London 2012 opening ceremony – the comedy German Nazi upstages Mr Bean (video and photos)

AS the German team appeared in traditional pink and sky blue suits, in the crowd a German dignitary gave his nation’s athletes the time-honoured Nazi salute.

Kenneth Brannagh and all that rugger had threatened to run the show in a cunyfest. But, then, William Beveridge – The Musical got underway and the show became a melange of Friday night British sit-com (Mr Bean reminded of Chariots of Fire when listening to, erm, Chariots of Fire), Her Majesty The Queen’s big acting break, humour, heart, youth culture and great telly.

There was even the comedy German. Nazism never really caught on in the UK because totalitarianism is best left to the funny foreigners and, as George Orwell said, goose-steppeing would never work in Melton Mowbray, Gateshead and Dudley “because the people in the street would laugh”.

And laugh we did. Basil!

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Anna Prior on her way into the Olympic Stadium during the London Olympic Games 2012 Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London.

Anorak

Posted: 28th, July 2012 | In: Key Posts Comment | TrackBack | Permalink