The Six Swans - dreamcast

Hamlette is hosting a "We Love Fairytales Week" over at her blog - go and take a look and participate if you're not already! 

I mentioned in my last post that I love the Six Swans fairytale. Before we get down to business, I'm just going to say about the name of it: it's either the Six Swans or the Seven Swans, depending on the version. My book and Wikipedia (!) says six, but there are versions with seven. Anyway, I thought that I'd publish my dream cast of this, if it were made into a film.

A synopsis: a king marries a wicked woman, from whom he hides his six sons and one daughter. The stepmother finds them and turns the sons into swans. The daughter, who was hiding, discovers that the only way to lift the spell is to sew a shirt for each brother out of nettles, and remain silent for the six years this will take her. During those six years, she meets and marries the king of a neighbouring country; but, when her three children are born and disappear (they have been stolen by the stepmother) she is accused of witchcraft. Just in time, before she is burned as a witch, the girl finishes the sixth shirt and throws them over her brothers, the swans, who are then transformed back into men - except for the youngest brother, who still has the wing of a swan instead of an arm, for the sister did not have time to finish his shirt. The stepmother is punished, the girl is reunited with her children, and they all lived happily ever after.

If this were a film, I would cast:

1. The Princess:

I would call her Alouette... I like the sound and feel of it!

I would cast Justine Waddell for her. She has the right balance of sweetness and determination (because all the best fairytale heroines are sweet and determined in proper measures).

2. The Stepmother

I don't think she really needs a name, do you? 

I would cast Keely Hawes (whom I have only ever seen in Wives and Daughters). Imagine this photo but with more period-correct hair:

I would write her script so she was an entrancing and magnetic woman, who only revealed her true colours after her marriage to the king, causing him to hurry back to hide his children...

3. The King (Alouette's father)

This man needs to play the king as a genuinely kind man with actual morals who just makes a mistake - think less weak and deluded, more trying to make the right choice and getting it wrong. Think Mr. Gibson from Wives and Daughters. How about Paul Bettany - I think he could do it.

4. The King (Alouette's husband)

This man needs to be gentlemanly, courteous, and slightly impetuous and fiery. You could have a really sweet romance with him and Alouette, especially as she has to be silent for all of it (and it would have my favourite thing, the story carrying on after their marriage). 

I want to call him Gervase. Don't come at me here about the name - I love it! It's knightish! 

I cast: Ralph Fiennes.

5. The six brothers:

I casted each one individually, as I like the idea of them all having their own personalities and stories.

Michael Caine would play the oldest one, maybe a little younger than in this picture. He would be called something like - Michael? I'm having a hard time thinking of anything else. However, in keeping with the French feel of it, let's call him Piers. Let's go for that. He has an older-brotherly sort of character, responsible but not boring. 

The second brother, played by Kenneth Branagh, would be called Aimeric. He would be fun and maybe a little too pleasure-loving, but not super immoral, and would have a good relationship with Alouette.

The third brother would be played by JJ Field (whom I've only ever seen in Northanger Abbey). He could be studious and clever, yet playful. We can call him Nicholas.

Perhaps the fourth brother could be played by Anthony Andrews, as a - well, the thing is, I've only seen him as Sebastian in Brideshead Revisited, and part of The Scarlet Pimpernel, as the Scarlet Pimpernel. I'm therefore finding it tricky to imagine him as anything other than an alcoholic or a playboy. Perhaps he could be sensitive and - erm - musical? I'm making this up a bit. I can imagine him being like that, yes - less robust than his older brothers, but still manly. Aaaanndd let's call him - Alain. 

The fifth brother, played by Jeremy Brett, could be the not-so-nice one. Maybe he could have a redemptive character arc and turn out nice? Perhaps we could twist the original story a bit so he is the one who ends up with a wing, not the younger one. He can be called Leonard.

Gregory!!! He has to be a Gregory! This is James D'Arcy, and he would be great... he would be perfect as the immature youngest one.

Now, two more characters, added in: 

6. Alouette's friend

She could marry one of the brothers, maybe?

Let's call her Isabeau (real name, I've done my research!). She can be more impetuous than Alouette, and maybe get them both into trouble. I'd cast Carey Mulligan.

7. Alouette's sister-in-law

The king Alouette marries has to have a sister whom one of the brothers can marry, because I want them all to have happy endings. Let's call her Agathe, and cast Felicity Jones...

And that's all the characters! 

What do you think? Would you watch this film?