Tag Archives: British
A Legal Offer to “Drop Hands”
This is more than twenty years ago now: in the midst of a legal standoff between my employer and a supplier of interpretations of English words into French, I heard this phrase for the first time. We were in front … Continue reading
The Day the Humour Died
Freddie Starr (1943-2019) This great comic was found dead today in his apartment in Spain. The world of comedy will never see his like again.
Kenneth Branagh is the Old Shakespeare
All Is True Well, this is a bit awkward: the film came out in the UK in February, but there doesn’t seem to be a release date for the U.S. or Canada. Even the UK DVD release will be later … Continue reading
History Lesson: Losing One’s Head
Charles I of England Executed Today in 1649 After his succession, Charles quarrelled with the Parliament of England, which sought to curb his royal prerogative. Charles believed in the divine right of kings and thought he could govern according to … Continue reading
Hot: Mercury’s Rising Again
Bohemian Rhapsody Freddie Mercury’s rise to super stardom from relative obscurity is chronicled in this movie. The years covered are 1970 to 1985. The movie ends with Queen’s appearance at Live Aid on 13 July 1985. The (almost) full 20+ … Continue reading
One Man’s Terrorist
Another Man’s Freedom Fighter According to quora.com: “A terrorist is someone who uses fear to motivate civilians to act in a political manner on their behalf. A freedom fighter is someone who acts on the behalf of at least some … Continue reading
The Prequel Refines the Character
Endeavour Morse John Thaw played the beloved character Inspector Morse for more years than I care to remember. Then Colin Dexter, the author, decided to kill him off in his final book, The Remorseful Day. The television show followed suit. Now ITV … Continue reading
