The Religion Of The English

[poliphilo]

Judy and I were talking about the Marx Brothers and how a friend of hers had probably never heard of them. I was incredulous. Yeah, she continued, the Marxes are largely forgotten in America.

Hey, people, tell me it ain't so!

In Britain you're never more than five minutes away from the nearest Marx Brothers movie. We run them all the time. In 1940 we were kept going by Churchill's speechifying and Churchill was kept going by watching Marx Brothers movies in his bunker. Why, the Marxes more or less won the war for us.

And the Marxes begat Spike Milligan and Spike Milligan begat John Cleese and John Cleese begat Eddie Izzard.

Some Frenchman toured England in the 1920s and took stock of all the war memorials and concluded that the religion of the English was the worship of dead soldiers. He was wrong. The religion of the English is the worship of dead comedians.

Living ones too.

We don't know the ten commandments or the words to the national anthem, but every English person with an ounce of pride can recite The Dead Parrot Sketch.

When Norman Wisdom (slightly funny film comedian of the 1950s) announced his retirement at the age of 92 the news media reacted like the Queen Mother had died again.

We take our sense of humour terribly seriously. Secretly (in fact, not so secretly) we believe it's what makes us top nation. We are constantly having polls to discover our favourite comedian/sitcom/funny movie. And once a year we have this huge televised charity thing called Comic Relief where everybody puts on red plastic noses and does embarrassing things to raise money for starving Africans.

Another thing Judy said is that she'd never seen Sergeant Bilko. You what! Over here every sink comes fitted with three taps. One for hot and one for cold and one for the Phil Silvers Show.

Comments

[idahoswede.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say largely forgotten, but yes, they've slipped into obscurity with all the morons like Jim Carrey and some of those other comedians, who are so unmemorable I don't even remember their names. But I remember the Marx Brothers, although despite what SOME cruel people might say, I wasn't born during their prime.

I love the British humour though (see, I even put in the U). I'm an enormous fan of Hinge and Brackett (are they still even around?) and the two Ronnies were superb, and going all the way back to David Frost and company in That Was The Week That Was.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think Hinge and Brackett are still around, but I'm not sure they're still working as a double act. I'm pretty sure I heard one or other of them on the radio the other day.

[jenny_evergreen]

I'm 31 and quite familiar with the Marx Brothers. But, to be fair, I'm not exactly a perfect example of the Typical American, either, so...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

But you're keeping the flame alight. Bravo!

[cdpoint.livejournal.com]

One reason Americans have forgotten the great movie comedians is that local independent television stations have all but disappeared. Every big town used to have its CBS, ABC, and NBC station; the rest were independents, and a programming staple of independents were cheap old movies. So, when I was growing up, whether it was Mississippi, Kansas, Virginia, or Washington, I could always tune in on Saturday and Sunday afternoons to see Marx Brothers, W.C. Fields, Abbott and Costello, Dagwood and Blondie, and other comedies from the 30s and 40s. Or the other alternative, Westerns. And Saturday nights, it was science fiction movies and vampire movies.

Turn on an average American television set and try to find any of that today. Vanished.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Ah, this goes a long way towards explaining it.

Brit TV still shows a lot of old movies.

And long may it continue to do so!

[saskia139.livejournal.com]

It's so true--you either rent those things from Netflix or your local video store, or you pay for them on cable. No longer do they just appear before you on your local broadcast tv station. Very sad.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

But Netflix and its equivalents are great.

We belong to "club" which, for £15 per month, gives us access to a library containing every DVD that's been released in the UK- and which sends them out to us just as fast as we can watch them.

[saskia139.livejournal.com]

Indeed, I didn't mean to sound as if I was dissing Netflix--it's a great thing. It's just that we *are* paying now for a lot of entertainment that was free when I was a kid. (And I don't understand how they dare show commercials on cable when you are already paying for it!)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

British TV seems less adventurous in its scheduling of movies than it used to be. When I was in my teens there were lots of "art" movies being shown and it was possible to get a reasonable education in World cinema just by keeping a sharp eye on the listings. These days if you want to see Bergman, Fellini or Kurosawa you really have to go out and get them on DVD.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

Yes, the Marx Brothers aren't much mentioned anymore.

Did you happen to see the I Love Lucy episode in which Harpo, after playing his harp, did a mirror imitation gag with Lucy? It's probably the only time I ever noticed Harpo.

I wish I knew more about British comedy. We love Monte Python...and Mr. Bean (I love his rubber face.)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I saw Lucy when I was a kid, but she hasn't been aired much recently. That mirror gag features in one of the Marx Bros movies, I think, with either Chico or Harpo wearing Groucho's make-up and serving as his "reflection".

The best(or at least the most original)Brit comedy of recent years is The Office. And the current smash hit is a sketch show called Little Britain.

Might they be available to you on DVD?

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

Why, I bet they are.

I love Netflix.

(Last week I wept over Grave of the Fireflies, an animation from Japan about what war does to small children. It was a powerful movie, and I'm still haunted by it.)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

We've got Grave of the Fireflies on our wanted list. Thing is our wanted list has about 120 titles on it, so it could be some time before the Fireflies turn up.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

Grave of the Fireflies is a beautifully done animation, but I should warn you that it is very sad.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Ah, but I like sad.

[four-thorns.livejournal.com]

yes, but grave of the fireflies isn't just sad, it's one of the most depressing movies i've ever seen. the whole movie is a slow steady decline towards death, with no positive occurrances or dramatic arc of any kind (and i don't feel i'm giving anything away by saying that they die, as they die in the first scene and the rest of the movie is a flashback). it's hard for me to take grave of the fireflies seriously, because it is unrelentingly sad to the point that it seems unreal. what i did find interesting about it was seeing how the americans were portrayed by the japanese, how all the suffering is a result of the "american aggressor".

but then, i saw it five years ago when i was in high school, so maybe i'd react differently now.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's about the aftermath of the atom bombing of Japan, right?

It's somewhere near the top of the list of movies we're hiring from Tesco, so I guess we'll be able to form an opinion of it soon.

[four-thorns.livejournal.com]

there's nothing-- if i recall correctly-- about the atom bombs. but air raids and firebombing feature prevalently, along with the general conditions of a community at war.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

OK. We remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but I believe the conventional bombing of Tokyo caused a comparable loss of life.

[four-thorns.livejournal.com]

yes, i think that's right...

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

Sad to say...*we* are coming out with a version of The Office. And it's available on BBC America...which is not available in MY area.

I keep trying to give up television. Really. Then...the CLassic Movie channel shows something I really want to see. 'Lady From Shanghai' is on this Saturday night. (Thought of you, Tony, when I read that.)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The Office is as close to perfect as anything can be. It's a pity you guys felt you had to make your own version.

Lady From Shanghai- Mmmmmm!

[beentothemoon.livejournal.com]

Well I live in Austin and we're extremely serious about our comedy here, especially classic films. For example, tomorrow night I'm going to see Duck Soup, on the big screen. Still, I'll wager that most people my age (25)who aren't fortunate enough to live in Austin couldn't tell the difference between the three stooges and the marx brothers.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Duck Soup on the big screen? Now that's really talking!

The Stooges never made much of an impact over here (I guess we had our own slapstick comedians) but the Marx Brothers were huge.

[beentothemoon.livejournal.com]

Duck Soup catered by the Soup Peddler, who's this guy who makes amazing soups and delivers them to your door weekly, if and only if you are deemed worthy enough to receive it. There's an application process, and you even have to fill out a soup-mission statement.


The three stooges never charmed me, but my one true love will always be Groucho.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful idea. Duck Soup is the best of the Marx Brothers' films (IMHO)

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

My NPR Station has "The Theatre of the Mind" beginning about 8 every evening. They still play "You Bet Your Life" and it is STILL funny. WRVO-FM

As for the Stooges, I understand their humor appeals mostly to men.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

You know I've never seen more than the briefest clips of the Stooges. I don't think they've ever had much currency in Britain.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

I heard about this on Eklektikos this morning. (I also live in Austin.) It sounds very cool--and so do some of the other dinner-movies they have planned.

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

Hey, people, tell me it ain't so!

In Britain you're never more than five minutes away from the nearest Marx Brothers movie. We run them all the time. In 1940 we were kept going by Churchill's speechifying and Churchill was kept going by watching Marx Brothers movies in his bunker. Why, the Marxes more or less won the war for us.

And the Marxes begat Spike Milligan and Spike Milligan begat John Cleese and John Cleese begat Eddie Izzard.

Well, we don't NEED to remember the Marx Brothers, we have the Bush brothers.

But seriously...we're lucky here - our PBS station shows Britcoms. (and East Enders but I don't watch that anymore). Blackadder, May/December, Good Neighbors (shown in your country as The Good Life), To the Manor Born, Keeping Up Appearances....The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin, Yes Minister, The Two Ronnies

For such an outwardly staid people, your humour is very broad.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

That's great- you're getting a whole lot of classic shows. I particularly like Blackadder and Reggie Perrin (Leonard Rossiter- what a talent!) and Yes, Minister was one of the cleverest things ever.

[morrison-maiden.livejournal.com]

Well, I've been aware (and a fan) of the Marx Brothers for years, so... ^_^

I love British comedy programs. Much more than the ones in the States. And my dad's a fan of the show "The Office" :)

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

I've seen some terrible *Britcoms* (Mother and Son is one that comes to mind) but then...The Vicar of Dibley is one of my very favorites!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, there have been some real stinkers.

I don't know Mother and Son- unless its the show with Ronnie Corbett that was titled "Sorry" over here.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm with your dad, love the Office.

So which shows do you particularly like?

[morrison-maiden.livejournal.com]

Well, I enjoy the Office as well. I love the older ones like Keeping Up Appearances and Are You Being Served? I also used to watch a show called One Foot In The Grave.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I know all of those. Are you Being Served was a favourite of mine back in the day.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

For you: http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/08/theater.spamalot.ap/index.html

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Well I never. What a strange lineup- Tim Curry, the guy off Frazier, the voice of Apu- and Mike Nichols directing. Should be interesting.....

[violaviolet.livejournal.com]

do i need more proof that i was not only born in the wrong era, but also the wrong country ??? the marx brothers are my idols!!! :)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think they had more influence on British than on American comedians. We have a deep, deep love of the surreal.

Love your icon! :)

[violaviolet.livejournal.com]

thanks. i'm befriending you. i trust that's ok ??:)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, of course it is.

I'm befriending you right back.

[morrison-maiden.livejournal.com]

Hey! You stole my friend ;)

[violaviolet.livejournal.com]

*runs away* ;p

[morrison-maiden.livejournal.com]

Lol, you come back! ;P