Private Schulz

[Gramaisc]

The BBC have finally let this one out on DVD. Well, in September, actually. Worth waiting 25 years for. Micheal Elphick and Ian Richardson in a tragi/comic Nazi counterfeiting operation. I wonder if they finally released it in an effort to cash in on the recent Counterfeit film, based on the same events?

 

[Toble]

I'll be buying that. I taped it from UK Gold years ago, but I have no VHS player anymore. Top stuff.

 

[Gramaisc]

Glad I'm not alone. Feel free to borrow it in January - I'm taking it away for the winterval.

 

[Gramaisc]

I wonder if they finally released it in an effort to cash in on the recent Counterfeit film, based on the same events?

The Counterfeiters is currently available on iPlayer.

 

[John Marwood]

Sink the Bismarck! were ont telly yesterdee

ruddy marvelous it were

 

[Gramaisc]

Actual notes for sale.

 

[Gramaisc]

MI5 files released.

 

[Withnail]

MI5 files released.

Funny that the Beeb has been talking about the Chaplin file exhaustively all day, yet it is second billing(sic) to the counterfeit notes story in the link above, arguably a more interesting story - though one sadly lacking any 'celebrity' angle.

Funny peculiar, not funny ha ha.

 

[Gramaisc]

The TV 'News' is largely an entertainment show, like any other, these days. I remember an occasion some years ago, when the lead story on the radio news wasn't even mentioned on the TV news - because there were no picture opportunities, possibly...

 

[Withnail]

On the plus side - doing a bit of digging into the origin of the phrase 'funny peculiar' - which i had thought was from Billy Liar - i discovered it was originated from one John Hay Beith aka Ian Hay,

His work was well known for its wit; often quoted is this line from his play, Housemaster: "What do you mean, funny? Funny-peculiar or funny ha-ha?"

from whence it goes on to give two more class lines, previously unbeknownst to me,

From the same play, two characteristic Hay lines, from masters' reports on their pupils:

-‘He can translate English into a Greek not spoken in Greece, and Greek into an English not spoken anywhere, with equal facility’
-‘Despite his natural levity he habitually gravitates towards the bottom.’

which cheer me no end.

Incidentally, regardless of the error of mine ways in ascribing the line to Billy Liar, if you do "funny peculiar billy liar", the top result is from this very site...

 

[Gramaisc]

Quite bizarrely, I'm listening to a Round the Horne and Mr Horne has just been asked by Julian and Sandy how they might help him in their current incarnation as language tutors - "Well, I'd like to brush up my Greek"....

 

[Gramaisc]

Private Schulz has become my next one-episode-a-week TV undertaking - episode 1 tonight - marvellous stuff.

 

[proactive]

Have you given up on this G?

 

[Gramaisc]

Have you given up on this G?

No - just had Episode 3 tonight, but it doesn't have full coverage on YouTube.

Great stuff - still one of the greatest examples of televisual drama ever made.

 

[proactive]

 

[proactive]

 

[Gramaisc]

Careless talk costs lives.

And they seem to have appeared a week ago...

 

[Gramaisc]

Episode 4 tonight - great stuff. The 'English' Gestapo man was a right hoot.

Truly fantastic dialogue.

Where did you get that thing you're wearing?

I got it off a countess.

A countess?

Well, it was her husband's really. He was a count.

It looks like he was...

 

[Gramaisc]

Episode 5 - trust nobody.

 

[Gramaisc]

Well, I finished the magnificent Private Schulz whilst I was away - and was going to start on Boys from the Blackstuff, but decided not to, as it might seem like a homage.

I might do Reggie Perrin, instead..