We’ve heard a great deal lately about a special relationship between the United States and England.
At first I thought it was because of the whole 1776 revolution incident. Also, sharing a language, well sometimes anyway. I must admit I’m forced to use the captions when watching certain British shows. And I watch a lot of those.
Recently however I’ve noticed something becoming more and more evident.
There is actually very little daylight between British and American culture.
It’s uncanny the similarities we share. I’ve noticed constant references to American films, television and celebrities on numerous UK shows.
Even older ones that Americans might find obscure show up constantly on BBC shows.
The other day someone referenced Humphrey Bogart and the African Queen, The Lone Ranger and sang Greased Lightnin on British programs.
This is especially the case on comedies that when seeking humorous punchlines resort to Americanisms for laughs.
At first, I was surprised to hear these continuous allusions to stars and places Americana until it became obvious.
We do share a language and a culture in too many ways to avoid intertwining.
Art design and entertainment is way too deeply embedded now to ever be removed.
The familiar shows, celebs and movies pop up easily and are highly recognizable on both sides of the Atlantic.
I’m not certain when it happened or why, but it has. I mean what city doesn’t have street names from England. Hello! New York, New England, Kensington, Cornwall, Queens?
I imagine because we shared a language and both began as Christian countries it was inevitable we’d bond over similar lifestyles.
And speaking of Bond, what American didn’t know and adore Sean Connery?
Who hasn’t read Pride and Prejudice or Shakespeare?
Yet is it just England or is it also the entire Western World that formed a bond that is now coming a bit unraveled at the edges?
Yes, of course we all are familiar with European culture, but far less with other countries.
On occasion we’d watch a German movie with subtitles. Or Spanish or French flick.
France and Italy were a close second to England in familiarity possessing an enormous desire to travel there for the food and sights.
And let us not forget Bridget Bardot, Maurice Chevalier, Coco Chanel and Louis Jordan.
Italy won our hearts with pasta, leaning towers, gorgeous landscapes and Sophia Loren, Marcello Mastriani and the Godfather.
But there is still something incredibly familiar about England. It’s as though we were always one country with a giant ocean in between. Flying to London on business or for vacation never seemed too difficult. Like going to a relative’s for a weekend stay.
We shared fashion, Carnaby Street, Twiggy in the sixties. Music, Princess Diana, the Beatles and all the other groups in the British Invasion. So many Brits embraced Hollywood as a second home and lived here part or full time. So many British recording artists cite singers like Elvis and Little Richard as their inspiration.
Great American movies like Star Wars were filmed at Pinewood Studios in England and so many crossover stars populated these films.
It almost became difficult to discern who was British or American in show business any longer. Still isn’t.
I must admit in the food department Americans were pretty much okay with Brits keeping their fare to themselves.
While we embraced burgers, pizza and Asian delights, it wasn’t until quite recently British food became a thing and their chefs accepted as culinary elite.
Let’s face it when was the last time you went to a restaurant here that featured spotted dick or blood sausage on the menu? UGH!
But we Americans were more than happy to buy into the rest. English furniture and antiques were held in the highest esteem by the wealthy classes in the States.
British décor complete with dark rich paneling was prominent in the most prestigious homes, exclusive private clubs and public buildings.
And in the fifties when MGM boasted it had more stars than the heavens a great deal of them were English.
Most Americans liked Queen Elizabeth and have a favorable view of the Royal family. Okay many of its members anyway.
We even chose to believe we had our own royal family for a time and its theme was even Camelot.
Kennedy’s death destroyed that dream in a hurry, but the pride we felt in that First Family remains with all of us who lived during those times. It was then we could understand the British pride in their royals.
I remember playing with paper dolls as a kid with gowns from Queen Elizabeth’s coronation.
Although many won’t admit it, we all loved the pomp and circumstance of royal weddings and otherworldly jewels and crowns.
Yes, we’d separated, but it was more like a family that goes through a divorce, but continues to vacation together at the family beach house each summer.
The connection is never really broken.
No other country in the western world has had a closer relationship, shared so much culture or moved so easily through one another’s world.
Politics aside, Britain’s choice of leaders as will ours, won’t impede on what has already become such a deep and abiding interaction between the people of the US and UK.
Perhaps yes, I’m being too optimistic here. As the culture of England and America changes the similarities may subside.
If that is the case, it would be a great shame. Thank goodness we’ll always have Monty Python, Ab Fab, Downton Abbey, Nigella Lawson, Harry Potter and Bond movies to fall back on when we need a British fix
And the Brits will always have Hollywood, Texas Barbeque, Black Friday sales, Halloween, Levis and McDonald’s.
We’ll continue to share it all just as surely as Bogie and Bergman will always have Paris.
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