I saw this some years ago and it would be certainly be very close to my favourite Crown Court story. A very poignant case and very powerful words by the vicar when asked to talk about Leslie Simon in the line of the very harsh questioning by the defence barrister - one of those instances where it seemed the victim was the one on trial. Once again the story shows how Crown Court pushed the boundaries of daytime TV. It's a shame Jez that you're almost at the end of the Crown Court uploads but I think I speak for everyone when I say how much tremendous viewing they've provided and we are hugely thankful for your efforts in putting them up here.
Poor Gerry Sundquist who played Barry. He was 22 years old when he appeared in this Crown Court story. Very sadly on 1st August 1993 he committed suicide by jumping in front of a train at Norbition Railway Station. He was 37. He left a suicide note apologising to his family for "letting them down".
I believe this to be correct, that Sundquist was, among other things, finding it impossible to deal with ageing & losing his looks, which partially lead to his tragic demise. I completely sympathise!!
Rather bizarre camerawork in this one, all those gigantic close-ups. Did the director think he was making The Passion of Joan of Arc? Full marks for keeping the defendant out of focus for so long, though. And good writing, casting, and acting, as in nearly all episodes of this series.
Great episode, the close ups and the lighting, light and dark shadows, excellent stuff. The script and acting top draw ... My own view was that the young man did attack the older guy if I was on the jury that is what I would have argued ... Yet I also thought the older man was there for sexual reasons and had picked the wrong fella ... It was a sad case all round and I felt sorry for the older man getting injured ..awesome episode.
Wow, I had my fingers crossed at verdict time, thank goodness it was the right one (IMO). Recognised actor Derek Smith (playing the victim) he was the 28" Waist customer in an early Are You Being Served Episode "Dear Sexy Knickers". Another great episode Jez!
They were from a different era, as you can see. Some episodes are a bit cheesy, but the general quality is way better than much of what's on offer today.
These programmes are always a good indicator of the values of the time. Don't forget, homosexuality had only been legal for about five years when this was made
@@johnking5174 Although this series is based on English law, let us not forget that at the time of recording it was still illegal in Scotland and Northern Ireland (legalised in 1981 and 1982 respectively)
A good indicator of the times, actually not indicating but of the times itself for the verdict. Remember the jury is a real one, not actors. They found the young man guilty. Even though the older man was not easy to follow in his behaviour. He's account of being in the toilets, lingering, didn't seem plausible but that is why one should not judge on a first account but to hear the other side. But the jury could see this was a case of gay bashing and the truth was more important than any dislikes which, possible a few of them had.
@@flashtrash7830Well, eleven of them are - the foreman (or woman) is an actor or actress, as real people can’t speak in a drama or whatever, according to Equity rules (Equity being the actors’ union), so the foreman is usually an unknown actor or actress!
@@arthurvasey They never seem to show the whole jury clearly in any of the episodes I’ve watched. So is it possible that the twelve are all members of the public as stated but an unacknowledged actor actually plays the foreman but doesn’t take part in arriving at the verdict?
Far too much close-up camera work of faces compared to earlier episodes. Hardly any distant shots of the courtroom, making it very difficult to 'place' all the characters.
@@jezt42 Poor Gerry Sundquist who played Barry. He was 22 years old when he appeared in this Crown Court story. Very sadly on 1st August 1993 he committed suicide by jumping in front of a train at Norbition Railway Station. He was 37. He left a suicide note apologising to his family for "letting them down"
Glad Doc Morrisey found work as a judge after being fired from Sunshine Desserts. Sorry, I mean S NS E D SS TS. Mr Mollie Sugden & one time Mr Betty Turpin; Timothy Lumsden's Dad a key witness.
David Burke: born 1934 is 89 in 2023: Was cast as Doctor Watson in Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett: After him Edward Hardwicke (1932-2011) took the role of Dr Watson:
99.9% of people would know better than to wander around a park at midnight - poor, timid Mr.Simon, though, was of the 0.1%. A little glass or two of brandy was about as brave as he ever got. Even if he *had* made "advances" towards Gems, the latter's reaction was so OTT that it was indefensible.
Different times. Today you would not dream of it. In the 70s young men often went out what was called queer bashing. No one announced they were gay back then.
Hmm. I found myself wondering whether or not there was not one but two individuals who might be, shall we say, confused about their own feelings. I thought the decision to keep the defendant out of focus almost until he entered the witness box was interesting. But, you can only decide a case on the evidence heard....
Didn’t recognise Derek Smith for a while; his naturally(?) curly hair is usually a dead giveaway. He’d have made a good John Reginald Halliday Christie, another who led a quiet life with furtive, and occasionally murderous, proclivities - not that it was shown Leslie Simon fell into the latter category.
I saw this some years ago and it would be certainly be very close to my favourite Crown Court story. A very poignant case and very powerful words by the vicar when asked to talk about Leslie Simon in the line of the very harsh questioning by the defence barrister - one of those instances where it seemed the victim was the one on trial. Once again the story shows how Crown Court pushed the boundaries of daytime TV. It's a shame Jez that you're almost at the end of the Crown Court uploads but I think I speak for everyone when I say how much tremendous viewing they've provided and we are hugely thankful for your efforts in putting them up here.
GMLPC hear, hear.
Agreed
A superb programme!
brilliant episode
Wow. They don't make TV like this anymore
Jez! You're too good to us! Thanks for all your dedication. It's greatly appreciated.
Poor Gerry Sundquist who played Barry. He was 22 years old when he appeared in this Crown Court story. Very sadly on 1st August 1993 he committed suicide by jumping in front of a train at Norbition Railway Station. He was 37. He left a suicide note apologising to his family for "letting them down".
Sad
I believe this to be correct, that Sundquist was, among other things, finding it impossible to deal with ageing & losing his looks, which partially lead to his tragic demise. I completely sympathise!!
It is very sad. I knew gerry. i performed with him at the stretford children's theatre in manchester in c. 1971.
@@Chillmax It's very tragic. I'm reading he developed a drug problem and that his career steeply declined
That’s very sad rip Gerry 🙏🏽
Thanks so much for uploading. I have wanted to see this one for ages.
A pleasure, Jon! :)
Excellent acting as ever. Crown CRT reminds me of what great acting was like, very compelling.
A good episode, I actually held my breath during the verdict
it seems to me that Leslie Simon is on trial NOT Barry Gem
Gerry Sundquist. RIP. Xxx
This was one of the best ones.
Rather bizarre camerawork in this one, all those gigantic close-ups. Did the director think he was making The Passion of Joan of Arc? Full marks for keeping the defendant out of focus for so long, though. And good writing, casting, and acting, as in nearly all episodes of this series.
Great episode Jez! This tv series is pure nostalgia 👍
Great episode, the close ups and the lighting, light and dark shadows, excellent stuff. The script and acting top draw ... My own view was that the young man did attack the older guy if I was on the jury that is what I would have argued ... Yet I also thought the older man was there for sexual reasons and had picked the wrong fella ... It was a sad case all round and I felt sorry for the older man getting injured ..awesome episode.
Wow, I had my fingers crossed at verdict time, thank goodness it was the right one (IMO). Recognised actor Derek Smith (playing the victim) he was the 28" Waist customer in an early Are You Being Served Episode "Dear Sexy Knickers". Another great episode Jez!
"Language, Maxwell !!", cautioned the judge.
Crown Court: television MASTERPIECE .
Wow. These are good. The first episode I viewed was A Man With Everything. This is the second episode. I'll check more of Crown Court👍🙂
They were from a different era, as you can see. Some episodes are a bit cheesy, but the general quality is way better than much of what's on offer today.
It would appear that the 'Fulchester Cottage' has been discovered!
Does anyone else find it slightly odd seeing Julian Holloway playing a serious role?
These programmes are always a good indicator of the values of the time. Don't forget, homosexuality had only been legal for about five years when this was made
Actually it had been legal since 1967, a decade before this story was aired in 1978, (it was recorded in 1977, and aired in Jan 1978).
@@johnking5174 Although this series is based on English law, let us not forget that at the time of recording it was still illegal in Scotland and Northern Ireland (legalised in 1981 and 1982 respectively)
A good indicator of the times, actually not indicating but of the times itself for the verdict. Remember the jury is a real one, not actors. They found the young man guilty. Even though the older man was not easy to follow in his behaviour. He's account of being in the toilets, lingering, didn't seem plausible but that is why one should not judge on a first account but to hear the other side. But the jury could see this was a case of gay bashing and the truth was more important than any dislikes which, possible a few of them had.
@@flashtrash7830Well, eleven of them are - the foreman (or woman) is an actor or actress, as real people can’t speak in a drama or whatever, according to Equity rules (Equity being the actors’ union), so the foreman is usually an unknown actor or actress!
@@arthurvasey They never seem to show the whole jury clearly in any of the episodes I’ve watched. So is it possible that the twelve are all members of the public as stated but an unacknowledged actor actually plays the foreman but doesn’t take part in arriving at the verdict?
penultimate, you have done a great job.
Good verdict, and it's a shame Gems (misnomer) couldn't be charged with perjury and libel. A very unpleasant MO.
Remember this was daytime TV. A little different from the crap on daytime TV today.
In Anglia region it was broadcast at 1.30 p.m. Some of the storylines/cases were quite sensitive to put it mildly.
Gems was probably with Maxwell in a cubicle!
This is a very good one.
thanks jezz.
Penultimate? Im hoping these dont stop as they are amazing! I'm hoping to see Fighting Fire With Fire again amongst others!
Far too much close-up camera work of faces compared to earlier episodes. Hardly any distant shots of the courtroom, making it very difficult to 'place' all the characters.
The story is quite sad. It is obvious it everything described happened.
Dave from the Winchester, playing another pub landlord.
Not such a nice one!
Beautiful Gerry Sundquist. 😥
Another one .I haven't seen.thought I'd done them all.
This is one of the better ones, IMO, Kirk. :)
@@jezt42 Poor Gerry Sundquist who played Barry. He was 22 years old when he appeared in this Crown Court story. Very sadly on 1st August 1993 he committed suicide by jumping in front of a train at Norbition Railway Station. He was 37. He left a suicide note apologising to his family for "letting them down"
Glad Doc Morrisey found work as a judge after being fired from Sunshine Desserts. Sorry, I mean S NS E D SS TS. Mr Mollie Sugden & one time Mr Betty Turpin; Timothy Lumsden's Dad a key witness.
Language Timothy
Good decision on this one 👍
David Burke: born 1934 is 89 in 2023:
Was cast as Doctor Watson in Sherlock Holmes
with Jeremy Brett:
After him Edward Hardwicke (1932-2011) took the
role of Dr Watson:
"The Queen against Gems" 😅
Gerry❤️✨i wish i was in the R i g h t place at the R i g h t time for you🧚♀️
99.9% of people would know better than to wander around a park at midnight - poor, timid Mr.Simon, though, was of the 0.1%. A little glass or two of brandy was about as brave as he ever got. Even if he *had* made "advances" towards Gems, the latter's reaction was so OTT that it was indefensible.
Different times. Today you would not dream of it. In the 70s young men often went out what was called queer bashing. No one announced they were gay back then.
OTT how? He pushed him away and he fell.
Hmm. I found myself wondering whether or not there was not one but two individuals who might be, shall we say, confused about their own feelings. I thought the decision to keep the defendant out of focus almost until he entered the witness box was interesting. But, you can only decide a case on the evidence heard....
Solitary maybe HOWEVER listening to the support for this victim of WhAT could have bern.bigoted reprisal was comforting .
I don't care about huge tracts of land! I just want to ... sing
Good Lord! The prosecuting council is Dr Watson!
Didn’t recognise Derek Smith for a while; his naturally(?)
curly hair is usually a dead giveaway. He’d
have made a good John Reginald Halliday Christie, another who led a quiet life
with furtive, and occasionally murderous, proclivities - not that it was shown Leslie
Simon fell into the latter category.
James Villiers have met him on a few occasions at The Viceroy Pub in Primrose hill. A bit pompous!
23:48. ❤️
14.34 that blokes face is so camp hilarious!
Disgraceful verdict.
Definitely the wrong verdict.
Jeanne. The pub landlord “I’ve ONLY got girls “ charming 🤨😏
The right verdict, the lad and his ' witnesses' were obviously homophobic Neanderthals!
I like your lovely canine avatar. What breed of dog is it?
@@kathleencampbell1138 Different attitudes to these issues, different values. These episodes were made over forty years ago.
@@stephenhardy312 Think it's a Burmese mountain dog. Sadly it's not mine, but a photo I took a couple of years ago in Ilfracombe.