a live-action film, and the first collaboration with Disney and Warner Bros. since The Prestige in 2006.[13][14]
Brad Bird was announced as the director. He paused his work on the project after being approached by Pixar management to direct and co-write the 2007 animated film Ratatouille,[15] before officially signing onto the 1906 project in March 2008, at which time Warner Bros. reserved all sound-studios available on their Burbank lot for production.[13] However, later that spring, Warner Bros. quietly released the reservations while Brad Bird continued rewriting the screenplay in order to lessen the massive scope of the story.[14]
In 2009, MTV News reported that director Brad Bird had been scouting locations. Information from Dalessandro indicated that the film would likely be shot in Vancouver, New Zealand or Australia.[16]
In 2011, it was reported by Brad Bird that the film project was still being developed. The issues he raised was his difficulty in narrowing the scope of such a manner as to be true to the story within the constraints of practical film length.[17]
I don't know. It's all about getting the story to work, and the canvas is so big on it that it's easy to bust down its movie-sized walls and go rampaging throughout the countryside. The problem has always been scaling it and containing it in a movie-sized length. It's really a movie that wants to be a miniseries. But if you did it as a miniseries, then you'd have to do it for the small screen, and the story demands to be told on a big screen. So we're still working on it.[18]
In February 2012, it was revealed that a rewrite of Dalessandro's script had been completed by Michael Hirst, and Brad Bird was now rewriting it yet again.[19] The film is currently in development hell. [18]
Possible resurrection
In June 2018, Bird mentioned the possibility of adapting the book as a TV series, and the earthquake sequence as a live-action feature film.[20]
References
- ^ a b c "Fiction review: 1906". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ^ a b "book review": 1906". Kirkus Reviews. February 1, 2004. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ^ a b c d McHugh, Kenna (March 11, 2004). "Interview with James Dalessandro, Author and Screenwriter of 1906, The Titanic Deal That Electrified Hollywood". Screenwriters Utopia. Archived from the original on June 7, 2004. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ^ a b c "James Dalessandro". Page ONE: Literary Newsletter Web Site. 1998. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ^ San Francisco Weekly. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ^ Glionna, John M. (February 7, 2005). "On Trail of 1906 Quake's Victims". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ^ a b c Howard, Grant (April 23, 2004). "James Dalessandro Interview". bookpassage.com. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ^ "Author James Dalessandro to Kick Off Livermore Reads Together 2011: 1906: A Novel". The Independent. January 15, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- Boston Globe. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ^ "Short takes: Warner Bros. conjures up another disaster film". Reading Eagle. June 2, 1998. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ^ "Will 'Titanic' formula work on earthquake disaster?". Deseret News. June 5, 1998. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- National Public Radio. Archivedfrom the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ^ a b Hill, Jim (February 10, 2009). "'Incredibles' sequel is stalled until Bird can get '1906' off the ground". Jim Hill Media. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
- ^ a b Lesnick, Silas (February 6, 2009). "Brad Bird Updates '1906' and 'Toy Story 3'". MTV Movies Blog. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
- Slashfilm. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
- ^ Knight, Heather (March 18, 2009). "It's true: '1906' film could be filmed in Canada". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
- Slashfilm. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
- ^ a b Venkman (April 19, 2012). "Brad Bird's 1906 Film Project is Still Being Developed". Geek Tyrant. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
- ^ Gardner, Eric (February 15, 2012). "Warner Bros. Wins 'Last Samurai' Lawsuit". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
- ^ Chitwood, Adam (June 18, 2018). "Brad Bird Says '1906' May Get Made as an "Amalgam" of a TV and Film Project". Collider. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
External links
- Official website
- 1906 (film) at IMDb