Peabody's Improbable History (TV Series) James McNeill Whistler (1961) User Reviews

Robert E. Lee's most famous remark, "You ain't whistling . . . "

[pixrox1 · 7/10 · 8 April 2024]

" . . . Dixie," was directed at James M. Whistler, whom he personally expelled in 1855 from West Point Military Academy when Jim stated that silicon was a gas on his final exam for chemistry after doodling sea serpents, whales and mermaids in the margins of his text book while spending all of his study time shooting billiards, drinking and leaching money from wealthier classmates. Whistler immediately fled in disgrace to Paris, never being brave enough to show his face in America again. As depicted in this episode of Peabody's Improbable History, Whistler's Mother was an out-of-control riotous rebellion sympathizer, soon forced to follow her son into permanent exile. None of their ilk were even allowed to be buried in the U. S. However, Mr. Peabody proves unable to cram in enough of the disreputable sordid details of the despicable Whistler's wanton bankrupt existence. For instance, even when a London jury agreed that he'd been libeled by a mentally deranged critic, they awarded him the British equivalent of one penny in "damages" and ordered him to pay court costs. All of his belongings, including his home and art works, had to be auctioned off to cover some of this judgment.