An Odd Coincidence - Britmovie

Ascoyne D'Ascoyne · 03-01-2006, 09:57 AM

With hundreds of films left to transfer from tape to dvd I chose, yesterday evening, "The Captain's Table" to copy. I switched on TV last night and found I was watching it again, this time as part of Balderdash and Piffle's quest for the origin of the adjective "pear-shaped." It seems that the dictionary compilers believe that this is of fairly recent provenance. Although I missed the opening minutes of the programme I believe that no mention was made of the "Pear-shaped pieces" (Trois morceaux en forme de poire) by the eccentric French composer, Erik Satie (1866-1925) which is all-the-more surprising as I have frequently heard them used as background music in TV programmes.
"The Captain's Table" which stars John Gregson (it struck me that he looks a lot like Stan Laurel!) is an amusing film but notable, chiefly, for the clutch of character-actors appearing; these include Richard Wattis, James Hayter, Sam Kydd, Joan Sims and Reginald Beckwith, the last-named in a delightful portrayal of an obviously gay steward.
The word " Gay" went under examination in the aforementioned "Balderdash and Piffle" as part of a general discussion of "Polari" (gay slang) in which we were regaled with scenes where a "drag Queen" complete with elaborate "riah" and tons of "slap" on the "eek" entertained an audience well-gone on the "Drinkettes" (they must have been to enjoy the act) and about to become totally "lally"-less. If that wasn't "naff" enough, we also saw a scene in which a "camp" "omipalone" "cruised" a public "cottage" in pursuit of other "omies" - definitely "nante bona!" [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbdown.gif[/img]

Steve Crook · 03-01-2006, 01:06 PM

Quote:

(Jeff @ Jan 3 2006, 09:57 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
With hundreds of films left to transfer from tape to dvd I chose, yesterday evening, "The Captain's Table" to copy. I switched on TV last night and found I was watching it again, this time as part of Balderdash and Piffle's quest for the origin of the adjective "pear-shaped." It seems that the dictionary compilers believe that this is of fairly recent provenance. Although I missed the opening minutes of the programme I believe that no mention was made of the "Pear-shaped pieces" (Trois morceaux en forme de poire) by the eccentric French composer, Erik Satie (1866-1925) which is all-the-more surprising as I have frequently heard them used as background music in TV programmes.
[/b]

But that doesn't use "pear shaped" in the sense of something having gone wrong.

Steve

arty-dave · 03-01-2006, 02:09 PM

I loved the Polari section, particularly the meaning of the word NAFF [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rotfl.gif[/img]

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-01-2006, 09:57 AM	#1
Ascoyne D'Ascoyne has no status. Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Essex Posts: 517 iTrader: (1)	With hundreds of films left to transfer from tape to dvd I chose, yesterday evening, "The Captain's Table" to copy. I switched on TV last night and found I was watching it again, this time as part of Balderdash and Piffle's quest for the origin of the adjective "pear-shaped." It seems that the dictionary compilers believe that this is of fairly recent provenance. Although I missed the opening minutes of the programme I believe that no mention was made of the "Pear-shaped pieces" (Trois morceaux en forme de poire) by the eccentric French composer, Erik Satie (1866-1925) which is all-the-more surprising as I have frequently heard them used as background music in TV programmes. "The Captain's Table" which stars John Gregson (it struck me that he looks a lot like Stan Laurel!) is an amusing film but notable, chiefly, for the clutch of character-actors appearing; these include Richard Wattis, James Hayter, Sam Kydd, Joan Sims and Reginald Beckwith, the last-named in a delightful portrayal of an obviously gay steward. The word " Gay" went under examination in the aforementioned "Balderdash and Piffle" as part of a general discussion of "Polari" (gay slang) in which we were regaled with scenes where a "drag Queen" complete with elaborate "riah" and tons of "slap" on the "eek" entertained an audience well-gone on the "Drinkettes" (they must have been to enjoy the act) and about to become totally "lally"-less. If that wasn't "naff" enough, we also saw a scene in which a "camp" "omipalone" "cruised" a public "cottage" in pursuit of other "omies" - definitely "nante bona!" [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbdown.gif[/img]

03-01-2006, 02:09 PM	#3
arty-dave has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 577 iTrader: (0)	I loved the Polari section, particularly the meaning of the word NAFF [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rotfl.gif[/img]