Reach for the Ground - Jeffrey Bernard documentary

[@illuminant1129]

Things had all caught up with Jeff by then. Marooned in his flat, his saving grace was a great view over Soho. But he obviously missed the Coach and Horses and his friends there. The documentary - 'A Day in the Life of Jeffrey Bernard' filmed in 1987 showed a Jeff still unravaged and active in his regular haunts. This is Jeff in injury time, waiting for final whistle. Even out of inspiration for his Low Life column. A painful and sad conclusion. I will raise a glass to him as I always do, next time I make it to the C&H.

[@krishnamurtiism]

The C&H is the first pub I’m going to after lockdown. That and the French House.

[@bean9seventy]

to think that unassuming old man was Jeffery Bernard, i guess its how they & others liked it , you were either a friend, or not, argue that people who actually knew who he was , as per say via his fame , were probably a bother , he explains to a point it was his relationship to soho that became his main joy & goal perhaps ingerset house being the hilton of great the peter street area of soho, soho, as it was during those times

[@kevinwhelan9607]

Check out my comment on that 1987 documentary.

[@paulphilipempey1]

I did watch, "A Day In The Life Of Jeffrey Bernard (1987)", which I thought was very interesting and informative about Jeffrey and his lifestyle in Soho. He was 55-years-old and fairly active. However, watching this made me feel just a little sad because this hellraiser couldn't get up to his normal pursuits. Unfortunately, the booze has really destroyed him. Thank you for the upload.

[@michaelmcginley7930]

Poor bastard he would like to live the way he wanted ie getting kissed everyday but is a shame that he can't for the obvious reasons.other folks do.hillwaking and get away with it it's a shame that his lesuire pursuits are incompatible with a dress free life

[@bootstrapperwilson7687]

When you say “dress free life,” do you mean naturism?

[@kevinsenior8155]

Good to watch, thanks for uploading. I used to read Jeff's columns, and saw the play 3 times, with O'Toole, Bolam and Conti (O'Toole was best). Wish I had met the man himself, he was a legend. If only we could turn the clock back!

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Conti !! As Jeffrey Bernard.?? Seriously.?? Can't imagine anyone less suited . His " rumpled charm " shtick is cringeworthy .!

[@kevinsenior8155]

@@2msvalkyrie529O'Toole was far and away the best. Just a total Pro, and he was of course a good mate of Jeff Bernard, so he knew the part well. Bolam a close-ish 2nd. No offence to Conti.... just not really his kind of play.

[@jamesbernie9465]

Thanks for uploading. V interesting.

[@lewreed1871]

His horror at the afterlife as something by Terence Conran has just made me give a round of applause and go out to get another drink. I can't feel my feet either, but I've still got two of them. Bless this man.

[@adrianc1264]

Great doc, thanks for uploading

[@zamiadams4343]

What a great man, loves a smoke and drink, a dying breed in Soho these days. I still drink at The French House and The Coach and Horses, amazing pubs.

[@salvadormarley]

He lived his life on his own terms and also in a great era. I wonder what he'd make of these miserable times?

[@revol148]

@salvadormarley married 4 times, drank himself to an early death all underwritten by a tedious self-pitying column in the Spectator. Famous for being famous - he would have fitted in well in the 2020's

[@benjakworth9486]

very sad. RIP Jeff.

[@thesunandthemoon9995]

One of my favourite anti-heroes. Thanks for uploading! Ive got the O’Toole play and another doc on my channel if interested .

[@lukerothwell1474]

Thank you. I've watched those videos on your channel a few times and they where what inspired me to post this one.

[@DanNic88]

Now you’ve taken it down

[@alleyesallsides]

The actor doesn't understand the character at all.

[@spatrick1277]

They're horrible. Who are they?

[@richjohns8283]

Yeah he can't see the sadness

[@vincentwilliams8685]

Very true

[@bookaufman9643]

That's exactly what I said. It's completely soulless and couldn't be farther off the mark. I'm guessing the actor in the play must have had some small role as a television detective or some other crap and that somehow got him the casting. Who plays the part as if he's never been drunk in his life and has no idea what it means to suffer. It's like bad dinner theater.

[@ryandudley3616]

well this was thoroughly depressing...

[@JonJonJonJonJonJonJonJon]

He had a blast. Faced death well I thought. Brilliant writer.

[@alexgroushko3142]

True, dat.

[@tomheslington2993]

The bloke in the play is terrible.Makes me wince

[@lewisgreen1633]

The Coach is still a great pub..pre COVID - I hope the watering holes survive. RIP Jeffrey..

[@RataStuey]

I’ve not been .. and I can’t wait to go. Normans has gone thought hasn’t it? I just want a great drink in a real pub

[@stevenmorley1639]

Still survives and thriving....

[@weskitten]

Peter O'Toole playing Jeffrey Bernard would be the epitome of 'the pot calling the kettle black'!

[@steveellis9004]

The actor playing Jeff, poncing about and adjusting his wig, has clearly never had the shakes. He adds nothing and yet seems to want admiration.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

The script didn't help.! Cringeworthy attempt at " wit "...

[@sianwarwick633]

It was an am-dram presentation, so you get the flavour of the play. They didn't have to pay royalties

[@vlloyd46]

I’m not surprised he missed the Coach & Horses in Soho. It’s a lovely, easy going, be yourself BOOZER. So was he. By the sounds of it. There’s nothing like relaxing with people you know & love. Having a few ‘sherbets’. Pork pie & just talking ‘rubbish’ for a couple of hrs!!

[@jacquelineharrod6386]

Such a sad ending to a life.

[@AndrewBrownM7BUK]

I’ve always admired the man for his writing, and have even envied his lifestyle, but I’m always pulled up sharp by the agony of his slow demise. It was cruel that Jeff couldn’t have gone I dare say the way he would have preferred. Suddenly, sat on his stool in the Coach with a large VAT in one hand and a Players in the other.

[@morganfisherart]

11:25 The photos of his three wives were Gorgeous!

[@Richard-hv5hh]

He seems relatively happy in his misery. I have always thought that instead of having a Happy Hour for drinking we should have a Miserable Hour where people will find contentment in pouring out their misery. I love his irony. I think he had a good laugh at life and himself and got satisfaction knowing he was a remarkably original writer. I only came across him today so it's presumptuous of me to comment but I won't ever know him so why not today?

[@rapman5363]

Luke Rothwell, at the beginning he says he is 63 years of age, not 65.

[@Edward1312]

I watched Bernard's face when his friend Bill (who was v perceptive btw) said Alcohol was a love affair, and Jeff said it was Love hate affair, first Bernard smiled then he looked desperate. it was one of the primary causes of the lost of the 3 loves of his life after all. Also, the black humour, its aversion therapy coming to see Jeff. Their discussion about England in decline since the 50's (post 95 when this was filmed it has speeded up IMHO) becomes ever more poignant. At the end I think we all share Jeff's "painless death" sentiment.

[@michaelrobson3460]

A hero in my twenties. A parable in my late 50's ?

[@Pikestnt]

One school of thought says that there’s a fixed amount of fun to be had in a life and you can choose when to spend your allocation. He had a lot earlier on whilst others were pushing prams and paying down mortgages. Later, sadly, he had to balance the books so to speak, and died a lonely, sad man. Maybe that was a deal he was happy enough with.

[@zamiadams4343]

Last of the great drinkers, Jeff was an amazing man.

[@RataStuey]

12:24 Jeffrey saying “bye girls” to the pictures of his wives. I feel this was a very emotional man

[@Talentedtadpole]

Accessibility for anyone disabled as bad now if not worse. I'll bet he'd have had more life had that not been as it is. This needs to change.

[@stukafaust]

Are we looking at Christmas 1995 here?

[@Richard-hv5hh]

Bet he and Christopher Hitchens got on well!

[@AndreneMessersmith]

Saw Peter o'Toole in the play. A tour de force. More booze drunk in theatre that night than ever.

[@bookaufman9643]

I'm sorry but the actor playing Jeffrey Bernard in the play is just awful. He doesn't seem as if he's ever had a hangover in his life. You must be a biggest name or something because he definitely didn't get the part because he was convincing as Mr Bernard.

[@pigknickers2975]

John Actor is Monkfish . . .

[@stevenmorley1639]

Unfortunately unique people are always born to be sold , who actually cares for Jeffrey in real-time right now ????

[@liammarshall1759]

Me

[@spatrick1277]

Myself, and one among many.

[@jacquelineharrod6386]

And l.

[@MontyCantsin5]

10:05: Ha!

[@michaelmcginley7930]

Poor masters out drinking was not as good for him as a six miles run.his drinking just sapped his energies for! Him..think his wife committed suicide due to his drinking unfortunately.it's a device occupation being an alcohol ic

[@michaelmcginley7930]

My spelling is symbolic of Jefferies life

[@discodroidz429]

The geezer playing jeff in the play couldnt be more off target than jeremy beadle with 3 darts in his right hand for a 170 checkout at Lakeside. Total pony.

[@p.stephens9305]

He's like Withnail in old age innit

[@weskitten]

Jeffrey Bernard 'as 'ad 'is leg orf!

[@weskitten]

Here in Australia, we'd call Jeffrey a 'character'. I'd liken him to the poet Charles Bukowski (1920-1994), who sort of gained fame unintentionally through booze, roughness, crudeness and a single focus on poetry. Again, low life: race tracks, cheap women, odd shoes, ill-dressed.

[@kenw.simpson1007]

What an absolute waste of time

[@geoffgeoffgeoff6149]

You sound exactly the sort of bore Jeff would have punched. Just like he told Ronnie Kray, shut up.

[@andydixon2980]

He made his unique contribution to 'the world' through his writing and wit, and he seemed to enjoy his bohemian friends. Unfulfilled potential, no doubt.