MovieChat Forums > To the Manor Born (1982) Discussion > Wonderful chemistry between leads

Wonderful chemistry between leads

posted 19 years ago by mrslivingston
7 replies | jump to latest

This is one of the best shows around. Such understated humor and the chemistry between Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles really makes it. It's unusually short, ending at a point where other shows might have jumped the shark, as they say. I wish there had been more episodes in between but maybe that's one of the things that makes it so memeorable.

I have a notion that one of the things that distinguishes US tv series from British ones (except for serials like Eastenders) is their intent on an infinite run. My favorite British comedies seem to wind up after a few years, and I've read elsewhere that they produce fewer episodes per season than US shows. I guess it's a matter of quality over quantity. The powers that be behind many US series churn out so many episodes that even the best series cannot maintain consistent quality within one season, let alone from year to year. In the US, it's more, more, more. In the UK it's not more just more consistently good.

If you're a big fan of To The Manor Born, check out Executive Stress. It also stars Peter Bowles and Penelope Keith as a married couple working at the same publishing company. Actually Geoffrey Palmer played the husband in the first season. As good as he otherwise is, there was no chemistry between him and Keith.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] hayesbook 17 years ago

Thanks so much for the tip about Executive Stress. I'd watch Penelope and Peter in any show, so I'm glad to know there is another one. It might be tough to get it here in the States on TV, so I'll look for it on DVD.

[–] brandy5 17 years ago

Re: Executive Stress - 1986.

That's the problem; it has never been on on VHS, DVD in England or in the States.
I have written to the TV Station and asked if it will be put out for purchase but as usual get no reply. I have written to Acorn Media to ask if they will be producing it but they say that 'not yet, but will inform the right people who will
be responsible for production' or words to that effect.
I did tape it before leaving England in the 90's but it's on PAL VHS so no good as I have nothing to play it on.
Why on earth this hasn't been made into a video series long ago I just can't imagine. As usual, Keith and Bowles at their best.

[–] IanDSmith 15 years ago

There is a bittorrent of it out there at thebox.bz...

[–] monarchgirl-1 16 years ago

They have great on screen chemistry and I love the cat and mouse game in the first two but richard starts to fight back in the third series as the onesupmanship continues and seems to win more as audrey ever so slightly mellows and takes down the hard barriers put up to protect herself.

[–] catrionalowe84 16 years ago

Absolutely, they've got wonderful chemistry - one of the reasons this show is such a joy to watch. I love the way they can do both the friendly bits & the confrontations so well. I mean, if you hear the storyline in advance then it's pretty obvious they're going to get together in the end, but because of this chemistry it makes it totally believable rather than just scripted - you genuinely feel the attraction.

I totally agree with your comment on US & UK TV series. I tend to go for British comedy (ever the patriot!)& my brother prefers American. It's quite funny because if I buy a series it's usually about 7-10 episodes, whereas his are things like 25, so I can watch mine in a short space of time whereas it takes him quite a while. I think you're right in saying that even if we'd have loved more episodes of TTMB, maybe the fact that there are less makes it better, as it was consistently good - I can't think of any episode I didn't think was great, though I do have my favourites.

This "Executive Stress" sounds entertaining, but I've just checked Amazon & the only things I got were a mini swear ball & a desktop rocket! (No, I've no idea what they're all about either.) But I will keep checking, so thanks for the tip.

Catriona x

"Fate shuffles the cards and we play" (Schopenhauer)

[–] skagway65 16 years ago

I was able to watch Executive Stress years ago on our public station. I believe the premise was that the PK character goes back to work at the company PB works at after taking time off, but either the company she works for doesn't allowed married executives or else she doesn't want her work performance judged by the fact her husband works there, but anyway, they don't tell their coworkers they're married.

Without the unresolved sexual tension, I found the show flat in comparison to "To the Manor Born." I wondered if PK and PB had 'lost it' but they still clearly have it together in this new episode, so I'm going to blame the material. The plots just resolved around 'will they get caught??' and it go tired. Those actors are above this sort of "Three's Company" set-up.

I'm intrigued that Geoffry Palmer dropped out of the show after one series. He's always struck me as a bit of a grumpy old man--from the outtakes of "As Time Goes By", Judi Dench seems to know how to manage him, but perhaps PK didn't find it quite so entertaining. ;)