In these "home detention " times...

[Dingo40]

In these COVID19 "home detention " times I've been lucky enough to be entertained by some old classics on the telly (TV):

"Passport to Plimlico " and "Whiskey Galore "

(No gratuitous sex, violence or intrusive PC, for a start!)

Excellent scripts and casting !

For reading, I have been reading John Addington Symonds' 1889 translation of Benvenuto Cellini's (1500 - 1571) autobiography.

Now, there was a man's man!

A story worth the reading!

 

[maugein96]

In these COVID19 "home detention " times I've been lucky enough to be entertained by some old classics on the telly (TV):

"Passport to Plimlico " and "Whiskey Galore "

(No gratuitous sex, violence or intrusive PC, for a start!)

Excellent scripts and casting !

For reading, I have been reading John Addington Symonds' 1889 translation of Benvenuto Cellini's (1500 - 1571) autobiography.

Now, there was a man's man!

A story worth the reading!

Hi Dingo,

I'm not much of a reader or watcher of TV, but just about every Scot of my generation has seen the original version of Whisky Galore. We used to watch it in awe, as the locations and the way of life that was portrayed was very far removed from what conditions were like where I grew up. Our stunning scenic beauty consisted of coal and shale heaps (we called them bings), with the busiest road in Scotland less than quarter of a mile away from our front door. Dairy farming was the main agriculture with hundreds of black and white and brown and white cattle. We thought their colours changed depending on whether coal or shale had been blowing over them. It was common for the farmers to drive them through the village streets, bringing everything to a standstill, and leaving a horrific smell of dung. 

I've never seen the recent remake of Whisky Galore, and cannot recall Passport to Pimlico either. Those old films often had a calming effect on people, whereas these days some are driven to kill others because their heroes do that in movies. No doubt at some time in the future there will be a film made about this virus, but hopefully not in my time. The way things are going in the UK I might not have all that long to wait. Most of us were of the misapprehension that it was just another bad flu, but it seems we got that wrong. 

I'd never heard of Benvenuto Cellini at all. What type of accordion did he play?  

 

[Dingo40]

John,
Thanks for responding and the droll bits!?

Both these films were "free to air"  shown on a channel that specialises in classic old British films.
"Whiskey Galore" was the real deal original.

As you say, they have a "calming effect ".
It's not real life but life as we would like it: sheer escapism. But that's what makes them so good 

Benvenuto Cellini was a contemporary of Henry the Eighth and Michelangelo.

He was one of the greatest goldsmiths ever.

His autobiography was dictated by him while doing a stint in gaol.

Apart from making numerous masterpieces for popes and kings of the day, in gold, silver and bronze, he led a very adventurous life, full of many twists and turns and remarkable incidents.

He was, also, a skilled flautist (accordions not being available for another three hundred years  )

 

[maugein96]

John,
Thanks for responding and the droll bits!?

Both these films were "free to air"  shown on a channel that specialises in classic old British films.
"Whiskey Galore" was the real deal original.

As you say, they have a "calming effect ".
It's not real life but life as we would like it: sheer escapism. But that's what makes them so good 

Benvenuto Cellini was a contemporary of Henry the Eighth and Michelangelo.

He was one of the greatest goldsmiths ever.

His autobiography was dictated by him while doing a stint in gaol.

Apart from making numerous masterpieces for popes and kings of the day, in gold, silver and bronze, he led a very adventurous life, full of many twists and turns and remarkable incidents.

He was, also, a skilled flautist (accordions not being available for another three hundred years  )

Hi Dingo,

I knew you'd have an answer to my question about Cellini. I missed another take on his surname. I used to smoke a pipe and Cellini is an Italian tobacco brand I occasionally used to smoke. I think the tobacco is grown in Tuscany, but your Cellini probably wouldn't have known about it, as I believe it was introduced from North America after his death. 

I missed the history bus at school. We had to choose between history and geography and I chose the latter. A lot of geography is just history with maps, but I was reasonably good at it. I never had the patience to remember which King murdered which Queen, or how many wives they all had. I couldn't tell you who most of the British Royal family are, although Queen Victoria must be some age by now! 

All skilled flautists in my home area were snapped up by the local sectarian marching bands, as were the accordionists!

Goldsmiths were an unknown quantity, as being usually neither Protestant nor Roman Catholic, their existence would not have been accurately recorded. 

"Bargeddie, a village lying some 8 miles east of the city of Glasgow, has a population of some 1887 persons, the majority of whom are employed in the coal mining industry. The population comprises 986 Roman Catholics, and 901 Protestants."

Residents like Asian shopkeepers, and "goldsmiths", would have been asked to stipulate to which of the "big two" they belonged. Depending on the religion of the census taker, there would have been one or two instant "converts" to one or other of the only two recognised religions in our little world. I don't think Political Correctness ever really kicked in there until a year or two back, but it's been 47 years since I moved away. 

Here in Birmingham no census takers from south west Scotland are permitted to work, as just about every other household has a different religion.  

I just tell anybody who calls at the door doing a demographic survey that I'm half Irish, half Scottish, and half daft!

 

[Tom]

No gratuitous violence or sex? What was the point again? Ive never heard of these movies or books, but they sound interesting, thanks Dingo. Do you have a link where we can watch or read them? Personally, I have watched Schultze Gets the Blues 100 times since this business started, my favorite accordion movie (speaking of slag heaps). Interestingly enough, when trying to find a link, it appears only as a dubbed in Italian version (I have the original German). Wow, another opportunity to kill a couple hours while cooped up in the house.......

 

[losthobos]

Great movie.... So little dialogue it doesn't really need subtitles anyway... Funny Schultzs must be the only accordion player ever to attract the girls... They're kind to him in the movie..
P. S. John... Do you fancy doing a death pact... Should i cough it first you get my accordions and vice versa....
Take care..

 

[maugein96]

Great movie.... So little dialogue it doesnt really need subtitles anyway... Funny Schultzs must be the only accordion player ever to attract the girls... Theyre kind to him in the movie..
P. S. John... Do you fancy doing a death pact... Should i cough it first you get my accordions and vice versa....
Take care..

Terry,

Sounds OK to me, but youll need to re-learn 2/4 bass if I go and Ill need to learn 3/3 if your candle goes out before mine.

---

No gratuitous violence or sex?  What was the point again?     Ive never heard of these movies or books, but they sound interesting, thanks Dingo.  Do you have a link where we can watch or read them?  Personally, I have watched Schultze Gets the Blues  100 times since this business started, my favorite accordion movie (speaking of slag heaps).  Interestingly enough, when trying to find a link, it appears only as a dubbed in Italian version (I have the original German).  Wow, another opportunity to kill a couple hours while cooped up in the house.......

Tom,

Slag heaps R us:- 



P.S. Enjoyed your Roll out the Barrel clip, but seems I lost the post I thought I had put on the thread. My wife is keen for me to take my accordion down a mine and play it there. For some reason she thinks it will sound better.

 

[Tom]

You're right, Lost, I never thought of it that way.... Thanks, John, my wife always asks if I can play "Way Over There," funny thing is, it's the same response when I watch Shultze!

 

[Dingo40]

Tom,
I have never watched a movie online, so have no experience in doing it.
As far as links go, does this help?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042040/

 

[Glug]

Heres another couple of classics to keep an eye out for:

(1946) Green For Danger https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038577/
Alastair Sim, Trevor Howard, Sally Gray

(1941) Cottage to Let https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033491/
Leslie Banks, Alastair Sim, Jeanne De Casalis
Features (Sir) John Mills playing a nazi !!!
And George Cole aged 15.

These two still get shown on TV occasionally.

 

[maugein96]

Youre right, Lost, I never thought of it that way....  Thanks, John, my wife always asks if I can play Way Over There,  funny thing is, its the same response when I watch Shultze!

Tom,


Never watched the whole thing yet, but the comments about the origins of the music were interesting. Coal miners and accordions appear to have been a common theme in Europe, and quite a few miners in our area were pretty good players. Northern France and Belgium had a lot of Italian immigrant workers in their mines, and no doubt they brought their accordions with them.  

During the German occupation of France in WW2 French musette was banned, as the music never conformed to the Nazi ideal, and several half hearted raids on the bals musette were carried out by French police on instruction of their new administrators. 

Apparently there was a great show made of rounding up the bands and patrons, and placing them in police vans. Legend has it that these raids were often followed by impromptu parties at discrete locations, often involving the arrested parties, the police, and even some German officers who appreciated the music. 

Here is a composition in commemoration of such events, played by Gisele Coste, a popular female player, who made quite a few recordings in the days when the accordion found more favour in France.  


Please note that as far as Im aware this tune has no connection at all with the other infamous La Rafle which took place in Paris in 1942, about which a movie was made. There is another tune with same title, but again it would appear to refer solely to raids on the bals musette.

 

[Dingo40]

John,
Thanks for the post, but the clip is not currently available.

---

Happy Easter one and all,

Today, having watched the Easter Sunday service ( on TV), I will be watching (free to air) "Laxdale Hall"

Here is an online review:

"Laxdale Hall is my favourite all time film, I live in Harris, Outer Hebrides and the film is really authentic. We still start meetings billed for 7pm at 8pm, honest! My next favourite film is The Maggie and of course 3rd is Whisky Galore. Unfortunately Laxdale Hall can only be obtained as a video taped from TV.I have several copies and hope to get them transferred to DVD,they don't make films like Laxdale hall now. It was a lovely time when island life was tranquil and sheltered from all urban angst.I would love to hear from fellow enthusiasts to discuss those old black and white films. There is talk of remaking Whisky galore but the original could never be improved on"

Looking forward to seeing it!

 

[Tom]

Thanks, Guys!

 

[maugein96]

John,
Thanks for the post, but the clip is not currently available.

---

Happy Easter one and all,

Today, having watched the Easter Sunday service ( on TV), I will be watching (free to air) "Laxdale Hall"

Here is an online review:

"Laxdale Hall is my favourite all time film, I live in Harris, Outer Hebrides and the film is really authentic. We still start meetings billed for 7pm at 8pm, honest! My next favourite film is The Maggie and of course 3rd is Whisky Galore. Unfortunately Laxdale Hall can only be obtained as a video taped from TV.I have several copies and hope to get them transferred to DVD,they don't make films like Laxdale hall now. It was a lovely time when island life was tranquil and sheltered from all urban angst.I would love to hear from fellow enthusiasts to discuss those old black and white films. There is talk of remaking Whisky galore but the original could never be improved on"

Looking forward to seeing it!

---

Dingo,

Sorry, must be a regional issue, as it works in UK. I've just tried it. Try looking for "Apres La Rafle" on You Tube by Gisele Coste. There are several other recordings of her on there, as well as a version played by Joe Rossi. The one by Louis Ferrari is a different tune, and I'm not too keen on that one. 

I've never actually been to any of the Hebridean Islands, and probably will never go now, as it is a hell of a journey to there from central England. Essentially the islanders are of a different culture to we Lowlanders, and my parents never really warmed to the idea of taking us there. In those days particularly, the two cultures never quite understood each other, and Gaelic is still only spoken and understood by very few Scots, despite the modern tendency to suggest otherwise. Even the cop cars now have the word "Poileas" on them. How can they prosecute people if they cannot even spell their job title? Better get the tin hat on again, as it can be a very sensitive issue. No fear of having my windows smashed though, as I moved away last year!  

All that aside, enjoy the film. Some of them probably rued the day that better communication with the mainland brought so many "settlers" with that facility, but I suppose I'll never know now.

 

[Dingo40]

John,
I seem to remember that sometime in the 1990's(?) the councils of the Hebridean towns were giving away houses to anyone willing to live there, preferably to families with young children. ( Mine were all too old  )
(They did that here as well- in the more remote parts)
The film was quite reasonable, but not as good as "Whiskey Galore "

Tried "Gisele Costa  YouTube " on Google: still no luck. 

 

[maugein96]

John,
I seem to remember that sometime in the 1990s(?) the councils of the Hebridean towns were giving away houses to anyone willing to live there, preferably to families with young children. ( Mine were all too old  )
(They did that here as well- in the more remote parts)
The film was quite reasonable, but not as good as Whiskey Galore

Tried Gisele Costa  YouTube on Google: still no luck. 

Dingo,

Try this link, although Im finding You Tube has been pretty erratic in recent weeks, probably due to the sheer number of people turning to it through boredom:-


The more remote councils in Scotland had great difficulty disposing of their surplus housing, and I honestly dont know how it all turned out in the end. Scotland can be a very nice place to live, but to get the best out of it you need to sort of hit the correct balance between the biz and the sticks, which can be difficult, unless you are of reasonable means, something that still eludes the majority of us. A lot of the houses in the most desirable areas of Scotland are owned by non Scots.

After much deliberation we decided to retire to England. We have good friends here whom we have known for many years.