What Are We To Do With Lancaster House?
Lancaster House is one of London’s most prestigious buildings, but it is treated like the way many of my parents generation treated the front room; for special occasions only. And you don’t let those outside the great and good in. Although to be fair, it is used for quality films.
So the news this morning in The Times, that the Government is thinking of transferring the property to the National Trust, is to be welcomed.
It would appear that the Trust would still allow it to be used for films, such as The King’s Speech, in addition to being open to the public, but also they would use the house to display some of the important works of art in government collections.
After all, Somerset House has undergone quite a transformation in the last few years, since C used to go there to the Principal Registry, which has now moved to an anonymous block in Holborn. It is now a gallery, half is part of King’s College and there is an ice rink in the winter, to name just some of its important uses. It is also used as a film set.
So a good precedent has been set.
If we do the right thing with Lancaster House, we should follow that with sorting out Marlborough House.
Why All This Fuss About Harry Potter?
I’ve never read a Harry Potter book or seen any of the films! And don’t intend to either!
To me, the only good thing about the phenomenon is the jobs, money and tax revenue that it has created in the UK. I’m also interested in how J K Rowling wrote the book in a cafe in Edinburgh. It is the better story as it is all about getting yourself out of a hole by doing something creative.
Carve Her Name With Pride
I was walking along the Albert Embankment yesterday opposite the Houses of Parliament, when I saw this statue.
SOE Memorial
It is of Violette Szabo GC, who was one of the best known of the 170 SOE agents who went to France to as Churchill put it “Set Europe Ablaze”. 117 of those sent died including thirteen women. Violette Szabo was just 23, when she was executed in Ravensbruck.
A film was made about Violette in 1958 called Carve Her Name With Pride starring Virginia McKenna. Hence the title of this post.
Is This The Worst Film Ever?
Just in terms of the taking of just £121 in the first week, Love’s Kitchen, now holds the record for the worst commercial start for a film in the UK.
The critics didn’t like it either, as Wendy Ide gave it no stars.
The Palm Dog
Most cinema enthusiasts have heard about the Palme d’Or awarded at the Cannes Film Festival for the best film.
I hadn’t realised until today, that there was also a Palm Dog, awarded to the best performance by a canine. The award this year was won by Uggy, a Jack Russell, in a film called The Artist.
Is This a Must-See Show?
Charlie Sheen’s new one-man show has not had the best of reviews in Detroit.
The Times even gave it no stars.
So is it something that is so bad, it just has to be seen?
Mel Brooks got the story line of The Producers absolutely right, with it’s underlying story of the awful, Springtime for Hitler.
Probably the Worst Film Ever Made
Or that’s what this sign outside the Screen on Islington Green says.
Poster Advertising The Room
Do they claim that The Room is actually worse than some of the crap the Americans have produced lately and especially in 3-D.
Farewell Elizabeth Taylor
Her death is sad this morning, but I have a confession to make. I only saw one of her films. And that was Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Jane Russell Quotes
The Times had a nice piece on Jane Russell in the magazine.
Bob Hope once said of her, “the two and only Jane Russell”
A film of hers called The French Line, was shot in 3-D and was advertised with the tagline of “J. R. in 3-D! It’ll knock both your eyes out!”
She did have the last laugh though in that she once said. “Publicity can be terrible. But only if you don’t have any.”
Dumb she was not!
What Does Her Majesty Think?
The King’s Speech has done well at the Oscars, winning four awards for best picture, best actor, best director and best screenplay.
The Queen has been known to have found the film moving.
We will probably never know what she feels officially, but these recently released pictures, show how close she was to her father.
The Anonymous Widower 
