Myopic Concaves

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Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Hello, if you read the Love Actually post, you already know I am writing about two movies this time around.

Recently, I found out that Last Holiday 2006 was a remake of the 1950 film the same name and knew I had to watch and compare them.

So without wasting your time:

Last Holiday (1950)

This version starts with a doctor and nurse in the hospital looking at George Bird’s X-ray.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

This is George Bird.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

He has no friends, no relatives, no girlfriend, no wife and not a damn thing it seems.

George has been told he has Lampington’s disease (the same illness Georgia Byrd had).

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

He is also a salesman.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Just like Georgia Byrd, she was a saleswoman for a department store and loved cooking.

It was the doctor who told George Bird to take out all his savings and insurance policy and go on a holiday to live out his last days in bliss.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

In Last Holiday 2006, Georgia Byrd made that decision all on her own after thinking about her life and being full of regrets.

What time period is this movie set in?

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

I don’t understand why there weren’t any cars on the road in 1950.

This roadside violin player is not a serious person. He had a “Pity the blind” sign on him

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

George did exactly that and gave him some money. Do you know what this man did after George gave him money?

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

What in the actual hell?

George quits his job and his boss Mr. Dinsdale gives him a raise.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

A raise he initially denied George. What an asshole.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

A ghetto desperado. SMH

Oh, this iconic scene is just like Georgia Byrd.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Blowing all his money away.

He says he wants to go to a nice hotel in Pinebourne and the bookings guy was being very classist.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

But George didn’t care. He was like:

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Exactly, George. Exactly.
Select my ass.

George splurged on some suits that cost sixty-five pounds.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Adjusted to inflation, the 1950’s £65 is about £2,850 in 2025.

That is a lot of money to spend on clothes.

The clothier told him to take off his moustache because it wasn’t classy enough.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

So this was how George began his makeover, which led to him being seen as a rich guy – the same way Georgia Byrd was.

George has arrived at the hotel in Pinebourne.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Let the assumptions begin.

He shaved off his moustache and he looks happier for some reason.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Is it just me or does this woman bear a striking resemblance to Gérard Depardieu (who was in the 2006 version by the way).

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

George opens up to Mrs Poole a housekeeper just about immediately.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Doesn’t this sort of ruin the mystery for everyone who is already wondering who he is and where he is from?

Oh, Mrs Poole is the one who gave him a pep talk to be unapologetically himself during his stay in the hotel.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

I like her and she gave this advice not knowing that George Bird has a terminal illness.

In this one, all of the hotel guests are gossiping about George.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

In the 2006 version, it was only the American guests at the hotel who were curious about Georgia.

This Rufus Chalfont guy was cheated because why was he paid £10,000 for his invention?

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Adjusted to inflation that is £437,900 in 2025. I hope he got some residual or dividend deal or something because that is daylight robbery in my opinion.

Since George didn’t know how to tie a bowtie, he had to fake a sneeze to hide it from the other guests.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

But Lady Oswington wasn’t fooled by him.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

George is so oblivious. Mrs Poole was flirting with him and my guy didn’t get the hint.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

But wait oh, she is a “Mrs” isn’t she? Is she a widow or a divorcee?

If only Mr Bellinghurst knew Mr Bird has a terminal illness.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

George saw this man and thought he had already died and gone to heaven.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

LOL.

So Mr and Mrs Rockingham are broke AF?

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

They can’t afford to pay their hotel bill.
1950s fake it till you make it crew.

George was chilling with his new friends, Joe and Daisy Clarence.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Mrs Rockingham saw him with them and said this

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

The very same woman Joe Clarence is having wet dreams about. The same woman that is so broke, her husband is prostituting her to rich men at the hotel to help them raise money to pay their hotel bill.

Wonders shall never end.

Chalfont offered Bird a job.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Too bad George thinks that he is dying.

George is also very lucky. George asked the heavens for rain…

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

and God made it rain immediately.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Imagine having all this luck when you feel you don’t need it anymore.

Did people have open marriages in 1950s England?

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

This woman is somebody’s wife but all of the men in this hotel don’t seem to care about her MARITAL STATUS.

What the fuck?!

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

George! You are kissing another man’s wife!

Not Mr Gambini making George remember he is going to die soon.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Yikes.

Joe asked George to put money down for them to gamble on a horse. George gave 50 pounds and Joe was able to make

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

and George immediately became light-headed.

George’s luck is on the up and up at the wrong time.

George won at poker and he doesn’t seem to be very happy about it.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

He is not doing anything, the universe is just smiling at him now that he decided to live his life.

George helped Mr and Mrs Rockingham with their bills.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

What is with George and people’s wives?

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Mrs Poole told George to go make something of himself and he finally let the cat out of the bag.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

That was certainly a mic-drop moment.

George left the hotel he was at to a new one.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

He got sick of the place and probably wanted change.

Trevor Lampington whom the disease was named after is lodging at the Regal Hotel George was staying at. The same one the Rockinghams and Clarences are in.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Trevor is a hypochondriac.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Marriage doesn’t mean a damn thing to these people.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

That is Mrs Rockingham thanking George with a kiss for paying her and her husband’s bills.

This lady is very pleasant. I like her.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

So the staff are on strike and the guests at the Regal Hotel take up the jobs. Some are cooking, others laying tables and she became the receptionist. She is very personable.

I am living for the Trevor Lampington drags.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

And that’s not all.

Trevor was explaining how he makes his milk and bread dish

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

And Sir Robert Kyle dragged him for filth.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

I agree. That thing he made is gag-inducing.

Trevor Lampington just told George that there is no way he has Lampington’s disease and George went to Mrs Poole to celebrate.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Sir Lampington called the hospital to ask why they misdiagnosed George and the doctor realised he looked at the wrong plates.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

George had an accident on his way back from the doctor’s office.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Hmm, I hope he doesn’t die oh. Hmm.

He died.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Wow… this was a sad movie with zero holiday cheer.

Last Holiday (2006)

I have watched this movie twice before and this would be my third watch. So let’s go.

I am quite curious of what I would react to.

One thing I liked a lot about this 2006 version is how they showed us the type of life Georgia was living.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

We saw how she was alone, how she didn’t even eat the nice food she cooked. We saw how she just lived in the background like a wallflower.

Georgia was procrastinating on the life she wanted to live.

I like Rochelle she is funny.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

This woman keeps buying grills she doesn’t need just because she wants to talk to Sean.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

I get being shy but wasting your money just because you are timid is stupidity.

This Mr Adamian is annoying. He is worse than Mr Dinsdale.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Health Insurance companies have been our biggest ops since 2006.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Georgia’s sister was an irresponsible mother taking advantage of the fact that Georgia doesn’t have much going for her.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

This line did not age well.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

because these two would beg to differ.

BEYONCE AND SHABOOZEY BLACK COUNTRY SINGERS

The title of this book is so hustle culture-coded.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

The pastor’s face when he heard Georgia speak out for the first time.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

LOL.

This scene was recreated…

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950
Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

I forgot she used a helicopter instead of a taxi to the hotel.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

No wonder everyone was so curious about her when she arrived at the hotel.

Another thing I didn’t notice, Mr Kragen took his mistress to the same hotel he takes his wife to every year.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Asshole.

Senator Dillings was in love when he saw Georgia.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

When I watched it the first time, I was hoping they had a little holiday romance before she started anything with Sean.

Senator Dillings with the sarcasm.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Mr Kragen’s paranoia knows no bounds.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

All of this is just because he is not the centre of attention for the first time in his life.

Hater.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

This is the worst thing to tell a person who wants to try BASE jumping for the first time.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

The gambling scene was recreated.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Senator Dillings didn’t lie. We all want to be idealistic but the reality is that politics needs money to fuel the engine.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Ms Gunther’s happiness in this scene makes me smile every time.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

I’ve always wondered where the Senator and Congressman stood in the crowd and I finally found them.

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950

Final Thoughts

I preferred the 2006 version to the 1950s version because it had a happy ending and because they did well to show us how muted Georgia’s life was.

My Letterboxd score for the 1950s version is 3 out of 5 stars while for the 2006 version is it 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for reading and

Georgia Byrd was a GEORGE BIRD in Last Holiday 1950 HAPPY NEW YEAR

Are you going to watch this?

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