Can someone tell me if this is a true representation of 1960 armed forces recruitment, as I just watched the first episode and even though it is supposed to be the year 1960 there are some serious anomalies with the programming.
First, times there on the parade square there are 21st century vehicles parked i.e. present day Landrover and Troop carrier.
Second, in the c.o's office there are PVC windows.
Bad programming or is it just me?
Many aspects of the army base were very obviously post-1960... Presumably the budget was very low... If it had been well-written and engaging, I would have forgiven it the various anachronisms in the background. But, as it was, I just found it dull and, after about 25 minutes, I gave in to my desire to switch it off... Sadly, it's just reinforced my belief that the BBC should stop making daytime "filler" programmes and invest the money saved into improving evening programming... Rather than wasting money on making embarrassingly poor programmes to fill the daytime schedules, the BBC could use the time to show some of the stuff from its amazing archive that never seems to get an airing.
shareHear hear.....
shareDoesn't Lomax also quote 'The Guns of Navarone' which came out in 1961?
shareI don't know,all he seemed to be moaning about was his ' tight girdle and panties' last time i looked.
sharehard to believe but maybe that *beep* reads books
The Guns of Navarone is a 1957 novel about World War II by Scottish writer Alistair MacLean
_______________I GOT NOTHING_______________
hard to believe but maybe that *beep* reads books
The Guns of Navarone is a 1957 novel about World War II by Scottish writer Alistair MacLean
Maybe but the Sargent tells the officer the lines are from David Niven.
"I Aim at the Stars,But sometimes I hit London!" (Dr.Werner Von Braun)
Looks like they could't even be bothered to research the correct way to fly the Union Jack as in one sketch it was clearly upside down
shareIt was filmed in Northern Ireland which confirms that indeed the budget was low.
As far as the upside down Union flag goes; we take flag flying very seriously as I'm sure you saw on the news. I imagine those responsible will be dealt with!
I'm managing to watch this via IPlayer as it's daytime telly and I have mixed feelings about it tbh. I'm becoming increasingly fatigued at all the politically-charged cliches that modern TV relentlessly throws up.... and unfortunately this series is proving to be no exception.
By 'politically-charged cliches' I'm specifically referring to those tired old tropes increasingly used by (presumably) left-leaning writers in numerous modern shows, usually but not exclusively on the BBC. So far in 'Privates' we've had good ol 'w'acism (mandatory for any period show, apparently) class division and a stereotypically nasty, arrogant posh Tory boy (boo hiss) who's so exaggerated he's basically a pantomime villain.
I don't object to these plot elements in theory, I just feel they're so utterly overused and often poorly implemented these days and again, 'Privates' is no exception regrettably.
Still, the series hasn't finished yet and the inclusion of period music (didn't think they'd fork out for the rights!) is a nice touch.
I must be easily pleased because I am absolutely loving it.
I was in Catterick, North Yorkshire, from 1955 to 1958, and it brought back a lot of memories, especially the guy who couldn't get the hang of marching.
I saw many new recruits doing just what he did, with the arms and legs going at the same time.
Oh don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying it also, well mostly.
I still think that 'Pte Tory-Toff' as I now call him, is a ridiculous and deliberate caricature though.
Indeed one wonders what the show's writer will have him be doing in the next episode..... probably kicking the crutches away from a disabled, working-class, mixed race orphan boy with asthma whilst laughing maniacally!
I bet you had to shave every day - not like the corporal
shareNice period music - trouble was it was the wrong period!
Set in 1960 but we get The Animals "We Gotta Get Outta this Place" (1965), The Rolling Stones "Paint it Black" (1966)
And did anybody see the Morris Minor with 1968 registration plates?
D'oh! BBC try a bit harder in the future!
They played "I've got a name" by Jim Croce in Django. A tad more of a time miss, I'd reckon. Why is everyone jumping on dress and music while failing to mention if this is a good series or not? Suspension of disbelief is a good thing. Try it.
shareIn the main it is a good representation but there are glaring errors some of which I have highlighted
shareTWO WORDS I REPEAT IT WAS FICTION AND ENTERTAINMENT!
If you want a documetary there are more than enough on that period to be had!
Oh and I should point out My family are mainly from a military line 1
according to My father an officer from around about that time to only a few years ago.
There where " Quite a few Nasty Tory boys " just like the prat played By Jack Fox!
Some went on to Officer training and quite a few much to their Horror and amusement of their fellow incumbents stayed as Privates!
So apart from the few understandable mistakes it was a jolly good show!
Who for starters would know or care whether the UNION JACK YES JACK! was flown upside down.
Oh by the way since the begin of the Twentieth Century after an Admiralty document was released it be came permissible for the ( formally the UNION FLAG) to be called the UNION JACK by the navy when flown on a jack staff or by the civilian public on a land based civilian flag pole!
Maybe you should get your long serving father to teach you a few facts eg an upside down Union jack denotes distress.
shareQuite right.
If you do something, DO IT RIGHT.
That also goes for making historical drama...
Just because it is not a documentary does not mean you can just forget about the details.
I liked the show, the characters, the story, the acting, etc.
And in general they got close to getting the right look, the wrappers for candy and ciggies, the hairstyles, the dressing of the rooms, etc, etc.
But there are also a few rather big errors that could have been VERY easily avoided without spending more budget.
Complaining about mistakes is almost as bad as complaining about complaining about mistakes.