I thought Hugh Grant got Thorpe's speech patterns, verbal emphasis and cadences exactly right,judging from recordings - but then I guess that is kind of his job. Also, Ben Whishaw is cornering the market in young men exploring their sexuality in politically charged contexts (cf London Spy)
A Very English Scandal
- Thread starter rubbershoes
- Start date
I really wasn't thinking about any of his lightweight past roles. It was very much not Hugh Grant being Hugh Grantish yet again.
I'm enjoying it enormously; leaving aside the acting and the story it's got loads of period detail, and P5B Rovers.
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
I'm not sure what the title refers to, but I think it might be the notion that it was a bungled and farcical murder plot, like an Ealing comedy. Posh people being incompetent criminals. I think that's the idea.
(It does rather seem to equate poshness with Englishness, but then I think that class does tend to make that equation in their worldview).
Kaka Tim
Half Arsed and Slapdash till I Die
I don't think grant is doing an "impersonation" - its much more than that - its the way he's interpreting and projecting Thorpe's personality that is so impressive. Despite surface similarities with the dismally familiar hugh grant roles - posh, slightly awkward, repressed Englishman - its a million miles away in terms what he brings to the role.
Casual Observer
enough
In 1973 when junior minister Antony Lambton resigned after prostitute revelations, Jeremy Thorpe criticised him saying those in public life shouldn't allow themselves to enter situations that leave them open to blackmail. Very amusing.
Griff
Hardly posting anymore
Funny you mention the detail and the P5B in the same sentence. It's 1965 and his car has a 'C' registration, two years before the P5B came out.
Should have been a P5 3 Litre straight six and not a P5B 3.5 V8 with Rostyle wheels.
In the last episode it looked as though the '3.5 Litre' badges had been covered.
Sorry, anorak mode. I used to have a P5B Coupe.
So did I! I hadn't noticed the year. It is period detail, but two years out.
Kaka Tim
Half Arsed and Slapdash till I Die
shakes fist at BBC and cancels TV licence in disgust 
Mrs Miggins
There's been a slight cheese accident
Thread is turning into a proper Hugh Grant love in
Shall we send him a fan letter?
Shall we send him a fan letter?
Totally agree. Hugh Grant is absolutely outstanding as Thorpe. In fact, his performance was a revelation to me. Never realised what a capable actor he actually is. As for Ben Whishaw, you can always count on him to turn out a commendable performance. And OMG, is he really nearly 40?? How is that even possible??? I swear he looks about 28!!! Amazing.
The entire production is excellent. Hope it wins awards. Will be well deserved.
Thread is turning into a proper Hugh Grant love in
Shall we send him a fan letter?
LOL!!! I'm getting the same vibe. And bizarrely enough, starting to feel the love for HG. Unbelievable considering I've never given him a second thought or glance until now!!!
Mrs Miggins
There's been a slight cheese accident
Ooh! I'll look forward to the documentary. I've really enjoyed it too.
Calamity1971
If Mr Peanut says It's okay, then it is.
The revelations have been unearthed in the BBC Four documentary The Jeremy Thorpe Scandal..!
Jeremy Thorpe 'hit-man might not be dead'
Jeremy Thorpe 'hit-man might not be dead'
Calamity1971
If Mr Peanut says It's okay, then it is.
gosub
~#
My Dad takes a dim view of people who wave guns around (after what went on with Eric Miller) if he couldn’t sack them he'd send them to Nigeria and wait for them to quit. So no wasn't a good opening gambit
pseudonarcissus
fluttering and dancing
Sorry for the detail, why was it a coupe? Usually coupes were 2 door “cut” versions of 4 doors. This has been in the back of my mind since the ‘70s
T & P
|-o-| (-o-) |-o-|
I was wondering this too. Could it perhaps be that at the time there was much outrage and press coverage about the dog being killed, whereas in other countries one could arguably presume the dog’s killing would have been a mere footnote?
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
What's particularly English about that?
TheHoodedClaw
acknowledging ur soup leg
Apropos of nothing, the RSPCA was founded 60 years before the NSPCC...
spanglechick
High Empress of Dressing Up
I thought it was the particularly inexpert nature of the assassination attempt. All a bit Ealing Comedy.
Griff
Hardly posting anymore
They were much the same as the Saloon, with 4 doors only the roofline at the back was different. More slopish on the Coupe to more upright on the Saloon. There may be other small differences that I'm unaware of though.
Most people don't really notice or care.
It's a shame they didn't make this.
tim
EXPLODED TIM! (Help me!!!)
Thread is turning into a proper Hugh Grant love in
Shall we send him a fan letter?
He is far too old for the role
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