Day of the Triffids

[dreamer_easy]

I'm watching the eighties TV adaptation of Day of the Triffids - I think I chickened out of watching it when it was originally broadcast! It's a very good production, but there are a couple of things which bug me, things which I think must also be in the book - I'll have to check.

Firstly, the Strangelove business where every man in the survivalist community gets to impregnate multiple women. They plan to have an excess of women over men, but if the chaps think it's going to be a constant polygamous orgy they're going to be sorely disappointed. You can only have one pregnancy at a time.

Secondly, the debate over whether anyone is coming to rescue the Londoners. It doesn't seem to have occurred to anyone to try a shortwave radio, which would clear up the question of what's happening in the outside world lickety-split.

Comments

[jack-ryder.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure (years ago since I saw it or read the novel, but for some reason people expect me to be an expert on all things Triffid) didn't the meteor storm that blinded nearly everyone also prevent radio and television transmissions?

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

That'd make sense - I'll have to re-read the novel!

[drhoz.livejournal.com]

at least the triffids were pretty. And they don't dissolve in salt water.

[gaspode.livejournal.com]

Radio was working but no one (on the first few days anyway) were broadcasting (in the book there is mention of something pip piping away but thats it - I think that Radio Broadcasting was more complicated in the 50's when Wyndham wrote the book - so he jsut assumed the few sighted people woul dhave better thngs to do than get radio working - and were ther emany HAM radio people in the 50's ?

The mass pregnancy thing does make sense I guess - but your right its not gonna be a mass orgy lol but if 99.9 % of the population were blind with a large proportion dead of a plague as well then repopulation is vital ..

By the way - Night Of The Triifds by Mumble Mumbel (cant remember his name - simon something) is worth a read - Its not brilliant but was commisioned for the 50th Anniversary and is written very much in the style of the first one - although it gets carried away by the end.

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

I had a rummage in Wiki, and it looks as though ham radio was going strong after WWII. I'll have to have a look at the novel to see if it's addressed - haven't read it since I was a kid!

[barrington.livejournal.com]

It does get carried away, but it's otherwise great. It's by Simon Clark, he who wrote The Dalek Factor.

[rob-t-firefly.livejournal.com]

but if the chaps think it's going to be a constant polygamous orgy they're going to be sorely disappointed. You can only have one pregnancy at a time.

They didn't specify a constant heterosexual polygamous orgy, did they?

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

This decadence will ultimately lead to TRIFFID SHAGGING!

[dalekboy.livejournal.com]

Isn't that the sequel to the Dangerous Brothers Crocodile Snogging segment?

Re: !

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

We tried and failed to watch the dire movie a little while ago. The TV series is far more faithful to the book, and a much better production in every way. Plus you can play "spot the Doctor Who actors" a bit, which is always enjoyable. :-)