I had always thought that this was a classic series to the standard of Brideshead or Jewel In The Crown but it never comes close to those great classics. It seems far too disjointed, you can't engage with the main characters because they are too irritating and pleased with themselves and Alan Plater's screenplay struggles to makes sense of it all. A real disappointment.
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That's a real shame as I think it's one of the greatest bits of British TV from the 1980s. Have you seen the unedited version, as originally broadcast in 1987, or the truncated version that got a DVD release some time ago?
"Someone has been tampering with Hank's memories."
I'm disturbed you feel that way, Simon, since it is one of the best series I have seen, well up there with Both Brideshead and Jewel.
The acting was quite superb and the characters realistic. Maybe the UK has changed so much that the society is now unrecognisable to many.
Apart from that it is pretty accurate at examining the upper middle class attitudes during the war, from a different location than usual.
The original was 7 parts of just under one hour....some 400 minutes.
I've just started the full version and it's ok so far, curious though, I thought it was an ITV.
Marlon, Claudia and Dimby the cats 1989-2005, 2007 and 2010.
Not from the commercial johnnies, Squeeth - Aunty.
"Someone has been tampering with Hank's memories."
I remembered not watching it at the time but didn't have the impression it was a TradBBC. I thought that it was pretty good, although I missed Ronald Pickup quite a bit after he got shot.
Marlon, Claudia and Dimby the cats 1989-2005, 2007 and 2010.
Yep, Pickup's Prince Yakimov is bloody good.
"Someone has been tampering with Hank's memories."
I wouldn't mind a dvd of the series from the 70s, where he was a playboy who eventually got blown up doing bomb-disposal (The Dragon's Opponent?).
Marlon, Claudia and Dimby the cats 1989-2005, 2007 and 2010.
Ooooh, never come across that one: Anthony Andrews / Danger! UXB was more my bag...
"Someone has been tampering with Hank's memories."
I thought that this trumped both Brideshead and Jewel. Really fun and complex. It is hard to to hop around somewhat given the nature of the story . . .WWII and all.
LL
At the time it was the most expensive mini series the BBC made. Its not up there with Brideshead because it covers different ground.
Its that man again!!