Vienna
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Post by Vienna on Jun 24, 2015 13:45:28 GMT
In the days before PC became the norm on TV, this sitcom, which addressed racial and political issues at a tough time in British society, became an instant hit on the BBC. Written by Johnny Speight, it later returned in the 1980s as 'In Sickness and in Health.'
Alf Garnett (Warren Mitchell), a working-class Conservative and football fan with traditional views on politics and morality, and a supporter of Enoch Powell, frequently clashes with his daughter and left-wing son-in-law who have more younger liberal views on issues of the day such as race, sex, fashion etc.
Despite the show being criticized by campaigners like Mary Whitehouse, Speight was actually making fun of people with so-called racist views. He and actor Warren Mitchell both hated the character, although some people were still offended by the show or just didn't understand it.
Anybody on here used to watch this controversial sitcom?
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Jun 24, 2015 18:12:30 GMT
Yes, I used to watch it, although mum thought it was a bit vulgar. Incidentally, Mary Whitehouse didn't like it because Alf said "bloody" a lot, not because of the racist element! Also, the director general of the BBC at the time, regarded Whitehouse as a bit of a joke and didn't take her seriously and used to pass her complaints on to Johnny Speight, who would then use them in the scripts! He made Alf a fan of hers too, just to annoy her
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Jun 24, 2015 21:10:25 GMT
Racial prejudice was something Speight tackled a few times including 'Curry And Chips' & a tv play filmed twice called 'If There Weren't Any Blacks You'd Have to Invent Them'. I think the problem was that he became so identified with Alf Garnett that people misunderstood what he was trying to do, which is expose prejudice in all forms. Funnily enough, scouse git Tony Booth played a racist in a Professionals episode & according to him his enthusiastic performance made some of the black cast members uneasy. 'Till Death' is a show I can watch in small doses, well written & relevant but too much of Garnett's ranting can grate. Need to be in the right mood to watch it. The Pub Landlord is a complete rip off of Garnett.
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Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on Jun 24, 2015 22:59:06 GMT
I remember growing up with the In Sickness and In Health series and loved it although i didn't fully the understand the political connotations at the time. I later caught up with Til Death Do Us Part on repeats probably when UK Gold started. I often think that the claim those shows were exposing bigotry was just made to quell the people who were upset by its content. Alf Garnett is a character you wouldn't have to look to hard to find in real life in those times, and like many 70's sitcoms it was extremely well written and had many great moments. I like the shows and would watch them again although I agree all that ranting can grate somewhat. Can you imagine watching a Boxed-set of it back to back ?
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Vienna
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Post by Vienna on Dec 20, 2016 20:18:17 GMT
I see Network, in conjunction with the BBC, have released all the colour and surviving black and white episodes from the series (including the recently rediscovered 1966 episode Intolerance) on a new DVD box set. link
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Dec 20, 2016 21:45:50 GMT
The first clip on the video with the reference to Jimmy Savile now seems quite prophetic. Does £60 seem a lot more expensive than usual?
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Vienna
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Post by Vienna on Dec 21, 2016 10:41:54 GMT
Does £60 seem a lot more expensive than usual? Yes it does seem a little bit on the dear side to me as well, Arthur Vi
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Dec 28, 2016 18:39:41 GMT
Warren Mitchell's This Is Your Life. Surprisingly none of his fellow Till Death actors make an appearance but there are a few familiar Sweeney actors & an amusing 'live link' with Richard Burton. What's going on with the man doing the countdown at the start?
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Vienna
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Post by Vienna on Sept 26, 2017 14:53:09 GMT
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Post by Dirty Epic on Sept 26, 2017 15:04:44 GMT
RIP Tony
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