Anabasis

[JoeWalsh]

Being new here I'm sure someone must have examined the correlation of the ancient greek story Anabasis and the Warriors. It's a fascinating tale really. I know that Sol Yurick's novel was based loosely on Xenophon's account of the "Ten Thousand" fighting their way home through Armenia and Khazakstan during the Peloponessian War. I like how Yurick chose to name the Riffs leader Cyrus, the name of the Greek mercenary's leader from Anabasis who was killed in their first battle with the Persians. The story also reminds me of another more recent Anabasis; Chosin Reservoir in 1950 Korea where thousands of US marines had to fight their way 80 miles to the coast past 10 divisions of the Chinese army. Two differences between the Warriors and the marines, though: The marines were fighting in bitter subzero cold and the Warriors didn't have air cover.

I just did a bit of reading on Sol Yurick. Apparently he was a youth counselor for NYC street gang members, ostensibly where he derived the inspiration for the book. Then I recalled Fox telling the Orphan leader, after reading the newspaper clipping they gave him, how his youth counselor talks about them all the time. I guess that must have been Sol Yurick's off screen alter ego Fox was talking about.

[MrVess]

I've felt that Hill wasn't very interested in keeping more than the basic outline and some leading concepts from Anabasis, although there are several nods to Xenophon that are not found in the novel...

One of the reasons why Sol Yurick dislikes the film is apparently its little relation to the original tragedy. The book is much closer to it - in fact, you could almost change its title to "Anabasis '64"...

[Lion]

the sad thing is that when they base a film on a book/novel, alot stuff is going to get left out.  

[union_jack]

good topic 

its always interesting to see how these things evolve though, when reading the source material before or after the adaptation its cool to see how it turns out, rarely like the original -but not always for worse. The Warriors has a bizarre heritage where some stuff is left out and some added so the film is a chance mix of loads of elements coming together, as is true in terms of film-making also - a wonderful blend of photography, art direction, direction, script and acting to get what we know as the Warriors.

[Ninth Delegate]

I've felt that Hill wasn't very interested in keeping more than the basic outline and some leading concepts from Anabasis, although there are several nods to Xenophon that are not found in the novel...

One of the reasons why Sol Yurick dislikes the film is apparently its little relation to the original tragedy. The book is much closer to it - in fact, you could almost change its title to "Anabasis '64"...

And yet most reviews claim the film is closer to anabasis than wht sol yurikc novel is.
The book doesn't acknowledge getting to the ocean to show that their journey has ended.  Some of the names in the movie are more linked to anabasis (Cyrus, Ajax ect) and at the end of the story, the gods turn their leader into a swan, hence the name of Michael Becks character.

[4nik8]

...at the end of the story, the gods turn their leader into a swan, hence the name of Michael Becks character.

I suppose 2000+ years is long ago enough to no longer require spoiler warnings...

[The Swan]

...at the end of the story, the gods turn their leader into a swan, hence the name of Michael Becks character.

I suppose 2000+ years is long ago enough to no longer require spoiler warnings...

Yeah, I rem... Great Quotation anyway... Ninth Delegate, and you guys, have you read Anabasis?

I have, during High School and... OMG... it's not a Comic!!! LOL!!!

[Godfather]

Unfortunately I haven't read either the warriors book or anabasis, but these are great insights that make me want to read them.

[4nik8]

I keep meaning to but there's so much TV to watch!!

[Ninth Delegate]

And your dvd queue is getting bigger.

[4nik8]

I keep meaning to watch DVDs but there're so many married harlot's bedchamber's windows from which i must scamper...

[Lux]

A recent review of the movie:
http://reflectionsonfilmandtelevision.b ... -1979.html

[Godfather]

A recent review of the movie:
http://reflectionsonfilmandtelevision.b ... -1979.html

Great find and insightful review of the movie.

[Nuck Forbert]

The book doesn't acknowledge getting to the ocean to show that their journey has ended.

It depends how obvious you want the acknowledgement to be. SPOILER warning:

From the chapter July 5th, 2:30-3:00 A.M. -
Even The Junior had to look up from a panel showing the grinning faces of the Greek heroes as they saw The Sea. The Sea.

From the chapter July 5th, 5:20-6:00 A.M. -
Hinton pointed and yelled, "The Ocean!"
They yelled, "The Ocean, The Ocean!" and they all laughed hysterically.

you guys, have you read Anabasis?

I have, during High School and... OMG... it's not a Comic!!! LOL!!!

I take that to mean it's pretty hard going. Are there "friendlier" versions available? I'd be interested in reading the story but only in plain modern English (or comfortably close to it).

[The Swan]

The book doesn't acknowledge getting to the ocean to show that their journey has ended.

It depends how obvious you want the acknowledgement to be. SPOILER warning:

From the chapter July 5th, 2:30-3:00 A.M. -
Even The Junior had to look up from a panel showing the grinning faces of the Greek heroes as they saw The Sea. The Sea.

From the chapter July 5th, 5:20-6:00 A.M. -
Hinton pointed and yelled, "The Ocean!"
They yelled, "The Ocean, The Ocean!" and they all laughed hysterically.

you guys, have you read Anabasis?

I have, during High School and... OMG... it's not a Comic!!! LOL!!!

I take that to mean it's pretty hard going. Are there "friendlier" versions available? I'd be interested in reading the story but only in plain modern English (or comfortably close to it).

I don't think so, anyway wiki it's not "The Holy Bible" but...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabasis_(Xenophon)
... it gives us a Good Summary of The Story.