Longford (2006 TV Movie)

Lindsay Duncan: Lady Elizabeth Longford

Quotes 

• [after visiting Myra Hindley in prison] 

  Lady Elizabeth Longford : It seemed to me that for years I have been merrily attacking your father for supporting her, without having the slightest idea what I was talking about. And I must say my eyes have been opened, rather. Ironically, the thing that finally persuaded me to offer her my help was the very same thing that had so made me hate her in the first place: the fact that she is a woman. Did you know there have been half a dozen similar child murders? The reason none of us has heard about them is because the killers in each case were men. And men, being sadistic violent killers, isn't a story. Incidentally, in each case, the men have also been paroled. The reason that Myra Hindley is still in jail and has never been considered for parole, is because she is a woman. And for that reason she will always have my understanding... if not my sympathy.

• [Lord and Lady Longford are sitting up in bed looking at pornographic magazines, such as Mayfair and Slave, to decide whether they are offensive] 

  Lady Elizabeth Longford : Frank, it's harmless. Completely harmless.

  Lord Longford : I disagree. These things are read by children at a vulnerable age. The boys on the bus can't have been more than twelve.

  Lady Elizabeth Longford : And in our day it was just the same.

  Lord Longford : Nothing *like* so graphic or as available. Look at it! Sexual arousal is Pavlovian - if boys grow up thinking that these kind of breasts or this kind of submission is normal, they'll expect it in later life.

  Lady Elizabeth Longford : I'm afraid I'm with Marilyn Monroe on this. When asked what she thought about sex she thought for a moment and then said that she felt it was here to stay. And if it is, so is prostitution and so is pornography.