Forty Years On - Alan Bennett - John Gielgud - BBC Saturday Night Theatre

[@Pachabel]

My goodness... This is one of the funniest and cleverest plays I've listened to... Absolutely brilliant... I've listened to it twice and will again...

[@phaasch]

It really is wonderful to hear this performed, particularly the original casting with JG in the leading role. I worked on the 1984 revival at the Queen's theatre, where Paul Eddington stepped up superbly, to fill Gielgud's place. David Horovitch played Franklin, and Stephen Fry was Tempest. Of all the productions I worked on, this holds the fondest memories of all for me, and kindled an undiminished love for Alan Bennett's writing.

[@kingkook3027]

That was just superb! Thanks so much for uploading! Classic Alan Bennett wit and great performances from the whole cast!

[@bananabuttons6637]

I used to have this on cassette and im so glad I found it here.

[@clivejones1152]

This play is brilliant. A witty study of England in the 20th. century with a stellar cast. You must listen

[@beanmeeks4743]

Absolutely

[@bmf1949]

Can’t help admiring the allegory, the subtle, at times absurd, humour, from the skilful, sublime pen of Alan Bennett. It is best appreciated as an audio play, in my opinion

[@Bellini33]

I have genuinely listened to this over 100 times. Quite outstanding

[@citizen1163]

Brilliant & still relevant almost 60 years on. Thanks for sharing.

[@johnking1868]

This is the original cast recording & in my view still the best. Many many thanks.

[@douglasmilton2805]

Memories of cooking dinner for my girlfriend, who was a nurse and got home later than me to our flat in Clifton, Bristol. Pots and pans bubbling away. The table set for two. The wine opened. And on the tape player (remember them?)...this! I love all Alan Bennett but Forty Years On is the one I keep going back to.

[@zoyablake9538]

I love this play! I haven't heard it for years. Thank you for giving me the chance to re-listen.

[@mrscpc1918]

I can’t believe I haven’t heard this before. I’ve listened right through with great enjoyment and I’m going straight back to the beginning to listen again. Thankyou!

[@davidcolley7714]

An absolute gem

[@francishughes542]

Ha, ha, This is brilliant,i did,nt even know that it was available, A. B. at his best, he perfectly captures all that is quintesentially English.

[@louise7552]

Brilliant play. Such witty humour . Oh, its getting chilly, i must go put on another strand of pearls.😂😂

[@TedaR]

Loved hearing this again! Love AB! His writing, acting, voice and elocution all top notch! ✔💯💙 Ty so much!

[@pennymathysen2428]

Loved this. giggled so much I had to rewind several times. Typical British humour. God Bless Alan Bennets writing and Sir John Gielguds voice.

[@MultiSirens]

I listen to this often! Absolutely brilliant! My grandmother used to say you’ll get piles! Haha! Thank you!

[@sierraseven3680]

"... an unmade Bedouin ..." Oh, it's little bits like this that make such a witty play.

[@bmf1949]

I can’t help admiring the skill of Alan Bennett, the clever allegory, his subtle, at times hilarious humour. Prescient in its presentation of GB’s decline.best as an audio play, in my opinion..

[@deniseroper9030]

British humour at it's best. Please listen and more like this please 👏😀

[@williamwaynflete6336]

That would be "its". It's not the genitive case...

[@deniseroper9030]

@@williamwaynflete6336 I apologise.

[@philiphema2678]

Took me a while to work out the layering of story and time, linked by the brilliant John Gielgud. I'm a product of the Grammar School system in NZ. The similarities are hilarious and the memories? Aaah the memories!

[@debbiesunlight7047]

This play is totally great. Best one I’ve heard love Love love it.

[@deniseroper9030]

Truly wonderful. More please

[@elizabethroberts8829]

Just brilliant ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@teagunn]

Such a clever and funny play. More please! 😁

[@DMK195601]

Never knew this recording existed. Truly, a theatrical account to be cherished. Regret the cutting of Gielgud's "Only the play?!" speech, though. One of my favorite audition pieces, back in the day.

[@58christiansful]

Clever and extremely entertaining! Maybe AB’s best play.

[@willowwobble]

Surreal with innuendos.

[@globalman]

Love Alan Bennett. This was wonderful but also showed elements of what would become "The History Boys" another brilliant work. Delightful to hear the brilliant John Gielgud. Thank you for this.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

With a hundred or so young men of my acquaintance... I had spent the night dutifully dancing to Mr Casanis band at Dorchester House.

[@hermajesty52]

a treasure! And prophetic. :-(

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

One always forgets the most important things its the things one can't remember that stay with one.

[@hanschristophercharles6981]

Clive Swift played in this! The long suffering husband of Hyacinth Bucket....err Bouquet, of "Keeping Up Appearances. This was an outstanding play. It would make an excellent film should someone choose to make it."😎👍😄

[@michaelberg9656]

Don't agree! Its a play, the words are all you need.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

As the crackling of thorns under the pot Cartwright so is the laughter of a fool.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

Hark the herald angels sing Mrs Simpson hits our King.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

It was under his auspices I had my first cigarette. War is a strange alchemist

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

He had a spare shirt and stockings and a borrowed map.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

Some people lost other things less tangible than legs

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

There was a nun on my bus today paid her fare with a man's hand...

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

Swing swing together with your bodies between your knees...

[@phaasch]

Sandy here will accompany you, disguised as a waiter. That should at least secure you the entreé.

[@The_appraisalist]

T'is here we learn to live

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

Its nothing to be ashamed of though its nothing to be proud of either..

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

All our past proclaims the future Shakespeares voice and Nelsons hand Milton's faith and Wordsworths trust in this our chosen and our changeless land.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Changeless ! ? ! Much too late I'm afraid. Our politicians made sure of that.!

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

@@2msvalkyrie529 Well it's only a play but a very good one at that.

[@douglasmilton2805]

@rhodius scrolls: Wonderful thing is, it sounds like a quotation that we all know (although we’re not sure of the author) but in fact Alan Bennett just made it up.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

Alan B is an absolute master of literary fabrication and almost justifies false memory syndrome and the absurd illogicality of some people trying to.recall the past.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

Doesnt apply to me Foster and other priceless moments making light of rather challenging situations.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

Do you think anyone would mind if I opened a button on my blouse?

[@laurahoward5426]

I'm here after reading Stephen Fry's autobiography

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

I'm all in favour of free expression provided its rigidly kept under control.

[@maryalice5357]

Very funny

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

@@maryalice5357 When society has to descend to the lavatory for its humour the writing is on the wall With a hundred or so young men of my acquaintance I had spent the evening dutifully dancing to Mr Casanis band at Dorchester House.

[@clivejones1152]

And totally coincides with my world view

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

The door was invariably opened by the maid George a friend of Lytton Strachey..

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

The Army is not yet so depleted in numbers that it can take on men who cannot master their Latin gerundives..

[@TheMrgoodmanners]

Is that paul Eddington??

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

Wonderful holidays in St Leonards.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

The motley of self and the raiment of sin...

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

No you can't. Apples at this time of night. Apples dont grow on trees you know.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

Visions of boyhood shall.float there before you Echoes of dreamland shall bear them.aloft.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

Her stories weren't tall they were short.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

I saw a Bishop with a moustache the other day.

[@kateelliot1308]

“Fluent in Sanskrit”

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

Doesn't apply to me Foster...here at St Onans..

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

Follow up Follow up Follow Up Till the field ring again and again with the tramp of the twenty two men... Note the quaint subjunctive in this typical School Song.

[@nickwyatt9498]

Indeed. Following the example of our national anthem.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

@@nickwyatt9498 Actually some of the boys in different stagings dont observe the grammar of their school song. It was not taught in their era.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

Doesnt apply to me Foster....This has gone too far.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

A deer barked...

[@phaasch]

..and our footsteps were dull upon the leads" When I worked on the 1984 production of this, I had to stand and listen to this every night, even though I wasn't needed onstage. It was compulsive listening.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

@@phaasch It is absolutely magnificent and evocative writing i would think Bennett gained the skill from a traditional classical education where classes of boys laboured over rendering prose extracts effectively into modern languages using disiplined Latinate grammar. Dennis Potter took such skill into Interpreting Russian in the Cold War. Another point in Bennetts favour is that over interpretation can lead to surreal absurdity and produce a comedic parallel universe that is Kimber and the whole nonsense verse that is Albion House. Language that cannot distinguish poetry from reality is thought to be German..and see the superior subtitles produced for Riefenstahls Triumph of the Will. They were translations of Anthony Burgess. l.

[@phaasch]

@@rhodiusscrolls3080 Amazing that you should mention Dennis Potter, when only an hour or so ago, I was watching one of the few still available episodes of Pennies from Heaven on KZbin. Do you have a link for Triumph of the Will with the original subtitles? I've tried watching it a could times without, but had to give up,xas imagery alone can only go so far.

[@aidanlee1318]

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[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

The silly way of talking they had...

[@hewrichardson6638]

J

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

Irredeemably corrupted..