Glamoroso!
(8) The High Society Of London
No wonder all the most expensive streets on the Monopoly board are located in Mayfair, London’s most exclusive address. Without a Rolls-Royce, you might feel slightly under-equipped in this part of the city. Still, with a stiff upper lip, British high society swings around town — though there’s also Paul Smith, England’s smash-hit fashion designer, and Hanif Kureishi, London’s winning author.
The self-irony of London’s rich and famous can’t be matched by any other high society. Richard Branson of Virgin, ex–Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, James Bond theme singer Shirley Bassey (“Goldfinger”), and musical star Elaine Paige: they’re all more fun than any high society anywhere else.
Wyman’s and Bassey’s private birthday parties; Paul Smith and Hanif Kureishi poking fun at Ascot and the House of Lords; Margaret Thatcher’s speechwriter Derek Laud and his good friend Christopher Lawrence-Price, who likes his afternoon tea at the Dorchester — both enjoy a nice fox hunt in the countryside on weekends, or meeting Jose Carreras at the Savoy.
Meanwhile, Ivor Spencer, the king of British butlers, gives lessons to the next generation of butlers. And Lord Michael Onslow, a member of the House of Lords, is still happy to tell great jokes about Hitler, Goebbels, and Nazi Germany — especially when Germans are in town.
*Original German title: Mondän!
The self-irony of London’s rich and famous can’t be matched by any other high society. Richard Branson of Virgin, ex–Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, James Bond theme singer Shirley Bassey (“Goldfinger”), and musical star Elaine Paige: they’re all more fun than any high society anywhere else.
Wyman’s and Bassey’s private birthday parties; Paul Smith and Hanif Kureishi poking fun at Ascot and the House of Lords; Margaret Thatcher’s speechwriter Derek Laud and his good friend Christopher Lawrence-Price, who likes his afternoon tea at the Dorchester — both enjoy a nice fox hunt in the countryside on weekends, or meeting Jose Carreras at the Savoy.
Meanwhile, Ivor Spencer, the king of British butlers, gives lessons to the next generation of butlers. And Lord Michael Onslow, a member of the House of Lords, is still happy to tell great jokes about Hitler, Goebbels, and Nazi Germany — especially when Germans are in town.
*Original German title: Mondän!
Facts
The Mondän! (Glamoroso!) series was nominated for the national Adolf-Grimme-Prize in 2000
First aired 17th October 1999, 221.5 pm on ZDF
The Mondän! series had unbelievable 67 reruns between 1998 and 2011.
Credits
Written, directed and produced by
Petra Höfer & Freddie Röckenhaus
Crew:
Bill Wyman
Richard Branson
Lord Jeffrey Archer
Paul Smith
Hanif Kureishi
Lord Michael Onslow
Jose Carreras
Shirley Bassey
Christopher Lawrence-Price
Stephanie Powers
Derek Laud
Elaine Paige
Senior Producer:
Francesca D‘Amicis
Producers:
Ralf Hoppe
Ulrich Schilling-Strack
Nick Anning
Nick Valentine
David Swindells
DOP:
Thomas Schäfer
Editing:
Jörg Wegner
Editor at ZDF:
Peter Arens
A colourFIELD production, commissioned by ZDF
