Fighting with my Family (5 Stars)

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True Stories #35

Name: Saraya Bevis

Lived: 17 August 1992 – still alive

Film dates: 2005 to 2014, mostly 2010 to 2014

Film made in 2019

This is the story of the WWE wrestler known as Paige. The young woman from Norwich had a whirlwind career, leading to winning the WWE women's championship

Saraya started wrestling when she was 13. Her parents and her two elder brothers were all wrestlers in the family owned business, the World Association of Wrestling. In 2011 she and her brother Zak auditioned for the WWE in London. Saraya was accepted, Zak wasn't. This was heart-breaking for both of them. It had been Zak's dream all his life to join the WWE. It hurt Saraya because she loved her brother and didn't want to be separated from him.

The training in Florida is hard. At first Saraya, who's now taken the name Paige, isolates herself from the other female trainees. She's the only woman from a wrestling family. The others are models or cheerleaders.

People who don't understand professional wrestling say that it's fake. It's not fake, it's scripted. The level of athletic prowess needed to perform in the ring is immense. Despite Saraya's former experiences in England she had difficulty getting through the training programme.

The film ends with Paige's debut on Monday Night Raw on 7th April 2014. It's unusual for a true story to be made so soon after the real events. Florence Pugh does an excellent job portraying Paige. She had help and coaching from the real Paige. Several real wrestlers appear in the film, including the Rock (Dwayne Johnson), the Miz and the Big Show.

Success Rate:  + 1.8

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WWF 1997.02.17 - Monday Night Raw

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Location: Nashville Arena, Nashville, Tennessee

Commentators: Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross

This episode of Monday Night Raw is taking place the day after the Final Four PPV. Yesterday Bret Hart became the WWF champion. Today he has to defend his title against Sycho Sid.

Match 1. WWF championship, Bret Hart vs Sycho Sid

The WWF championship match opens today's Raw. It doesn't get very far. Before the match can begin, Steve Austin runs into the ring and attacks Bret Hart. Sid attacks Steve Austin, but in the altercation his leg is injured and the match is postponed. In an interview with Kevin Kelly he says that nothing will stop him facing Bret Hart later today.

Match 2. Marc Mero vs Savio Vega

Marc Mero is accompanied to the ring by Sable. Savio Vega is accompanied to the ring by five members of the Nation of Domination. During the match Sable kicks one of the PG-13 rappers. Crush chases her into the ring, where she's surrounded by the Nation of Domination members. The referee disqualifies Savio Vega, but the Nation of Domination still wants to attack Marc and Sable. Ahmed Johnson runs into the ring to stop them.

Match 3. Intercontinental championship, Rocky Maivia vs Leif Cassidy

It was only last Thursday that Rocky Maivia won the Intercontinental championship, and he's had to defend the title twice in the following four days. And he's still smiling.

Sunny comes to the ring. Is there a reason? Does anyone care?

Sunny flirts with Rocky, but he pushes her away. What's wrong with him?

She looks disappointed at being rejected, but everyone else still wants her.

Rocky defeats Leif Cassidy in a fair fight. There aren't many fair fights in the WWF. After the match Jerry Lawler rips an ECW sign out of the hands of a ringside fan. He says that the ECW, Extreme Championship Wrestling, is just an organisation for has-beens and wrestlers who aren't good enough to be in the WWF.

Goldust comes to the ring, accompanied by Marlena. He tells the audience that Hunter Hearst Helmsley should stop trying to take Marlena away from him.

Marlena says that despite his effeminate acts in the ring, Goldust is more man than Hunter Hearst Helmsley will ever be.

That insult is too much for Triple H to take. He runs to the ring and pedigrees Goldust. Then he turns to threaten Marlena. Some men just can't take No for an answer.

While Marlena is looking at Triple H, a woman comes into the ring from the crowd and attacks her. It's the same woman who attacked Marlena yesterday. Security guards rush into the ring and take her away.

Match 4. Tag team match, The Headbangers vs The Hardy Boys

Was this the first appearance of the Hardy Boys, Jeff and Matt Hardy, on television? I don't remember seeing them before. I did a little research and found that they weren't hired by the WWF until 1998. Before then they were jobbers, just stepping into the ring to lose. Yes, the Headbangers defeat them today, but Jeff and Matt put on a good show. They have a big future ahead of them.

Match 1 (reprised). WWF championship, Bret Hart vs Sycho Sid

The championship match is about to begin, but before it can start Steve Austin attacks Bret Hart outside of the arena. The match has to be postponed again.

Match 5. Owen Hart vs Flash Funk

Flash Funk comes to the ring accompanied by his two unnamed dancing girls. Owen Hart comes to the ring accompanied by Clarence Mason, who's still his manager despite his connection with the Nation of Domination. British Bulldog comes to ringside and tells Clarence to leave. The match progresses fairly, but at the end British Bulldog hits Flash Funk with Owen's Slammy award and holds his leg while Owen pins him. This is the reverse of last night's win. Owen wanted to win fairly, so he's angry that British Bulldog got involved.

Match 6. Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs Bart Gunn

Honky Tonk Man joins Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross at the commentary table. The wrestlers are equally matched until Goldust runs into the ring to provoke Triple H. They chase each other out of the arena, so Bart Gunn wins the match by a countout.

Match 1 (reprised again). WWF championship, Bret Hart vs Sycho Sid

The championship match is finally underway. At the beginning it's in Sid's favour, but Bret has more stamina and slowly wins the advantage.

Steve Austin hits Bret over the head with a chair when the referee isn't looking.Sid pins Bret and becomes the new WWF champion.

The Undertaker comes to the ring and the two stare at one another, nose to nose.

WWF 1997.02.17 - Thursday Night Raw

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Location: Nashville Arena, Nashville, Tennessee

Commentators: Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross

This episode of Monday Night Raw is taking place the day after the Final Four PPV. Yesterday Bret Hart became the WWF champion. Today he has to defend his title against Sycho Sid.

Match 1. WWF championship, Bret Hart vs Sycho Sid

The WWF championship match opens today's Raw. It doesn't get very far. Before the match can begin, Steve Austin runs into the ring and attacks Bret Hart. Sid attacks Steve Austin, but in the altercation his leg is injured and the match is postponed. In an interview with Kevin Kelly he says that nothing will stop him facing Bret Hart later today.

Match 2. Marc Mero vs Savio Vega

Marc Mero is accompanied to the ring by Sable. Savio Vega is accompanied to the ring by five members of the Nation of Domination. During the match Sable kicks one of the PG-13 rappers. Crush chases her into the ring, where she's surrounded by the Nation of Domination members. The referee disqualifies Savio Vega, but the Nation of Domination still wants to attack Marc and Sable. Ahmed Johnson runs into the ring to stop them.

Match 3. Intercontinental championship, Rocky Maivia vs Leif Cassidy

It was only last Thursday that Rocky Maivia won the Intercontinental championship, and he's had to defend the title twice in the following four days. And he's still smiling.

Sunny comes to the ring. Is there a reason? Does anyone care?

Sunny flirts with Rocky, but he pushes her away. What's wrong with him?

She looks disappointed at being rejected, but everyone else still wants her.

Rocky defeats Leif Cassidy in a fair fight. There aren't many fair fights in the WWF. After the match Jerry Lawler rips an ECW sign out of the hands of a ringside fan. He says that the ECW, Extreme Championship Wrestling, is just an organisation for has-beens and wrestlers who aren't good enough to be in the WWF.

Goldust comes to the ring, accompanied by Marlena. He tells the audience that Hunter Hearst Helmsley should stop trying to take Marlena away from him.

Marlena says that despite his effeminate acts in the ring, Goldust is more man than Hunter Hearst Helmsley will ever be.

That insult is too much for Triple H to take. He runs to the ring and pedigrees Goldust. Then he turns to threaten Marlena. Some men just can't take No for an answer.

While Marlena is looking at Triple H, a woman comes into the ring from the crowd and attacks her. It's the same woman who attacked Marlena yesterday. Security guards rush into the ring and take her away.

Match 4. Tag team match, The Headbangers vs The Hardy Boys

Was this the first appearance of the Hardy Boys, Jeff and Matt Hardy, on television? I don't remember seeing them before. I did a little research and found that they weren't hired by the WWF until 1998. Before then they were jobbers, just stepping into the ring to lose. Yes, the Headbangers defeat them today, but Jeff and Matt put on a good show. They have a big future ahead of them.

Match 1 (reprised). WWF championship, Bret Hart vs Sycho Sid

The championship match is about to begin, but before it can start Steve Austin attacks Bret Hart outside of the arena. The match has to be postponed again.

Match 5. Owen Hart vs Flash Funk

Flash Funk comes to the ring accompanied by his two unnamed dancing girls. Owen Hart comes to the ring accompanied by Clarence Mason, who's still his manager despite his connection with the Nation of Domination. British Bulldog comes to ringside and tells Clarence to leave. The match progresses fairly, but at the end British Bulldog hits Flash Funk with Owen's Slammy award and holds his leg while Owen pins him. This is the reverse of last night's win. Owen wanted to win fairly, so he's angry that British Bulldog got involved.

Match 6. Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs Bart Gunn

Honky Tonk Man joins Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross at the commentary table. The wrestlers are equally matched until Goldust runs into the ring to provoke Triple H. They chase each other out of the arena, so Bart Gunn wins the match by a countout.

Match 1 (reprised again). WWF championship, Bret Hart vs Sycho Sid

The championship match is finally underway. At the beginning it's in Sid's favour, but Bret has more stamina and slowly wins the advantage.

Steve Austin hits Bret over the head with a chair when the referee isn't looking.Sid pins Bret and becomes the new WWF champion.

The Undertaker comes to the ring and the two stare at one another, nose to nose.

Der Hauptmann (4½ Stars)

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True Stories #34

Name: Willi Herold

Lived: 11 September 1925 – 14 November 1946

Film dates: April to May 1945

Film made in 2017

I was lucky to see the German premiere of this film, attended by the Stuttgart director Robert Schwentke. It tells the story of a 19-year-old chimney sweep who impersonated a German officer and killed 200 people in the last two weeks of the Second World War. As Schwentke himself said, it's a story so absurd that it's difficult to believe that it's true.

Willi Herold was a deserter. In April 1945 he was alone and scared, trying to find his way home. By chance, he found a car abandoned by an air force captain. Documents were being burnt close to the vehicle, and the captain's uniform was in the back of the car, tidily folded, complete with his medals. The captain had obviously fled recently, but he was nowhere in sight.

Note: The German military rank "Hauptmann" is usually translated as "Captain", but due to the difference in ranks in German speaking countries it's only an approximate translation.

Willi put on the uniform and began a new life. At first it was an act of desperation, but it turned into courage. He met other deserters nearby, and he recruited them as members of his Kampfgruppe Herold. He told them that he had an important mission, directly from Adolf Hitler himself, and he'd lost his men, so he needed replacements.

So Willi and his band of deserters headed to a prison camp where German deserters were awaiting trial. His claims that he'd been sent to speed up the execution of the prisoners were received with joy by the camp's commander, Karl Schütte, who was angry that the deserters were receiving warm meals every day while faithful German soldiers were dying on the front line. Willi performed mass executions, dumping the bodies in a mass grave. Those who survived being shot were buried alive.

After the camp was destroyed in an air raid, Willi and his Kampfgruppe arrived in Aurich, a town that was preparing to welcome the British troops. He executed the mayor as a traitor, and he set up his headquarters in a hotel, where he tried and executed civilians every day, when he wasn't involved in drunken revelry.

How was it possible for an uneducated young man to achieve such power and carry out such destruction in a period of only two weeks? I have no idea. When his deception was uncovered (only days before the German surrender) and he was put on trial for impersonating an officer, the court found him innocent. The judge said that he'd done nothing to harm the German war effort. He was released, so that he could return to fight for Germany. But the war ended abruptly. His next trial was by the British armed forces, and he was executed as a war criminal.

The film is overwhelming. Too absurd to be true.

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TV Series: On The Buses Season 6

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Two days ago I heard about the death of Anna Karen. This made me sad, because she was a part of my young years. She appeared in the television series "On The Buses", which ran from 1969 to 1973. I still consider it to be the best comedy series ever, with certain reservations. The first five seasons are brilliant. The sixth season is good, but not up to the level of the previous seasons. The seventh season is a mess, which should never have been made. The episodes are all standalone stories that can be watched in any order, but you might as well watch them in order. You can skip the seventh season. I've warned you!

Today I watched all seven episodes of the sixth season. I picked this season deliberately, because I don't know it as well as the first five seasons. Yes, it's good, but there were only a few scenes that made me laugh out loud. I concentrated on Anna Karen's performance. In the series she's deliberately made up to look ugly, but in my eyes it gives her a bizarre beauty. I always felt attracted to her.

Now she's gone. She's the last member of the main cast to die. In her final years she was unable to walk and confined to her wheelchair. She died at home, burnt alive after falling asleep while smoking.

Reg Varney
11 July 1916 – 16 November 2008

Stan Butler was the series' main character. He played a bus driver who still lived at home with his mother. His romantic escapades never went further than a quick fumble on the sofa.

Bob Grant
14 April 1932 – 8 November 2003

Jack Harper was a bus conductor and Stan's best friend. He was also single, and it's hinted that he went further with his girlfriends, but we never see anything.

Stephen Lewis
17 December 1926 – 12 August 2015

Cyril Blake, usually called Blakey, is the bus inspector who's always complaining about Stan and Jack's laziness.

Doris Hare
1 March 1905 – 30 May 2000

Stan's mother is always referred to as Mom in the series. The credits list her name as Mabel, but I don't remember her ever being called Mabel.

Anna Karen
19 September 1936 – 22 February 2022

Olive is Stan's sister. A constantly repeated joke is that she's totally blind without her glasses. Is that possible? She's sexually frustrated, always complaining that her husband doesn't fulfil his duties in bed.

Michael Robbins
14 November 1930 – 11 December 1992

Arthur Rudge is Olive's husband. The couple also lives in the same house with Stan and his mother, because Arthur doesn't earn enough to afford his own home. Sometimes he's doing a low paying job, but mostly he's unemployed. There's no romance in the marriage. He's always calling Olive an idiot, useless, etc, and he makes a disgusted face whenever she suggests that they should have an early night. One of the episodes in season six gives a flashback to Arthur meeting Olive. He was a lodger in the house, and one night he came back from the pub drunk and got into Olive's bed by mistake. Mom was disgusted and said they should get married immediately.

I always felt sorry for Olive when Arthur was shouting at her. I wanted to take her in my arms and cuddle her.

She was always special to me. The only thing I didn't like about her was the smoking, in the series or in real life. In the end cigarettes killed her.

Rest in peace, Anna Karen. You'll never be forgotten as long as DVDs exist.

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