I agree with the joyfarrah's post - so many aspect of the brothers' conflicts and mutual interests/schemes needed to continue. If Robert had been written out completely (rather than re-cast) it could have also caused too many story conflicts - who would have inherited the Onedin Line shares for example? It was also probably better for the writers to have another male Onedin lead to either back up or thwart James - depending on what Robert did!
I am not sure if the original actor who played Robert (Brian Rawlinson) was unable to continue in the part through ill health - there are no other listings for TV or Film work in IMDb for him between the period he stopped being Robert Onedin, to when he later took up the role again in Series 4. The 'second' Robert, James Garbutt (best known perhaps for his superb portrayal of Bill Seaton in 'When The Boat Comes In') was only in the role for a relatively short time (season 3).
And talking about 'strange' characterisations, does anyone remember the (very odd!) situation where the never before seen or mentioned 'Cousin Richard Onedin' turns up at the end of Season 3 - played by none other than Peter Gilmore himself, complete with glasses, freckles, and red tinged hair!! - to sweep Leonora Biddulph off her feet in the absence of James...?? I can't remember a more bizzare twist in the series!!
Except perhaps for the uncanny resemblance of the 'second' incarnation of Captain Daniel Fogarty (originally played by Michael Billington Series 1 - 3, then by Tom Adams for 12 episodes, in the later series 5) to the by then, late, Albert Frazer... Or was it just me who thought this?!! No wonder Elizabeth got confused! Perhaps as Fogarty looked so much more like her late husband, Albert Frazer, when he came back from Australia than he did before he left, she could be forgiven for getting them mixed up in her affections?!
A superb series, I am thoroughly enjoying this yet again - currently (Sept 2010) being re-run on Yesterday.
reply
share
iain-227
14 years ago
I thought that episode was wonderful - all the way through it I couldn't quite make my mind up, is it or isn't it Peter Gilmore playing him? I think the camera angles when they eventually did meet were just a little bit too contrived and settled the matter - only seeing the back of a stand-in and a clear shot of either James or Richard.
The producers must've had a sense of humour though, how was it he was listed in the credits (at the very end of the cast) - "and cousin Richard - Peter Gilmore".
reply
share
lhasarainbows
14 years ago
I absolutely agree! If we hadn't been so familiar with Peter Gilmore's voice, manerisms, etc., it might have almost been possible to belive it was someone else. So well done! Very good acting from all involved, as ever, it was very well carried off, and yes, the sense of humour to put this 'twist' in was very wry and almost like an 'in joke'. I am so enjoying following this series again...it has never 'dated', and the storylines are always superb :-)
reply
share
joyfarrah
14 years ago
I enjoyed that bit of P Gilmore playing Richard... Not sure why they did it, but I think that perhaps the series looked like ending at that stage (P GIlmore was apparently unhappy with James becoming a "ladies man"... ) and the show was dropped for a few years...so perhaps they thougth it woudl be a fun "In joke" to cast PG as his cousin. and I think it showed (I hadn't seen it since I was a child) how good an actor he can be.. He played Richard very well as very different from James....
The "new Daniel" hasn't appeared yet, but I dont think he looked like ALbert? Not sure if he looked like the original Daniel might have aged but anyway IIRC he's very handsome.... LOoking forward to his appearance...
I dont know why Brian Rawlinson wasn't avaalable to play Robert but maybe he had theatricial commitments? But Im glad he came back....
reply
share