The past is another country never was truer than when watching Genevieve.
I saw it countless times in the 1970s, and yes, usually on a rainy Sunday afternoon, and it always reminds me of those times. The 1970s, and not the 1950s, given I wasn’t even born then!
To us in the 70s, the 50s seemed impossibly far away in the past, but of course, they were a mere 20 years gone. And now the 70s? Well, they’re half a century away…and yet, seem like yesterday.
Thank you! Yes, I think that's what I'm getting at... the weird discrepancies in time. My grandmother drove a dashing 1950 Riley Roadster in the 70s, and people would come up to her and admire the car as if it was from a different age and yet, it was only 25 years old! The same distance, today, a something from the Millenium.
Yes you are spot on my sixties bedroom had those vintage car prints and sadly my father bought me a Matchbox Silver Ghost rather than Bond Aston Martin. The idea that the cars were only 40 years old is amazing!
Isn't it? The change in the space of a mere 40 years was extraordinary. Two World Wars did that. And same with aircraft. Compare the Bleriot with a BOAC Comet! The equivalent today of looking back at a 1969 Jumbo Jet? It's a good point.
Christmas found me in my mother's box room, where the bookshelves contain a stash of my father's 'early motoring' books from the fifties and sixties. According to one book, which culminated in a photo-record of the latest London to Brighton run (1963), it was this film, Genevieve, that turned that annual rally from an enthusiast's event to a spectator event.
As well as being an almost unique colour record of post-War Britain Genevieve is, as you say, a great film with wonderful performances and huge style. But its success was also, in large part, probably responsible for the proliferation of toys and images involving veteran and vintage cars on pictures, plates, cups, models, cigarette boxes, etc, that were everywhere in our childhood.
And if that doesn't call for some top-notch plumpet playing I don't know what does!
And you're so right. Those ashtrays with Veteran car transfers? Hot air balloons, Napoleonic uniforms (both First and Second Empires) and Zeppelins popular too, re Fornasetti. Did Corgi make a Genevieve, or was that too late? There's most definitely a Pan paperback tie in. I have it on my desk.
I was brought up surrounded by various such objets. My mum still has a rather nice teak coffee table cigarette box with a silver vintage car screwed on top. No longer used for cigarettes of course!
Probably too early for a Corgi model (or set of 2 models?), but I do have the 'story of the film' Pan paperback, with b&w location photos.
That's an excellent point. But also coincided with the Edwardian revival? So came at the right time. I could have used a Searle illustration from Magnificent Men to illustrate my point, or the chocolate factory scene in Chitty. There was this thing about Edwardian technology- from cars to steam engines, copper boilers Zeppelins and racing cars.
Another family favourite. I love the music for this film too - Larry Adler. Kenneth More is is just too pompous as Ambrose, and when he doubts she can play the trumpet? Pah! I would take the car, the dog and the trumpet and leave him on the kerb!
The past is another country never was truer than when watching Genevieve.
I saw it countless times in the 1970s, and yes, usually on a rainy Sunday afternoon, and it always reminds me of those times. The 1970s, and not the 1950s, given I wasn’t even born then!
To us in the 70s, the 50s seemed impossibly far away in the past, but of course, they were a mere 20 years gone. And now the 70s? Well, they’re half a century away…and yet, seem like yesterday.
A lovely piece on a lovely film, Luke!
Thank you! Yes, I think that's what I'm getting at... the weird discrepancies in time. My grandmother drove a dashing 1950 Riley Roadster in the 70s, and people would come up to her and admire the car as if it was from a different age and yet, it was only 25 years old! The same distance, today, a something from the Millenium.
Yes you are spot on my sixties bedroom had those vintage car prints and sadly my father bought me a Matchbox Silver Ghost rather than Bond Aston Martin. The idea that the cars were only 40 years old is amazing!
Isn't it? The change in the space of a mere 40 years was extraordinary. Two World Wars did that. And same with aircraft. Compare the Bleriot with a BOAC Comet! The equivalent today of looking back at a 1969 Jumbo Jet? It's a good point.
Christmas found me in my mother's box room, where the bookshelves contain a stash of my father's 'early motoring' books from the fifties and sixties. According to one book, which culminated in a photo-record of the latest London to Brighton run (1963), it was this film, Genevieve, that turned that annual rally from an enthusiast's event to a spectator event.
As well as being an almost unique colour record of post-War Britain Genevieve is, as you say, a great film with wonderful performances and huge style. But its success was also, in large part, probably responsible for the proliferation of toys and images involving veteran and vintage cars on pictures, plates, cups, models, cigarette boxes, etc, that were everywhere in our childhood.
And if that doesn't call for some top-notch plumpet playing I don't know what does!
And you're so right. Those ashtrays with Veteran car transfers? Hot air balloons, Napoleonic uniforms (both First and Second Empires) and Zeppelins popular too, re Fornasetti. Did Corgi make a Genevieve, or was that too late? There's most definitely a Pan paperback tie in. I have it on my desk.
I was brought up surrounded by various such objets. My mum still has a rather nice teak coffee table cigarette box with a silver vintage car screwed on top. No longer used for cigarettes of course!
Probably too early for a Corgi model (or set of 2 models?), but I do have the 'story of the film' Pan paperback, with b&w location photos.
That's an excellent point. But also coincided with the Edwardian revival? So came at the right time. I could have used a Searle illustration from Magnificent Men to illustrate my point, or the chocolate factory scene in Chitty. There was this thing about Edwardian technology- from cars to steam engines, copper boilers Zeppelins and racing cars.
Another family favourite. I love the music for this film too - Larry Adler. Kenneth More is is just too pompous as Ambrose, and when he doubts she can play the trumpet? Pah! I would take the car, the dog and the trumpet and leave him on the kerb!
How could you overlook Geoffrey Keen as, of course, Policeman!
Of course! Yes, silly me.
My grandparents had a 1904, I think, George Richard. Will post a pic on notes.
Like the sound of this!