Hitchcock & The Queen


I took part in a zoom lecture about Hitchcock’s spy films last night and in one discussion group 
had a lively debate about The Thirty Nine Steps 
One London lady was rather tired and emotional after a very bad day and ended up talking about the Queen’s 
We will meet again speech with a large glass of red in hand 
I’ve never seen 30 fixed smiles on zoom before
It was somewhat of a surreal evening

Off to work now....will miss the big gay quiz tonight as I won’t be back in time
Mavis is flying the Welsh flag 



 


48 comments:

  1. That's a good film, I think I like the Kenneth Moore version best. I hope that lady got some relief from her "discussion", she obviously needed to share. Surreal times indeed! Take care. xx

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  2. Have you seen the stage version of Thirty-Nine Steps? I swear it is the funniest thing I've seen and my sides ached for a week!

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    1. Agreed, the whole thing was so much fun.

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  3. Maybe you can be Mavis' 'ring a friend', when you get home!

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  4. I have nothing against your Queen. Overall, she seems like a perfectly acceptable figurehead. But I must admit there was something in the tone of that "We will meet again.' that sounded just a bit like it might be a warning. Congratulations on the announcement of another soon to be royal grandchild. It does bring up a question though. If Harry and Meghan's new child grows up to be the POTUS, does that mean that we are part of Great Britain again? Have fun with that one.

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    1. Oh I felt rather buoyed up with her words x

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    2. "We will meet again" is the Queen playing on a previous national/world crisis (WW2) she was part of and the Vera Lynn song "We'll meet again" which was a very popular song at the time referring to loved ones meeting again. I think most British people would have understood that, but don't know if the song gained any popularity across the pond in WW2, so perhaps the nuance and meaning is lost. It certainly wasn't a warning (or I hope not!).

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  5. Now I'm retired I haven't even used Zoom yet! I must say the Queen is in pretty good shape at 94. But then, she must have the best medical attention of any UK citizen.

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    1. Nick, may I suggest that she has the most expensive medical treatment, but not necessarily the best. All UK citizens receive excellent care; as I'm sure John will confirm.

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    2. Cro, I had to wait 18 months for a prostate operation and 10 months for an endoscopy. The waiting lists in the UK now are horrendous.

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    3. Nick, that what I really meant by 'expensive'; one jumps queues. The operation itself would have been the same for everyone.

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  6. Interesting about the woman with the glass of wine and how she went totally off piste so to speak. I am surprised that this should happen in a course that you are paying to "attend". However, all mine are day time ones so perhaps being in the evening makes that difference. We have serious discussions and a break for a coffee!

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    1. She was drinking red wine as soon as soon started....after half way through I noticed the lecture had muted her as well as a guy who was making random shouts and squeaks

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  7. The down side of informal Zooms I suppose. She probably feels very embarrassed this morning.

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  8. I think Weaver is right. We all fall apart. Most of the time it happens in private. However, there are those glowing moments when it doesn't.

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    1. It was a bit like watching ABIGSILS PARTY

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    2. I luv"Abigals Party"-I could watch it over and over x

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    3. Abigails!x

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  9. I was on a Zoom call with a dozen lawyers yesterday, and one of them remarked that it had been months since he had been dressed from the waist down on a call,

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    1. Just as long as their names weren't Jeffrey Toobin or Hector Robles you should be safe...

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  10. I have not gotten on a web call in a few days. Perhaps I should.

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  11. I like QEII's speech. and she wore green, the colour of hope.

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  12. This underscores one of our new modern rules of etiquette: never eat or drink whilst on a Zoom call.

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    1. I was drinking from my bucket of coffee

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    2. Fuck etiquette. I've got a tub of Haagen Daz ice cream to guzzle during tonight's quiz.

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  13. The Thirty-Nine Steps, though it's been years since I read it, has stayed in my mind as the very best of that genre. I hope I remember it correctly, this particular scene where the spy knows the bad guy has seen him before because of the glint of recognition in his eyes. Life or death, baby, relying on the powers of astute observation.
    -Kate

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  14. Northriding5:04 pm

    Robert Donat version of 39 Steps,is, I believe on BBC2 this weekend, tomorrow, I think

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  15. Alcohol and zoom do not always work well. Mute to the rescue. Lesson learned? Will she return to the next gathering, with or without her wine? I thought the Queen's speech was excellent

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  16. Ha! I wondered what possible connection Hitchcock and the Queen might have...although I'm sure they probably met, back in the day.

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  17. I read that for my English lit exam and remember falling asleep reading it in bed.When I watched the film last year on tv there seemed to be lots of running around in it and I dropped off again x

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  18. Mavis-Fly That Flag High tonight!x

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    1. I've got a pair of John's old undercrackers to waft around x

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    2. That should attract good vibes to you x

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    3. Good vibes or the vibrations of the wings of flies 🤪

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    4. Mavis-it does sound rather exciting but Naughty x

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  19. We have excellent speakers at our garden club zoom meetings. I am smart enough to turn off my image during the proceedings. Those that do not have provided wonderful additional and unintentional entertainment.

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  20. I always switch off my camera on work Teams or Zoom meetings - they're a little intrusive. I find most people either sit in carefully arranged kitchens or have bookcases behind them (some sort of culinary/literate virtue signalling?). My university colleague goes against the grain by having backdrops of erupting volcanoes or penguins. Brilliant. Covid has brought with it a whole new culture of online interaction. Just wondering if any Trelawnyd online meetings can be as entertaining ala Handforth Parish Council and Jackie Weaver. John?

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  21. Thank goodness I have never been on a Zoom work call. Speak with my kids like it but not often. Hopefully I will see them in person on my birthday tomorrow. Covid has changed many things.

    Jo in Auckland

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  22. Barbara Anne9:40 pm

    We're back on the grid after 5 hours of no electricity as the ice started to melt. I had a frittata to get made and in the oven before I could visit here.
    I thought the Queen's speech was remarkable and hopeful even tho I'm across the pond.
    As for 39 Steps, what a thriller. I'd be interested in seeing the funny stage play of it.
    Hope your shift is enjoyable. Safe journey home. :)

    Hugs!

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  23. my cat loves a zoom meeting or quiz. I had to remove him when his little head was in the box my sons shouldhave been in when he was doing a works meeting. Cries of " please get rid of this fffing cat" filled the air. His colleagues were hysterical

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