Drama Smörgåsbord - Disc 6

Drama Smörgåsbord - Disc 6:
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Brick Is Beautiful...here is a Michael Heathcoat review of this BBC film:
Clever and spirited telemovie set in Greater Manchester during the Thatcher years of government. Made about midway through her reign, this film hones in on one aspect of British life under her that had as yet been largely ignored. Several films had already attacked her political legacy in socially aware narratives highlighting the devastation to traditionally working class communities who were now without much work at all. This made for TV film highlights the positive points of Thatcherism, enterprise and opportunities for those that have the ambition to create new jobs, new fields of work, even. Its characters are all young and from an area where many of the traditional manufacturing type jobs were disappearing quickly, and unemployment was now very common, especially among the young. And so, taking inspiration from the growing band of entrepreneurs and yuppies that were benefiting from the changing economy, a group of young no-hopers is encouraged to join together and go for it, with the support of a local enterprise scheme. To be any more specific about it would be to spoil the story, but obviously, the clue to this group's new found success is in the title.Their business idea is a very good one, and naturally enough, it brings them great reward, or at least one or two of them. And this brings us to the main focus of the film, the changing relationships within this group of young friends as the film examines the effects their growing success has, and how their old working class values are tested and ultimately their bonds with one another. It is a clever look at life and culture at a time of great change and the film sparkles with freshness, giving the young cast a chance to prove how full of potential young people can be when given the chance. It chooses its core location very well, and has that early 'Madchester' vibe about it thanks to a lively screenplay and some top rate acting by young amateurs. A very slick product all round and still one of the most memorable British TV films made.
Ian Murcer had a role in this. Some might be familiar with him from Common As Muck or A Touch of Frost. Paul Oldham, who was Sherbet in First of the Summer Wine and was also in G.B.H. and more recently Boy Meets Girl. Caroline Milmoe, who was the first Julie in Bread and was Maggie in Hot Metal.
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My Beautiful Son - this Granada TV film is a bit of a mixed bag. Written by Tim Kazurinsky, who was a Saturday Night Live (NBC USA) cast member back in the early 80's, it featured well known American actors like Olympia Dukakis, George Wendt, Paul Reiser with the rest of the cast being British such as Julie Walters and Amy Robbins. Here's a brief review from IMDB:
The cable version of this dramedy ( drama/comedy) is "Strange Relations" but they could have called it "Strange Bedfellows."It's such a quirky, unique piece of work. It defies much description, and the plot summaries above tell the tale.The acting is surprising good. For once, Paul Reiser is not exactly playing Paul Reiser.Julie Walters is phenomenal, as always. Amy Robbins (a cousin of Paul McCartney, and sister to Brit actress Kate Robbins) is excellent, and some might remember her from "Casualty".The setting is primarily Liverpool, and it's both an unflinching and romantic view of the city, in my humble opinion. All in all, this is worth 2 hours of your time, and if you spend 120 minutes with it on cable - it won't be time wasted.
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Station Jim - a BBC period film with George Cole (Minder, Blott On The Landscape), Celia Imrie had a role and Prunella Scales (Fawlty Towers, After Henry) and husband Timothy West had appearances. A lot of it was filmed at the Bluebell Railway (restored steam line) in Sussex and at the southern terminus station at Sheffield Park, a National Trust Garden. You can take the train from there to the northern terminus where a short walk takes you to another great National Trust Manor and Garden at Standen. I'll spare you the photo's this time (lol). Here's a brief review from IMDB:
This enchanting tale of a small railway station in the English countryside will appeal to adults and children alike. There is plenty of plot going on with an orphanage that must be saved (echoes of The Cider House Rules), a blossoming romance (featuring Laura Fraser - yum yum), and an impending visit to the station by HRH Queen Victoria. And it's all held together by a feisty little Jack Russell called Jim who always saves the day and will charm the pants off of anyone who watches it. Wonderful.
.....echoes of Cider House Rules....a lot of that film was shot where I used to live before relocating to Florida a couple years ago. Again, I'll spare you the pix.
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Enid - a BBC film about famed children's author Enid Blyton starring Helena Bonham Carter. This description is from the BBC:
Illuminating and surprising drama telling the story of arguably the most popular children's storyteller of all, Enid Blyton.
It reveals how Blyton became the writer who would capture more youthful imaginations than anyone else, following her career from ambitious, driven and as yet unpublished young woman to household name and moral guardian, while glimpsing her own childhood - a dark time, far from the carefree, happy idyll portrayed in her books.
Through marriages and children, the roles of Enid the wife (to Hugh and then Kenneth) and mother are portrayed, ones she struggled to fulfil while balancing them with her extraordinary output.
The film also uncovers a strong and resourceful woman; a woman who never really grew up; a woman who rewrote the endings of many chapters of her real life, sometimes with cruel and hurtful results; and a woman whose legacy has often been criticised but whose success cannot be argued with, who gave children the stories they wanted.
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Margot - BBC "drama based on events in the life of ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn. At the beginning of the 1960s, Fonteyn faces retirement as a prima ballerina and a crisis in her marriage to Panamanian 'politician' Tito de Arias. When the much younger Rudolf Nureyev arrives on the scene, he transforms Margot's professional and personal life in a partnership celebrated around the world. But when Tito is shot and paralysed, the dancer must face an agonising choice about her future."
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On Expenses - recent BBC "drama about American journalist Heather Brooke's fight for the disclosure of MPs' expenses under the Freedom of Information Act, resulting in one of the defining political scandals of the decade."
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and to fill out the disc, Episode 13 of the old TV program Edgar Wallace Mystery: The Sinister Man from December 1961. Wilfrid Brambell (Steptoe And Son) has a role and Last of the Summer Wine followers might spot a young Burt Kwouk or William Gaunt (Sgt. Cork, The Champions, No Place Like Home, Next Of Kin).