DS Forums

 
 

Raymond Briggs 'Ethel and Ernest' to be shown on BBC this Christmas?


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 29-12-2016, 10:05
David_Flett1
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,457
A lovely home movie for Briggs but I'm not sure what the rest of us are supposed to make of it. If those lives merited 90 minutes of expensive animation and primetime at Xmas on BBC1 then so did tens of millions of others of resolutely ordinary ones during the same time period. Why was it "poignant"? People die of old age - Is this news?

No complaints about the craft - It was beautiful to look at but there's no real reason for it to exist as a feature-length, cinema-released movie.

Anyone about to quote me and castigate me for daring to have an opinion, remember to not to get personal as is so often the case here....
Everyone is entitled to an opinion but on this one you will find you are in the minority even film fans have given it very high ratings. As far as I know no figures have been released by the BBC in what they paid for the rights to show this film and although it only had a limited cinema release the film will go on to recoup it's budget through downloads, physical sales and multiple platform rights.

Personally and it seems the majority agree with me it was a poignant film, one I had no intention of watching but my wife did so I am glad to have sat down and watched this instead of the football.

Television is supposed to give us the opportunity of enjoying a diverse range of content, for you this wasn't one of them, for many others it was so the BBC has achieved what it set out to do offer a choice.
David_Flett1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 29-12-2016, 10:14
Straker
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 36,981
Everyone is entitled to an opinion but on this one you will find you are in the minority...
I'll manage.
Straker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 10:28
SeasideLady
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 15,468
Well I much preferred 90 minutes of this beautiful and expensive animation to the 75 minutes of Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special - also given a prime time slot on Christmas Day, and you knew who was going to win before it was even screened. Melvin Odoom could have fallen on his arse and pulled Janette down with him, but he'd still have won it
SeasideLady is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 11:07
alan29
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 20,481
It was lovely. As an old bloke so much of it resonated with me, though I was a post war baby.
alan29 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 11:30
Gill P
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 15,736
What a wonderful little programme that was and very moving in the end. No doubt some will complain that nothing exciting happened but for me it's charm was exactly for that reason. Nothing exciting does happen to most people, in our neighbourhood something exciting would be a powercut or the binmen coming on the wrong day when none of the bins are out. The show's draw IMO is the simple everyday occurrences and chatter about the sort of stuff anyone discusses and can relate to, no loud noises or fancy gimmicks, just two everyday people living everyday lives. And the best bit? No wretched CGI in sight, lovely to see proper artwork from a proper artist for once and nice to know that real animation does still exist.
I agree with all you say and you will be glad to know that my own granddaughter is currently studying 2D and stop frame amination at university. She loves it.
Gill P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 11:32
MacBurp
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London SE19
Posts: 281
A lovely home movie for Briggs but I'm not sure what the rest of us are supposed to make of it. If those lives merited 90 minutes of expensive animation and primetime at Xmas on BBC1 then so did tens of millions of others of resolutely ordinary ones during the same time period. Why was it "poignant"? People die of old age - Is this news?
I think I had the same view as you, and sat down to watch this with the other half after much badgering from her. I think the point here is that Ethel, Ernest and (to a lesser extent) Raymond Briggs are everyman characters, inspiring viewers to think of their own families - I found myself thinking of my parents a lot while watching this, and don't mind admitting to being a bit choked up at the end.

One of my three viewing highlights this xmas, along with Saving Mr Banks and The Lady in the Van.
MacBurp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 12:03
Belligerence
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ghosts Forge
Posts: 38,995
Lovely and poignant. Best thing on the box this Christmas.
Belligerence is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 12:48
BellaRosa
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: OP is a murderer!!
Posts: 27,200
Well I much preferred 90 minutes of this beautiful and expensive animation to the 75 minutes of Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special - also given a prime time slot on Christmas Day, and you knew who was going to win before it was even screened. Melvin Odoom could have fallen on his arse and pulled Janette down with him, but he'd still have won it
Totally agree with you.

I had to Google who that man was .. as with any 'celebrity' shows.
BellaRosa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 13:11
pie-eyed
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,230
I really enjoyed this. Very true to life portrayal of people at the time. I loved how they built up their home, buying bits and pieces and embracing the new technology as it came along. As for the politics, of course it was part of everybody's day to day life. They were going through a war and having their whole lives turned upside down. Of course they expressed opinions about who was to blame for all of this. Couples had differing opinions and would obviously would have spoken about it. It wasn't something that people didn't like to talk about. Unlike sex, homosexuality and the like. Most women of that era had no idea about things out with their own family life and certainly wouldn't discuss it.

A lovely little reminder of more innocent times.
pie-eyed is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 13:23
21stCenturyBoy
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Stratford-Upon-Avon
Posts: 37,533
I thought it was absolutely beautiful.

Did anyone else get the little nod to Alf Garnett halfway through?
21stCenturyBoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 13:31
BionicBard
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,694
There you go! That's exactly what Ethel and Ernest did. Managed. Through times that most of us have no concept of. It's a testament to ordinary people, and a whole lot more inspirational than anything else I've endured on TV this Christmas, or for most of the year if it comes to it.
BionicBard is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 13:58
Angelique_Dorma
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 514
I loved it, every single minute!
Angelique_Dorma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 14:04
Doghouse Riley
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: North-West England
Posts: 25,843
Where did it all go wrong?

I'll tell you, when they changed the rules for mortgage approval from taking only the husband's wage into consideration and a maximum of two and a half times his salary.
This led to a rapid escalation of house prices which shows no sign of ever receding.
Young couples now are saddled with huge mortgages for "shoe box" houses/flats, with no room in which to swing a cat.
Doghouse Riley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 15:51
Imogen_Richards
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,944
Where did it all go wrong?

I'll tell you, when they changed the rules for mortgage approval from taking only the husband's wage into consideration and a maximum of two and a half times his salary.
This led to a rapid escalation of house prices which shows no sign of ever receding.
Young couples now are saddled with huge mortgages for "shoe box" houses/flats, with no room in which to swing a cat.
And which need two salaries.
Imogen_Richards is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 16:00
Croctacus
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Sarf London
Posts: 13,294
I liked how many Snowman references were in it. There were Christmas cards with The Snowman on, a young Raymond drawing him and a Snowman being put on the Christmas cake.
Croctacus is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 16:09
A.D.P
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 7,318
Where did it all go wrong?

I'll tell you, when they changed the rules for mortgage approval from taking only the husband's wage into consideration and a maximum of two and a half times his salary.
This led to a rapid escalation of house prices which shows no sign of ever receding.
Young couples now are saddled with huge mortgages for "shoe box" houses/flats, with no room in which to swing a cat.
Do / Did you work for a bank? Or in those days a building society? And even if so, did you know Every banks and building societies rules?

I know there were deals to be done, and in those days, salary details were not checked thoroughly by all financial organisations. He also got a car. ,
A.D.P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 16:12
BionicBard
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,694
Building Societies existed solely to lend money to buy houses, but all that changed when banks and other institutions were allowed to lend on private residences, which they previously hadn't been allowed to do. This coupled with the inclusion of both salaries were major factors in inflating the housing market.

When it was just building societies lending, they were pretty restrictive on their criteria - for example they would lend up to 95% on new houses, 80% on houses up to something like 30 years old, and then only 60% or less on anything older than that. But when the options for lenders were relaxed, everything changed and prices began to rise. But this wasn't the only factor - the criteria for and cost of borrowing went through the roof and prices with them, only to crash again as in the early nineties, which caught a lot of people out.

Different world!
BionicBard is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 16:38
yviebabe
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 393
I thought it was wonderful! Poignant, thought provoking and witty. Beautiful art work as well.
yviebabe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 17:03
Doghouse Riley
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: North-West England
Posts: 25,843
Do / Did you work for a bank? Or in those days a building society? And even if so, did you know Every banks and building societies rules?

I know there were deals to be done, and in those days, salary details were not checked thoroughly by all financial organisations. He also got a car. ,
Why are you trying to turn this into an argument?
I quoted facts. But only because someone queried his ability to buy a house when the father was earning only £6 a week.

We bought our house in 1970, I know exactly what were the rules at that time and for decades before.
Salaries were checked.
The "free-for-all" that followed in the seventies when there were no longer hard and fast rules led to the escalation in house prices.

He had a Triumph Herald, probably not bought until the mid sixties, I'd guess he was earning more than six pounds a week by then.
Doghouse Riley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 17:06
daisydee
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,812
Well I much preferred 90 minutes of this beautiful and expensive animation to the 75 minutes of Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special - also given a prime time slot on Christmas Day, and you knew who was going to win before it was even screened. Melvin Odoom could have fallen on his arse and pulled Janette down with him, but he'd still have won it


Loved this in a different way to SCD, would never compare them. But I'm baffled as to the BiB. I though Melvin produced the best dance on the night and was delighted that he won. I would have liked Anton to finally win something - but he did get 2 tens!
daisydee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 20:06
james_W85
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,052
It didn't need the party political stuff in there whatsoever. Particularly given the war time era in which it's set....nothing to do with whether the story itself is poignant.
It did if that's what his parent were actually like, it was supposed to be a biopic after all
james_W85 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 20:10
RegTumbler
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 283

Personally and it seems the majority agree with me it was a poignant film, one I had no intention of watching but my wife did so I am glad to have sat down and watched this instead of the football.
You must be a Saints fan.
RegTumbler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 20:19
A.D.P
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 7,318
Why are you trying to turn this into an argument?
I quoted facts. But only because someone queried his ability to buy a house when the father was earning only £6 a week.

We bought our house in 1970, I know exactly what were the rules at that time and for decades before.
Salaries were checked.
The "free-for-all" that followed in the seventies when there were no longer hard and fast rules led to the escalation in house prices.

He had a Triumph Herald, probably not bought until the mid sixties, I'd guess he was earning more than six pounds a week by then.
I am not trying to make any argument, you posted with apparent " facts" the mortgage conditions, you have based that on one mortgage transaction in 1970. You gave the impression of authority and knowing the rules, so it looked like you worked in a building society.

However the posted facts were not accurate 100%, they could well have been for your one transaction, but well before " computer" says No, well before PDFs of pay slips, Well before Credit departments, central underwriting, and national policy, there was loads of different organisations making decisions locally, often the old style Captain Manwaring Manager making the ultimate decision locally, based more on who he knew, who they are related to, and not down to a set prescribed salary formula, which the Manager would consider, rules are for the fools and guidance of wise men.

A One fits all, post is inaccurate.
A.D.P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 21:17
Doghouse Riley
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: North-West England
Posts: 25,843
I am not trying to make any argument, you posted with apparent " facts" the mortgage conditions, you have based that on one mortgage transaction in 1970. You gave the impression of authority and knowing the rules, so it looked like you worked in a building society.

However the posted facts were not accurate 100%, they could well have been for your one transaction, but well before " computer" says No, well before PDFs of pay slips, Well before Credit departments, central underwriting, and national policy, there was loads of different organisations making decisions locally, often the old style Captain Manwaring Manager making the ultimate decision locally, based more on who he knew, who they are related to, and not down to a set prescribed salary formula, which the Manager would consider, rules are for the fools and guidance of wise men.

A One fits all, post is inaccurate.
You've proved my point, you are as usual, trying to start a pointless argument.
My original post was to explain how someone on £6 a week could afford an £850 house, which was being questioned.

What I posted was the current situation, pre the "free for all" in the seventies.

Maximum two and a half times salary, husband's income only considered. That's how it was for millions and you're desperately suggesting there were some insignificant numbers of exceptions as if it actually mattered.

So what?
Doghouse Riley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-12-2016, 21:36
enna_g
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 644
That was the best thing I have seen this Christmas. It really saddened me in places and had me laughing in others. I am still thinking about it now. It is funny how extraordinary ordinary lives can be.
enna_g is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 17:33.