When the boys are watching the soccer (football) game, the people clap for the first team to take the field in a normal way. When the other team takes the field, they start clapping like "Clap, clap, clap, clapclapclapclap." I don't know why that was done. Was the second team the visiting team and it was a sort of booing? I am curious. Thanks.
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Back in the 1940s both teams would have been applauded as they came onto the pitch.
The clapping is in the form of Morse code ...- the letter V, for victory. Often used as a signal between people in occupied countries. The clapping is started by the Burgomaster (Hay Petrie). I think it's just coincidence that he does it as the 2nd team comes onto the pitch.
But the missing crew member, Bob Ashley (Emrys Jones, a professional footballer as well as an actor before the war) is wearing white shorts. The team with white shorts came on second. So if anything, the Burgomaster and the crowd are giving the V sign (the nice one) to their home team.
At least I presume that Bob is playing for the home team and that he didn't drift so far away on his parachute that he hooked up with the visiting team
Steve
Wow, fabulous historical trivia! I always assumed it was some variation on synchronized applause, the European version of a standing ovation (or, so I've been told).
Oh, Steve, you know everything! Glad you're on our side!
Yes, sir, I'm going to do nothing like she's never been done before!
Question from an ignorant Englishman.
After Tom drops the leaflets from the plane, Bob is told to drop the 'Ashley special'. It appears to be a bottle of alcohol. Does this have any special significance that I'm missing?
Just a bottle of good English ale for the poor Europeans who have to drink that strange lager beer - that has to be served freezing cold or you realise that it has no taste
Strangely enough, after the "Bridge Too Far" debacle, the bombers were once again flying over the north-western Netherlands. But then they were dropping food parcels to feed the population who had suffered the Hunger Winter of 1944/45
Steve
OK, here's a toughie. Is the Compton mentioned in the football radio broadcast, Denis or Leslie?
shareHaving just watched it again, or that part with the radio broadcast, the commentator also mentions Bob Ashley. Now the actor playing Bob Ashley, Emrys Jones, was a professional footballer. But "Bob Ashley" was a made up name, made up for the film. So it is a commentary made up for the film. Who is the "Welsh (sp?)" that they also refer to in the commentary, and who is the commentator? Do I detect a touch of Irish in the accent? It sounds a bit like Eamonn Andrews. Eamonn was an ex-boxer and a sports commentator on Radio Éireann before joining the BBC as a boxing commentator. Did he ever do any football commentaries?
Whoever it is playing, they are playing against the "Allied Forces" team.
Steve