Monday, November 8, 2021

adultery; unreasonable behavior; insanity



John Lithgow portraying Winston Churchill in The Crown


        In The Crown, Winston Churchill describes U.S. diplomatic skills:

"Americans like to wave the big stick and speak with a loud voice!"


That's not the quote!  President Theodore Roosevelt said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick."


Did the people writing The Crown mess this up?  Or are they hinting that Churchill probably mixed up the quote -- accidentally-on-purpose...?  


Roosevelt said "a big stick."  In the Netflix series, Churchill says "the big stick" -- as if there is only one.  


Right now, I'm totally into Seasons 1 and 2.  So well written and just rich with nuance, detail, and layering.


Prince Philip is quite a character.  In the early years, he seems to have been pretty much the opposite of what was needed.  Gosh, he's supposed to take care of the queen, and help her, & instead he adds to her problems.

If she has three problems, when he walks into the room, now she has four problems.

If she has five problems, her husband walks in the room now she has six.

If she has 9 problems...well, you get the drift.


When the queen mother discusses with the young queen what they can do as a send-off for Churchill when he retires, the mother suggests go to dinner with the Churchills at Downing Street (where the Prime Minister lives and works) because "it would be quite the compliment."

        The queen says, "I'll ask Philip."

        The queen mother rejoins:  "You'll tell Philip."

        When I heard that I thought, Right, because that guy never wants to do anything and complains about everything.

-----------------------------------------

        And apparently in that era -- 1930s to '60s -- they were still having a cow if anyone connected with the royal family got a divorce.  There were three things that provide grounds for divorce:

adultery

unreasonable behavior

insanity.


        Stark.


-30-

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