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......what his name is
along the river.....

Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

Magnificent.....

English answer:

Magnificent in a way, you must admit that. Three tablespoonfuls and not a quiver.

Added to glossary by Charles Davis
Aug 25, 2019 11:56
4 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term

Magnificent.....

English Other Cinema, Film, TV, Drama listening and comprehension
These lines are very difficult to understand because there's music along the lines.

The lines are: "Magnificent.........., you must admit that. Three tablespoons ..................................................

I can't understand what the actor is saying after: Magnificent. And also after three tablespoons.

Context: His wife put three tablespoons of poison inside the hot water in order to kill uncle George, but nothing happened with him. So, the actor is talking about this.

Please, help me to understand these lines. I've listened to these lines several times and for me it's impossible to understand them.

Link: https://youtu.be/4PoWXWYSVUQ

Time: 4:35 ---> 4:39

Thanks!
Responses
4 +2 Magnificent in a way, you must admit that. Three tablespoonfuls and not a quiver.
3 Magnificent in the (inaudible). You must admit that. Three tablespoons and not a quiver.
3 "Magnificently little, you must admit that, three tablespoons full and not a quiver!
Change log

Aug 25, 2019 11:56: changed "Kudoz queue" from "In queue" to "Public"

Aug 25, 2019 12:13: writeaway changed "Field (write-in)" from "How to murder a rich uncle (1957)" to "listening and comprehension "

Aug 26, 2019 22:51: Charles Davis Created KOG entry

Discussion

Lara Barnett Aug 25, 2019:
@ Daniel I meant if you have trouble finding script online there will be archives in English libraries. This BFI link below says that the screen play was written by John Paxton, and the original play by Didier Daix for example: https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6acb9c35
Or...
...even here (The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film": https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Yyqc0Qa6b60C&printsec=fr...
Or...
...alternatively, you could possibly try "The British Library", where you can find everything ever published more or less, but if they have to source the play for you it will take time this way.
Daniel Slon (asker) Aug 25, 2019:
Hi Charles! You're absolutely right! Now it makes a lot of sense! Thanks a lot!
Daniel Slon (asker) Aug 25, 2019:
Hi! Thanks a lot for helping me finding the script. I've already sent them an e-mail. I hope they will be able to help me on this.
airmailrpl Aug 25, 2019:
get the original script in English.. get the original script in English

http://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmW...
Daniel Slon (asker) Aug 25, 2019:
Hi Lara! Thanks for your help. Let me tell what I think: I think he's saying that magnificent is little to describe how uncle George could drink his tea with three tablespoonfuls of poison and nothing happend to him! That's why I think that he's saying: "Magnificent is little". This way all the line will make sense. I have to translate these lines in a reasonable way, otherwise it won't make any sense. And regarding the original script, I've been looking on the internet and I wasn't able to find anything. I'll have to extract all the lines having you all helping me on this. Thanks a lot!

Responses

+2
7 hrs
Selected

Magnificent in a way, you must admit that. Three tablespoonfuls and not a quiver.

I am sure that this is what he says here. Just before this he says "Can't understand it"; that is, he can't understand how such a large dose failed to kill the intended victim. "Magnificent in a way" expresses the fact that although it is very frustrating that the poison didn't work, the ability of the intended victim to withstand it is remarkable, and magnificent, seen from a different perspective ("in a way"). In fairness, one must admire such robustness.

He says "tablespoonfuls", not "tablespoons full". "Not a quiver", of course, means that this large dose of poison had no effect on him; he didn't even quiver.
Peer comment(s):
agree Mark Robertson : You have a good ear sir.
2 hrs
Thanks very much, Mark :-)
agree B D Finch : Unfortunate timing of the church bell!
3 hrs
Yes! Thanks, Barbara :-)
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Charles, thank you so much for your help! Like Mark said, you have a good ear. I'd say: a wonderful ear!"
58 mins

Magnificent in the (inaudible). You must admit that. Three tablespoons and not a quiver.

The first one one beats me, "Magnificent in the (inaudible). You must admit that. Three tablespoons and not a quiver"
Something went wrong...
59 mins

"Magnificently little, you must admit that, three tablespoons full and not a quiver!

I have used slow-playback method (in youtube video settings). However, I don't think any method (bar finding the original script) will be 100% reliable, because this actor has very incoherently mumbled this section of his lines....unfortunately!

Therefore I have marked this as medium confidence, but I would classify that as "medium to low" to be honest.

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Note added at 1 hr (2019-08-25 12:57:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

you can slow down the video as much as you like and it will go slower and slower, but that will not help.

Possible options now are to try to find the original script or, for what its worth, maybe contact a librarian in a film archive library somewhere.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2019-08-25 20:28:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

...with regard to your interpretation "magnificent is little to describe...", I cannot hear that at all and it sounds a bit out of place in terms of the rest of his lines at this point".
Peer comment(s):
neutral B D Finch : That simply doesn't make sense.//Hardly necessary, given that Charles has got it right.
9 hrs
Why don't you give it a go and suggest something. At least the rest of my info is of some help.// Good, so technically that's simply all you need to say
Something went wrong...
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