Villan: The Lily Morris performance of this song is slightly exaggerated (this is, after all, a movie) but lacks the sheer horror of nearly all modern attempts to represent Marie Lloyd. I avoid saying 'imitate', since that would imply that the original had actually been studied. Unfortunately Marie never recorded this particular song, but you can hear her voice and manner of performance on a number of original recordings. They demonstrate that, accomplished actor as she was, she could switch her natural accent on or off at will. But she was never coarse or raucous. Among modern performers, Jan Hunt (I think around forty years ago) was the best Marie. A sensitive and telling player and a fine singer but, so far as I know, never recorded in that role.
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