MovieChat Forums > The Singing Detective (1986) Discussion > What was BAFTA thinking?!

What was BAFTA thinking?!

posted 17 years ago by melj
5 replies | jump to latest

They must have been out of their minds to give Best Drama Serial to The Life and Loves of a She-Devil over this. I am so astonished as not only is The Singing Detective a million times better than The Life and Loves of a She-Devil, it is the very best drama serial I have ever seen. I feel so sorry that Dennis Potter and Jon Amiel's magnificent work was not given the full recognition it deserved. Well, at least they had the sense to give Michael Gambon Best Actor.

I hate people who pretend they're superior; it makes it much harder for those of us who really are.

[–] pusterummet 17 years ago

Agreed.. but I just think they hated Potter.. so sad when this happens

[–] bettywhait06 17 years ago

I remember at the time reading that Potter confronted the judges in typical DP style and asked them to justify how they overlooked his brilliant creation once their decision was announced. I thought at the time that that was a bit bitter, but in true Potter style I bet it would have made for interesting listening. Potter ruffled a lot of feathers, and I'm not surprised in the slightest BAFTA didn't welcome him with open arms - after all they snubbed Michael Caine for years. And they overlooked the magnificent GBH some years later in favour of Prime Suspect - when allegedly most of the judges then came out and said they had voted for GBH!

[–] geesuz 17 years ago

I totally agree, but I guess that they can hold a grudge for a very long time. Mr. Potter was not good at making nice, but then again, his work stands on it's own. No one seeing the two serials side by side will have any doubt. Awards shows in general get it wrong more often than right.

I saw Singing Det by accident when it first aired in the US, I think it was early 1988, (only Ch 13 PBS in NY aired it) and was amazed and addicted from the very first. It has aged as we all have, but it is still the best use of the TV format I have ever seen. Sheer brilliance.

[–] jamesbloke 12 years ago

I'm very glad that BAFTA honoured "The Life and Loves of She-Devil" rather than "The Singing Detective". I've never actually seen "The Life and Loves of She-Devil" but it's probably loads better than "The Singing Detective" which is slow, tedious drivel.

[–] nicko-12 12 years ago

Slow - yes (nothing wrong with that in my opinion)
Tedious - seemed like it on occasions, but worth sticking with when all was resolved
Drivel - no. Not even close.

With regards to the She Devil: Fay Weldon was very much flavour of the month in the mid-80s and she was the 'right-on' choice for best drama.

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