This is a documentary about George VI, his life and his struggle to overcome a speech impediment. The Daily Mails says it sheds more light on the remarkable story the inspired the movie the KIng's Speech.
King George VI faced the prospect of public speaking engagements and radio broadcasts to millions of people at the dawn of the age of mass media. He was kept in the dark by his brother, EdwardVIII, until one week before he was to follow his brother to ascend the throne. He not only had to look regal he had to sound it to.
Laurence Fox narrates this story of the lengths the King went to overcome his disability with the help of the unorthodox Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue. Film footage of the King's speeches and interviews of some of Logue's patients show how the KIng found his voice and rallied a nation.
The film footage is amazing to see how authentic the movie was made. There is no recording of Logue own voice but it is interesting to hear the KIng's real voice and his struggle.
I am an admirer, as with reading a lot of biography's I was fortunate enough to find a biography of George VI. The book, 'A Spirit Undaunted', is based on the political role of the King.
Winston Churchill spoke about the relationship that he had with GeorgeVI during the war. Churchill had taken him into his confidence and the King showed remarkable shrewdness of judgement and character. It is one of the most interesting history books that I have read and portray's GeorgeVI as a great and underrated man and monarch.
It is interesting from the war perspective and also from the loss of this man at such a young age, 52. It is through George VI, and Sir Winston Churchill both descendants of great leaders that Britain survived WWII.
The end of this book is the tribute to the King that was memorial in the figure of Christ on the Cross that bears the inscription: To the Glory of God, and in memory of George, King, Servant of his People 1895 -1952 .
It is said that he left the throne more stable than England had known throughout almost her entire history.
It is no mystery our present Queen has set the example of service to the throne and her people.
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
An era of elegance, order, romance and war in two award winning TVshows.
It came to my attention the other day the new television series, ' Downton Abbey', had won some big awards in the US, Emmys. I find that interesting, it has been shown on PBS, Masterpiece theatre.
In this age for a show such as Downton to have received an award, says a lot about our romance starved culture, let alone, the show and its theme of an upper class family and the servants who keep their world in order. Somewhere in our modern existence is a craving for the attributes that made that world.
If we go back almost forty one years the original show of 'Upstairs Downstairs,' created by Jean March and Eileen Atkins and brought to our televisions sets. Eileen Atkins, an actor family members had been in service and photos of that family that made her think how interesting it would be to have a show like this. The producer, John Hawksworth, who very bravely decided to go with the program to London Weekend Television gave them six months to see if the show had any interest.
The difference with, 'Upstairs Downstairs', the focus was the parallel worlds of the the servants and the high society people they worked for made for fascinating viewing. Mrs.Bridges, the cook and Mr. Hudson, the butler where the master of the downstairs family. Jean March played the part as the ladies maid and parlor maid who seemed to be an anchor for stories that she was central to the first story of 'Sarah' the young girl played by Pauline Collins of 'Shirley Valentine' fame. Sarah first act of rebellion is to take a chicken from Mrs. Bridges larder and sell it, on the street, after she sees Mrs. Bridges selling a chicken to a friend possibly a former servant. Sarah continues on her one woman path to escape the chains of being below stairs to eventually have the young master, Jame's child. Although another servant girl the scullery maid makes friend's with a footman from another house, a young Irish woman she dreams of marrying the young man. When word reaches his employer, the scullery maid is told she can't marry the young footman. The young woman goes into a depression and the future out of reach, she does the unthinkable and kills herself. Mrs. Bridges berates herself for being hard on the girl. It is another side of the live that seemed ordered and predictable. Romance was for the Upstairs, and a life of work and obedience was the Downstairs lot.
Sarah ask Mr. Hudson where he learned his strict code of behaviour and Hudson is his Scots, no nonsense fashion says, " from my Grandmother who starved to death as she was too proud to take charity from anyone". Pride was one dignity owned by the Downstairs, occupants.
As Upstairs Downstairs, Richard Bellamy and Lady Marjorie Bellamy, are like the Earl and Countess of Grantham although. Richard is a pastor's son and Lady Majorie the daughter of a peer. The Earl of Grantham and his wife who is an American heiress. A lot of the stories reflect the 19th C habit of the British upper classes marrying rich American woman. Jennie Jerome, as I mentioned in a previous blog and Consuelo Vanderbilt both brought very large dowry to pay off their husband's family accumulated debt. Indeed in the Downton, the worry is that the Countess has not had a son to inherit and her family money has gone to keep the family property. A young relations, a young doctor of the Earl is brought forward to inherit Grantham and a hope that the eldest daughter and he will possible marry.
Upstairs Downstairs has similar issues although there is no house to inherit. Elizabeth the Bellamy daughter has come back from Germany with bohemian ideas which lead her to rebel against her established lifestyle. James the son has a daughter with maid, Sarah but stays in the army to eventually be in the battles of World War I. At the end of the first series of Downton Abbey, they are also heading into war with the young heir signing up and with his profession a young doctor, it will make for a very interesting second season.
The similarities are obvious in the two shows, and they are both well acted and produced. Downton has an edge in that it has been shot in Highclere, one of the great old houses owned by Lord Carnarvon's family, one of the men who brought the King Tut treasures to the world.
In this age for a show such as Downton to have received an award, says a lot about our romance starved culture, let alone, the show and its theme of an upper class family and the servants who keep their world in order. Somewhere in our modern existence is a craving for the attributes that made that world.
If we go back almost forty one years the original show of 'Upstairs Downstairs,' created by Jean March and Eileen Atkins and brought to our televisions sets. Eileen Atkins, an actor family members had been in service and photos of that family that made her think how interesting it would be to have a show like this. The producer, John Hawksworth, who very bravely decided to go with the program to London Weekend Television gave them six months to see if the show had any interest.
The difference with, 'Upstairs Downstairs', the focus was the parallel worlds of the the servants and the high society people they worked for made for fascinating viewing. Mrs.Bridges, the cook and Mr. Hudson, the butler where the master of the downstairs family. Jean March played the part as the ladies maid and parlor maid who seemed to be an anchor for stories that she was central to the first story of 'Sarah' the young girl played by Pauline Collins of 'Shirley Valentine' fame. Sarah first act of rebellion is to take a chicken from Mrs. Bridges larder and sell it, on the street, after she sees Mrs. Bridges selling a chicken to a friend possibly a former servant. Sarah continues on her one woman path to escape the chains of being below stairs to eventually have the young master, Jame's child. Although another servant girl the scullery maid makes friend's with a footman from another house, a young Irish woman she dreams of marrying the young man. When word reaches his employer, the scullery maid is told she can't marry the young footman. The young woman goes into a depression and the future out of reach, she does the unthinkable and kills herself. Mrs. Bridges berates herself for being hard on the girl. It is another side of the live that seemed ordered and predictable. Romance was for the Upstairs, and a life of work and obedience was the Downstairs lot.
Sarah ask Mr. Hudson where he learned his strict code of behaviour and Hudson is his Scots, no nonsense fashion says, " from my Grandmother who starved to death as she was too proud to take charity from anyone". Pride was one dignity owned by the Downstairs, occupants.
As Upstairs Downstairs, Richard Bellamy and Lady Marjorie Bellamy, are like the Earl and Countess of Grantham although. Richard is a pastor's son and Lady Majorie the daughter of a peer. The Earl of Grantham and his wife who is an American heiress. A lot of the stories reflect the 19th C habit of the British upper classes marrying rich American woman. Jennie Jerome, as I mentioned in a previous blog and Consuelo Vanderbilt both brought very large dowry to pay off their husband's family accumulated debt. Indeed in the Downton, the worry is that the Countess has not had a son to inherit and her family money has gone to keep the family property. A young relations, a young doctor of the Earl is brought forward to inherit Grantham and a hope that the eldest daughter and he will possible marry.
Upstairs Downstairs has similar issues although there is no house to inherit. Elizabeth the Bellamy daughter has come back from Germany with bohemian ideas which lead her to rebel against her established lifestyle. James the son has a daughter with maid, Sarah but stays in the army to eventually be in the battles of World War I. At the end of the first series of Downton Abbey, they are also heading into war with the young heir signing up and with his profession a young doctor, it will make for a very interesting second season.
The similarities are obvious in the two shows, and they are both well acted and produced. Downton has an edge in that it has been shot in Highclere, one of the great old houses owned by Lord Carnarvon's family, one of the men who brought the King Tut treasures to the world.
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Miss Austen Regrets.
I thought the BBC series on, 'Sense and Sensibility', had a biography of Jane Austen but discovered tonight they had a Drama based on her life called, 'Miss Austen Regrets'. I enjoyed it with again some very fine Actor's.
It starts off with Jane being asked to go to her brother's house now a widower to meet his nieces intended and shows Jane as a forty year old maiden aunt with a lot of spirit. To add to the story a gentleman played by Hugh Bonneville an old beau is present visiting her brother. It appears he is a minister. Jane has an enjoyable visit and they have a party and dance. She talks to her niece about love, life and marriage. Encouraging the girl to be amused by her young beau a young law student.
After the visit Jane goes off to London to visit her other brother a banker who is ill. She manages to get him a young doctor whom she has a flirtation with maybe a midlife crisis. She manages to get her brother back on his feet. At which point the niece comes to visit her in London and she tells Jane her beau has departed. The young doctor manages to get Jane a interview with an official of the Regent.
He allows her to use the Regent's name in her new book, Emma. She is hoping for a publisher and money from the sales of her books.
It seems when she returns home there is a crisis in the family, the bank has failed for her brother and the other brother is involved. Jane is also unwell.
It is made clear that the story has come from the nieces letters from Jane. I have another biography and will watch it again to double check the story. It is made clear she had proposal's of marriage but turned them down to her Mother's regret and due to her sister, Cassandra's urging.
Miss Austen Regrets is more a social history and biography of the writer, Jane Austen. I have to say this is going a bit off the mandate of the blog, Once bitten, as it is more intended as a history blog however from time to time I will use literature to support the history entry.
It starts off with Jane being asked to go to her brother's house now a widower to meet his nieces intended and shows Jane as a forty year old maiden aunt with a lot of spirit. To add to the story a gentleman played by Hugh Bonneville an old beau is present visiting her brother. It appears he is a minister. Jane has an enjoyable visit and they have a party and dance. She talks to her niece about love, life and marriage. Encouraging the girl to be amused by her young beau a young law student.
After the visit Jane goes off to London to visit her other brother a banker who is ill. She manages to get him a young doctor whom she has a flirtation with maybe a midlife crisis. She manages to get her brother back on his feet. At which point the niece comes to visit her in London and she tells Jane her beau has departed. The young doctor manages to get Jane a interview with an official of the Regent.
He allows her to use the Regent's name in her new book, Emma. She is hoping for a publisher and money from the sales of her books.
It seems when she returns home there is a crisis in the family, the bank has failed for her brother and the other brother is involved. Jane is also unwell.
It is made clear that the story has come from the nieces letters from Jane. I have another biography and will watch it again to double check the story. It is made clear she had proposal's of marriage but turned them down to her Mother's regret and due to her sister, Cassandra's urging.
Miss Austen Regrets is more a social history and biography of the writer, Jane Austen. I have to say this is going a bit off the mandate of the blog, Once bitten, as it is more intended as a history blog however from time to time I will use literature to support the history entry.
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