Thank you so much generalravon. It takes me straight back to the beginning of my career in 1980s when I saw the series first and further back to my old school (Portora) in the West of Ireland in 60s and 70s. We were comfortably a few years behind the rest of the world in the west of ireland (gas light downstairs, candlelight upstairs on my grand dad's farm), and the look of the school reminds me so much. You can see the quality in the series from the first 5 minutes, eh? Cheers!
I am really looking forward to this, as I love 18th-20th century English History. I am particularly interested in the changes in social conditions following WWI. Thank you for another opportunity to enjoy and continue learning. It's seems to be like "Upstairs, Downstairs" in it's quality and I know I won't be disappointed (like I am in the new version of that series). Sincerely.
@generalravon totally agree. the last episode was very rushed. if they wanted to keep it at 13 episodes then maybe the penultimate episode where the german boy comes to the school could have been condensed a bit
I love this scene. Andrew Davies embellished the novel somewhat by making David quite bolshie and creating the rather heated exchange between him and Herries. In my opinion it was a terrific piece of writing and a perfectly acceptable liberty on Andrew's part!
Agreed. And unfortunately I'd have to include Kim Braden as Julia Darbyshire in your list of miscast female leads. The warmth of her character in the book transformed into almost creepy seductiveness in the tv version.
DarrenBonJovi Fair comment. You are spot on about the Darbyshire role in the book although Kim Braden played a good part in the series imo albeit nothing at all like the original character
@hezkyden its quite ironic really as in the book Carter end up running a prep school and sending many of the pupils to balmfylde and the two of them become great friends.. i think its the best ever single series period drama made. wonderful acting by virtually all !!!! the two exceptions IMO anyway being Belinda Lang and Susan Jameson who were both quite hammy !!
Does everyone recommend Upstairs Downstairs? It was on PBS way back when, but I was young and ne'er watched television. Pow-Wow sort of resembles Al Pacino in the first Godfather film. I am probably alone in this opinion; it is a compliment.
Hmm, in the book he'd been a scholarship student for some time and he had his accent under control. Further, the literary version was not such a chip-on-shoulder type about class.
@lorcain I love this series and I will eventually upload it all. I always felt though that the last episode was a bit rushed and it could have done with 1 more episode. I think if you have read the book you will understand what I am saying. I also love the Swann trilogy, I don't think it was ever made as a tv series.
That wasn't in the book. The literary P.J.'s class/ethnic obsession was not worn on his sleeve. He knew where he came from but he never didn't wear it on his sleeve and he didn't make a production of it.
@hezkyden your comment misses the mark. Yes DPJ was a socialist but watch the TV version closely and it shows many flaws on his part, not least his battles with Blunt with regards to the war memorial. and the comments he makes with regards to his politics when being interviewedby the governors regarding Allcocks attempt to get him dismissed !!! And Carter (the pompous coward) is shown to have the interests of the school at heart if his methods where rather less than subtle
![Hancock's Half Hour! (Radio) - Series 1.2 [E12 - E16 Incl Chapters] 1955 [High Quality]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8fK2fnomwUQ/mqdefault.jpg)
What a wonderful drama this is! I do love Algy - he's more like a kindly grandad or uncle than a Headmaster!
Thank you so much generalravon. It takes me straight back to the beginning of my career in 1980s when I saw the series first and further back to my old school (Portora) in the West of Ireland in 60s and 70s. We were comfortably a few years behind the rest of the world in the west of ireland (gas light downstairs, candlelight upstairs on my grand dad's farm), and the look of the school reminds me so much.
You can see the quality in the series from the first 5 minutes, eh?
Cheers!
I am really looking forward to this, as I love 18th-20th century English History. I am particularly interested in the changes in social conditions following WWI. Thank you for another opportunity to enjoy and continue learning. It's seems to be like "Upstairs, Downstairs" in it's quality and I know I won't be disappointed (like I am in the new version of that series). Sincerely.
I recognised Rodney Trotter as a school boy, watching the Rugby.
@generalravon
totally agree. the last episode was very rushed. if they wanted to keep it at 13 episodes then maybe the penultimate episode where the german boy comes to the school could have been condensed a bit
I love this scene.
Andrew Davies embellished the novel somewhat by making David quite bolshie and creating the rather heated exchange between him and Herries. In my opinion it was a terrific piece of writing and a perfectly acceptable liberty on Andrew's part!
Always thought Frank Middlemass was perfectly cast as Algy.
Having read the book the WHOLE cast with the exception of Susan Jameson and probably Belinda Lang were SUPERBLY cast.............
Agreed. And unfortunately I'd have to include Kim Braden as Julia Darbyshire in your list of miscast female leads. The warmth of her character in the book transformed into almost creepy seductiveness in the tv version.
DarrenBonJovi Fair comment. You are spot on about the Darbyshire role in the book although Kim Braden played a good part in the series imo albeit nothing at all like the original character
@hezkyden
its quite ironic really as in the book Carter end up running a prep school and sending many of the pupils to balmfylde and the two of them become great friends..
i think its the best ever single series period drama made. wonderful acting by virtually all !!!!
the two exceptions IMO anyway being Belinda Lang and Susan Jameson who were both quite hammy !!
Does everyone recommend Upstairs Downstairs? It was on PBS way back when, but I was young and ne'er watched television. Pow-Wow sort of resembles Al Pacino in the first Godfather film. I am probably alone in this opinion; it is a compliment.
Hmm, in the book he'd been a scholarship student for some time and he had his accent under control. Further, the literary version was not such a chip-on-shoulder type about class.
@lorcain I love this series and I will eventually upload it all. I always felt though that the last episode was a bit rushed and it could have done with 1 more episode. I think if you have read the book you will understand what I am saying. I also love the Swann trilogy, I don't think it was ever made as a tv series.
That wasn't in the book. The literary P.J.'s class/ethnic obsession was not worn on his sleeve. He knew where he came from but he never didn't wear it on his sleeve and he didn't make a production of it.
@hezkyden
your comment misses the mark. Yes DPJ was a socialist but watch the TV version closely and it shows many flaws on his part, not least his battles with Blunt with regards to the war memorial. and the comments he makes with regards to his politics when being interviewedby the governors regarding Allcocks attempt to get him dismissed !!!
And Carter (the pompous coward) is shown to have the interests of the school at heart if his methods where rather less than subtle