The needlework alone can last for years? - The Lion in Winter (1968) Discussion

[–] ronfirv 12 years ago

Context being?
Give us another couple accompanying lines and who said what.

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[–] wintersnowman 12 years ago

Eleanor was talking to Geoffrey, saying that they will see the second coming (of Christ) first before they would see Richard's wedding day. Then she said, "The needlework alone can last for years".

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[–] ronfirv 12 years ago

That's a deep one.
Knowing Richard's alleged predilections, and his former closeness with King Philip of France, Eleanor may well have been alluding to Richard's pschological tactics in coming up with reason after reason not to marry, and stay a bachelor king.
Not an easy interpretation and another poster may suggest an alternative for you.

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[–] bonettastiltfur 12 years ago

I believe it's a reference to the amount of time needed to prepare the wedding trousseau.

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[–] ruffian82 12 years ago

Re: The needlework alone can last for years?
by ronfirv 2 days ago (Wed Dec 12 2012 00:39:12)
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That's a deep one.
Knowing Richard's alleged predilections, and his former closeness with King Philip of France, Eleanor may well have been alluding to Richard's pschological tactics in coming up with reason after reason not to marry, and stay a bachelor king.

Didn't something like that happen with his true bride? What was her name...The marriage was rarely 'celebrated' took forever to consummate if reports are to be believed..

Berengaria of Navarre.

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[–] rrb 12 years ago

God, you people are dense. She's refering to the fact that Henry can keep stringing them along forever with empty promises of giving Alais to Richard.

The full line is: "And as for Richard's wedding day, we'll see the Second Coming first. The needlework alone can last for years. " In other words, they can get as far as all the clothing for the wedding - "the needlework" - being ready and even that "can last for years." Get it now?

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[–] ruffian82 12 years ago

Ahhhhhh...no I did not catch the 'stringing along bit.' Thank you!

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[–] kstallings100 11 years ago

Bingo.

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[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] syntinen 10 years ago

Troll.

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[–] PrometheusTree64 10 years ago

Troll.

Jeezus, it doesn't take much for some of you, does it?

--

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m127/tubesteak69/Divas_Who_Drink-1.jpg

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[–] julikell 10 years ago

I think it is a reference to the legend / myth of Ulysses and his wife, Penelope. As Ulysses did his Odyssey thing, poor Penelope was at home waiting. Suitors kept pestering her. She said she would decide which suitor she chose as soon as a piece of needlework on which she was working was complete

She worked on the piece during the day. At night, she would un-do the piece. Hence, the task lasted until Ulysses returned.

(My $0.02.)

I can't bear labels.
~ Janet McTeer

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[–] bam3186 10 years ago

Yes, I was thinking the same thing and was scrolling through the posts to see if anyone had mentioned it, yet. Looks like we're both watching on TCM, today.

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[–] hachmom-1 10 years ago

I never considered the Penelope connection before, but it is a good possibility.

It is not our abilities that show who we truly are...it is our choices.

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[–] rrb 10 years ago

Penelope was keeping her suitors at bay with the deception of weaving/unraveling the shroud. How is Alais Penelope? Henry's delaying the marriage, not she. The analogy doesn't work.

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[–] bam3186 10 years ago

You missed the point....the analogy IS Henry as Penelope.

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[–] rrb 10 years ago

Henry as Penelope? Henry is delaying suitors for his hand? Um, ok...

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[–] ronfirv 10 years ago

Henry was doing what? Did we watch the same movie?

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[–] apple2991 9 years ago

She's saying Henry's plan to give Richard the crown and the wife isn't what it seems. She says Henry will find a way never to deliver on his promise, stalling it out. She jokingly refers to the pageantry of the "wedding arrangements" taking forever, as the wedding would never materialize.

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