Pipe Smoking Impressions from Netflix's The Crown

[mikethompson]

While watching the Crown last night, there was an interesting scene between Olivia Colman, who plays Queen Elizabeth, and Jason Watkins, who plays Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The conversation is along the lines of leaders having to wear masks or to pretend to be someone else so they can lead effectively. Wilson confesses that he prefers brandy to beer, and prefers a cigar to his pipe. But he says that he always has the pipe on the campaign trail and in public because the pipe makes him more approachable and down to earth.

I had not heard this distinction between pipes and cigars before. I know that cigars have a connotation of wealth and privilege, but not that the pipe is more eqalitarian, as Wilson seemed to think so.

Was this a prevalent idea at the time? (Late 60s)

 

[3rdguy]

Dunno but I have 1 episode left on Season 2, hoping to start Season 3 tonight ?

 

[tobefrank]

The pipe probably has a bit more of a grandfather feel to it, so I can imagine it would be more approachable than a cigar.

 

[logs]

It has more to do with the smell

 

[sablebrush52]

But he says that he always has the pipe on the campaign trail and in public because the pipe makes him more approachable and down to earth.

I had not heard this distinction between pipes and cigars before. I know that cigars have a connotation of wealth and privilege, but not that the pipe is more eqalitarian, as Wilson seemed to think so.

Basically, yes. Cigars were for studies to be enjoyed with a fine port while grousing about grouse. A pipe could and would be enjoyed with a draft at the pub. And there was the added myth associating pipes with the life of the mind, while cigars were associated more with the life of material gain.

 

[tfdickson]

My wife was watching the same episode the other night and called me in to replay that part. It strikes me as true but only because of conversations I’ve had with my dad who began smoking a pipe in the mid 60’s. He enjoys both pipes and cigars.

I also noticed in that episode that Wilson’s “prop” pipe on the campaign trail looked to be a Falcon.

 

[mikethompson]

I also noticed in that episode that Wilson’s “prop” pipe on the campaign trail looked to be a Falcon.

I noticed that as well, the metallic shank caught my eye.

 

[dcon]

I would not take any quote from The Crown as historically accurate. There have already been some questions about depicted scenes. Wilson was an infamous smoker, primarily known for his pipes. He partook of cigars and cigarettes as well. A Pipedia article lists his primary pipe brand as G.Huybrecht and his favorite shape as a Zulu.

 

[timpiper]

I also watched this scene with interest and wondered if this was fact or creative/artistic license.
Its important to note that in season three there are many pipes and pipe smokers besides prime minister Harold Wilson, especially when he is discussing politics around the table with others. Also random men in crowd scenes smoking pipes. -TimPiper

 

[crawdad]

Probably came down to whether one went to Eton or Harrow, Oxford or Cambridge, Parliament or the Army.

But I digress. Hup hup and all that jolly buggery.

Ta!

 

[madox07]

I too have watched the show and the scene in question ... I guess what he was trying to say is that the pipe is the working man's smoke, while the cigar is for the rich. Him being a member of the Labor party wouldn't want to be regarded as well to do necessarily as that would be contrary to his party's platform. Well I guess that was true in the 60s as it is now ... a cuban cigar, i.e. a one time smoke, can be as expensive as a full tin of pipe tobacco, so it's rather easy to understand why the blue collar guys in England were associated with the pipe ... it was more accessible, affordable, etc. Of course these are considerations based on the financial factor alone, preference, taste, look, etc is a totally different thing.

 

[mikethompson]

Interesting catch from the episode I watched last night:

Mr. Wilson is talking with his cabinet about the fallout from devaluing the pound. He's clearly upset by the whole situation. But what I caught and mentioned to my unimpressed wife, was that in that meeting, he goes to light his pipe with the stem on upside down. Just a minor error made on set? Maybe. I like to think however that the fallout was so stressful for him that he absent mindedly put his pipe together incorrectly.

 

[krizzose]

I believe Wilson also said he found the pipe a convenient prop. For example, going through the process of lighting it gave him a little bit of time to consider an answer while being interviewed

 

[krizzose]

Also, there’s a scene where he’s smoking a pipe that I was convinced had the stem upside down. It looked like a quarter bent

EDIT: D’oh!!! Mikethompson was already all over that. I concur!!!

 

[logs]

What do you mean by upside down? The bowl is upside down or the stem is rotated?

Incidentally, I occasionally smoke a half bent with the stem rotated so it directs the smoke towards the roof of my mouth instead of my tongue. I'm doubt I'm the only one

 

[krizzose]

In that case, I’ll be politically correct: the stem was rotated 180 degrees from what, in less woke times, was considered “right side up”

 

[mikethompson]

Also, there’s a scene where he’s smoking a pipe that I was convinced had the stem upside down. It looked like a quarter bent

EDIT: D’oh!!! Mikethompson was already all over that. I concur!!!

I'm glad someone else noticed that and not just me!

 

[3rdguy]

What episode are you guys on? We are on #3 of current season. Havent seen much pipe porm yet on this series.

 

[londonbriar]

The story that Harold Wilson prefered cigars, but smoked a pipe for his public image is quite well known over here.

In the UK, the cigar has always been the smoke of the wealthy - a single cigar costing the same as 1 or 2 tins of tobacco (nowadays £15-£30). The pipe therefore was associated with those of lesser means - blue collar workers, clergy, academics, artisans, etc. The pipe has always been a form of tobacco use open to everyone, in a way that cigars are not.

Harold Wilson was a Labour politician, looking to secure the votes of blue collar workers, so a pipe was a natural option. A cigar would have marked him as a member of the "elite".

I guess the connotations of approachable, grandfatherly, scholarly, wise etc. were as prevalent in the 60s as they are now, which would have helped too.

 

[mikethompson]

What episode are you guys on? We are on #3 of current season. Havent seen much pipe porm yet on this series.

There is more as you go on. But its more subtle, like a man in the back with a pipe, not HEY LOOK AT ME SMOKING A PIPE. I think we are at episode 7 or 8.

The story that Harold Wilson prefered cigars, but smoked a pipe for his public image is quite well known over here.

In the UK, the cigar has always been the smoke of the wealthy - a single cigar costing the same as 1 or 2 tins of tobacco (nowadays £15-£30). The pipe therefore was associated with those of lesser means - blue collar workers, clergy, academics, artisans, etc. The pipe has always been a form of tobacco use open to everyone, in a way that cigars are not.

Harold Wilson was a Labour politician, looking to secure the votes of blue collar workers, so a pipe was a natural option. A cigar would have marked him as a member of the "elite".

I guess the connotations of approachable, grandfatherly, scholarly, wise etc. were as prevalent in the 60s as they are now, which would have helped too.

Thanks for the post Londonbriar, was this connotation always the case in Britain?