I'm sure I put a more interesting post down here somewhere...

[thisbluespirit]

I'd like to write an interesting post, but I can't think of anything interesting to write about, which does scupper that plan somewhat.

So:

I started watching the BBC Shakespeare Coriolanus and it had Joss Ackland in and naturally instead I thought about the episode with the two generals in from Enemy at the Door and writing fic and then thought, how dodgy will they be? (very), but then that it would fit the hc_bingo square "atonement" giving me a bingo! (I mean, it is too late for it to count, but it's still silly to have four in a row and then never do the fifth, even in amnesty.) So obviously bingo squares win out over sense and things.

I was going to ask for sensible suggestions for what to call a WWII German aristocratic general (he doesn't have a first name, and I can't get through the fic without giving him one), but if you Google top German names for the 1890s, the internet will provide. (This is why authors have no excuse for the whole Carolyn business. Srsly. GOOGLE before you casually Carolyn your Regency romance.)

I can't do polls over here, but in Random Name Choices, for [Blank] von Wittke, I am considering:

*Paul
*Emil
*Erich
*Bernhard
*Bruno

(I think in the usual way EatD is so layered and details can be teased out on rewatching, so it almost feels as if I ought to be able to find his real name, but other than by somehow obtaining a script, this is not true. But it still feels wrong, so help me with random selection! /totally logical)

(hyarrowen, if you see this, there is no infidelity I promise, but yet some very slight shippage! At least in my notebook, that is, or actually, that bit might not even be in the notebook. So, actually, there is no shippage as usual... I should go type my dodgy WWII fic about DOOMED generals who understand they kind of deserve to be DOOMED, instead of waffling.)


I haven't watched enough of Coriolanus yet to comment on that although it seems at this stage to be a very strong entry (but I won't commit to anything until I'm at least halfway through). It stars Alan Howard, Irene Worth, Joss Ackland and Mike Gwilym. So far Joss Ackland wants Alan Howard to take up public life, but Alan Howard would so much rather be having semi-naked bloody wrestling matches with Mike Gwilym. A valid life choice, I suppose, although Mike Gwilym seems less keen.

Comments

[executrix]

1. Emil.
2. I really did not like the BBC Coriolanus, although in general I think they squandered a lot of opportunities in that series. (I did like the B7 Measure for Measure even absent its B7-ness.)

[persiflage_1]

Personally, I vote for Bruno.

[paranoidangel]

I got distracted on the Wikipedia lists because both of my German grandparents' (born around 1920) names are on those lists.

I like the way Erich von Wittke sounds.

[shannonsequitur]

I never would have considered Wikipedia as a source for WHEN foreign names were popular, so thanks for that, it was very Relevant To My Half-Baked Screenplay Idea. (Looks like one of my characters is getting a name change. AGAIN.)

As for your name list, I'm inclined toward Erich for some reason.

[swordznsorcery]

Erich. Totally Erich.

Doesn't the Beeb's "Coriolanus" also have Valentine Dyall in it? How could you list all those others, and not mention the Black Guardian?! You have failed in your Who-ery. :p

[hyarrowen]

Pure chance that I saw this, I've just moved house and everything is chaos! But I'd plump for Paul, on the basis of "road to Damascus" moments.

Oddly enough among the few DVDs I've unpacked are "Enemy at the Door", which I'll have to re-watch! And also "Coriolanus" though mine is the 2010 version, which is very gory.

I hope the fic goes well! I have no doubts that you can do justice to their rather fraught relationship.

[vilakins]

Emil or Erich.

[a_phoenixdragon]

I love reading your posts. :)

Hi, hon!

*Drive by hugs*

[beccadg]

I was going to say Emil, because I liked an "E" name, and it doesn't make me think of Erik Lehnsherr aka Magneto as much as Erich does, but having seen the talk of giving him all the names I vote for ALL TEH NAMEZ!!

[jhall1]

Not Bruno, as that sounds like a bear. And Emil sounds a bit wishy-washy. (Apologies to any Emils who might be reading this.) I would be happy with any of the other three, but would probably rank them Erich, Bernhard, Paul. I suppose it would depend a bit on whether he is thoroughly evil or is a decent chap along the lines of Rommel (who was an Erwin, of course, which probably rules that name out).

Added later: And I chose Erich before having read the other comments. :)