You absolutely believed in the reality of her characterisations. When she paused towards the end and said "they are there!", I felt tears come to my eyes.
Well, I'm flabbergasted. Always enjoyed her self deprecating English types monologues, but have never seen such as this. This is such a heart felt performance.
It’s true, she was a true humanitarian. She can make you laugh or move you to tears with a direct connection to the character’s own feelings. Which are universal. I love her, Pete Hutley, Newcastle. Australia.
I'm not very familiar with Miss Grenfell. I mean, I knew she was much more than just "George, don't do that". But this-well, one minute she's got me laughing the next I've got a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. She was obviously quite brilliant. I can't get over how much this monologue has touched me. Thanks so much for posting it.
How can anybody not like this? Grenfell had a knack of bringing the sadness of people through gentle humour and skilled characterisation. One can't help but feel the waterworks start when she looks for her family. The look on her face is perfect, for one moment one thinks the family she has talked about isn't there, and then the realisation she feels so insecure kicks in hard. Subtle.
A wonderful, intelligent and very talented lady. I remember when she was on a musical panel show, (named ??) with Robin Day. She could name a tune from just one note on a piano.
@@patmeakin9610The programme was called Face the Music on BBC 2 with Joseph Cooper in the chair and Robin Ray (not Day) was another regular panellist. I think Richard Baker was also a regular. An enjoyable programme with people who knew their music, including, of course, Joyce Grenfell. She was so clever at making you totally believe in the character she was playing. Very astute, never big-headed, always charming.
This is just the last few minutes of the flight, from when the seat belt sign comes on to when they land. She hasn't spoken to the man next to her the whole way because he's been busy working. This is one of my favourite of Joyce's monologues. So sweet and touching. It also taught me how not to pronounce Connecticut when I was little...
now that is the only way to treat people...like people. Why try any other way? People are people. Perhaps too many people forget that these days. And see where we are now. Full of people.
Yes, I've known women (and a few gents too - not necessarily in the class/blood sense, but in character) like her.. They might not know the right words or hesitate to engage for fear of using the wrong/old terms, but they are earnestly trying to shake off those less equitable parts of society/empire, etc.
JOYCE GRENFELL - b 1910 d 1979 Although she was the very epitome of all things English and of England she was partly American by parentage. She had a wonderful ability to assume any kind of British accent and she did an excellent American accent as well but that probably came natural to her. Her accent here is very North of England! I too have found myself next to a similar lady on a plane - by the time we got to our destination I knew her entire family history!
Joyce is a BrILLIANT story-teller, she takes you along with her and I absolutely LOVE to watch ehr... VEry under-rated but BRILLIANT.. I could watch and listen all day... Many thanks for posting a Joyce Grenfell gem @MintakaVideo, my very best regards from Wales UK.. :0)X
This is so heartwarming, JG is utterly believable and so lovable. She is typical of all the thoroughly decent people of that generation who had genuine good intentions and wouldn't have rejected people on grounds of colour. I believe most people are good and decent - but we only hear about the bad apples. Thanks for sharing this, Joyce Grenfell's performance was hypnotic and so genuinely charming!
Northern English working class areas always used to be very tolerant. "It's a grim life and we're all in it together" type of thing. But that was then......
I was lucky enough to see her doing her monologues several times, and always loved her ! Her books are glorious too. I think I'll read them again. A real heroine for me!
So cleverly written. "Ooh, you have been working hard, I didn't like to interrupt" sets the monologue perfectly for a condensed conversation. You can imagine the be-suited man packing his papers away because the little light has come on.
@@farahmendlesohn9158 That's really clever and creative. A long time ago I went to a workshop for people already studying scriptwriting. We were told to bring along a short scene we'd already written. The tutor gave us each a random picture postcard and gave us twenty minutes to rewrite our scene in the location on the card and use it to affect the dialogue. My scene had been set in a domestic kitchen. My postcard was of a marina full of boats. It really made me think more dynamically and made the scene much better.
@@zacmumblethunder7466 what a wonderful idea for an exercise, although I don't know if I could meet the challenge in only 20 minutes! Thanks for sharing
Joyce was an underrated master/mistress of comedy. Unlike today, most people in the UK rarely met or even saw anyone non-white so this monologue was ground breaking as it represented most people's thoughts at the time.
@minecachair I saw a one woman show tribute, "Turn back the clock" at the theatre some years ago. An actress called Cheryl Knight, she was brilliant as Joyce. It really was like turning back the clock.
I watched the Maureen Lipman version of this sketch immediately before this, and somehow Maureen take a longer time to deliver a few less of the jokes. Joyce can really rattle them off yet deliver every joke and change of tone perfectly.
I liked Maureen's version as well. It was similar enough to honour the original but different enough to give it new life. In her version Mrs Comstock seemed more fragile, almost like the narrowness around her had beaten her down. That's the sign of great writing though. Two people can perform the same text and create two different characters.
@@zacmumblethunder7466 I just realised the name Comstock is also used in a Victoria Wood routine about going abroad, where there is a woman on the same journey whose luggage is covered in the name 'Betty Comstock' and who has never been abroad before and was waiting for her luggage at the handdryer in the ladies. Apparently it is intended to be the same character from this sketch, and is Victoria's tribute to Joyce, as a meeting with Joyce when Victoria was a teen is what set Victoria down the path to the amazing entertainer she became.
I always wanted to know what the owners of the little red car in "A Terrible Worrier" thought when they came back to and found someone had posted a dead rabbit through the window.
I came to RUclips after telling my daughter she sounded like Joyce Grenfell. Daughter"Who? Me "She was very funny listen."" OK not so funny, in a darn good way.
She was American, although you wouldn't know it, connected to the Astor family. She was so observant. Female comedians today can't seem to get passed swearing.
7 words that conjure up a whole bygone age. She was being very modern calling them "front rooms". Northern women always had "Parlours" and were used for listening to the Queen on Christmas day afternoon and funerals and woe betide anyone who dared venture into them at any other time.
When we of whatever race could trust that the kindness and goodness of the majority would be greater than the loutishness of an ignorant and irrelevant minority. Something, at least, to unite and build upon. Before we were browbeaten and divided by identity activists into neurosis and mistrust.
At the start she says that the person next to her has been working all through the flight. She also mentions that she's had a meal on the plane - "My first proper flight. With food."
You absolutely believed in the reality of her characterisations. When she paused towards the end and said "they are there!", I felt tears come to my eyes.
Well, I'm flabbergasted. Always enjoyed her self deprecating English types monologues, but have never seen such as this. This is such a heart felt performance.
I love her - she's genius. At the end of this just wanted to hug her. So moving and brilliantly performed.
One of the most talented woman the world has ever known!
One of the cleverest people in the business. Sheer brilliance. Greatly missed indeed.
It’s true, she was a true humanitarian. She can make you laugh or move you to tears with a direct connection to the character’s own feelings. Which are universal. I love her, Pete Hutley, Newcastle. Australia.
This woman was a genius. To provoke laughter and tears in equal measure, simultaneously, is the highest art. R.I.P, dear Mrs Grenfell.
Well said.
One of the greatest monologues ever, comedy that ends with a heartwarming and emotional note. A great talent.
I'm not very familiar with Miss Grenfell. I mean, I knew she was much more than just "George, don't do that". But this-well, one minute she's got me laughing the next I've got a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. She was obviously quite brilliant. I can't get over how much this monologue has touched me. Thanks so much for posting it.
How can anybody not like this? Grenfell had a knack of bringing the sadness of people through gentle humour and skilled characterisation. One can't help but feel the waterworks start when she looks for her family. The look on her face is perfect, for one moment one thinks the family she has talked about isn't there, and then the realisation she feels so insecure kicks in hard. Subtle.
That last line “I just want to do it all right” hits you like a velvet covered jab to the jaw.
A wonderful, intelligent and very talented lady. I remember when she was on a musical panel show, (named ??) with Robin Day. She could name a tune from just one note on a piano.
@@patmeakin9610name that tune ?!😂
@@patmeakin9610The programme was called Face the Music on BBC 2 with Joseph Cooper in the chair and Robin Ray (not Day) was another regular panellist. I think Richard Baker was also a regular.
An enjoyable programme with people who knew their music, including, of course, Joyce Grenfell.
She was so clever at making you totally believe in the character she was playing. Very astute, never big-headed, always charming.
@@WillowboughShe was a regular feature at the Aldeburgh Festival and knew Benjamin Britten quite well. As had Joseph Cooper back in the day.
This is just the last few minutes of the flight, from when the seat belt sign comes on to when they land. She hasn't spoken to the man next to her the whole way because he's been busy working.
This is one of my favourite of Joyce's monologues. So sweet and touching. It also taught me how not to pronounce Connecticut when I was little...
This one always reminds me so much of my grandmother: a woman very much of her time and place but who so wanted to treat people like people.
now that is the only way to treat people...like people. Why try any other way? People are people. Perhaps too many people forget that these days. And see where we are now. Full of people.
Those people are so wonderful!
Awww how lovely!
Yes, I've known women (and a few gents too - not necessarily in the class/blood sense, but in character) like her.. They might not know the right words or hesitate to engage for fear of using the wrong/old terms, but they are earnestly trying to shake off those less equitable parts of society/empire, etc.
I wish she was still here to bring us her view on life now!
What a gorgeous monologue; so beautifully crafted and performed.
A National Treasure indeed. Never to be forgotten. A lovely person and a wonderful entertainer.
I don't know whether I laughed or cried more- so bittersweet and perfect and all the timings so impeccable and smooth.
JOYCE GRENFELL - b 1910 d 1979 Although she was the very epitome of all things English and of England she was partly American by parentage. She had a wonderful ability to assume any kind of British accent and she did an excellent American accent as well but that probably came natural to her. Her accent here is very North of England! I too have found myself next to a similar lady on a plane - by the time we got to our destination I knew her entire family history!
A beautiful performance from a great lady, and much missed
6.37 the complexity and layers in her look when she says 'They're there'. Masterclass.
What a marvellous observation
only one word...wonderful. every time I see this it moves me
Genius. Just genius. I don't have any other words.
Thank You for sharing this. She was Iconic. Treasurable.
A true human GENIUS!!!
Genius from a better and gentler time!
I've read this monologue, but this was the first time I saw Ms. Grenfell perform it. Thank you so much. She's brilliant.
What a treasure she was - quite unforgettable!
That was wonderful. Made me cry.
Incomparable and irreplaceable.
Joyce is a BrILLIANT story-teller, she takes you along with her and I absolutely LOVE to watch ehr... VEry under-rated but BRILLIANT.. I could watch and listen all day...
Many thanks for posting a Joyce Grenfell gem @MintakaVideo, my very best regards from Wales UK.. :0)X
And that Ladies and Gentlemen is what we call pure class
Sometimes "dear" in a time of crisis. So brilliant, so true fir that era.
This is so heartwarming, JG is utterly believable and so lovable. She is typical of all the thoroughly decent people of that generation who had genuine good intentions and wouldn't have rejected people on grounds of colour. I believe most people are good and decent - but we only hear about the bad apples. Thanks for sharing this, Joyce Grenfell's performance was hypnotic and so genuinely charming!
Northern English working class areas always used to be very tolerant. "It's a grim life and we're all in it together" type of thing. But that was then......
I was lucky enough to see her doing her monologues several times, and always loved her !
Her books are glorious too. I think I'll read them again. A real heroine for me!
@@susancerezo401 And for me!!!
it's only as i got older that i appreciated her subtle humour, genius
So cleverly written. "Ooh, you have been working hard, I didn't like to interrupt" sets the monologue perfectly for a condensed conversation. You can imagine the be-suited man packing his papers away because the little light has come on.
I used to set this sketch as an assignment for my creative writing students. "Tell me about the person in the other seat".
@@farahmendlesohn9158 That's really clever and creative.
A long time ago I went to a workshop for people already studying scriptwriting. We were told to bring along a short scene we'd already written. The tutor gave us each a random picture postcard and gave us twenty minutes to rewrite our scene in the location on the card and use it to affect the dialogue.
My scene had been set in a domestic kitchen. My postcard was of a marina full of boats. It really made me think more dynamically and made the scene much better.
@@zacmumblethunder7466 what a wonderful idea for an exercise, although I don't know if I could meet the challenge in only 20 minutes! Thanks for sharing
I always sit next to these women on planes XD Absolutely classic, very amusing xx
Wonderful, just wonderful.
Absolutely Brill one of a kind always loved her .
Immaculate, beautifully observed and acted. Joyce was a genius. Of course, she was half-American. ‘It isn’t who you are but WHAT you are’. So perfect.
Beautiful just beautiful the perfect mum
Love this sketch. Very touching.
Joyce was an underrated master/mistress of comedy. Unlike today, most people in the UK rarely met or even saw anyone non-white so this monologue was ground breaking as it represented most people's thoughts at the time.
Just lovely ❤❤❤
Such gentle, incite full humour.
I can't help thinking that Olivia Colman would be the perfect actor to play Joyce Grenfell!
YES!!
Maureen Lipman had a wonderful one woman show which was a tribute to Joyce.It's well worth watching online.
Maureen Lipman has played Joyce Grenfell to perfection.
@minecachair I saw a one woman show tribute, "Turn back the clock" at the theatre some years ago. An actress called Cheryl Knight, she was brilliant as Joyce. It really was like turning back the clock.
Brilliant.
Magnificent.
A fabulous Lady so talented love this monologue miss you Joyce ..
6:30 So much emotion in one expression.
I watched the Maureen Lipman version of this sketch immediately before this, and somehow Maureen take a longer time to deliver a few less of the jokes. Joyce can really rattle them off yet deliver every joke and change of tone perfectly.
I liked Maureen's version as well. It was similar enough to honour the original but different enough to give it new life.
In her version Mrs Comstock seemed more fragile, almost like the narrowness around her had beaten her down.
That's the sign of great writing though. Two people can perform the same text and create two different characters.
@@zacmumblethunder7466 I just realised the name Comstock is also used in a Victoria Wood routine about going abroad, where there is a woman on the same journey whose luggage is covered in the name 'Betty Comstock' and who has never been abroad before and was waiting for her luggage at the handdryer in the ladies. Apparently it is intended to be the same character from this sketch, and is Victoria's tribute to Joyce, as a meeting with Joyce when Victoria was a teen is what set Victoria down the path to the amazing entertainer she became.
@@MrDannyDetail That's brilliant. So nice to know that one of my comedy favourites was influenced by another. Thanks.
What a monologue she could make you believe its really happening.that was her ability to entertain R.I.P.
Delightful!
Brilliant!
She is wonderful!
So moving.
When her monologues came to an end I always wanted to know what happened next.
I always wanted to know what the owners of the little red car in "A Terrible Worrier" thought when they came back to and found someone had posted a dead rabbit through the window.
I'm sure she did it alright.
Adorable lady!!!❤
Wonderful x
Marvellous
Great comedy not only makes you laugh but makes you think.
I would invite her to my fantasy dinner party.
Bless her🙂❤.
i'm not crying you're crying
She was brilliant Joyce did several StTrianies films as well😊
Perfect. Perfect accent. Perfect woman.
I came to RUclips after telling my daughter she sounded like Joyce Grenfell. Daughter"Who? Me "She was very funny listen."" OK not so funny, in a darn good way.
So beautiful! I so want to be the Mother in Law that mine has been to me. Not just alright but, a gift!
She was wonderful. I have just discovered both her parents were american. Yes, indeed a genius
Mother American, father English.
She was American, although you wouldn't know it, connected to the Astor family. She was so observant. Female comedians today can't seem to get passed swearing.
Her mother was American, her father English. The accent is hers.
She was British by birth.
Sheer genius
Brava!
Superb
Watching this for IB.
Yes. A proper flight IS with food.
Very well observed accent.
You could see all the different characters in her work just from tiny details. Like a cardigan or a scarf. No one to compare with her now.
A very funny lady. She inspired other lady comedians
Lumpy Latimer. Creepy Crawley. Wonderful.
None of them use their front rooms.
7 words that conjure up a whole bygone age. She was being very modern calling them "front rooms". Northern women always had "Parlours" and were used for listening to the Queen on Christmas day afternoon and funerals and woe betide anyone who dared venture into them at any other time.
extraordinary... nobody quite like her
When we of whatever race could trust that the kindness and goodness of the majority would be greater than the loutishness of an ignorant and irrelevant minority. Something, at least, to unite and build upon. Before we were browbeaten and divided by identity activists into neurosis and mistrust.
Khe
What sort of airplane was she on to get to New York in under seven minutes !?
a fast one ~
NoNotALaughingMatter it's the final 7 minutes of the flight
At the start she says that the person next to her has been working all through the flight. She also mentions that she's had a meal on the plane - "My first proper flight. With food."
TBH, nothing to do with flying. And in 2023 the acceptance of interracial marriage is both pointed, poignant and important.
Masterful!