The drama department at the BBC earned a top class reputation for producing quality tv plays. The genre culminated in the gritty realism of the Wednesday Play, this was sixties television at its most dour. I have to confess that this is not what I enjoy on my television screen, and ironically it was only because the BBC recruited top ABC man Sydney Newman, that their dramas really descended from stagey theatrical plays to the kitchen sink abyss. Critics of course will love anything they don't understand, and a lot of the Wednesday Play output was just that, down to earth language with down to earth situations, that dragged the nation down into its pit. Television reflects life, was the excuse, but television also moulds life, and mould be the word.
Having ranted against it, let's conclude on a positive note, and recommend the excellence of some modern day classics, from which I single out John Hopkins' Fable, hard going, depressing even, but almost prophetic.
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It is Midnight Dr Schweitzer (1953) -
This is primitive tv drama, based on one set, the story in real time, with dialogue and little action, nevertheless an interesting historical document. Indeed unlike modern historical reconstructions, this is acceptably close enough to reality. However there is never any very probing analysis of Schweitzer's motives, as the various sub-plots, even though they are all drawn together by the end, detract from a proper focus on the main man.
Midnight on a fateful night in 1914 in an African hospital. Dr Schweitzer (Andre Morell) plays Bach, as his nurse, Sister Marie (Greta Gynt) stands by, looking discontented. "It seems to me some people just give the money, whereas others give themselves." She's restless over her vocation and the doctor, maybe for the viewer's benefit too, goes over the reasons why he himself has given up a great career, even leaving behind his family.
But the philosophising is interrupted by a sick child who has been rescued by the priest Father Charles (Douglas Wilmer) from having her throat cut by superstitious natives. So the doctor attends the girl whilst Marie and the priest discuss the meaning of life, until I rather echoed Schweitzer's own comment "I grew impatient of talk."
Marie's lack of happiness may be related to the Commandant who now enters with the governor to spout politics. The latter is clearly antagonistic towards the doctor, possibly as he's German, and war seems imminent. "I hate war," is Schweitzer's stance, especially of course, if it means an interruption of his medical supplies from Europe.
There's more work, even at this late hour, when seven "monsters covered in enormous tumours" are brought in for treatment. This brings on a religious argument about suffering and God's existence, before Father Charles makes his farewell, possibly for the last time with war so near: "God be with you."
After 50 minutes we have an Interval, with a record of Schweitzer himself at the organ.
The next evening, the governor declares his love for the nurse "with the great heart." But she still isn't happy. The governor is here to give the pacifist doctor protection, but
the offer is rejected, unwisely as it turns out, for natives break in and steal the medicines. There's unrest on account of war being declared: "the white men of Europe have started a great palaver. The tribe of the commandant is fighting the tribe of the great doctor." It drives the doctor to despair, and suddenly it's Marie who needs to bolster Him. Some Bach soothes them.
The commandant shares his love for Marie, who happily responds: "one single moment of happiness,".... but then "happiness is not thinking of others." They both have a higher duty. This becomes evident as Father Charles staggers in, a native sword in his back. All reflect on his death.
It's sufficent to make the commandant see that he must return to Europe, and for Marie to realise that her life is with the doctor: "I shall put my joy aside."
However there will be no joy at all, for the governor will be closing the hospital, for he has orders to intern Schweitzer at midnight. The doctor bemoans, not his own fate, but the fact that leprosy and all he has striven to fight, will now return to the peoples. There's a last tour of his hospital, and a soliloquy. He prays.
But Marie pledges herself to running the hospital alone. Schweitzer plays Bach until he is taken away at midnight.
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This Day in Fear (July 1958) -
starring Patrick McGoohan (James Coogan) with Billie Whitelaw (Mrs Coogan), Donal Donnelly, Hugh Moxey, Harold Berens.
Police believe "law abiding" citizen James Coogan needs protection as The Movement is after him. But Jim hasn't told his family or colleagues at work about his IRA past, which he has now put well behind him. But when it seems he is really going to be "live bait," he accepts the police offer.
Spasmodically the tension is notched up, but in between there's too much flagging. At last the climax, as Jimmy calmly accepts his fate. He explains his previous philosophy to his uncomprehending wife, before the priest, present to hear Jim's last confession, coaxes the truth out of him.
A neat conclusion leaves his political assassins baffled and the way of the gun is exposed for what it is.
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Brand (August 1959)
Author: Ibsen, Producer: Rudolph Cartier, transmitted 11th August 1959.
Patrick McGoohan won plaudits for his powerful portrayal
in this pseudo religious drama, but for me, even The Prisoner
is more comprehensible than this drama which lacks a storyline.
Be a martyr if you want to sit through it all.
St John Roberts under the headline 'Magnificent McGoohan' gave this glowing account- "'If you do not give all, you give nothing,' says Brand. This is the rule by which he lives and which he mistakenly serves God. The Doctor, tending his dying son replies, 'Your love account is as white as a virgin sheet.' These two lines provide the background of a play that is powerful, passionate and moving. Beautifully produced by Michael Elliott, it starred Patrick McGoohan in the greatest role he has yet appeared in on tv. He gave a truly magnificent, monumental performance as Brand, a performance of granite, strong and solid- until he discovers humanity glimmering within him- a discovery which is made too late. McGoohan was more than ably supported by Patrick Wymark as the scheming mayor, Dilys Hamlett as his pitiful wife and Peter Sallis in two clever cameos. Neither must one forget striking Olive McFarland as Gerd."
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Whistle and I'll Come to You (1968, Omnibus)- Michael Hordern plays a Cambridge professor staying in an isolated hotel. Finding an ancient whistle, he blows it and lo, a treatise on survival of death, before some slightly spooky occurrences in his bedroom. Lovely scenery with a fine solo from Hordern (who else could utter "Rumpled" like him?) but forty minutes is way too long for this MR James short story and, despite Jonathan Miller's pompous introduction which purports to be a serious analysis, I think I believe I experienced no "terror"
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The Interview
(1968, Thirty Minute Theatre) by Barry Bermange. Directed by Donald McWhinnie-
More specifically this should be titled The Interview Waiting Room.
Inconsequentially and intermittently, candidates chat until one gets down to the subject at hand: "were they all as boring as this one, all those other interviews you've had?" Thankfully, half way through the boring wait, we learn that one interviewee, Dennis Gray, had a wife who died "in a boating accident."
After this is established the others decide to teach him to speak German. Why?- you might well ask, that is if you are still interested. For the author is determined to inflict his own mundane experience on us, but as each interview lasts but a few minutes, it's not very true to life.
At last, it's Dennis' turn! His fellow candidates greet him in the most improbable conclusion to any interview.
Nothing is made explicit which is a cheat, even though we know what we know, I hope. It is quite a clever end, but not worth 29 minutes wait
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Without Love -
Script: Colin Morris, Producer: Gilchrist Calder.
Scene 1 plunges straight into the original sixties generation clash. Working class dad Jim (Alfred Burke) of 14 Paradise Street argues with an "out of control" 17 year-old who lives "in a different world" to her father and stepmother.
The upshot is that Jacky (Clare Austin) leaves home to join friend Betty (a fuller Billie Whitelaw), hostess at a club. According to the barmaid there, Jacky's "just a baby, the first man that shows her affection, she falls for it." A Yank- and she's pregnant, and he's gone.
Now she's in the dock, charged with being drunk. Mrs Hammond, her probation officer (Barbara Couper), hears her sorry tale of how lonely she is now she has had her child fostered. But she can only offer advice and it's Betty who's more likely to help Jacky solve her financial crisis.
Thus it is that she's picked up by the smooth talking Tony (Paul Stassino) whom she naively falls for. He persuades her to earn cash by being a prostitute. To the courtroom again, in her finery, and a second interview with Mrs Hammond. More heart to heart with the probation officer echoing the writer's purpose: "a girl will give anything to get a man to stay with her. Oh, the clients have nothing, just pound notes." Observes her counsellor: "you obviously don't know anything," for the youngster cannot see through Tony's facade. Mrs Hammond's prediction of the future is not what Jacky wants to hear: "he's a parasite who won't stand on his own."
There's no happy ending to a play that doesn't offer much, except a touching performance from the rarely cheerful Jacky. But the ending is quite effective as she fades from the courtroom, leaving others to reflect on her fate, and the rounded probation officer to offer a gleam of light with her own settled existence
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12 Fable (1965) -
A kind of 1984 state where apartheid in reverse is in operation.
White man Len (Ronald Lacey) is a government employed driver, in the service of
his black boss Mark Fellowes (Thomas Baptiste), a famous writer, "the authentic voice of protest."
But Fellowes is under house arrest and Len, now unemployed, is
forcibly transferred from his family in London to a work reservation in remote Scotland.
His wife Joan appeals to Len's former boss to take up his case, but Mark's campaigning work is rendered ineffective by his wife
Francesca, who, to ensure her husband does not incur further official wrath, secretly burns his current writings which are pressing for
social justice.
In Scotland, Len finds his new master harsher, and his master's wife enigmatic, pumping him about Fellowes.
Len is accused of raping her, but he succeeds in escaping and flees back to the despairing Joan who has been forcibly rehoused.
Rather improbably, Len is able to shoot the head of state, as the story becomes too extreme, losing its main and most absorbing emphasis on the
morality of the new order. There's civil unrest. The media are manipulated. News of the president's death is kept quiet, until the proper moment.
Greater segregation of black and white.
A key scene is when Joan, now a necessary prostitute, gets to see Mark Fellowes and almost opens his eyes.
Television pictures expose the late Joan's "sordid" life, slanted for political ends.
It leaves a bleak and depressing ending, the only ray of hope
being in campaigners like the sadly toothless Mark. "What battle are you fighting?" Francesca demands of him. He's the frail reed for the future.
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64 Way off Beat (1966) - This is really Sydney Tafler's play. He dominates the action as "The Mr Bradshaw," upper crust hairdresser in a regional kingdom of thee own. But Gordon Reid as "innocent, impecunious yet talented" Norman has the most sympathetic part, of a working class lad who's groomed by Bradshaw to partner his innocent daughter Linda (Helen Fraser) in Come Dancing style events. But Norman's only being used by the ruthless Bradshaw to enable his daughter to leap out of the Novice Ballroom class. "Where would you be without me, Norman?" But when the pair actually kiss, the tale becomes what it has always threatened to be, the usual Sixties Clash of Culture and Class Differences. On the night of the Big Competition, a touch of bribery to the adjudicator (Jimmy Hanley- "it's in the bag") fails to help the overbearing Bradshaw achieve his goal.
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In Two Minds
Script: David Mercer. Director: Ken Loach.
Anna Cropper was made for this role with her sad melancholic looks, as the Schizophrenic Kate.
"She's sick isn't she?" is how her dad Joe explains it in a nutshell. But of course he can only see his side, for this is yet another generation gap study.
"She's brought shame on this house," cries her mum Dolly.
The characters are seen through the eyes of a psychiatrist, in the manner of those invisible tv interviewers a la Esther Rantzen.
The trouble with this sort of drama is that it can be so predictable, like this. The characters must have their moments of self truth during chats
with the shrink, who never does more than probe with more and more questions.
"Sometimes I want to go, but I feel that I can't," is how Kate feels guilty, trapped at home. She can't make that break.
And that is only the first third of this play! Katie's sister Mary is added to the recipe, she is one who has made that break, so no wonder her answer is,
"get her out the way from these lot." Thus there are plenty more heartaches for the family, revelations of abortion, "nuclear war," even, allegedly.
Off to hospital for Kate. There mum's drone never cheered me up, I think it was supposed to have that effect on Kate. I think I am going round the twist too.
Dolly tried to kill her. "I don't exist." And other such dreary angst.
The next section of the play is seen through Kate's clouded eyes. She pals up in the madhouse with Paul (George Innes) who advises her to play the game if she wants to be free.
She doesn't and her treatment is like that of a child. Another parental visit ends in even more crying and tantrums as Kate can't fast forward (unlike myself)
their grumblings and mutterings. Mum and dad keep repeating their viewpoint, and this play could, heaven help us, go on for ever and ever and ever. You just write the same words,
maybe in a different order, dad saying his line, mum hers, no understanding.
Result- for Kate that is (me, I was beyond saving), she withdraws yet more into herself as Chief Shrink (Patrick Barr) ends the torture with a lecture to students whom the author portrays as maybe as wise
as their master, or indeed as unwise as their master. She is "childish," explains Mr Expert. Plus a lot more technical jargon. It's the recycled plot all over again!
What's the treatment? The students proffer their ideas. The doc demonstrates his own brutal method- "it does work." Well he thinks so.
"The outlook is not very good," declares a more perceptive student." Who needs electric shock treatment? Just show this.
This is a play that deserved to be junked, instead of which my favourite programmes have been wantonly destroyed, now isn't that real madness?
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117 The Golden Vision (1968)
A unique footballing docu-drama directed by John Boorman.
Jeff is a single-minded Everton supporter, his mates ditto.
I'm a footer fan too, but this is a turn-off unless you like airy-fairy realism. Even the fanaticism is somehow muted, perhaps as Everton aren't doing that well, and dead characters lead to dead drama. Gratuitous night club scenes to spice it up, it's only for nostalgia, for the back to back terraces I mean, that you could view this.
I'm only sorry Ken Jones whom I think a fine comedy actor, got roped into this glimpse of 'reality.' "Golden?"- no, the old days weren't always so
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122 The Gorge (1968) - with Constance Chapman
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146 Last Train Through Hardcastle Tunnel (1969) - A study of that spotty phenomenon, the train spotter, young man Benjamin (Richard O'Callaghan), whose conversation only comes alive when discussing railways, otherwise he's a square. Rather like those dull Great Railway Journeys programmes, this is a montage showing his encounters with disparate humans, of whom Joe Gladwin as an ancient railwayman of the old school is the most appealing. Signalling expert John le Mesurier, what Benjamin is likely to grow into, is the saddest, inhabiting his own world, which appears to be the message this play attempts to convey as it gradually runs out of puff, shunted into an exceptionally rusty siding
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148 The Mark II Wife (1969)
directed by Philip Saville and written by William Trevor
"A piece of cheap rubbish," that's one line from this play that sums it up for me.
What is Hell? Perhaps being isolated at a party of "damned half wits" as neurotic Anna MacKintosh discovers. This is a tough part for Faith Brook who conveys well her "escape into madness," driven by her knowledge that Edward her husband is having it off with a 19 year old.
She has this half felt intuition that has brought her to this party where she knows she will find him come in with her, while other guests puzzle over who this stranger is, for she is "completely out of it." Someone will go mad here tonight she darkly explains, though it is her that's going round the twist, "I shall escape into madness," she mutters to herself. She certainly drove me there.
The other guests don't help. Flirtatious Bodanski (Philip Madoc at his best) might help her forget her jinxed marriage. It's the General and Daphne Ritchie in whom Anna eventually confides. She gets it out: Edward is leaving her for his Mark II wife, the telling makes her crack up, hedgehogs on her wedding day, that sort of thing. A wild dance half naked with Bodanski, she is escorted upstairs. Now alone in a bedroom, she phones her shrink Dr Abbot that rather modern phenomenon, an on-line counsellor.
Downstairs stunned silence reigns, "most embarrassing, some kind of Scott Fitzgerald."
According to Mrs Ritchie, their host's daughter Elsie Engelfield is the one Edward is running off with. Gossip abounds.
But then Anna, after her reassuring phone call, makes herself up watched by the peephole eyes of Bodanski, and announces to all and sundry that it had all been in her mind.
She makes her prolonged goodbye to the other guests, apologising for her behaviour, "the mark II wife is something entirely in my imagination," all that intuition stuff had been "phoney."
Angry guests watch her departure, "let's forget it all." Yes, let's. But no, here comes Elsie, daughter of the host, subject of all that gossip (Joanna Lumley), and she tells mummy and daddy she has brought "her gorgeous Edward MacKintosh" with her.
So Anna wasn't imagining it all, she was wrong, it wasn't all in her mind, it was real all that madness, This play has driven me round the bend, that's real enough, and anyway I have changed my mind also, for this one thing I do know, and it's not a phoney intuition, Hell was surely The Wednesday Play.
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Treasure Island (1959, made in New York) -
Without the perennial Robert Newton, this production full of British stars is no parody but a faithful if dark account of Robert Louis Stevenson's tale of smugglers' treachery. Hugh Griffith is a rather run-of-the-mill LJ, Richard O'Sullivan's Jim Hawkins simply merges into the scenery, whilst only George Rose as a camp Ben Gunn seems to think that he's in panto.
Also starring Michael Gough, Max Adrian and Boris Karloff
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The Forsyte Saga
BBC's elegant but rambling 1967 period soap opera with Kenneth More, Nyree Dawn Porter and Susan Hampshire.
Eric Porter was the constant star through the entire series, though for stealing the show, my award for a minor role goes to George Benson as the Marquis of Shropshire.
1. A Family Festival - "Oily bounder" Monty marries the "spendiferous" Winifred, whilst Jo ponders an ugly divorce
2. A Family Scandal - Jo realises he's "a parasite," and Soames first encounters the enchanting Irene
3. The Pursuit of Happiness - Frances dies, Juley finds a dog but Soames nearly loses Irene, though she finally consents to marriage, with one condition
4. Dinner at Swithin's - Jo's daughter June is happily engaged to Bosinney, but Irene is now very lukewarm towards Soames
5. The Man of Property - Soames gets Bosinney to design his house at Robin Hill and Jo is reconciled to his dad on the death of Aunt Ann
6. Decisions - Collapse of Soames' marriage, with all the better effect for focussing on this one storyline without so many subplots
7. Into the Dark - Irene hides in a small hotel, Soames though enjoys a triumph in the courts over Bosinney, who suddenly dies
8. Indian Summer of a Forsyte - Happy times at Robin Hill as Uncle Jolyon enjoys reconciliation with Irene. A fine gentle interlude
9. In Chancery - "A blessing" when Helene dies, according to her doctor. "Bounder" Monty leaves for a new life, while Soames ponders marriage
10. The Challenge - In court Winifred's divorce commences. Holly falls for "rotter" Val. Irene hides from Soames in Paris, and meets Jo there
11. In the Web - Are Jo and Irene, in modern parlance, an item? Soames believes so, and sues for divorce. Monty returns in poverty to Winifred
12. Birth of a Forsyte - Soames and Irene divorced, leading to marriages: Soames and Annette, Jo and Irene, then of course two babies are born
13. Encounter - Suddenly it's 1918, the two 'babies' Fleur and Jon secretly are in love, but casting a shadow are their feuding families
14. Conflict - Despite a rival in Michael, 'Cautious Cuthbert', Fleur's love for Jon only deepens as it takes for ever for her to learn of the family skeleton
15. To Let- In the worst moment of the series, almost comic, Jon, after an age, also learns all. Soames and Irene face up as Jon calls off the engagement
16. A Family Wedding - Fleur's marriage on the bounce to nice Michael, but soon she's toying with an affair with his best friend, Wilfrid, a poet
17. The White Monkey - Soames blows a balloon with his business about to burst. He gives Fleur a painting, while a painter discovers a new model
18. Afternoon of a Dryad - The series was gently fading as Wilfrid escapes to "Jericho," and Soames buys a nude
19. No Retreat - Fleur: "There's nothing wrong now except my own nature," as she gives birth. Soames resigns at a stormy shareholders' meeting
20. A Silent Wooing - In Carolina woods, Jon falls in love. Soames calls Fleur's enemy Marjorie a "traitress," and thus Fleur faces a libel suit
21. Action for Libel - "Fuss about nothing," as Soames attempts to cunningly rebuff Marjorie's action for libel, but Fleur is pretty shrewd too
22. The Silver Spoon - Under brilliant persistent questioning in court from Sir James, Marjorie has to yield, but the Mont's victory is hollow
23. Strike - Upper classes at play in the 1926 strike, perhaps the making of Fleur, though has her love for Jon revived? Soames has silent sight of Irene
24. Afternoon at Ascot - Lunchtime with Jon and Anne and then a box at the races as old memories and love revive
25. Portrait of Fleur - Restless, Fleur starts a rest home and has her portrait painted
26. Swan Song - No longer a butterfly, Fleur's "look back" with Jon is partly ended by Irene and partly by her carelessness, in which her father is felled
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Taxi (1963)-
Lasting 45 minutes, these stories starred Sid James in a rare dramatic role. The tales of a London taxi driver, Sid Stone, his cab is RYK 424: "Right mate, 'op in!"
The Villain - Sid pulls his mate Fred's legs before Sid starts to work. £2 for a fare to London Airport!
Then at Paddington Station, Sid shops rogue driver Jack Melia (Alan Curtis), who's touting illegally for fares by pushing to the front of the rank. However calling in the police gets Sid rather unpopular in some quarters as The Villain, although admittedly a villain, is set to lose his licence. When Sid's mate is talked round by Jack's wife (Jennifer Jayne) with a sob story about her children suffering because of her husband's stupidity, a smitten Fred persuades Sid to let Jack off. "All I want is a bit of peace," agrees Sid. But is there something fishy going on as Fred phones to tell her the good news in Brixton, yet Sid knows Jack lives in Forest Gate? "Something a bit dodgy going on 'ere mate." So it's round to Brixton and the exposure of a bigamist. "'E deserves all 'e gets."
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For Sid in Citizen James
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DR FINLAY'S CASEBOOK (BBC)
In 1967 a Radio Times reporter visited the location where Dr Finlay's Casebook was being filmed. In the best BBC tradition he starts his article with the disappointing news "Tannochbrae doesn't exist," and then continuing "until recently
the location of the Finlay filming was an official - but widely known - secret." The town of Callander, 36 miles from Glasgow, was the setting. Apparently until the railway station suffered the indignity of the Beeching axe in 1965,
porters would allegedly shout "Tannochbrae... Tannochbrae," as trains pulled in. "If you follow the directions to Dr Finlay's house you'll find yourself outside a rather austere guest house which overlooks the town. Inside you'll be welcomed by a kindly efficient Scotswoman Mrs MacIntyre... during the last few years she has noticed that stones keep disappearing from her drive- taken by eager souvenir hunters."
13 A Time for Laughing (1963) - On a wild night, Mrs McBain (June Tobin) gives birth, but her husband is impotent. Is tinker Tim O'Shea (John Cairney)- "service with a smile"- the father?
The doctors take a long long time sorting out the problem, solving it by rather unhippocratic methods
49 The Red Herring (1964) - Instead of "scurrying," Dr Snoddie seems to be dithering after ordering a well to be closed, causing inconvenience to elderly folk. A consultant (David Langton), an expert in salmonella, comes to help, dining at Arden House, but to Janet's dismay falling victim to food poisoning, and as we all know doctors make the worst patients: "Cameron, this is the last straw!"- when a biopsy is ordered. But comedy nearly turns to tragedy: "you didn't think I'd snuff it, Cameron?"
59 Charity Dr Finlay (1965) - In the grocers, a shoplifter faints. Dr Finlay attends Jeannie and gets a kiss for his efforts. Snoddie has palmed off St Bride's, an old people's home, on Dr Cameron, so of course it's Finlay who has to do the visits. "You'll bankrupt them," is Cameron's comment after Finlay finds a lot of improvements need making.
Finlay gets a job for Jeannie in the kitchen, but she is sacked for stealing. However Cameron turns the tables on the dour matron, Mrs Micklejohn, who has been syphoning off funds herself
69 Another Opinion - Two patients for Dr Finlay and two doctors to dispute his diagnoses. One is Dr Cameron who believes he himself's caught measles, but it's surely only a cold! The other is Corporal Grant whose gone AWOL because his leg needs amputating, though Dr Finlay believes the leg can be saved. The comedy of the one is nicely contrasted with the potential tragedy of the latter as Finlay and his consultant Sir William (John Harvey) contest with Colonel North (Moray Watson) Grant's uncertain future. Is Dr Finlay fallible? As Dr Cameron brusquely concludes: "it's only when a man's sick, he knows his true friends"
79 Dr Finlay and the Phantom Piper of Tannochbrae
- Lord Morcroft wants to erect a statue in memory of his son who fell in the War. The Piper (Andrew Keir) persuades him of a more noble cause. The final line from our doctors sums up this
mystifying story - "Blessed are the peacemakers - They shall inherit the war." Perhaps The Wednesday Play wasn't so obscure after all.
105 Gifts of the Magi (1966) - Is Dr Snoddie "a good hand at a comic song?" And how about Dr Cameron as a budding Shakespearean actor? And what can Dr Finlay do? The three are enrolled to perform at a Christmas party in the children's hospital ward, though it's Janet who steals the show and is "called to higher things." In other words, she's invited to continue her storytelling act on the BBC, yes the BBC! It all invokes just a little jealousy on Dr Cameron's part, though Dr Finlay persuades her to ride the storm. Will Janet find fame and fortune, or stick to her last?
178 Comin' Thro' the Rye (1970 colour) - Dr Cameron was first to get it- haluccinations. Then it spreads, with the source traced to infected flour from Bruce's Mill used at the bakery of Robsart (James Hayter)
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SAKI (Granada) -
Programme 1 (July 1962)
Stampeding of Lady Bastable- the one occasion when titled lady (Martita Hunt) who "loves owing" was persuaded to pay up, believing the end of the world was nigh.
A Holiday Task - The Lady with No Name(Fenella Fielding) asks for help in a Brighton hotel. Major Caterham 'lends' her £10 to discover who she really is. Foolish man!
The Way to the Dairy - There's a gleam in the eyes of Nora Nicholson as she plays Aunt Amy, who's come into a fortune. Veronique and Christine have been promised they will inherit a quarter each, but "rotter" Roger will get the other half. They take her to Dieppe to demonstrate to her what a wastrel he is, and there she succumbs to the fever of the Tables so now "she's worse than Roger ever was."
Sredni Vashtar - This is the name of a large ferret polecat, worshipped by ten year old Konradin. He prays it will "do one thing for him," a punishment on his suffocating cousin (Sonia Dresdel).
A Defensive Diamond - Sir Hector (William Mervyn) gives a crass bore (Peter Bathurst) short shrift
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GUY de MAUPASSANT (Granada) -
Programme 5 (July 1963)
A Sale -
The trial of a drunken husband who's offered his wife for sale (with Barbara Hicks, Bryan Pringle)
A Family Business -
Is grandma "soft in the head"? The quack doctor advises her son "Mother Nature must call the tune." She does and gran "goes to her reward" sparking very differing reactions from son and daughter-in-law. But the quack has got it wrong and gran revives to reveal she has heard those family rows her 'death' has caused. Remarks a relative: "I've never been to a funeral like this one before!"
The Devil -
When a miserly peasant (Jack Smethurst) engages a sitter at a fixed price for his dying mother it's hardly in the sitter's best interest to keep mum alive. Indeed she is finally scared to death with tales of the devil. However this black tale lacks any real payoff.
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OUT OF THIS WORLD (ABC)
ABC's innovative 1962 Saturday night series with Boris Karloff as host.
Sadly only this one story seems to have survived...
Little Lost Robot -
The year 2039: a robot is told to "get lost" and promptly obeys. It might prove a Killer Robot, so a robot psychologist(!) (Maxine Audley) has to devise a method of detecting it from among its 20 identical brothers.
Imaginative, if slightly overlong, with a poetic conclusion.
Also starring are Gerald Flood and Clifford Evans
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UNDERMIND (ABC)
Imagine John Wyndham writing a hybrid of The Human Jungle and The Avengers. Mastermind behind the series was actually Robert Banks Stewart, who wrote some of the scripts, Michael Chapman was the producer.
The scenario- unknown subversives are trying to destroy our society by undermining public confidence in the top people, and the institutions they run.
ABC were having difficulty negotiating networking time in 1965, so the series was not fully networked. It was screened in the ABC region and a few others starting in May that year, but only shown on other ITV channels later that summer.
The 11 episodes were:
1 Onset of Fear (May 8th 1965, 10.10pm ABC Midlands/North). Directed by Bill Bain.
2 Flowers of Havoc (May 15th 1965). Directed by Peter Potter.
3 The New Dimension (May 22nd 1965, now at 9.10pm). Directed by Bill Bain. Script: David Whitaker.
4 Death in England (May 29th 1965). Directed by Peter Potter. Script: Hugh Leonard.
5 Too Many Enemies (June 5th 1965). Directed by Peter Dews.
6 Intent to Destroy (June 12th 1965). Directed by Bill Bain. Script: John Kruse. Guest celebrity: Eamonn Andrews.
7 Songs of Death (June 19th 1965)
8 Puppets of Evil (June 26th 1965). Directed by Patrick Dromgoole. Script: Max Sterling.
9 Test for the Future (July 3rd 1965)
10 Waves of Sound (July 10th 1965)
11 End Signal (July 17th 1965)
Detailed reviews of surviving stories:
1 Instance One
2 Flowers of Havoc
5 Too Many Enemies
Drama menu
Main TV Menu
. . . . . .
Instance One
"Damn stupid" policeman Frank Heriot (Jeremy Kemp) arrests cabinet minister Hugh Bishop after a pub brawl, and refuses to drop the charges.
Maybe Frank's problems explain his action, for he's split with his wife Anne (Rosemary Nichols). "He's changed," she tells Frank's brother Andrew, known as Drew (Jeremy Wilkin). For "absolutely cold," is he nowadays. Even when Bishop is convicted and fined £3, and he resigns his post and commits suicide, still Frank shows no emotion. "He doesn't have any feeling," Anne notes sorrowfully.
Drew attempts a reconciliation between the couple, but it's no happy reunion. Frank storms off and goes straight to burgle Anne's home. All he steals is a paper hat. It was made of newspaper, what was written on it that was so important?
Drew finally traces the story, it concerned a police dog that suddenly went hysterical.
Ben Paulson (Paul Maxwell) is a psychologist whom Drew arranges to check Frank out, with his unique "bag of tricks," a machine that measures brain activity. The patterns on his brain are surprising, for there are no reactions exhibited by Frank, though he shows awareness of very high pitched sounds.
"Some kind of mental freak" must he be, and he proves this by suffocating Ben and sadistically connecting him up to his own machine.
Investigating Ben's death, is Frank! Do you know, he's sure it will prove a matter of misadventure.
Drew undercovers another case of a person hearing high pitched sounds that caused a plane to crash.
It's time to try and reason with Frank. Drew fails miserably, "the wall's up solid."
In the park, Anne is playing with her children when up comes Frank and attacks her. Someone shoots him. "I'm not Frank," are his sad dying words, followed by the sinister, "there are more of us"
To Undermind
. . . . . .
2 Flowers of Havoc (May 15th 1965)
Anne of her late husband: "There must be other people in Britain like him, brainwashed, taken over in some frightening way." So who are they all?
A postcard of a brass rubbing ("from one of them perhaps") leads Drew and Anne to Welling-on-Sea where Rev Austin G Anderson of St Winifrede's Church (Michael Gough), an ex-Olympic athlete, is one of those trendy modern vicars, a biker.
His verger has just gone "ga-ga" in a loonybin
Anderson is trying to placate the teenage hooligans in their leather jackets. It's clear that "the whole town is on the edge" in this story evocative of the disgraceful 1960's mods and rockers seaside brawls.
The Easter Flower Festival is ruined by these vandals as the town is invaded by lots more ton-up boys.
Councillor Charles Ogilvie (Glynn Edwards) runs a firm that is repairing the church tower. The "ruthless zombie," also runs the local beat joint and Anne gets a job there as a singer, though her song is hardly the most with-it.
Prof Val Randolph has been helping Drew and Anne, and suggests that the teenagers might be being influenced by some extra terrestrial force. Something gets into them certainly, for the church bells start a-ringing, the signal for rioting, masterminded by one of Ogilvie's sacked workers, Dave, but he is found drowned.
The walking wounded are treated in a makeshift hospital, the church, "ta, vic." Just who is behind this reign of terror, Drew asks the vicar. Is it the mad verger? Anne tries talking with him, but without success.
Val has a brainwave, he remembers the postcard of the rubbing must have been made in the bell tower, on one of the bells.
Drew goes there and is trapped in the belfry with the mastermind, "we each have a job to do." The bells start ringing for matins, and somehow he topples from the top, one dead villain.
To Undermind
. . . . . .
5 Too Many Enemies (June 5th 1965)
After a road accident William Gill winds up in hospital.
He undergoes a successful operation, but his brain scan shows a blank,
"the same unemotional mind" as the others, so
is he another Undermind agent?
Anne alerts Prof Val Randolph, they seems quite pally, "is that a proposal?" It seems that the telescopic site where Val works had suffered a breakin on the same night as this accident, and top secret equipment stolen.
The consultant Mr Hepworth, plays over a recording Gill has with his wife to Drew. Later, under hypnosis Hepworth questions Gill, "there's a stronger force..." Hepworth excitedly phones Drew, "you were right about this space thing."
Meanwhile Anne is posing as an almoner to interview Mrs Gill. She admits they aren't well off, but that he is expecing a legacy.
Hepworth is murdered, scalpel between his shoulder blades. Surely Gill couldn't have done it, even though he has discharged himself and vanished.
Drew and Anne search for him at his farm cottage
but are amazed to find it is empty, no furniture. They never did live here. In the dust a name is traced, Virginia Silbeam, it proves to be the title of a play being staged by the local rep. There Draw finds 'Mrs Gill' though she confesses she is only an actress who was asked to pose as Gill's wife. She knows nothing about the people who paid her.
Hepworth's colleague Dr Burath has found some gloves that belonged to the man who had transported Gill to the hospital the night of his accident. He's the man who works at the telescope site, the mute Chalmers. But he proves of no help, as he is involved in another hit and run accident.
Deeper exploring by Drew at the cottage shows up the stolen boxes, but he is trapped under some farm machinery. Luckily he is rescued in time.
Our Man from the Ministry, Henry Bracewell, is the man whom Val says can be trusted with Drew and Anne's evidence of Undermind. But when they meet him, it is actually Gill.
"This time I'm afraid you came a wee bit too near home." A gun is drawn, and Drew and Anne face being brainwashed themselves
To Undermind
. . . . . . .
HARPERS WEST ONE (1961, ATV)
The staff included widowed personnel officer Harriet Carr (Jan Holden),
with her secretary Julie Wheeler (Vivian Pickles), also public relations officer Mike Gilmore (Tristram Jellinek), and male staff controller Edward Cruickshank (Graham Crowden). The chairman of the store was Aubrey Harper (Arthur Hewlett).
The Second series in Autumn 1962 saw new regulars alongside Jan Holden- Philip Latham as the male staff controller Oliver Blackhouse,
Bernard Horsfall as PRO Philip Nash, with old timer Wally Patch as the security man.
After a few weeks, a new receptionist was introduced named Susan Sullivan- and the actress who played her? She was Wendy Richard.
The series was devised by John Whitney and Geoffrey Bellman, though the on-screen titles note that Diana Noel and Derrick de Marney provided the initial idea.
For cast details of some of this series.
My review of Story 1.5, shown on July 24th 1961 and featuring John Leyton.
Preparations are well in hand for the opening of the new Self Service Record Department. Johnny St Cyr and the Saints are coming at 11am to open it! He's a big idol in the pop world- "just a few twitches in the right place, fifteen thousand girls fall at your feet. What a way to go!" Or, if one is more jealous of his good looks- "a truly regal figure in the age of the indifferent."
The morning of the event sees Geoff Turner (John Kelland) getting a lucky break with the sale of a 600 guinea piano, to be "delivered today." But he's still in financial difficulties despite this windfall and he fiddles a colleague's commission. His expectant wife comes into the store telling him she's got to go into hospital "for a check-up."
Now Johnny arrives with the screaming fans- "isn't 'e lovely?" He signs autographs. However there are some snags- problem one is the group's pianist gets drunk. Geoff agrees to act as a "fill-in." Problem two- Johnny's wife Maureen (Gwendolyn Watts) appears, wanting to talk desperately with her husband. She shares her sob story with Geoff's wife.
Finally we get to the pop songs. Geoff does well accompanying. But afterwards he's on the carpet in front of his boss, Cruickshank. He's lucky not to get sacked.
The day ends with Geoff having a heart-to-heart with Johnny. He learns life at the top can be lonely- "it's not all milk and honey." But Geoff is offered the job of pianist with the group- but it will mean separation from his wife....
Although a straightforward story written by Richard Harris, there are some insights into the rather pathetic existence of top pop stars, with a contrast well delineated with the ordinary shop worker's struggle to meet ends meet.
To Drama menu
. . . . . .
Episode details of some of the 32 Harpers West One stories:
1.1 June 26th 1961
starring Jan Holden, Graham Crowden, Tristram Jellinek, Arthur Hewlett.
With Pauline Stroud (Jackie Webb), Fred Griffiths (George Barrard),
Vivian Pickles (Julie Wheeler, Miss Carr's secretary), Jean Gregory (Miss Springer), Jean Harvey (Miss Lindrum),
Susan Lyall Grant (Valerie Pritchett), Sylvia Melville (Mrs Sayers), Blanche Moore (Mrs Templar),
Frederick Peisley (Albert Fisher, floorwalker), Katherine Parr (Mrs Pritchett), Maureen Davis (Maureen),
Hazel Bainbridge (Connie Fleming), Pamela Greer (Sheila Selby), June Murphy (Eileen Mitchell),
Brian Hankins (Metcalfe), David Broomfield (Adler), Michael da Costa (Clegg), and John Dunbar (Ernie Wedge).
1.2 July 3rd 1961
starring Graham Crowden, Tristram Jellinek, Arthur Hewlett.
With
James Villiers as Lucien Harper, and Eynon Evans as Len Garrett.
Other regulars: Vivan Pickles, John Dunbar.
Also in the cast:
Jeremy Bisley (Wesley Pickering), Joyce Hemson (Lily Oakes),
Christina Gregg (Hilda Garrett), Felicity Young (Jane Carpenter), Natalie Kent (Customer),
Edward Burnham (Emlyn Lewis), Dixon Adams (John Crawford), Leslie Weston (Charlie Sweet),
Jill Melford (Sylvia Stephens), Dorothy Batley (Lady Burnette), Jean Marlowe (Miss Wilson),
Malcolm Webster (Morton Edwards), Trevor Baxter (Compere), Sheila Raynor (Mary Garrett).
1.3
July 10th 1961 - written by Owen Holder.
Starring Jan Holden, Graham Crowden, Tristram Jellinek, Arthur Hewlett.
With Maxine Holden as Araminta Green.
Regulars: Vivian Pickles, Pauline Stroud.
Also in the cast: Pauline Winter (Mrs Goddard), Hilary Crane (Lucy), Bridget McConnel (Joyce),
Joyce Cummings (Miss Berry), Violetta Farjeon (Freda), Gillian Cobbold (Diana),
Una Venning (Mrs Walby), Carole Allen (Jessie), Thelma Holt (Maisie), Norman Bowler (Roger Pike),
William Young (Bob Trevor), John Clarke (Bill N'Gya), Jeanne Mockford (Mrs Marks),
Winifred Hill (Mrs Rush), Gerald Anderson (Douglas Hurst), and Roger Avon (Charlie Wilson,
in several future stories).
1.4
July 17th 1961 - script: Jeremy Paul. Director: Peter Sasdy.
Starring Jan Holden, Graham Crowden.
With Richard Briers as Patrick Wainwright.
Other regulars: Pauline Stroud, Vivan Pickles, Roger Avon (Lift man).
Also in this cast: Norman Bowler (Roger Pike, who became a semi-regular), Judy Child (Dolly Freeman), Anna Cropper (Yvonne Seymour),
Louise Dunn (Anne Bailey), Douglas Muir (Mr Seymour), Emrys James (Donald), Jean Challis (Elspeth Seymour),
Bessie Love (Customer), and Patrick Boxill (Supervisor).
1.5 July 24th 1961 (my review above)
Script- Richard Harris. Director: Wilfrid Eades.
Starring Graham Crowden, Tristram Jellinek, Arthur Hewlett,
with John Leyton as Johnny St Cyr.
Other regular: Vivan Pickles.
Also in this cast: John Kelland (Geoff Turner), Clovissa Newcombe (First salesgirl also in 1.8),
June Speight (Second salesgirl), Eric Thompson (Peter Green), John Woodnutt (Mr Macalister),
Norman Pitt (Mr Newbold), Fred Hugh (Commissionaire also in 1.8, 12), Patricia Rogers (Mary Turner),
Monty Landis (Monty Davison), Gordon Rollings (Sammy Rivers), Mary Barclay (Mrs Brander),
Gwendolyn Watts (Maureen). Though not credited in TV Times, the on-screen credits also add these cast members:
Vicki Wolf, Delia Wicks, Janette Rowsell, June Ritchie and Andrew Lawrence.
1.6 July 31st 1961
Script- John Whitney and Geoffrey Bellman. Director: Philip Dale.
Only star in this story was Graham Crowden.
Other regular: Vivan Pickles.
With Arnold Bell as Pascoe (also in 1.12).
Also in this cast: Peter Layton (Ronnie Cobb), David Coote (Ginger Hunkin),
Joyce Hemson (Lili Oakes also in 1.9), Carole Lorimer (Beryl), Pamela Conway (Thelma),
Angela Douglas (Shirley Arnatt), Robin Wentworth (Ted Arnatt), Irene Arnold (Rose Arnatt),
Ian Percy (Gary Arnatt), Anthony Woodruff (Mr Fox), Philip Ray (Joe Stock), Michael Segal (Frank Mercer),
Roy Denton (Lift man),Raymond Hodge (Police sergeant).
1.7 August 7th 1961 -
Script: Diana Noel. Director: Peter Sasdy.
Starring Jan Holden, Tristram Jellinek,
Norman Bowler and Jean Harvey as Miss Lindrum (first seen in the first story, but now in a starring role),
with Noel Hood as Miss Duke, and Brian McDermott as Peter Charlesworth.
Other regulars: Vivan Pickles, Judy Child (previously in 1.4), Roger Avon.
Also in this cast: Norman Chappell (Tom Fowler), Trevor Maskell (Bill Annerley),
Francesca Annis (Jenny Bates), James McLoughlin (Paddy O'Hara), David Brierley (George Barton),
Annette Kerr (Miss Smith), Grace Newcombe (Mrs Cranleigh), Katy Wild (Penny Angel),
Betty Henderson (Customer), Daphne Freman (Maggie O'Hara),
also appearing: Jacqueline Lacey, Barbara Archer, Lissa Gray, Katherine Newman,
Lilian Grassom, Patricia Clapton.
1.8 (August 14th 1961) -
Script: Dail Ambler. Director: John Knight.
Starring Jan Holden, with
Norman Bowler and Donald Morley as 'Man.' Other regulars:
Vivian Pickles, Pauline Stroud, Joyce Hemson, Fred Griffiths, Fred Hugh, Clovissa Newcombe.
Also in this cast: Bridget Armstrong (Gillian Hulls), Adrienne Poster (Cathy Hulls),
Shirley Thieman (Joan Balred), Liane Winters (First Italian girl),
Mia Karam (Second Italian Girl), Elizabeth Reber (Elizabeth Hamble),
Muriel Zillah (Waitress), Bill Cartwright (Packer), Vincent Charles (Maintenance man), Joe Ritchie (Fireman),
Fred McNaughton (Policeman).
1.9 (August 21st 1961)
1.10 (August 28th 1961)
- Script: Max Marquis. Director: Philip Dale.
Starring Jan Holden, Graham Crowden and Norman Bowler.
Plus: Vivian Pickles, Joyce Hemson,
Also in the cast: Norman Scace (Henry Bastable),
Mary McMillen (Laura), Barbara Joss (Jennifer), Patricia Garwood (Joan Moore),
David Rose (Ken Ford), Jeremy Longhurst (Walter Stone),
Dennis Edwards (Simon Wood), G Ruthven Mitchell (Customer),
Robert Desmond (Flash boy), Juno Stevas (Wanda Savage),
Sidney Vivian (Ted Moore), Marion Wilson (Dolly Moore).
1.11 (September 4th 1961)
- Script: Richard Harris. Director: Dennis Vance.
Starring Jan Holden, with
Gerald Andersen as Douglas Hurst (also in 1.12, 2.14), Tenniel Evans as Charles Underwood and
Richard Longman as Wilfred Ashton.
Plus: Vivian Pickles and Norman Bowler.
Also in the cast: William Gaunt (Robert Stacey), Veronica Strong (Betty Elliott),
John Rutland (Assistant), Dorothy White (Elisabeth Ashton), Edward Phillips (Waiter),
June Monkhouse (First customer), Sydney Bromley (Second Customer), Harriet Petworth (Third Customer).
1.12 (September 11th 1961)
- Script: Bill Craig. Director: Philip Dale.
Starring Jan Holden, Graham Crowden and Arthur Hewlett,
with Gerald Andersen and Arnold Bell.
Plus: Vivian Pickles and Fred Hugh.
Also in the cast: David Gregory (Bob Prior), Jill Booty (Liz Barton),
David Graham (Anderson), Fred McNaughton (Johnson), Billy Milton (Middleton),
Grace Newcombe (First customer), Frances Cohen (Miss Egret), Tim Pearce (Joe Stobbart),
Pat O'Reilly (Second customer).
1.13 (September 18th 1961) -
Script: G Bellman and J Whitney. Director: Peter Sasdy,
and starring Jan Holden, Graham Crowden, Tristram Jellinek and Arthur Hewlett.
With Derek Francis as Hinchcliffe.
Plus: Vivian Pickles, Norman Bowler, and Pauline Stroud.
Also in the cast: Cameron Hall (Rumbold), Michael Da Costa (Clegg),
Janet Bruce (Mrs Brice), Jeanne Mockford (Woman), Keith Marsh (Snaithe),
John Brooking (Bamber), Charles Morgan (Gurney), Henry McGee (Roberts),
Lilian Grassom (Miss Huxtable).
End of series 1
Second series:
starring Jan Holden, and new characters:
Bernard Horsfall as Philip Nash PRO.
Philip Latham as Oliver Backhouse, male staff controller.
Other semi-regulars: Gordon Ruttan as Jeff Tyson, assistant to Nash,
Jayne Muir as Frances (Fanny) Peters, secretary to the PRO,
Rona Leigh as Tracey Wiggin, receptionist.
Veteran Wally Patch played the security man, though he is not in any of the stories of which I have details.
2.1 (Monday September 17th 1962 8pm)
- Script: G Bellman and J Whitney. Director: Dinah Thetford. Producer: Rex Firkin,
starring Jan Holden,
Bernard Horsfall, and
Philip Latham.
Other semi-regulars: Gordon Ruttan,
Jayne Muir,
Rona Leigh.
Also in the cast:
John Kelly (Painter), John Garvin (Chadwick), David Calderisi (Nicolas Ortega),
Elizabeth Ashley (Mrs St Clair), Gay Cameron (Ruth Byng), Derek Benfield (Cedric Gilbert),
Andre Charise (waiter), Gerald Case (Gerald St Clair), Paul Bacon (Tilling), Beaufoy Milton (Harry).
Synopsis-
Nicholas Ortega, the Spanish salesman in the Antique Department at Harpers,
is given a present by a wealthy customer, Mrs St Clair. This leads to unexpected trouble
for Ortega, both from his girlfriend Ruth, and also Mrs St Clair's husband.
Seeking publicity on a new French cheese, Philip Nash takes a journalist to lunch at a restaurant
where he has arranged that Harpers' cheese will be on the menu. This gets the publicity,
but catches the Food Department unawares.
2.2 (September 24th 1962)
2.3 (October 1st 1962)
2.4 (October 8th 1962)-
Script: Jeremy Paul. Director: Geoffrey Nethercott.
Starring Jan Holden,
with other regulars Gordon Ruttan,
Jayne Muir,
Rona Leigh.
Philip Grout as Len Carson.
Also in the cast:
Iris Russell (Shirley Medhurst), Rex Graham (George Medhurst), Peter Fraser (Keith Lacey),
Ann Davies (Angela Clarke), Sheila Bernette (Pat Williams), Keith Anderson (Martin Cobb),
Jennifer White (Gillian), Nigel Green (Marinus Van Leut), Michael Beint (First reporter),
Dixon Adams (Second reporter).
Keith Lacey, a young assistant in the photographic department, and his girl friend Angela,
break a valuable camera.
2.5 (October 15th 1962) Script: Raymond Bowers. Starring Philip Latham and Arthur Hewlett,
with one other regular
Jayne Muir.
Also in the cast: Patrick Troughton (Notril), Nita Moyce (Miss Springer), Colin Douglas (Mr Sweet), Pauline Devaney (Laura Harrison), Dorothy Smith (Miss Bigley), Barbara Archer (Sara Turner), Elizabeth Hart (Mrs Hunt), Godfrey James (PC Hunt), Carole Ann Ford (Marilyn), Anthony Gardner (Winston), Michael Haughey (Ted), Antony Sadler (Charlie).
2.6 (October 22nd 1962)-
Script: Richard Harris. Director: Royston Morley.
Starring Jan Holden, Philip Latham, Bernard Horsfall and Arthur Hewlett.
With other regulars Gordon Ruttan,
Wendy Richards as Susan Sullivan,
Philip Grout.
Also in the cast:
Geoffrey Palmer (Harry Adams), Bruce Beeby (Pat Woodthorpe), Mark Burns (Dennis Scott),
Maitland Moss (Landlord), Anne Blake (Berenice Sheridan), Nan Braunton (Miss Osborne),
Joe Ritchie (Ernie), Royston Tickner (George).
Harriet has entered an art competition set up by the London Guild of Shopkeepers.
The artistic, and not so artistic, employees submit their entries- with surprising results.
2.7 (October 29th 1962)
Script: Jeremy Paul. Director: Hugh Rennie.
Starring Jan Holden and Philip Latham.
With other regulars
Jayne Muir,
Gordon Ruttan,
Wendy Richards.
Also in the cast:
Rosemary Miller (Christine Willett), Ray Barrett (Joe Willett),
Marina Martin (Sonia Hemming), John Barcroft (Frank Busby), Sheila Raynor (Mrs Braithwaite).
When Harpers decide to feature the marriage problems of a young bride in the
house magazine, they choose Christine WIllett. But her marriage is no ordinary one.
2.8 (November 5th 1962)
2.9 (November 12th 1962)
Script: G Bellman and J Whitney. Director: Royston Morley.
Starring Jan Holden and Philip Latham.
With Jayne Muir.
Also in this cast:
Frances White (Daphne Sinden), Anna Turner (Mrs Riddler),
Judy Child (Mrs Sinden), Sheila Beckett (Miss Underwood), Charles Lamb (Jennings).
Oliver Backhouse, off duty, meets a girl who badly needs a job.
He tries to help her, and she is taken on by Harpers. But people start talking.
2.10 (November 19th 1962)
Script: Richard Harris. Director: Philip Barker. Producer: Royston Morley.
Starring Philip Latham.
With Jayne Muir.
Also in this cast:
Richard Vernon (Arthur Purvis), William Gaunt (Ralph Malden),
Brian Steele (Roy Turner), David Webb (Gordon Moffatt),
Gerald Harper (Rex Staple), Fred Ferris (Charlie Warren),
Brenda Dunrich (Mrs Dangerfield), Ann Way (Miss Melhuish),
Ian Wilson (Mr Watkins), Raymond Adamson (Ronnie).
Purvis realises that life is passing him by, so he takes
a surprising step to get himself out of the rut.
2.11 (November 26th 1962)
2.12 (December 3rd 1962)
2.13 (December 17th 1962)
2.14 (December 24th 1962)
Script: Robert Holmes. Director: Gerald Blake. Producer: Royston Morley.
This story starring Jan Holden, Philip Latham, Bernard Horsfall, Arthur Hewlett.
With Jayne Muir, Wendy Richard, Gerald Andersen as Douglas Hurst.
Also in this cast:
Pauline Winter (Jane Harper), Helen Christie (Lois Hurst),
Frederick Piper (John Ramsey), Nora Gordon (Edith Cramb),
William Douglas (Robert Edwards), Arthur Mullard (Alf Enwright),
Michael Graham Cox (Edgar Cartwright), Margot Lister (Miss Benson Brooke),
Hana Pravda (Mrs Schrader), Katherine Page (Miss Adamson), Malcolm Russell (Hardcastle).
Harpers holds its annual party for former members of staff.
For one of them, John Ramsey, it is an evening that changes his future.
2.15 (December 31st 1962)
2.16 (January 7th 1963)
2.17 (January 14th 1963)
2.18 (January 21st 1963)
2.19 (January 28th 1963- final ever story)
To Harpers West One main section . . . Drama menu
. . . . . .
MRS THURSDAY
The first series surprisingly hit the top spot in the TAM ratings.
Accomplished film actress Kathleen Harrison was a natural in this role of a charlady who comes into a fortune, a series created by Ted Willis for ATV.
Mrs, T's 'guardian' was the slightly irritating Mr Hunter played by Hugh Manning.
Question- What was the nice title of the opening story?
Answer
The episode below has been released on dvd and is worth buying. 37 others from the three series remain unseen for 40 years.
1.8 You Don't Have To Book for Buckingham Palace (May 3rd 1966)-
Mrs T's trying to avoid another of those "rather boring" business meetings "hiding" in Mr Hunter's office. On the agenda is a discussion about holidays, but Mrs T doesn't need any rest. "I've got nothing to worry about even," she says rather plaintively. The truth is she has no friends now, so Mr Hunter arranges an evening with the directors and their wives, but it's a "frost." So she contacts old cleaner friend Ethel (Dandy Nichols) and their long bouts of silence are hardly encouraging. "I'm neither one thing or the other," observes Mrs T.
However Mr Hunter wants Mrs T to have a holiday, if only, to be frank, because he wants to have it off with someone, anyone. He attempts to bring Ethel and Mrs T together at bingo, but Ethel fails to turn up as she has just had a flaming row with her boorish husband Arthur (Colin Douglas). Mrs T looks her old pal up and she's in her element looking after Ethel and tidying up her home. Her example almost reforms Arthur who promises to take Ethel away on holiday. So Mrs T is once again all alone, and as Mr Hunter has failed to impress any secretary going, he and Mrs T enjoy a happy 'holiday,' seeing the sights of London Town
Drama menu
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Virgin Of The Secret Service (1968)
was perhaps one of ATV's most maligned studio bound series.
The stars were:
in the title role Clinton Greyn,
Veronica Strong as Virginia Cortez his fiance,
John Cater as Doublett, Virgin's boss,
Alexander Dore as von Brauner, and
Noel Coleman as Colonel Shaw-Camberley
The series was a kind of Boys Own drama of
Captain Robert Virgin who has to stop the enemy in the shape of Karl von Brauner
from bringing down, gasp, the Empire. Gad!
My review of 1 Dark Deeds on the Northwest Frontier
"Damn it all, that's not good enough," yells Col Richards of the 7th Punjab Cavalry, maybe echoing the verdict on this series, though in fact he is complaining about the murder of cavalrymen, and gad sir, even worse, the loss of Major Hamilton's three fingers. If the restless natives are not behind the killings, then who is?
Croquet on the lawn- Cpt Virgin is commissioned to find out.
In Afghanistan, a celebrated butterfly expert Theodor Green (Cyril Luckham) is captured by Princess Katerina. She hates all English, as they killed her husband. She's backed by, gasp, the Russians. With their help she plans to invade India, but the plans are hidden in beads which Theodor's 18 year old daughter Polly inadvertently finds.
In by balloon descends Virgin, discerning Polly is being molested. The attackers scatter before him, "oh captain, how can I ever thank you enough?" cries Polly clutching her breast.
She is whisked by ballooon to safety, away to the 7th Punjab, and "the joy of 800 rough tough lusty fighting men." When Col Richards realises Virgin is "one of them," he agrees to arrange for him to meet the local emir. But before that happens, another murderous attack on Polly, her screams saving her as Cpt Virgin dangles from the lightshades to chase off the intruders, "Miss Green, are you all right?" "Oh yes, captain," (swooning), though the captain isn't bright enough to see that the intruders are after something, her beads in fact. With the arrival of the enigmatic Mrs Cortez, there's now a chaperone for Polly.
The emir's emissary, the wasir (Denis Shaw) has his confab with Virgin, but it is interrupted by another attack. This time Mrs Cortez is on hand to sensuously bathe Cpt Virgin's wound.
"You bumbling cretins," screams Katerina, "this Captain Virgin is a fly in the soup." So she leaves it all to her ally, von Brauner. "I shall recover ze beads and send Captain Virgin to his final resting place," (evil cackle).
But Virgin has found Green in Katerina's dungeon, but maybe it's a trap by the evil von Brauner, for Virgin finds himself locked inside the jail with the butterfly expert. Absurdly he had brought Polly with him too!
Von Brauner snatches her beads, and the attack on India is now imminent.
"There may be one slender chance," offers the gallant captain, it's a carrier pigeon. There's another ray of hope as Mrs Cortez has followed them all and learned that the veiled princess is not the legendary beauty of her reputation. She is locked in her boudoir.
"If you have one stroke of decency in you..." appeals Virgin to von Brauner, but of course he has none, and "the entertainment commences," that is the execution of the prisoners.
Mrs Cortez however impersonates the queen rather well and the deaths are called off by her. There is an unseemly scuffle and many scores are settled. "The British Empire will be a safer place without her."
There are several ways of playing this Boys' Own stuff. The straight laced, which is largely how the lead Clinton Greyn plays it.
Or you can act childlishly, a la Cyril Luckham. Or the usual method is to overact, the approach adopted by
Alexander Dore as the evil German, and by Bernard Hepton as the colonel, and most splendidly by Patience Collier as the ranting princess. But on any count, the mixture here never gels at all
Brief Details of all 13 stories . . Drama menu
. . . . . . .
The thirteen stories in Virgin of the Secret Service
were: 1 Dark Deeds on the Northwest Frontier (Thursday 28th March 1968 9pm) - my review is above
The other stories were: 2 Entente Cordiale (4th April 1968).
With Frederick Peisley, and Robert Crewdson.
3 The Great Ring Of Akba (11th April 1968).
Written by Ted Willis, with
John Collin, John Horsley, Mark Colleano.
Cpt Virgin crosses the burning sands of Arabia alone, to meet a cruel usurper face to face.
4 Russian Roundabout (18th April 1968).
guest stars Michael Coles and Gabrielle Drake.
With Desmond Llewellyn, Peter Diamond and Terence Rigby.
Cpt Virgin travels to St Petersberg and finds in the centre of a web of villainy and intrigue a Prince
who dreams of being crowned Emperor of India.
5 The Amazons (25th April 1968).
guest stars: John Welsh and Sean Lynch.
Cpt Robert Virgin fights his way through the jungles of Brazil,
and finds himself caught up in plot to drive out the British
and seize the Inca gold.
6 The Rajah And The Suffragette (2nd May 1968).
With guest artists Rodney Bewes, Jennie Linden, Clive Morton and Roger Delgaldo.
Cpt Virgin locates a missing suffragette in a Rajah's school of love,
and learns of a plot to entomb an entire British regiment in the Valley of Sindra-Lal.
7 Persuasion Of A Million Drops (9th May 1968).
With guest artists: Norman Scace, and Michael Lees.
Cpt Virgin goes in search of a new and terrifying invention
and finds himself face to face with a man who dreams of making the whole world a province of China.
8 Pride Of Assassins (16th May 1968 - the series was shunted off in some regions to the post News at Ten slot).
With Eugene Deckers, and Tommy Godfrey.
Cpt Virgin hunts down the brilliant French marksman Bobo le Mec,
who is suspected of planning to assassinate King Carol of Croatia.
9 Across The Silver Pass Of Gusri Song (23rd May 1968).
With Georgina Hale, and Ewen Solon.
10 The Pyramid Plot (30th May 1968).
With Lisa Daniely, William Kendall and Paul Darrow.
11 A Fate Worse Than Death (6th June 1968).
With Oscar Quitak, Sean Lynch and Michael Wynne.
12 The Professor Goes West (13th June 1968)
With David Bauer, Al Mancini, Carlton Hobbs and Jerry Stovin.
13 Wings Over Glencraig (20th June 1968- final adventure)
With Peter Sinclair, Freddie Earlle, John Grieve and Milton Reid.
Cpt Virgin travels to Scotland in a desperate bid to save a new and terrifying
invention for the Empire.
Viewer reaction was probably worse than for even The Prisoner,
with even TV Times finding
few viewers to praise it. Here are some typical comments from numerous disgruntled viewers:
"load of rubbish"... "childish and over-acted"....
"a load of tripe. The adverts are far more entertaining"...
"unadulterated drivel, and badly acted drivel at that"...
"please spare us the agony of such rubbish. They must think
the viewing public have the mentality of 12 year olds"....
"I failed to find anything remotely entertaining in it"....
"please do not sell it abroad. Foreign viewers would never
believe that anyone could put together such a programme."
The responsibility was talented producer Josephine Douglas who
seems to have fallen out of favour as a result.
Ted Willis had created the series, but this must have been one of his off days.
Question- Who was the well known writer credited with creating this series?
Answer
Drama menu
Virgin of the Secret Service
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