saki

I was so happy to find this film, I just love Saki (H. H. Munro). The first thing I’m going to do with my new time machine is prevent him from returning to the front (he signed on as a foot soldier in the ‘Great War’ in his 40′s, and kept going back to fight even when considered too sick or injured to do so), and give him a long-lifetime supply of pens and ink.

I enjoyed hearing ‘The Open Window’ read on National Public Radio‘s ‘Selected Shorts’ years ago, it was a good pick for a short film. The Reginald stories are so incredibly funny, I wish someone would make some of them into a movie. Starring Johnny Depp. Somebody call him, quick!

…

Waldo is one of those people who would be enormously improved by death.

• ‘The Feast of Nemesis’

Reginald sat in a corner of the Princess’s salon and tried to forgive the furniture, which started out with an obvious intention of being Louis Quinze, but relapsed at frequent intervals into Wilhelm II.

• ‘Reginald in Russia’

Reginald closed his eyes with the elaborate weariness of one who has rather nice eyelashes and thinks it useless to conceal the fact.

• ‘Reginald’s Drama’

Think how many blameless lives are brightened by the blazing indiscretions of other people.

• ‘Reginald at the Carlton’

Reginald in his wildest lapses into veracity never admits to being more than twenty-two.

• ‘Reginald’

We all know that Prime Ministers are wedded to the truth, but like other married couples they sometimes live apart.

• The Unbearable Bassington, ch. 13 (1912)