Jim.
I don’t need beer to fall over.
I hit the deck today trying to push start that 1909 Triumph 500cc.
Fortunatley out of sight of paying punters..!
I’ve got a bruise on my knee the size of a bread and butter plate.
When I was telling my elderly Mother on the telephone this evening, she responded with: ‘I hope you didn’t damage the motorbike.’

This probably goes some way to explaining why I’m the way I am..!!:):rolleyes::)

Andy

🙂 Rob ,if you ever need to find a home for your camera 😀

It was good to see you too Gary.
If you moved that Trumpet twin out–then you’d have room for Rob’s camera…….:);):):):)

Bazy, et al.
As it’s unlikely that I’ll be running very much tomorrow, I might actually have a chance to talk and exchange pleasantries for once.
So, please say hello.

Andy

For example the thread relating to the band members,

I’ve been here a while but I don’t remember that thread.
If we are on the subject of bands though, I would imagine that Moggy would quite like to be associated with a WAAF band in some way.
Moggy, just let let that fervid imagination of yours play with the idea of four ranks of four perfect Susannah York lookalikes. Tunics as crisp as matrons apron, not a wisp of hair touching a collar and not a wrinkled stocking to be seen–all for your delectation.

Happy new year mate–and I still owe you a beer.

Andy.

PS. You will have guessed by now that I don’t take any of this in the least bit seriously.

Can I offer The Cruel Sea (1951 novel, 1953 movie) as another unlikely ever to be improved upon?
Moggy

Moggy, no problem there–brilliant.

I’ve always had this sort of threshold in my mind, which I accept is different for all of us, where directors/producers stop trying to make what is a good film and start producing rubbish.
For instance, and I know this is very subjective, ‘The Dam Busters’ whilst having inaccuracies still to my mind has qualities which make it a good film, ‘The Cruel Sea’ is the same and maybe ‘The Battle Of The River Plate’, slightly less so.
‘Zulu’ is highly inaccurate in almost every respect, but I confess I love it–so, as I said, very subjective.

My favourite war film ever is the film adaptation of Pat Barker’s novel ‘Regeneration’. It’s that very rare time when a film is actually better than the book–although that of course is my opinion. I actually think that might be slightly the case with ‘The Cruel Sea’ too.
Although not really an action war film, the scripting and directing is first class and the acting relationship between the actors Jonathan Pryce, James Wilby and Jonny Lee Miller is very fine indeed.
In fact, in the absence of much on the telly tonight, I might stick the DVD on.

Andy.

The one point to be considered is that this attack was virtually the start of the SBS as a potent raiding force with a long reach. Perhaps it was considered politic to show what they could do.

John.
Paddy Ashdown (ex Liberal Party leader) recently wrote a book on the raid, and made a TV show about it.
I saw the TV show, and pre-ordered the book when it’s published in paperback (hardback is already out) and he made a similar point.

Andy.

…21st century critiques of mid-20th century films seems both irrelevant and unfair. We inevitably make judgements on what we know and what we can do now rather than on what was possible at the time.

Charlie, I disagree.
Firstly I was making the statement that things hadn’t (and were as likely not to) improve for a forthcoming production, and please also credit people with the intelligence to compare like with like–as we are not stupid.
IE:- Other British made war films of the same period.
I was actually thinking of ‘Battle Of The River Plate’, made 1956 and also in colour. A substantially better effort in my opinion.
I have no real issue with the aircraft, or that the German warships were obviously British, but the dreadfully inaccurate script, it’s child like plot and as ‘jettisoning’ says, the casting of Anthony Newley was chronically bad, made this a very poor effort.
It’s irrelevant to me when it was made–it was not a good film.

I also could point out that ‘Battle Of The River Plate’ has a host of inaccuracies as regards to equipment used, but generally has a much more competent feel in regards to production, scripting etc.

Thank you for buying the cheese!

The cheese is also available from the butchers shop in Spilsby.
While you’re there buying cheese, it’s worth taking a look at the new memorial up on the old airfield site.
It’s quite impressive.

Andy