@@ianreynolds8552 Yes, it was a different world in those days. I was a trade unionist once, but changed my mind. I know what it feels like to be on that side of the fence.
Well that was one of the most painful things I've heard in a while. What was the point of this whole ramble? I presume everyone else present was embarrassed. He may have been imitating a pissed Churchill but he was clearly multiple sheets to the wind himself. I wonder when it was recorded too. And surely Ch4 can't have played the whole thing on the news?!
It was recorded in late April or early May 1951, late at night at a friend's apartment in Manhattan. Guy was sailing on the Queen Mary next afternoon. In the morning he went into a panic about the tape and went over to listen to it to make sure it was okay. It was. He boarded the QM almost at the last minute. Guy had just been sacked by the British Embassy in Washington. Now he was going back to London to resign from the FO and maybe get a job writing for the Daily Telegraph. Also he had to advise Donald Maclean, also with the Foreign Office, that MI5 and the FBI were onto him for his activities in the embassy in Washington in 1945, when he was passing atom bomb information to the Soviets. Guy was advised to get Donald out of the country and speed him on his way to Moscow. They took a night boat to France n May 25, then trains and planes to Prague. Here Guy was supposed to turn back, but the Soviet handlers wouldn't let him go home.
No, he never spied for money. He never needed to. Bottom line, Burgess loved the kick of the double agent. It stimulated him. He admitted it thus quite openly. Born into a class that cherished Nazi philosophy to any other, Burgess distrusted his Old Etonian and Public school elites and gave preference to the Soviets although he paid no real allegiance to "their cause," unlike Philby and Maclean who were committed communists. Burgess was an Hedonistic, alcoholic, homosexual bordering on paedophilia and was just along for the ride. God knows how he survived Moscow. A traitor to what, though ? A devout communist or nazi or fanatical moslem or looney left or right may have an devout love of country but abhor its elite masters. To overthrow them will bring a better way of life to his countrymen ( in the mind of your "traitor). That cannot be treason. Philby and Maclean and Blake are more interesting as characters.
@@trishfowlie3145 Meanwhile, an increasingly large number of British people can't pronounce the t sound; be'er, ma'er, wa'er, tha'is. I definitely prefer the old RP to the current trends
I can smell the scotch from here
He was an alcoholic. Drank himself to death.
@@benthejrporter I don t agree with what he did, but with fascism on the rise I can understand why he did it
Just an hilarious imitation of inebriated Churchill by someone who knew him first hand without being impressed a bit
@@Jorge-yy3dd Have you seen the play with Benedict Cumberbatch?
@@ianreynolds8552 Yes, it was a different world in those days. I was a trade unionist once, but changed my mind. I know what it feels like to be on that side of the fence.
What a document 👍✌️
I shot my diplomatic bolt!
Sounds incredibly pissed.
He always was.
No, when he speaks it is perfectly clear but then he imitates Churchill who was often inebriated and does a bloody good imitation
@@benthejrporter no he was nt or he would nt have got the jobs or positions he held
@@ianreynolds8552 He was routinely pissed eventually, by the late 40s/50s. He regretted the path he'd taken.
In these days things out desperate for all ,not just the working class. Fascism spreding
Shit he was cut short.
Well that was one of the most painful things I've heard in a while. What was the point of this whole ramble? I presume everyone else present was embarrassed. He may have been imitating a pissed Churchill but he was clearly multiple sheets to the wind himself. I wonder when it was recorded too. And surely Ch4 can't have played the whole thing on the news?!
It was recorded in late April or early May 1951, late at night at a friend's apartment in Manhattan. Guy was sailing on the Queen Mary next afternoon. In the morning he went into a panic about the tape and went over to listen to it to make sure it was okay. It was. He boarded the QM almost at the last minute.
Guy had just been sacked by the British Embassy in Washington. Now he was going back to London to resign from the FO and maybe get a job writing for the Daily Telegraph. Also he had to advise Donald Maclean, also with the Foreign Office, that MI5 and the FBI were onto him for his activities in the embassy in Washington in 1945, when he was passing atom bomb information to the Soviets. Guy was advised to get Donald out of the country and speed him on his way to Moscow. They took a night boat to France n May 25, then trains and planes to Prague. Here Guy was supposed to turn back, but the Soviet handlers wouldn't let him go home.
@@MargotDarby Thanks for the information.
Churchill patted the car?
a brilliant recording and recollection by a brilliant man.
Burgess was, of course, no damn good, but "Herr Beans" is pretty funny.
A man with a concience
A fool of a man, supporting a psycho like Stalin
Not really. He continued to live in arrogant wealth late on in life and seemed to show little remorse for what he did.
Is that anything like a conscience?
Guy Burgess was intelligent but misguided. Shocked like many by the growth of fascism.
He did what thought was right although it was a tragedy!
churchill who ?
Sold out info for money basically a traitor!
No, he never spied for money. He never needed to. Bottom line, Burgess loved the kick of the double agent. It stimulated him. He admitted it thus quite openly. Born into a class that cherished Nazi philosophy to any other, Burgess distrusted his Old Etonian and Public school elites and gave preference to the Soviets although he paid no real allegiance to "their cause," unlike Philby and Maclean who were committed communists. Burgess was an Hedonistic, alcoholic, homosexual bordering on paedophilia and was just along for the ride. God knows how he survived Moscow. A traitor to what, though ? A devout communist or nazi or fanatical moslem or looney left or right may have an devout love of country but abhor its elite masters. To overthrow them will bring a better way of life to his countrymen ( in the mind of your "traitor). That cannot be treason. Philby and Maclean and Blake are more interesting as characters.
He did it for principals
Waste of time could not understand
Listen to what he says
Obviously not acquainted with the King’s English.
He’s often mimicking Churchill’s manner of speech. Posh folk talked like that in 1930s. Even the Queen has modified her accent over time.
@@trishfowlie3145 Meanwhile, an increasingly large number of British people can't pronounce the t sound; be'er, ma'er, wa'er, tha'is. I definitely prefer the old RP to the current trends
Understand what ..... the rise of fascism and the stark choice people were faced with. These were under certain times with the threat of fascism