# Peter Ustinov's humor: I don't get this one **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 28, 2020, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-ustinovs-humor-i-dont-get-this-one/921719 "2020-09-28T04:35:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-ustinovs-humor-i-dont-get-this-one/921719/1 "2020-09-28T04:35:23Z")
A few days go I saw a rerun of his appearance on Cavett. But I didn’t get the a bit of his humor that Cavett did. Ustinov was speaking about his great-uncle, saying he “was one of the founders of Russian ballet: he did the sets of Petroushka, worked with Stravinsky”. The uncle once invited to spend a weekend at Tolstoy’s estate, but became worried that Tolstoy would “dominate” him. So he sent a telegram saying he was ill. Ustinov asked him if he’d ever regretted sending that telegram. His uncle thought about it, then replied, “No…” > Ustinov: He was still thinking, “I was right, 'cause the weekend would’ve been a bore. He would’ve spouted bits of ‘Anna Karenina’ at me and it would’ve been a nuisance.” > > Cavett: Yes, we know how Tolstoy would bore people. > > Ustinov: That’s right. One Tolstoy after another. > > [after 1 second, Cavett groans loudly and laughs, and there are some groans and laughter from audience] > > Cavett: I find it in my heart to forgive you for that. > > Ustinov: Thank you, my son. Can you give your opinion without reading the spoiler here: is the reaction for a pun on “Tolstoy”/“tall story”? To me that doesn’t seem to merit Cavett’s reaction, so perhaps I’ve missed something. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-ustinovs-humor-i-dont-get-this-one/921719/2 "2020-09-28T04:38:52Z")
That’s how I’d read it: it’s a pun. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-ustinovs-humor-i-dont-get-this-one/921719/3 "2020-09-28T04:39:03Z")
I think it’s a sort of pun on “one tall story after another”. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-ustinovs-humor-i-dont-get-this-one/921719/4 "2020-09-28T07:21:21Z")
It’s a pun on tall story, yes. People used to think a good spontaneous pun was the sign of a quick wit, and not just a Dad joke. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-ustinovs-humor-i-dont-get-this-one/921719/5 "2020-09-28T08:36:23Z")
I imagine he pronounced it the Russian way, with the emphasis on the second syllable, which makes the pun a bit less forced. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2020, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-ustinovs-humor-i-dont-get-this-one/921719/6 "2020-09-29T04:23:50Z")
I rewatched it and the syllables had about the same emphasis. But I’m glad everyone confirms my interpretation. Thanks to all. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2020, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-ustinovs-humor-i-dont-get-this-one/921719/7 "2020-09-29T05:42:44Z")
It could have been a pun on dull story rather than tall story. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-ustinovs-humor-i-dont-get-this-one/921719/8 "2020-09-29T14:53:43Z")
As a pun, Ustinov’s effort is like the call of a guinea pig. Weeick.