David Niven takes notes

Subscribe to Podcast

20 Comments

  1. August 24, 2013

    One of my favourites.So English,so smooth,so charming.witty and urbane.Such a perfect mirror to myself ha ha.More seriously thank you Vickie.I miss this sort of actor today.

    Would anyone care to name anyone they consider occupies the same niche?Is there anyone?Quite serious question as I wonder whether he has been in any sense replaced.

    • August 24, 2013

      I am wracking my brain… Give me a moment on that one. Okay, I’ll just float this – Benedict Cumberbatch?

      • August 24, 2013

        George,I have never seen him.Vickie-yes something more for you to look up.I do declare that i am becoming quite confused for reasons I will explain in a moment.

      • August 24, 2013

        Well George,I am so surprised that you did not pick me up on naming the author of The Bulldog Drummond stories as Sexton Blake.He was in fact yet another fictional detective.I hang my head in shame.The Strange Case of fhe Missing Braincells.

  2. August 24, 2013

    By the way my notion of Englishness is desperately old fashioned and for the most part terminates in the 1950s with Ealing Comedies and self parody of British types.I do declare that in my England good stout male types have all been in the Guards and since entering Civie Street have had their heads glued into a bowler hat ever since even in bed.Now just where did I put my Sexton Blake novel as the plucky chap seemed have been in a bit of a sticky situation with The Yellow Peril when I put it down.

  3. August 24, 2013

    Vicke,now I did get confused there as Sexton Blake was the writer and Bulldog Drummond the dashing hero.

  4. August 24, 2013

    Vickie,speaking of parody there exists a film I much enjoyed that sends up Bulldog Drummond.Its called Bullshot{also known as Bullshot Crummond}.It can be found on Youtube both in its play and film versions.The recently deceased British comedian Mel Smith is also in it.The film is played purely for laughs with deliberately over the top acting etc.I must buy a DVD of it.

    • August 24, 2013

      I detect more things for me to read and see, thank you, Edward!

  5. August 24, 2013

    One of the greats and I enjoyed his autobiography too.

    • August 24, 2013

      He was a really, really, engaging writer.

      • August 24, 2013

        I thought so.

  6. George Kaplan
    August 24, 2013

    Benedict Cumberbatch?! Ahahaha! *Really*, Vickie, I think not! 🙂 Wicked George

  7. August 24, 2013

    Dearest V
    And to what great use he would put all those noted later.
    Yours ever
    The Perfumed Dandy

    • August 25, 2013

      The most wonderful autobiographies… I keep lending them out, and then replacing them when they never come back.

  8. August 24, 2013

    Vickie,he really{Niven} was such an entertainer and wit.I saw him on many Uk Talk Shows and he was as you say engaging as a speaker as well as a writer.

    • August 25, 2013

      A raconteur in life and in print. Love that word… raconteur…

      • August 25, 2013

        Vickie,yes I love that word as well.I think that in every generation there are a few with that special skill,to charm,hold,amuse and inform.I think that they are in short supply at most times.I think that the moment we have a certain UK comedian who imagines in his vanity that he is a raconteur,but then he also imagines that he is funny.You may guess who the unkept,longhaired person is.The very thought of him gives me dark thoughts of a long drop into a deep moat with him wearing some oh so fashionable leg irons.Now I feel so much better.

      • August 26, 2013

        No! You have to tell me – as I am not up on, wait… Oh, I think I know who you mean. Never mind!

      • August 26, 2013

        Vickie,once married to Katie Perry and having talked of true love etc said completely vile things about her of a very intimate nature.

  9. August 26, 2013

    I adore David Niven. I read his autobiography last winter, along with “Bring on the Empty Horses”. Very funny and engaging writer, as you know.

Comments are closed.