Dear faithful readers happy Stephen Fry Appreciation Monday!
Ah we have finally come to one of my favorites Blackadder yay or should I say baaaaah!
Our lovely Mr. Fry has had many reincarnations over the ages some of which include a bishop, a lord and the Duke of Wellington (in that memorable episode he did give Hugh Laurie a damn good slapping if I remember correctly), but my favorite by far of course was the most popular reincarnation of General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett in Blackadder Goes Forth.
Ah who could have resisted those ruddy cheeks, the neatly parted hair and the mustache that would put Salvadore Dali to shame. But I’m biased of course. So instead me going on about how great the show was, I will simply give you some of the funniest quotes (that still make me giggle by the way). Hats off to Ben Elton and Richard Curtis for the script that was and still is superbly brilliant. Oh and check this out too.
Fun fact – since I always add a personal note, do you know I have actually watched these episodes during the air raids? It gives a whole new meaning to poignant irony.
General Melchett: Are you looking forward to the big push?
Baldrick: No sir, I’m absolutely terrified.
General Melchett: The healthy humor of the honest tommy. Don’t worry my boy, if you should falter, remember that Captain Darling and I are behind you.
Baldrick: About thirty-five miles behind you.
General Melchett: If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through.
General Melchett: [explaining why they can't rescue Captain Blackadder] Now George, you remember when I came down to visit you when you were a nipper, for your sixth birthday? You used to have a lovely little rabbit, beautiful little thing, do you remember?
Lieutenant George: Flossie.
General Melchett: That’s right, Flossie! Do you remember what happened to Flossie?
Lieutenant George: You shot him.
General Melchett: That’s right! It was the kindest thing to do after he’d been run over by that car.
Lieutenant George: By *your* car, sir.
General Melchett: Yes, by my car. But that, too, was an act of mercy when you remember that that dog had been set on him.
Lieutenant George: *Your* dog, sir.
General Melchett: Yes, yes, my dog. But what I’m trying to say, George, is that the state young Flossie was in after we’d scraped him off my front tire, is very much the state that young Blackadder will be in now: if not very nearly dead, then very actually dead!
Lieutenant George: Permission for lip to wobble, sir?
General Melchett: Permission granted.
Blackadder: I was wondering whether, after being tortured by the most vicious sadist in the German army, I might be allowed a week’s leave to recuperate.
General Melchett: Excellent idea - your commanding officer would have to be stark raving mad to refuse you.
Blackadder: You are my commanding officer.
General Melchett: Well?
Blackadder: Can I have a week’s leave to recuperate, sir?
General Melchett: Certainly not!
Blackadder: Thank you, sir.
General Melchett: Baaa!
General Melchett: Something’s the matter. Something sinister and something grotesque. And what’s worse is that it’s going on right here under my very nose.
Blackadder: [protesting] Sir, your mustache is lovely…
Blackadder: Can anyone tell me what’s going on?
Darling: Security, Blackadder.
Blackadder: Security?
General Melchett: Security isn’t a dirty word, Blackadder. Crevice is a dirty word, but security isn’t.
