Nightfly
Screenwriter
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Post by Nightfly on Apr 15, 2021 23:27:39 GMT
I wonder if anyone else remembers this Central TV series from the early 80s ?
No Excuses By Barrie Keefe Stars: Charlotte Cornwell, Donald Sumpter, Alex Norton, Alfred Burke
Channel Four didn’t arrive in my part of the country until the summer of 1983. One of the first series I watched on the channel was this eight-parter by Barrie Keefe.
Just a few years after her portrayal of a rock singer in Rock Follies, Charlotte Cornwell plays Shelley, a rock star on her way down in popularity after her heyday in the hedonistic 60s and 70s.
The first episode centres around her buying a rundown mansion at a knock down price from the bankrupt former owner who once hired her to perform at his privileged daughter’s party before Shelley found fame. One of the conditions of the sale is keeping the butler (played by Alfred Burke) and his wife who bear the brunt of her revenge for her treatment as a performer at his former employer’s party.
In my opinion it’s a series that hasn’t really stood the test of time. Watching it for a second time recently I found it a bit heavy going at times with shades of the depressing parts of “Breaking Glass”. However, it does feature live concert footage and has a great soundtrack from Andy J Clark which was released as an album. It's probably worth a look if you like pop/rock based drama.
I have only just found out that Charlotte passed away in January of this year.
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Sparky
Producer
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Post by Sparky on Apr 16, 2021 6:13:33 GMT
Think that was one of the first things made by "Central Films" (the same kind of set up as Euston Films) and possibly one of the last of their TV films through Elstree - before it was all moved to Nottingham and run from a small office in Portman Square.
I vaguely remember my Dad watching this. Didn't know Charlotte Cornwall was no longer with us.
How many episodes were they?
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Nightfly
Screenwriter
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Post by Nightfly on Apr 16, 2021 6:32:23 GMT
Didn't know Charlotte Cornwall was no longer with us.
How many episodes were they? Also never realised Charlotte's half brother was author John Le Carre. There were 8 episodes in total.
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Apr 16, 2021 19:47:45 GMT
I don't think I remember it being only 12 at the time, looks interesting.
The shot at the start with the car driving towards the house & the camera craning upwards reminded me instantly of a similar shot outside Thornley Manor in Auf W Pet, no surprise it was made by Central, shows made by the same production company seem to look the same somehow.
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