Joyce Grenfell "Eng Lit"

[@peterosullivan1970]

The great Joyce Grenfell. They don't make comedy like that anymore RIP Miss Grenfell you might not be with us anymore but your comedy lives on.

[@borderlands6606]

Unfortunately, the still make television interviewers exactly like that.

[@michaelritchie2968]

"Is there a tolerable chance of you finding yourself in close proximity to a kettle?" is the most English way of asking for a cup of tea ever. This is so beautifully observed.

[@highphysics3617]

Absolutely brilliant. It cracks me up every time I hear it.

[@carolineelkington407]

Every schoolmistress I ever had, absolutely wonderful. "CAROLINE ELKINGTON is there a chance you may engage your lacrosse stick with the ball...".. !

[@highphysics3617]

@@carolineelkington407 Yesss,absolutely priceless.

[@carolineelkington407]

@@highphysics3617 oh I was terrified of it. In the 70s that ball was lethal - like hurling rock - and I instinctively ran away from it, if it came anywhere close!

[@highphysics3617]

@@carolineelkington407 I was never co-ordinated enough to venture into lacrosse,or,hockey. It could have been lethal for anyone close by.LOL

[@MaryMcKnight-f3u]

One never grows out of Joyce Grenfell. She's every bit as funny now as she was then, and her comedy was never barbed but always gentle. I miss her.

[@sextonblake4258]

A seriously undervalued treasure. Would love to have seen her live. Very clever lady.

[@zacmumblethunder7466]

In 2014 I saw Cheryl Knight's one woman show "Turn back the clock", a tribute to Joyce Grenfell. It was brilliant. Somehow she managed to make me feel that it was the first time of seeing the sings and sketches, but was absolutely true to the originals.

[@elizabethroberts6215]

……I met the late, great Joyce Grenfell, when she on stage here with her one-woman show. She was delightful to be in conversation with, & we’d a few laughs! May she R I P………

[@theoutspokenhumanist]

An absolute joy and sadly forgotten by most.

[@ivelissediaz9583]

I absolutely loved, loved, loved her as Sargent Ruby Gates in the St. Trinian movies. The movies themselves were hilarious !

[@mothmagic1]

She was so precious. A shame there are no comedians like that anymore. She played the quintessential English Lady so well.

[@rowejon]

She was a performer, but I think she played herself. She was a close relative of the Astors & grew up on the periphery of high society. She was a great observer & converted her observations into her performance.

[@sheilabryans8177]

I remember this series so very well, she was a brilliant exponent of a witty genteel style of comedy that has gone now. Many thanks for posting

[@PhilipShand]

Oh,thank you for showing this. Joyce Grenfell was of a generation.........so understatedly funny. English to the core. Some of her characters were evident everywhere you looked in 1950's & 1960's England

[@matthewjbarron]

6:24 “Well now, which do I like best: Men or women? ... I think it rather depends ‘What for?’” I’m stealing that line!

[@logtothebase2]

Where have the humans gone who had such immense fortitude and humor

[@ItsNotRealLife]

All dead now

[@RobertLocksley385]

@@ItsNotRealLife Not as long as one of us who remembers her lives.

[@highphysics3617]

@@RobertLocksley385 Time means nothing when listening to Joyce Grenfell. The humour is timeless.

[@RobertLocksley385]

@@highphysics3617 Well done, Allison. Fifty years are as nothing when I hear her voice.

[@peterhutley4254]

What an amazing closing line. I really can’t imagine Joyce being cruel. Wonderful. Great comedy, Pete Hutley, Newcastle, Australia.

[@GrahamCommander]

Joyce a true Engish gem, my favourite was the school teacher "George Don't do that"

[@keithhulks7049]

Whenever I think of Joyce Grenfell, I am very curious as to what George is doing!

[@Chris-dm1je]

I love the variation in "Nativity Play", "George? What is it that wise men never do?"

[@Lady-Jane1]

A very clever lady who deserves better airtime than she ever got.

[@prince.mushroom]

What a delight to stumble across this. She's wonderful!

[@flyingfisbeefilms]

Oh gosh my father (RIP) introduced me to this wonderful woman. Thanks for posting!

[@boleyn123]

Thank you so much for this. I had forgotten (to my shame) just how great she was. Her monologues are indeed a National Treasure. Cheers.

[@ProfPim]

Indeed, reminded me of people I have known including dear grandma! lol Joyce was such a treasure as were her monologues. Wishing you fond memories and much enjoyment watching videos of Joyce!

[@boleyn123]

Many thanks for your kind comments. She was a wonder.

[@Ceeby]

I was about 9 when I heard this on a single record my mother had bought called 'The Nursery'. I found it funny even at that age. There weren't many female comedians then, she was one of the first. 😂😂

[@janekinnane5884]

Just brilliant

[@RobertLocksley385]

There's a certain lady of Upper Class birth whose acquaintance I consider an honour and a pleasure that lives in a large manor house here in East Kent between Dover and Deal who could happily be the subject of Mrs Grenfell's performance. I only see her once every few years, but when I visit her in my working capacity she regales me with tales of her youth and family with tea in fine china and the company of portraits of her mighty ancestors. One day she will be gone but as I live, dear Joyce will remind me that such wonderful and noble people lived, and whose lives are to be celebrated and enjoyed.

[@highphysics3617]

Oh! Yesss,you must treasure every single moment. She sounds delightful.

[@RobertLocksley385]

@@highphysics3617 Said lady wears the same tweed skirt her grandmother did when she walked across Arabia as a young "gel" before the war, her wallpaper is the same that was put up for the coronation of George IV, and she offers me sherry served from a crystal decanter taken from the Tipu Sultan by her ancestor whose portrait sits in judgement on me, the descendant of his men who stormed the Sultan's palace of Mysore over two hundred years ago. When my dear Lady serves me Assam in cups made for it, I cannot help but love her and her people all the more.

[@xColmGx]

You must record these meetings somehow!

[@RobertLocksley385]

@@xColmGx How I should love to do so! I understand that one of her sons does, for transcription from sound to paper. However whether such literary delight is published I know not, but to have sat and listened to a daughter of those who fought for our freedom for centuries, I struggle to ask such vulgar questions. I remain a listener and a sharer of her wonderful voice, heart and mind, and will be the saddest when such a voice is stilled at last.

[@ivelissediaz9583]

@@RobertLocksley385 Good Evening: it has been a year since you posted. How is your lady now?

[@lottie6990]

honestly wish there were more comedians like this

[@boleyn123]

Many, many years ago she was on the phone to her boyfriend Ken. Her Father called down asking for his toffees - he was bed ridden. The upshot was that the date was cancelled yet again. She said, "I can't leave him tonight Ken, well he's old and has no one to look after him. That that was the end. And by her face alone the audience knew this was going to be her life. God bless, in a marvellously understated way she presented the predicament of so many daughters who are faced with this every day. God bless to all those self-sacrificing women and Ms Grenfell for telling their story. She is sheer genius,.

[@SuzetteGrist]

What an amazing woman she was. I remember her years ago on tv. Thank you

[@Quityertalkin]

You are welcome!

[@thrippleton]

How did she remember all that script? Never an er or um or stumble. A brilliant observer of life and a thoroughly nice human being. Pity we've lost her. RIP Joyce.

[@leetylr]

It helps when you write your own material.

[@baronmeduse]

Done 100,000 times on stage.

[@maxinejacobson4006]

I always enjoyed watching Joyce Grenfell, loved her books too. Thanks for the memory, this was wonderful.

[@elablessed8838]

Progress everywhere today does seem to come so very heavily disguised as chaos. ~ Joyce Grenfell, British actor

[@fordlandau]

A beautiful and brilliant woman indeed

[@boleyn123]

joyce grenfell is a genuis. A monolgue is one of the most diffilcult and she is the best. Than you for downloading. You have give much pleasure. God rest her soul, she will not be forgotton.

[@sirmeowthelibrarycat]

😂 Sheer delight from opening to finale! Such clarity of diction puts many of today''s speakers to shame with their mumbling! Lovely, lovely lady, in the best sense of the word.

[@sharont1347]

Instantly drawn in, I always loved her.

[@jillfriendship1054]

What would life be, without a little J G. Thank you so much. Martin

[@russellwilliams1071]

A great funny lady who made me laugh taking the wazz out of the so-called upper classes...🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 bless you lady x

[@robertjh123]

Pure genius

[@jamescrowley8637]

Joyce Grenfell played a good part in Genevieve and later in The Yellow Royce. Both films featured motor and are true classics. The Yellow Rolls Royce was the last film to be directed by Anthony Asquith and is well worth a look.

[@zacmumblethunder7466]

Joyce is in the third and best segment of Yellow Rolls Royce, well worth seeing the film for this section alone. It also has the best line of the film, "Hearts don't get broken, they just get a little bruised" which, in context, is beautiful.

[@mscott3918]

@@zacmumblethunder7466 It was excellent, with her as companion to the fabulous Girda Millet.

[@michaelmontagu3979]

She was also Portia in The Million Pound Note and played a lady running a stall in Stage Fright starring Marlene Dietrich.

[@tarasubramaniam6191]

'Live dangerously: Ga ga! :🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 She has such Joy in her English Euncistion..

[@MrDorbel]

Unique, beautiful. Thank you so much .

[@patking264]

What a class act!

[@jacquelinekalich7463]

She was so funny. I always liked her. So very sharp.

[@fizzywizzy2006]

such a great woman!!!

[@rossmcl177]

I just love 7.15, the way she says "I'm very fond of her." That always makes me smile. I think you can see the lineage from Joyce to Victoria Wood to Catherine Tate. The styles change with the times of course, but I can definitely see it.

[@MrDannyDetail]

I can definitely see the connection with Joyce Grenfell and Victoria Wood (and her alumni, particularly Patricia Routledge's monologues as Kitty). I guess Vic was just breaking through into her own shows (rather than just doing the odd appearance on That's Life) at about the same time that we lost Joyce (I say 'we', I wasn't even born then!), so I guess filled a gap at that time, although you could never be another Joyce, or for that matter another Victoria.

[@margaretgaskin4928]

Not an accidental connection - very direct. www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/apr/20/victoria-wood-obituary

[@jenniferh6813]

Superb! (As always.) Thank you so very much for posting this!

[@sedekiman]

This is what I grew up with-how life has changed!

[@grahamwyles1824]

A true, 'National Treasure'.

[@warrendoe2164]

‘She had a squirrel alley Edwin”. Lol! Just a wonderful lady who did not take her celebrity too seriously like many of today’s “celebrities.

[@andrewgibbonwilliams6228]

She is entirely herself while impresonating the kind of person she knows only too well. Magic. Joyce doesn't do 'vitriol'. She just does exaggerated parody. Quite an act!

[@mammypuss]

Priceless!...xxx....TY for posting!

[@gabrieli1612]

Wonderful stuff!

[@elizabethyoung4900]

Brilliant comedian, she led the way for people today 👏👏👏👏👏

[@SimonandJojo]

That beautiful yellow dress and gold shoes., Love Joyce setting the scene of her sketch 'Eng. Lit' the book lined study with a pair of crossed (h)Oars over the door!

[@zxingzxing]

Love Joyce Grenfell

[@missdotgee]

Thank you SO much Willzdc~! *mwah*~! it is my favourite too~!

[@johnstygall860]

A gem

[@josephinerimmer6888]

Wonderful woman! Only this country could produce such a one-off as she. Loved everything she did.

[@1220b]

The craft of acting at its zenith.

[@hankwilliams150]

I loved her as "Shirl's Girl Friend" and "Me and my friend's are mad on dancin'".

[@misterxr]

Another great monologue!

[@S1d-ney]

She was so lovely 💝 Can't help hearing "no Sammy no"......

[@ivelissediaz9583]

From the St Trinian movies, right?

[@douglassutherland-bruce9479]

That's a piece she wrote called 'Lally Tullett' and i think it's her very best monologue ever.

[@naomicole9706]

A dress with pockets. Perfection!

[@LouiseOC1]

She's my favourite joyce G renfell character

[@J0nB0yH88]

she's a genius and so funny, I dnno how she remembers all that!

[@leetylr]

It helps when you write your own material.

[@CuddlyGayBear]

There's a certain JC monologue that I loved, but which I can never find now. I'm sure I've asked this before on youtube, but no luck yet so I will try again... She played a lady who was being interviewed about her husband, and it becomes clear to us (the audience) that he has been serially unfaithful to her. Its not clear that she knows this herself - until the very end of the sketch. It really sticks in my mind, as it was funny but also very moving. I'd love to see/hear it again...

[@highphysics3617]

Keep searching. I'm not familiar with that one,but,there is bound to be someone who recalls it. She did many,many short interviews on radio. It's bound to be there somewhere.

[@waggers22]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHfIoWdjgMqNnqM Do you mean this monologue?

[@michaelpumfrey4206]

"Life Story", it is on KZbin

[@simonf8902]

Love you Joyce

[@Quityertalkin]

It is called "Life Story" and I have a text copy and I think also an audio copy. The intro says "The character is the wife of a musician: she is of middle European origin, with an accent".

[@emmaandgrace4eva]

She. is. genius. end of.

[@ginnylorenz5265]

Wasn't she perfect casting to play Julie Andrews' mother in "The Americanization of Emily"? Glorious talent!!!!!

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

Makes me smile

[@Trevor-Stoddart]

Wonderful

[@TommyGilchrist]

A dress with pockets! 😮❤

[@steviejd5803]

A delightfully attractive woman.

[@michaelmontagu3979]

Died far too soon. She lost an eye to cancer. I think it was her right eye that was glass.

[@missdotgee]

Hi Quityertalking~! All i know is it about a birthday for the aged dowager. It starts with something like "you'd never know to see me now, but i was once young and fair, with hair as red as the fox, they said" and it ends with something like "And now, the Dowager Duchess said, I am far too old to care, but she was pale as any ghost, when she walked up the stair.."~! :-) Perhaps my dad was wrong and it was not even Joyce Grenfell, i am not sure~!

[@frenchhornwoman]

love xxx

[@CuddlyGayBear]

Yes that sounds like the one. Its really disappointing that it is never on any of the compilations or on here. It makes me think theBBC clip must have been deleted or something. :( I'm sure I'm not the only person who'd love to see/hear it again.

[@wenglishsal]

@bs3bloke ... Oops, sorry my info was wrong there... But what a fantastic woman Joyce was... I have just watched a tribute to Alistair Sim.. and she acted with the marvelous man in the St Trinians films... A total star, regal, funny and very very watchable.... ;0)x

[@j0nnyism]

We were all once shrews dancing round dinosaurs. Fortunately we were too small to be of any importance. Not much has changed then

[@missdotgee]

i have tried by ALL means to get a song/poem/monologue i beleive was Joyce Grenfell abut a Dowager Duchess that my dad used to play me. Anyone know it?~!

[@Quityertalkin]

Someone has posted it here on KZbin It is called Ballad

[@georgealderson4424]

Miss Grenfell's gentle humour is much missed in today's world of unkindness and insenstivity.

[@wenglishsal]

What a super talented lady... And she was the niece of Lady Aster... From the Woolworth family... What a brilliant observer of people and she transports you into her world... Fantastic :0)x

[@TheGodsrighthandman]

From a day when Actresses didn't need to be stunning wiv 38C cups, all they needed was Talent.

[@mscott3918]

We have lost a lot. Talent seems to take second place to fake celebrities.

[@charlaine2124]

5:46 is the best thing ever

[@christineroseman5820]

why never a dame? tragic!

[@michaelritchie2968]

She was planned for the honours list but died just a few months before it was announced.

[@missdotgee]

Thank you Quityertalkin - i wish i could reach through cyberspace and kiss yoU~!

[@bilbofaggin5]

Pockets in her dresses as well? My god. She truly was an icon

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

Truly what's new, most women had pockets in their dresses in the 1910s.

[@davidmills3332]

she would have made a great governor of a prison

[@peterschorn1]

Is the Professor's Wife any relation to Rick from the Young Ones?

[@jamesroyce1845]

We're no longer allowed to be cleverly English nor Englishly clever.

[@ProNorden]

Anyone know where the second "Eng Lit" sketch is ? This is the first apparently and the third involves the campus editor of a leftist student newspaper.

[@Quityertalkin]

I have the text of it.

[@eatyourorgasm3838]

a second cuss of Ruth Darper, touch of genetics reflecting nature of 1st rate enhance goosed rearing from Ruthy...score another one for Draper Nurturing Ancestry

[@canturgan]

Like Gordon Brown she lost an eye and had a very good artificial eye. Miranda Hart must have studied her.

[@hughvane]

"One of the things ...... are"? 0:43-0:44 Eng Lit must have cringed when it heard that.

[@zacmumblethunder7466]

Eng Lang certainly, Eng Lit, not so much.

[@RuthvenMurgatroyd]

Are you American by any chance? because 'are' is indeed an acceptable verb for a plural noun phrase like "eccentric women" even though it is collective noun. This is a feature of British English which tends to treat collective nouns as plural rather than singular (as opposed to American English) hence verb agreement is handled in the exact opposite manner; for example, in British English it would be proper to say "The Government are carrying out a policy of expropriation" as opposed to the American preferred "The Government is...". If it's not obvious, Grenfell was British.

[@daisies53]

Ha ha

[@annainspain5176]

A great talent, poorly presented. I have read her autobiographies and she just luuuuvvved those dresses which were done by a London designer and were not cheap. And yet neither the cut nor the colour do her any favours. Fortunately she is such a great actress you stop seeing what she's wrapped in.

[@benl7070]

Bob newhart is better I think but then again different types of comedy.