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Post by Arthur Pringle on Jun 13, 2017 16:31:26 GMT
Last month Network released this series of 13 25 minute plays made by LWT, it's the first of their 'Forgotten TV Drama' strand of dvds. I'd seen 2 episodes before,'The Classroom' & 'The Manipulators' ( written & directed by Mike Hodges ) but the rest of the plays have remained unseen since they were first broadcast & according to the booklet that comes with the dvd were not even shown in many tv regions back in 1972 & 73, they're not listed in the TV Times scans I have. I bought the dvd, a 2 disc set with a slim 8 page booklet, as I thought the 2 plays I'd seen were interesting & the others sounded good. Despite the title, these plays are not horror stories, they have more in common with Harold Pinter- everyday situations & people in circumstances where something unpleasant is happening or is about to happen. The past catching up with people, mental breakdown, etc. The screenshots are from the first play 'The Minder'- an injured villain played by Aussie actor Kenneth J Warren is sprung from a hospital & held in a tower block flat whilst rival villains close in on him. Tom Bell stars as a character that could be described as a younger Frank Ross from 'Out' ( in fact a publicity still of Bell from 'The Minder' was used in an episode of 'Out' ) Warren Clarke & Brian Glover also star. In the last screenshot John Thaw appears with more barnet than we're used to seeing in 'Old Comrades' ( youtube clip below ), he plays one of a pair of soldiers turning up at the dead of night at their old CO's place in the country to exact revenge for a past wrongdoing. All 13 plays were shot entirely on 16mm film in colour ( 2 episodes are in black & white due to a technician's strike at LWT ) & the grainy look of the filmstock gives 1970's London & surrounding areas an eerie, desolate atmosphere. The screencaps don't do the show justice, it really does have a strange quality quite unlike anything I've seen. Really pleased I bought it & discovered this gem, recommended to those who appreciate disturbing & grim British tv from the 70s.
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Post by Gene Hunt on Jun 13, 2017 16:38:55 GMT
Good find Arthur. It has made it's way straight onto my Network Shopping list, along with a few others which I'll be checking out on as soon as they have their next sale.
Gene.
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Post by Charles Bronson on Jun 13, 2017 17:08:31 GMT
I too will be getting this series at Network's next sale.
Charles.
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The Saint
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Post by The Saint on Jun 13, 2017 18:02:01 GMT
I will add this to my shopping list too, thanks Arthur! The Saint
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Post by Dirty Epic on Jun 13, 2017 18:56:22 GMT
Seems interesting thanks for letting us know Art.
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Bojan Scores
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Terry you’re very devious when a bird’s involved...
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Post by Bojan Scores on Jun 13, 2017 20:20:30 GMT
Is that George Innes with JT? Innes always turned up in interesting TV and film (in my opinion). Great whisper Arthur, will be on my shopping list. I bet it's not as bleak as Callan :D
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Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on Jun 13, 2017 21:13:06 GMT
I like the sound of this series. Thanks for the heads up Arthur
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Jun 13, 2017 23:32:24 GMT
Is that George Innes with JT? Innes always turned up in interesting TV and film (in my opinion). Great whisper Arthur, will be on my shopping list. I bet it's not as bleak as Callan :D It is Bojan, he looks like John Carpenter these days. The man they're menacing is played by another good actor Robert Urquhart. Some accomplished actors in the series- Ian Holm, Ian Hendry, John Standing, Clive Swift but also less familiar names like Jack Hedley & Joe Lynch.
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Post by Sam Tyler on Jun 14, 2017 11:13:11 GMT
Thanks for posting this thread up Arthur, I don't remember ever seeing this series and it sounds to be right up our street. I'll keep a look out for a copy.
Sam.
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Vienna
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Post by Vienna on Jun 14, 2017 17:15:40 GMT
Good find Arthur. It has made it's way straight onto my Network Shopping list, along with a few others which I'll be checking out on as soon as they have their next sale. Gene. Hopefully a Network sale is around the corner, eh Gene? It's been a bit of time since the last one. Vi
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