Manipulated By A Five Inch Hen, Singing Locals and Claire Danes

It's a mixed bag this morning.
Yesterday, two of the ULB cockerels left the field for pastures new
( ULB = useless little bugger)
I have decided to keep Big Bertha, the pekin hen who is just five inches high and five inches wide.
She is laying well, and provides a regular supply of " gift eggs" to people in the village.
She is a real sweetie with more chutzpah than a bus load of Joan Rivers...she can wrap me around her little finger

note... no feet!


That bloody awful manipulation of the emotions
BRITAIN's GOT TALENT is back on the telebox again.
It's not something we watch , but I must admit I did give two local lads  a few minutes of my time when they appeared on Saturday night.
Described as sandwich makers Adam and Richard, these two hail from Holywell which is a tiny town   a few miles North East of Trelawnyd....
And I must admit that I kind of delight in the blatant manipulation of the emotions by the production team's clever editing and use of music and the crowd......
I doubt they have a career but I wish them well..
Trelawnyd needs a couple of young voices in the choir!

Anyhow speaking of manipulation and emotion
Yesterday afternoon, we sat down to watch the 1994 film version of Little Women
If you have not seen it, do so, for it is a cracking masterclass in good acting and emotional free falling.
Take a look at this scene, where the ailing Beth is given her Christmas Piano
Claire Danes is wonderful in the role.... 
And I blub every time I see it...

WHAT FILM SCENE MAKES YOU CRY.?

64 comments:

  1. I don't watch BGT so thanks for posting the boys singing... they were good (and pretty easy on the eye).

    ReplyDelete
  2. What film scene makes me cry? The very end of "Schindler's List" when people are bringing stones to the grave and one of them is Mr Spielberg himself but to tell you the truth it is very rare for me to see any film more than once. Avoid "Broken City" with Russell Crowe - that will make you cry but they'll be tears of boredom as you struggle to stay awake. It's crap.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yp
      i agree.... seeng the real people depiced in the story was the ultimatge hammer blow to the emotions

      Delete
    2. Yup,ditto ,the end of Schindler's List.
      Jane x

      Delete
  3. The two sandwich makers are more local male voice choir material than hit makers. But they were good. I loved their gran!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wonder if their buns areas good as your missus'

      Delete
  4. The lads are amazing John. I think it's time they had a Saturday night show like 'New Faces' with the cream of British acts who perform in the clubs and pubs for a living.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The final parting in Brief Encounter - sorry can't write any more - eyes full of tears!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And don't forget the cut glass accent

      Delete
  6. Quite a hen you've got there. Let us hope the two guys get to a good position in the show.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I kind of cry with most movies, but there is this Indian movie called "Mother India" which shows the extreme poverty and hardship people in rural India had to face during and just after British rule. I have never been able to watch it in whole.

      The condition in our villages is improving now, but a lot still needs to be done before all our rural folks get computers and internet and blogs such as this one.

      Delete
    2. Isn't that about poor mum called Rhadna?
      I think we studied it in university

      Delete
    3. Yes, she's called Radha.

      Delete
  7. Lovely voices - I wish my two boys could sing like them!

    ReplyDelete
  8. It's not a particularly sappy movie, but the ending of "Green Card " always makes me blubber like a fool because it is so patently UNFAIR. Also not a highbrow movie, but I like it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I hate andi McDowell.... But the film WAS GOOD as I remember

      Delete
    2. She is beautiful, but not a great actress! I loved Four Weddings and a Funeral, and the film could have done without her.....another fairly fluffy film! I like movies that make me smile.

      Delete
  9. The ending of the 1970 film the Railway Children when she sees her father at the train station, gets me every time...I've got a lump in my throat just thinking about it...must be hormones!!
    Jo xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, you beat me to it!! The 'platform' music is so haunting. Next time you watch it though look carefully at the very end when the children have left their parents in the house and are walking down the field 'Neither we, nor anyone else is wanted here right now (or words to that effect!!) Watch the fake tree planted behind the stone wall fall over!!! Relieves the teary tension no end!!

      Delete
  10. Anonymous11:19 am

    What film scene makes me cry? Field of Dreams...when they realize that Doc can never go back to playing ball with his friends and he walks away through the cornfield.

    ReplyDelete
  11. i hope the boys do well..that would be great. one true thing....that movie always makes me cry!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hell....I still haven't got over Bambi and his poor mother!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love the singing -- every note... There are a number of movies have made me cry, but the one that stands out the most was call "All Mine to Give". It starred Glynis Johns and took place in the western US. Her husband dies and then she is dying and has all these small children -- and gives the eldest child the job of finding suitable parents for each sibling. I was a teenager when I saw it and just cried and cried. Now that I'm an old 'broad' I don't cry so much -- but 'Schlinder's List' was one of those that did.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I cried all the way through Nude Nuns with Big Guns. Does that count?

    I hate BGT. You have to sit through hours of people doing dull stuff just waiting for that one ugly stripper that they always slip in.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow. Wow! WOW!!! Wales has got talent! I never watch these shows, but am so glad you shared this video link.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous3:36 pm

    Big Bertha made the cut...but did the opera singing duo? I cried when Captain Miller the character played by Tom Hanks didn't make it in the film "Saving Private Ryan", I cried when Lassie finally made it home in "Lassie Come Home", I cried when the horse Joey made it home in "War Horse"...war stories and animal stories...guaranteed tears

    ReplyDelete
  17. "terms of endearment" - when debra winger dies of cancer. that could have been me (but wasn't).

    ReplyDelete
  18. Gladiator - when Crowe's wife and son meets him in the field - peace at last, in a golden world...with horses :)

    Lord of the rings - Boromirs death - slow, and from his point of view - realistically shows that death in battle aint quick.

    The blogging queen who died of what he thought was sciatica - wait, that hasnt been written yet? you mean he makes an appt with the Doctor? YAY.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ann of Green Gables when Ann finds Richard Farnsworth dead in the field.

    This movie was the fund raising movie every year for public television. Cry every time. My husband scoffed and said you know he's gonna die and I say, I hope this time it's different.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yes, Gail! Anne of GG for sure. And I had to laugh at your last line. So true :)

      Delete
  20. The colour purple makes me blub every time!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When she meets her sister at the end...sob fest

      Delete
  21. Judy Garland in 'A Star is Born' when Judy is persuaded to appear in public for the first time since her husband's death .....

    "This is Mrs Norman Maine"
    Wahhhhhh

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That little half cry she makes.........oh no!

      Delete
  22. For me the one to top them all is GWTW - Vivien Leigh is sassiness incarnate. Despite being such a spoilt bitch, I root for her throughout, laugh with her and suffer with her like mad - the last with my lachrymal glands working overtime.

    Also, the already-mentioned 'Railway Children'. If a film makes me cry the first time of viewing I almost never want to see it again (like the above-mentioned 'Bambi') because it's just too painful. But 'Railway Children' is a glorious exception - and anyway, it's a masterpiece!.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ray......
      The scene with Melanie and Belle always made me tear up

      Delete
  23. When Harry lifts a glass to his brother George at the end of "It's a Wonderful Life" - "A toast to my big brother, George, the richest man in town"...gets me every.single.time.

    (Was one of the ULB's Erik, and does "left for field for pastures new" code for "yummy stock pot cockerel"?)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol,
      Eric was a previous unwanted cockerel and although a bantam.is much bigger than the ULBS
      He still lives on the field....and is now forgiven

      Delete
  24. That version of Little Women (one of my all time favourite books ever) is THE BEST. It goes without saying that one shouldnt waste even 10 seconds of ones life watching a tv version made in 1979 featuring a vapid Susan Dey as Jo and WILLIAM SHATNER as Professor Bhaer (I was so ill, feverish with a chest infection, over Xmas I did watch it for about 2 minutes before I realised I hadnt died and gone to hell and could switch it off.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Big Bertha is a cutie! Glad you're keeping her around. And I totally agree on that scene from Little Women. I didn't even have to play the clip, I knew exactly what you were talking about! Gets me every time.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Death scene in Terms of Endearment makes me cry. Saw it in theater with my husband. During that scene, every woman in the place were sobbing. The husband sitting with his wife behind me was snoring, loudly. Really broke the mood.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's the little boy who played her so that got me.... He really cried did he not

      Delete
  27. I would definitely think Big Bertha is a keeper, John... those quirky hens have a way of making you love them.
    And I haven't seen that version of LW, I will check it out.
    For some crazy reason, I always blub over the part in Murphy's Romance when Sally Field tells James Garner, "I'm in love for the first time in my life." and James Garner says," I'm in love.... for the last time in my life."
    *WAAAAA*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Make sure you see it.....at Christmas!

      Delete
  28. Bertha is so beautiful love her. Missed little women last night, damm!
    Rosezeeta.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Love, Actually. It came out the week after my father died, and my sister, mum and I went to see it and cried at the tiniest bit of provocation, it was so cathartic. And so, it is and always will be my crying movie. The opening scene, I love all that happiness; Emma Thompson listening to Joni Mitchell as she confronts what Harry has done, the funeral with Bay City Rollers, Andrew Lincoln escaping through London from Kiera Knightley's discovery of his obsession with her. So many beautiful moments, and lots more that never made it into the movie, too.
    I know it's a bit like confessing that Cadbury Dairy Milk is one's favourite chocolate instead of 70% dark Ghana, but I don't care! I like dairy milk and I actually love, Love Actually!
    Love those boyos from the valleys. I can see a career there - after all people buy The Ten Tenors, Susan Boyle and that american dude with the beautiful eyes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Although I hated love actually in broad terms....the scenes you mentioned were incredibly powerful....as was Emma thompsons performance

      Delete
    2. Yes, I sort of love to hate to love it too. It's cheesy and paints an unrealistic view of the world and really, Hugh Grant as PM? Giving a speech that really in real politics would have been the start of a world war?
      But, I can't not love it. :)

      Delete
  30. I have no problem with these 'talent shows'. It's like the 60's when these were the staple every Sunday night.
    I can see through the manipulation used blatantly by the producers but the talent is great to see. And what an opportunity presented to these singers to pursue their career.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I cry in movies all over the place. Can't think of any right now but I'll get back to you.
    Like Paula, I haven't seen that version of LW. I'll have to get it. My 90-yr-old friend and I love a good costume drama, and as I sup with her most Tuesdays, we are running out!

    ReplyDelete
  32. How Green Was My Valley - when da was trapped in the mine and talking to Roddy McDowell.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anything remotely sad makes me cry. I can't even buy a sympathy card without welling up. On the other hand, it's not hard to make me laugh either, so maybe it evens out :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hubby always laughs when I cry over a show.
    Big Bertha is a lovely hen. Hope your week goes well, John! ♥

    ReplyDelete
  35. Nobody sings The Impossible Dream like Sophia Loren...

    ReplyDelete

I love all comments Except abusive ones from arseholes