Spielberg's war
From Mr Adrian Scrape Sir: Stephen Glover seems to have wound himself into a painful and unproductive knot about the BBC buying Band of Brothers from Home Box Office (Media studies, 28 April). Since Alan Yentob was the BBC's head of drama, is it really surprising that he should have met Steven Spielberg to find out what that esteemed film-maker was making? Does your columnist find the fact that it took place over lunch a matter of censure? Is it any more surprising that 'someone called Sophie Turner-Laing completed the negotiations? As head of acquisitions for the BBC, it would be rather surprising if she, rather than its head of drama, did not acquire programmes on behalf of her employer.
It should also be a matter of little surprise that a television series about one of the US airborne regiments should be primarily an American tale, even if it is about their training and bravery while in Europe. Perhaps Mr Glover would like there to be a credit on the film (before the one saying `no animals were injured making the series') stating that other nationalities did take part in the second world war, but not many of them were in the US airborne divisions.
Mr Glover might have rejoiced that such a large proportion of the series's budget was spent by Spielberg's company and HBO in England, employing British technicians and talent. He might also rejoice that the BBC has acquired many hours of entertainment produced by perhaps cinema's best storyteller for only £1,500,000 per hour, if that is indeed the price. I am sure that buying one of Spielberg's canon of feature-films would cost much more per minute.
Adrian Serape
Hungerford, Berkshire
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