Last evening I had an amiable telephonic conversation with Matt my eldest son. Amongst other things, we exchanged tribalism’s about the success of our soccer team, Liverpool over the London team Chelsea, earlier in the afternoon.
One of the ‘other things’ we chatted about was the movie The Naked Civil Servant, based on the book of the same name by Quentin Crisp. Matt had watched the movie earlier in the week and he was particularly engaged by the acting of John Hurt – one of our joint acting heroes, who played Crisp in the movie.
Matt was impressed (well, as impressed as a son can be …lol), by the fact that I had read the book back in 1968, despite it not being on the suggested reading list of my college! Rummaging later amongst my books I have in fact found my first edition of the book – that now will be Matt’s after I have shuffled off this mortal coil, but that’s my secret for now.
The book and the movie document the troubles Crisp faced because of his refusal to hide his homosexuality and flamboyant lifestyle during a time when gay sex was illegal in the United Kingdom.
It contains many anecdotes about his life from childhood through to middle age and it was this more than anything, along with his uber dry sense of humour, that drew me and latterly my son, to the man and his life. For example:
‘An autobiography is an obituary in serial form with the last instalment missing.’
‘For flavour, instant sex will never supersede the stuff you have to peel and cook.’
‘If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style.’
‘It's no good running a pig farm badly for 30 years while saying, 'Really, I was meant to be a ballet dancer.' By then, pigs will be your style.’
‘You fall out of your mother's womb, you crawl across open country under fire, and drop into your grave.’
The movie attracted many deserved accolades and awards and in 2000 it was placed fourth in a poll by industry professionals to find the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes of the 20th century.
John Hurt will shortly reprise the role of Quentin in An Englishman in New York, which will cover the latter years of Crisp's life in New York. Sting recorded an homage to the man, with some wonderful lyrics and clips of the real Quentin.
One of the ‘other things’ we chatted about was the movie The Naked Civil Servant, based on the book of the same name by Quentin Crisp. Matt had watched the movie earlier in the week and he was particularly engaged by the acting of John Hurt – one of our joint acting heroes, who played Crisp in the movie.
Matt was impressed (well, as impressed as a son can be …lol), by the fact that I had read the book back in 1968, despite it not being on the suggested reading list of my college! Rummaging later amongst my books I have in fact found my first edition of the book – that now will be Matt’s after I have shuffled off this mortal coil, but that’s my secret for now.
The book and the movie document the troubles Crisp faced because of his refusal to hide his homosexuality and flamboyant lifestyle during a time when gay sex was illegal in the United Kingdom.
It contains many anecdotes about his life from childhood through to middle age and it was this more than anything, along with his uber dry sense of humour, that drew me and latterly my son, to the man and his life. For example:
‘An autobiography is an obituary in serial form with the last instalment missing.’
‘For flavour, instant sex will never supersede the stuff you have to peel and cook.’
‘If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style.’
‘It's no good running a pig farm badly for 30 years while saying, 'Really, I was meant to be a ballet dancer.' By then, pigs will be your style.’
‘You fall out of your mother's womb, you crawl across open country under fire, and drop into your grave.’
The movie attracted many deserved accolades and awards and in 2000 it was placed fourth in a poll by industry professionals to find the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes of the 20th century.
John Hurt will shortly reprise the role of Quentin in An Englishman in New York, which will cover the latter years of Crisp's life in New York. Sting recorded an homage to the man, with some wonderful lyrics and clips of the real Quentin.
"An Englishman In New York"
I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear
I like my toast done on one side
And you can hear it in my accent when I talk
I'm an Englishman in New York
See me walking down Fifth Avenue
A walking cane here at my side
I take it everywhere I walk
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear
I like my toast done on one side
And you can hear it in my accent when I talk
I'm an Englishman in New York
See me walking down Fifth Avenue
A walking cane here at my side
I take it everywhere I walk
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
If, "Manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say
Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety
You could end up as the only one
Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society
At night a candle's brighter than the sun.
Takes more than combat gear to make a man
Takes more than a license for a gun
Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can
A gentleman will walk but never run.
If, "Manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
If, "Manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say
Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety
You could end up as the only one
Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society
At night a candle's brighter than the sun.
Takes more than combat gear to make a man
Takes more than a license for a gun
Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can
A gentleman will walk but never run.
If, "Manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say.
Look for the movie………
Be yourself no matter what they say.
Look for the movie………
"Films are fantasies, films are magical illusions...Any film, even the worst is at least better than a real life"...
ReplyDeleteI would surely look for the film, to see the failed fantasy. Thank you for recommending.
John Hurt is incredibly talented, isn't he? Thanks for the recommendation. I'll look forward to the reprise, too.
ReplyDelete