|
Post by Dirty Epic on Jul 3, 2020 18:21:08 GMT
Thanks LE, I'll have a proper read after I watch the episode next week.
|
|
|
Post by Dirty Epic on Jul 9, 2020 10:53:56 GMT
I watched Episode 4, Grandee Hotel the other night and again on the whole/give or take fairly enjoyed it along with a quite a well known guest cast too. Please Note this contains Spoilers. The Grandee Hotel is featured somewhere (?) on London’s Orbital Road it’s a middle of nowhere one star hotel a sort of 70’s Travelodge/Premier Inn which is managed by the world weary Geoff Staines (Anthony Valentine) who’s assisted by/has a love interest with Eileen (Sylvia Kay). The Grandee is the sort of place used as a transit hotel for sales reps and passes through that is until Budgie checks in under an assumed name as a cover to flog Charlie Endell a projector and ‘blue’ films for his club. Meanwhile Budgie’s skint and can’t use a ruse of a cheque to check in the hotel, so too is Hazel so he has to con some guests from Yorkshire on the proviso another guest Mr Oliphant (Peter Sallis) has a room set up to show the ‘blue’ films. Budgie succeeds and the conned Yorkshiremen worse for wear with a few drinks under their belts leave the hotel as planned despite the con. Endell and his wife (June Lewis) show up for Budgie’s proposition. Endell turns his nose up at the meal Budgie arranges… mainly Paella, and turns down Budgie’s proposition. Meanwhile the melodrama between Geoff and Eileen plays out, Geoff has tried and failed to get the landlord of a country pub in order to take him and Eileen out of the mundane Grandee Hotel. Eileen has a thing for the aging Geoff who she thinks is unmarried – he really has a wife and 2 kids elsewhere, but her infatuation for him cools when the truth about him and what he is about out’s. Meanwhile a 20 odd man Welsh Rugby team hit the hotel and Budgie see’s a opportunity to scam them… the ‘blue’ movie. At £5 a time he promises them hardcore Scandinavian porn before he gets ready to skip the hotel with Hazell and his ill gotten gains. For once Budgie succeeds but the ‘blue’ movie the rugby lads watch is a German Laurel and Hardy silent film not the action they had in mind. Meanwhile Mr Oliphant’s reason for the hotel stay becomes apparent his daughter has killed herself – delivered in a deadpan manner when everything hits the fan in the hotel at the end. Not bad if perhaps not quite the Minder-style ducker and diver feel of the other episodes I liked it as for once Budgie was able to just about pull off a scan and get away with it, with a bunch of strangers and suckers he’s unlikely to run into again. The Geoff/Eileen storyline was alright, maybe a little makeweight in my opinion but nice to see actress Sylvia Kay, best known as the snob mother Daphne in Just Good Friends playing something totally different, a bit more downtrodden as Eileen – like Hazel and Budgie’s Mrs Jean she’s getting promised everything and given nothing from her relationship with the flaky Geoff. Also good to see Peter Sallis in a different role from his Last of the Summer Wine typecast too.
The Grandee Hotel idea was a good one for it's time. We've all stayed in souless hotels like these either off motorways, airports etc. they're full of promise but just feel flat and this story with tweaks could easily apply to a pre-Covid 2020 as much as it did in 1971! I think the one’s which went before it were slightly better but I still enjoyed it and enjoying the series as a whole and would give it a good 7 maybe 7.5/10 this time out. Looking forward to the next one.
|
|
Lord Emsworth
Director
Drive safely, we're walking or cycling...
Posts: 1,432
Online Status:
|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Jul 9, 2020 14:50:23 GMT
Great write up Dirty, but no mention of the dynamic between Charlie Endell and his missus who is, not unpredictably, completely dominated by Charlie - and this is the source of some great comedic moments.
|
|
|
Post by Dirty Epic on Jul 10, 2020 10:03:09 GMT
Alright LE, yes I forgot about the interaction between Charlie and Mrs Endell in the episode. Yes you're right she's absolutely subservient and compliant with him here. I suppose she's a timid version of Arthur Daley's 'Err Indoors' only unlike Daley Endell's wife is seen and is way more under control by Charlie.
Endell also quickly sees off Staines too... very much the school of don't get on my wrong side if...
|
|
|
Post by Arthur Pringle on Jul 12, 2020 19:41:45 GMT
BBC TV interview from 1985 with Keith Waterhouse. No mention of Budgie but thought it might be of interest.
|
|
Del Boy
Moderator
Posts: 9,904
Online Status:
|
Post by Del Boy on Jul 12, 2020 20:15:41 GMT
I watched this one and although I enjoyed the episode it had a different feel to it. Last week we had multiple aspects in the story when alongside the scheme he had going we gained insight about the man Budgie really is. This week its back exclusively to the scams. I don't know why Budge always tries to off load his wares on Charlie as the big man is one step ahead and knows it's a loser. His intuition has been right for the last two weeks and I got a feeling that another job will be coming Budgies way. Mrs Endell looks petrified of Charlie and he seems very controlling as seen when he tells her "You'll not want another Tomato juice" Mrs Endell hastily agreed.
The show is constrained with the lack of different sets and this is because as Arthur pointed out its recorded in the tv studio. That being said its also good to see how these programs were made in this period and i'm enjoying it. Looking forward to episode 5.
|
|
|
Post by Arthur Pringle on Jul 12, 2020 21:41:12 GMT
A few smudges taken in Feb 1971 during the filming of the opening titles, according to captions they were recorded in a warehouse in Radlett, Herts.
|
|
|
Post by Arthur Pringle on Jul 13, 2020 16:58:49 GMT
From the book 'Big Time The Life Of Adam Faith', is anyone on the forum old enough to remember Smoothies, were they a bonafide youth cult or just a passing fad? Cult writer Richard Allen, best known for his skinhead novels, wrote a novel called 'Smoothies'. If you want a Budgie jacket, this site sells them-
|
|
Lord Emsworth
Director
Drive safely, we're walking or cycling...
Posts: 1,432
Online Status:
|
Post by Lord Emsworth on Jul 13, 2020 17:29:59 GMT
From the book 'Big Time The Life Of Adam Faith', is anyone on the forum old enough to remember Smoothies, were they a bonafide youth cult or just a passing fad? Cult writer Richard Allen, best known for his skinhead novels, wrote a novel called 'Smoothies'. If you want a Budgie jacket, this site sells them-
Great stuff Arthur
I'm quite keen to read Big Time The Life Of Adam Faith
I was a big fan of those New English Library youthsploitation paperbacks - everyone read them at school
Later, as a 16 year old, working as a messenger in Soho I repurchased many of them for about 10 pence each at Better Books in Charing Cross Road
The plots don't bear much scrutiny and the Skinhead ones are downright objectionable - rape, racism etc. but the covers are great and they are very undemanding
I recently bought Girl Gangs, Biker Boys, and Real Cool Cats: Pulp Fiction and Youth Culture, 1950 to 1980 by Iain McIntyre
I've yet to read it but it covers some of the same ground
There was an article in Mojo a couple of years back about the book....
The problem with these "gateway" compendiums is that before you know it you're feverishly trawling through eBay for that elusive NEL edition of Glam by Richard Allen.
Thanks Arthur also for the Budgie smudges - excellent stuff
I need to get back to the series. I've been sidetracked by the excellent (modern) series on iPlayer I May Destroy You. I've got one episode left and then it's back to Budgie.
I hope that admitting to watching a contemporary programme doesn't result in a ban!
|
|
|
Post by Ronnie Kray on Jul 13, 2020 18:34:53 GMT
Great pictures Arthur,I've not seen those before. I have some of those skinhead books and yes you're right everyone did read them at school.Pleased everyone is enjoying Budgie too!!!
|
|