MovieChat Forums > Florence Foster Jenkins (2016) Discussion > FFJ - an American Hyacinth Bucket?

FFJ - an American Hyacinth Bucket?

posted 9 years ago by tate_elliott
12 replies | jump to latest

Shortly into this movie (which my wife and I enjoyed) I realized that Florence was was putting me in the mind of an American version of Hyacinth Bucket ("That's Bouquet") from "Keeping Up Appearances." Florence obviously was the type of person Hyacinth wanted to be. Hyacinth was obsessed with doing things "correctly," thought that she was a great singer, and enjoyed having (candlelight) dinner parties. And both of their husbands would go along with whatever their spouses wished.

Please don't think that I'm saying the two characters are identical, or that Streep was intentionally imitating Hyacinth. I'm just saying that one reminded me of the other.

Your thoughts?

[–] brianstaples4 9 years ago

Patricia Routledge is a very accomplished singer, and is still working at the age of 87. She has sung on Broadway and other stage productions, and has also recorded an LP.

In KUP Patricia purposely sings badly, just as Meryl (who is a very talented singer), does in FFJ.

Therefore, you could compare Patricia to Meryl, but not to Florence, because she just sang badly full stop.

[–] bluersun 8 years ago

Came here to say something similar, they even share a passing resemblance.

[–] benman46 8 years ago

Not in the least.

[–] Dejay 8 years ago

Clearly Florence is real and a few decade earlier. So you could say Hyacinth is a UK Florence, not the other way around.

[–] sadclownhooker 8 years ago

Gosh, I took my Nan to see this and she wouldn't shut up about how Foster Jenkins looked and reminded her of Hyacinth!

I shall let her know that she is not the only one to see resemblances.

[–] christina_death 8 years ago

I have to see the movie after this comment. Hyacinth Bouquet is my favorite character of all times.

[–] greenbudgie 8 years ago

I didn't think of the Hyacinth connection. Both live in the world of their own, oblivious of the real opinions of the people around them.

[–] slofstra 8 years ago

I think the resemblance is at best superficial, other than the fact you don't often see comic heroines of Bucket and Jenkins' age and girth. Perhaps both of them also resemble 'She who must be obeyed' of 'Rumpole of the Bailey' renown.