Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Sept 18, 2019 11:14:13 GMT
I've just re-watched this as I hadn't seen it since it was first on in December 79, and I'm surprised we haven't had a thread on it yet, it's very good. It is about a group of four blokes doing the knowledge of London to become cabbies and it was written by Jack Rosenthal. Lots of great late 70s London in it and what a fantastic place it was then, supremely gritty and a bit down at heel, but at its very best.
Plenty of faces in it too, Michael Elphick, Maureen Lipman, Gary Holton, and Nigel Hawthorne who was brilliant as the sadistic examiner. Highly recommended, it's on you tube.
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Post by Dirty Epic on Sept 18, 2019 11:35:30 GMT
Sounds good Carty I'll try and have a look at it.
Sounds like the kind of thing TPTV might consider a repeat of?
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Sept 18, 2019 11:52:40 GMT
Hadn't seen this until I brought the "Jack Rosentahl at ITV" DVD box set. I have a copy of the first draft of the script somewhere (not an original).
All of Mr Rosentahl's work is archived at Sheffield University (Scripts/Notes/etc).
One of the first things on British TV to use the "Steadycam" too.
What amazed me was the amount of research Jack R did before even sitting down to write. He gathered 12 London Cabbies round his dining table, cracked open a pile of beers and they just talked into the night. He did the same with "The Chain" (the film about Removal Men) too.
Jack Rosentahl deserves his own thread on here!
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Sept 18, 2019 12:36:37 GMT
Cheers Sparky, the programme "The Chain" I think had Warren Mitchell in it and wasn't bad. It was later developed into a series called Moving Story and Warren Clarke took over the role. Two series were done, the first was passable but the second wasn't so good, then it finished, 1995 I think.
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Sept 18, 2019 13:27:55 GMT
I taped 'The Knowledge' when it was shown on channel 4 in 1995, still got the copy.
According to its wikipedia page, the 1995 showing had an intro by a critic who described it as "certainly the best TV play Britain has ever produced" & it's no.83 in the BFI's poll of the top 100 British tv productions ( chosen by industry professionals ). Whilst it's good there are a few other Rosenthal plays I prefer- 'Ready When You Are Mr McGill', 'There Almost Always Be An England' & 'Another Sunday And Sweet FA'.
She also talks about the original tv play in the video clip in the link. She's a woman who seems to have become more attractive as she's got older.
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Sept 18, 2019 14:57:51 GMT
Cheers Sparky, the programme "The Chain" I think had Warren Mitchell in it and wasn't bad. It was later developed into a series called Moving Story and Warren Clarke took over the role. Two series were done, the first was passable but the second wasn't so good, then it finished, 1995 I think. I wasn't aware the "Chain" had been developed into Moving Story. The "Chain" was first produced as a Feature Film. Never seen that, so just brought the DVD. "The Knowledge" is available on a Network DVD release of 'Jack Rosenthal at ITV'; which also features a number of his one off TV plays. 'Ready When You are Mr McGill' is on there too. It is a good box set.
There is a book available that contains the Screenplays for "Knowledge", "The Chain" and "Ready when you are Mr Mcgill" - well worth a read as it features the bits that ended up on the cutting room floor.
Do cabbies still have to sit the Knowledge these days? Or have they moved on to the dark side and rely on Tech/Sat Navs?
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The Saint
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Post by The Saint on Sept 18, 2019 15:36:56 GMT
Do cabbies still have to sit the Knowledge these days? Or have they moved on to the dark side and rely on Tech/Sat Navs? They do still have to sit the Knowledge, it typically takes 3 to 4 years to complete. The Saint
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Sept 18, 2019 16:03:34 GMT
Smudge from the Euston Films Ltd book-
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Sept 18, 2019 18:15:58 GMT
Smudge from the Euston Films Ltd book-
The first Generation 'Steadycam'. The film "Halloween" was one of the first feature films to use Panavisions 'Panaglide' (same thing, different name) The operator could only do so long in the harness before having to take it off and rest. Must have been a wet day (judging by the makeshift blimp on top of the camera!!)
Is the Carriage Office still in the same place?
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Sept 18, 2019 18:17:42 GMT
Do cabbies still have to sit the Knowledge these days? Or have they moved on to the dark side and rely on Tech/Sat Navs? They do still have to sit the Knowledge, it typically takes 3 to 4 years to complete. The Saint Grief, it'd take me 30-40years...
With all this Sweeney location bashing, I think Gene would finish the Knowledge in 10 minutes!
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