Sparky
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Post by Sparky on May 20, 2020 7:53:29 GMT
Great photo and I agree regarding Peter Brayham, who better than to coordinate the stunts on the series!? I wonder if he was sought for that reason? Great that he could help out and a shame he passed away not long after. It would have been a contributing factor.
If I recall, either the Director of Photography or Camera Operator on S1 was the Grandson of Wolfgang Suschitzky - who was the Director of Photography on the film "Get Carter".
If you notice in S1, a lot of the 'action shots' - where villains are leaping out of vans, they are mostly done with the camera placed at a low level looking up - in pure "Sweeney" style. Also there are those classic low level long shots of cars arriving or pulling off at speed.
Not sure if they tried to contact any of the Lighting Cameramen from the "Sweeney" - though Dusty Miller passed away during the early 90s, Roy Pointer at the time was very ill (he passed away in 2012), and Norman Langley (I think then) resided in Hollywood. John Maskall, the camera operator from "Sweeney" is still around, not sure if he's still working or fully retired.
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Three Litre
Producer
Oscar 24
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Post by Three Litre on May 23, 2020 11:14:21 GMT
I watched LOM on it's first showing, all the way through.
I watched some of the early A2A but then left it, returning to watch the last two, very powerful episodes.
I haven't watched any of it since, no full episodes anyway.
Unlike The Sweeney I find they were, although entertaining, one-watch-only series.
They are much more intense than The Sweeney which I've found can't be beaten in terms of a brilliant show of its time, with all its real life footage of the mid to late 70's and watchable characters.
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DI Alex Drake
AWOL
Quite frankly, your guess is as good as mine.
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Post by DI Alex Drake on May 23, 2020 11:34:40 GMT
I watched LOM on it's first showing, all the way through. I watched some of the early A2A but then left it, returning to watch the last two, very powerful episodes. I haven't watched any of it since, no full episodes anyway. Unlike The Sweeney I find they were, although entertaining, one-watch-only series.They are much more intense than The Sweeney which I've found can't be beaten in terms of a brilliant show of its time, with all its real life footage of the mid to late 70's and watchable characters. I'm just sitting here laughing to myself at the concept. Perhaps best I don't admit how many times I must have seen LOM/A2A because you'd probably send in the men with the white coats if you think it's a one watch affair. Pacing of programmes has changed beyond all recognition since the 60s/70s hasn't it? I always feel really ignorant and crass when my other half is watching old Doctor Who (which would probably be his LOM/A2A equivalent) and I just feel like we haven't got anywhere with the plot, yet. It's entirely incongruous because in all other facets of life, I am completely on-side with anything retro but it's clearly a by-product of the modern world that my attention span just isn't what it would have needed to be back then! I hate it about myself and wish I could change it but ... God I feel like I'm talking to a therapist but yes, there you have it.
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Three Litre
Producer
Oscar 24
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Post by Three Litre on May 23, 2020 11:55:09 GMT
I'm just sitting here laughing to myself at the concept. Perhaps best I don't admit how many times I must have seen LOM/A2A because you'd probably send in the men with the white coats if you think it's a one watch affair. I'm probably the same with The Sweeney, it tends to go on when I'm making dinner as its on ITV4 at the moment. I'm with your other half on old Dr Who as well!
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Nightfly
Screenwriter
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Post by Nightfly on Apr 7, 2021 15:23:11 GMT
I watched it the first time around when it first aired... but very nearly didn't bother. Being a bit of a 70s purist, I grew tired of programme maker's simple depiction of the 70s - ie: dress someone in brown cords, give them platform shoes, a fake Jason King tache and stick a lava lamp in the background and "Hey presto - Instant 70s". I feared LOM would probably go down the same route, then after the first episode a colleague said to me "No, you must watch it. They've really nailed the look and feel of the 70s". I managed to catch a repeat of the first episode shortly after and have been hooked ever since.
Myself and Mrs Nightfly just completed a two day binge watch of series 1 and 2 last night.
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Post by Gene Hunt on Apr 7, 2021 17:12:19 GMT
LOM is a superb series that will stand the test of time. There are the 'purists' who still to this day refuse to watch it - I know a few. It's their loss though and I can easily see it being held in high regard for decades to come, just like The Sweeney is. We do of course have Lazarus to look forward to at some point too! But not before we have our official Life On Mars Meet later this year. Now that IS something not to be missed Gene.
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Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on Apr 7, 2021 20:03:08 GMT
I really enjoyed it and watched it when first broadcast. It came out not long after the completion of the Sweeney restorations and struck a chord straight away. Strangely as good as it was I never watched it through again until lockdown started last year. I was far too busy watching many recommendations sourced from this fine forum. Anyway I enjoyed it just as much second time around.
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Post by Davy Freeth on Apr 8, 2021 13:01:31 GMT
Well i finally got round to watching Life on Mars and just finished it . When I first started watching it i was a bit sceptical with the telephone calls and messages though i wont get into this but it grew on me and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes we started watching it, the missus started watching it as she is on furlough in fact they all came into the living room and watched it nearly every night for a week. Enjoyed the music the ending a bit deep. Now onto Ashes to Ashes which the full family are watching lol I didn't even invite them. The first few of Ashes to Ashes have been quite good as well.
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Bellini
Runner
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Post by Bellini on May 23, 2023 7:43:43 GMT
Hello. This seems like a good spot for my first post.
Like many here, I watched this from the very beginning on the BBC and it rapidly endured me to it.
The writing and characters drew me in but the nostalgia element of the 1970’s was by far the biggest attraction for me. I was born in 1970 and the entire decade still fascinates me.
It was, and is, one of those shows where you longed to watch the next episode.
It wasn’t just me, either. It became a regular talking and episode dissection point with friends and my wife. Still is. It makes us smile both for the nostalgia and content.
These days, it’s almost completely lost on our children (12 and 20), though I think they’ll warm to it. But all TV from that era has the same effect.
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Post by Gene Hunt on May 23, 2023 13:13:28 GMT
It was a great show and extremely well written, acted and put together. I agree that the nostalgia element is lost on many of the younger generation but happy to say that all three of my kids (16 to 22) absolutely love the show. Not just the stories and quality but simply for 'the way things were' for Mom & Dad. The two eldest have the complete soundtrack to Life On Mars in their cars and the youngest daughter has it on her phone. Welcome to 4:3tv by the way Bellini Gene.
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