Vienna
Verified
Curled up on Miss Jones' lap
Posts: 3,175
Online Status:
|
Post by Vienna on Mar 10, 2019 17:04:43 GMT
Fiona Hendley, Ann Mitchell, Maureen O'Farrell and the late Eva Mottley pose for a publicity photo to promote Widows in October 1982 Anybody like this gritty mini series from the early 1980s? It was Lynda La Plante's breakthrough as a writer and the first crime thriller to focus on strong women characters. Produced by Euston Films for Thames Television and airing in 1983, it's a gripping drama about four women, who, under the leadership of Dolly Rawlins (Ann Mitchell), decide to reattempt a security van heist which originally killed the husbands of the three widows in the Strand Underpass in central London. They plan to escape with the loot to sunnier climes - if they manage to get away with it. A rival gang, The Fisher Brothers, and the police have other ideas. And there's someone else later on too... It's certainly worth a watch if you haven't ever seen it. Great performances, particularly from Ann Mitchell as Dolly and David Calder as the extremely frustrated, heavy drinking and smoking DI Resnick. Lots of seedy London locations make it interesting and there's a bit of a Sweeney feel to it with familiar faces... Dudley Sutton, Stanley Meadows, Anthony Heaton and Christopher Ellison starring. The success of the first series meant Widows 2 followed in 1985; then She's Out (1995). Sadly, Eva Mottley, who played Bella, a Soho stripper who eventually assists the widows, committed suicide claiming she was racially abused by some of the crew. The 2018 Steve McQueen film based on the original series and starring Viola Davis is dedicated to her memory. Vi
|
|
Three Litre
Producer
Oscar 24
Posts: 3,418
Online Status:
|
Post by Three Litre on Mar 10, 2019 19:26:42 GMT
Yes, I remember this, certainly the first series. As you state, it looked good with good acting.
Terribly sad about Eva.
|
|
|
Post by Kenny Dalglish 1979 on Mar 16, 2019 17:47:06 GMT
I saw the 1st series 2 years ago and enjoyed it a lot. Very tough and tense in places and it had that gritty Euston Films feel. Liked spotting the Sweeney faces.
|
|
Vienna
Verified
Curled up on Miss Jones' lap
Posts: 3,175
Online Status:
|
Post by Vienna on Jul 7, 2019 19:10:15 GMT
After Harry Rawlins (Maurice O'Connell) is supposedly killed in an armed raid in the Strand Underpass, his widow Dolly (Ann Mitchell) prepares for the funeral at her home... Dolly's house in Pine Grove, Totteridge, London... THEN NOW Harry Rawlins's funeral procession... Pine Grove, Totteridge THEN NOW Vi
|
|
The Saint
Moderator
Swinging London - 1967
Posts: 5,420
Online Status:
|
Post by The Saint on Jul 7, 2019 19:33:55 GMT
Great stuff Vi Thanks for posting The Saint
|
|
|
Post by Gene Hunt on Jul 7, 2019 20:45:06 GMT
Lovely stuff Vienna. Thanks for covering these. Only around the corner from On The Buses land too Gene.
|
|
Vienna
Verified
Curled up on Miss Jones' lap
Posts: 3,175
Online Status:
|
Post by Vienna on Aug 19, 2019 20:05:09 GMT
Dolly Rawlins and the two other widows are now under constant police surveillance after their husbands were killed in an armed raid in central London. A rival gang called the Fisher brothers are also interested. They want access to Harry Rawlins' ledgers, books detailing armed robberies carried out by the gang. Dolly decides to escape through the back door of a hairdressers in St Johns Wood High Street and is dropped off in a taxi close to a bank where she views her late husband's ledgers in a vault. Dean's Court, City of London THEN NOW Dolly now has an idea... Maybe she, Linda Pirelli and Shirley Miller can attempt to carry out the heist that killed their husbands themselves. They agree to meet at a health centre (long gone) in Floral Street, Covent Garden. THEN NOW Vi
|
|
|
Post by Dirty Epic on Aug 21, 2019 11:26:27 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Sam Tyler on Aug 21, 2019 11:47:32 GMT
It is definitely worth a viewing Dirty.
Annie and I watched it when it was very first broadcast and for us it was one of the rare programs that were a 'must-see' for us both. It is probably also the best role that I've seen Ann Mitchell in (not that I've seen that many!).
I'd certainly recommend you investing in the DVD.
I can't vouch for others but Widows 2 and She's Out didn't have the same draw as the original series, I still enjoyed watching them but they didn't have quite the same impact.
Great work on the Then and Now pics by our uniquely versatile camera-wielding moggy, thanks for taking the time to visit the locations and for posting here Vienna, I'll have a word with Rupert to put an extra tin of tuna down for you.
Sam.
|
|
|
Post by Dirty Epic on Aug 21, 2019 11:51:46 GMT
Thanks for the heads-up Sam, I'll try and get the DVD's ASAP. Suppose Widows 2 and She's Out won't be as good but still fairly decent stuff.
It's just one of those strange one's that I've never really seen even though the repeats have knocked around from time to time.
|
|