The Lost Boys movie

[andrew]

Without wanting to sound like any sort of ultimate authority (!), I don't think Barrie's letter to George wishing he were a girl had anything to do with fighting in the war, at least not in the context Barrie wrote it; in fact I think he more or less gives the reason himself: "I do seem to be sadder today than ever, and more and more wishing you were a girl of 21 instead of a boy, so that I could say the things to you that are now always in my heart." 

In other words, had George been a girl, he could have told him/her that he loved him, whereas being a man it was "not the done thing" - NOT out of any fear of being thought a homosexual (I doubt that such things ever even occured to Barrie), but because British men of a certain class in those days (and still today!) had an absolute horror of revealing their emotions. 

This theme was beautifully explored by Barrie in his one-act play, "The New Word",  based on George's departure for the Western Front, which I quoted at length in my book...
 

[AlexanderDavid]

Thanks, Andrew, I'd forgotten about that--I'd forgotten the exact quote....   

[TheWendybird]

Ah there we go..I shoulda gone back and found the scene on my dvd before I asked about this..Thanks a bunch Andrew! I couldn't remember the exact quote. It was the fact he was wishing he was a girl and saying "so that I could say the things to you that are now always in my heart."  That musta confused me. I was wondering cause so many people thought he might have liked the boys in a rather inappropriate manner but I knew you didn't think this so I wanted to know what it meant thanks!

[TheWendybird]

YWe had numerous battles during the production, including the original casting of the young George Llewelyn Davies, but most of his casting I thought was excellent, particularly Ann Bell as Sylvia - yes, that crooked smile caught everyone, not least Nico.

That was something that struck me very quick when we bought the DVD last fall...I thought she looked so much like Sylvia is was almost unbelievable! Wonderful casting!

[tcarroll]

Wonderful casting is right Wendy, I was amazed when I first watched the mini series! There wasn't one of the cast who disappointed me.  Mr. Holm was so like Barrie..it was great.  Each time I watch I see something that I missed before.  I love it.

[TheWendybird]

Yeah same here!

[stourhead]

On pg. 242 of Andrew's book (the Constable, 1979 edition) there is a copy of a letter from Barrie to George and Barrie writes - '....I do seem to be sadder to-day than ever, and more and more wishing you were a girl of 21 instead of a boy, so that I could say the things to you that are now always in my heart.'  I think he was saying that it was difficult for men to write tender things to each other, and if George had been a woman it would have been easier.  I don't think there's anything the least bit strange about it.  Peter Davies thought it was one of the great letters of the world.  I agree. 

[andrew]

Spot on!

[TheWendybird]

Yes I agree...me and my fiance just kinda looked at each other the first time we had watched it curious if it was another thing making Barrie out like a "predator" again or something...this of course was before we knew much about Andrew We also weren't remembering the quote right when I asked about it so tis all good