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Post by Brian Denton on Apr 19, 2018 19:15:29 GMT
The Board has probably discussed it before, but this is a channel which shows some interesting old tv stuff, alongside 50s-60s films. I've just finished watching a three-segment play/drama called "Vacant Possession". It was Rediffusion from 1966, of little value although it was interesting to see Brian Murphy (George from "George & Mildred") putting on a cultured(ish) accent but doing that lip-smacking tic which is presumably personal rather than adopted for the part. Also the sting in the tail turning on the purchase of a property in Kentish Town for £4,500..... I shall keep an eye out on the schedules for the occasional dip-in. I watched an episode of "Gideon's Way" yesterday, which, as so often is the case, failed to grip me fifty odd years after I last saw it.  |
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Post by ianferrier on Apr 19, 2018 19:54:34 GMT
The Board has probably discussed it before, but this is a channel which shows some interesting old tv stuff, alongside 50s-60s films. I've just finished watching a three-segment play/drama called "Vacant Possession". It was Rediffusion from 1966, of little value although it was interesting to see Brian Murphy (George from "George & Mildred") putting on a cultured(ish) accent but doing that lip-smacking tic which is presumably personal rather than adopted for the part. Also the sting in the tail turning on the purchase of a property in Kentish Town for £4,500..... I shall keep an eye out on the schedules for the occasional dip-in. I watched an episode of "Gideon's Way" yesterday, which, as so often is the case, failed to grip me fifty odd years after I last saw it. It's been reported on Kaleidoscope Facebook that this is listed as a missing episode. |
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Post by Brian Denton on Apr 19, 2018 20:15:19 GMT
Interesting - just shows how tentative some of the databases are. I suppose I should record every UK TV prog on this channel, but I don't think I will!
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Post by Brian Denton on Apr 20, 2018 11:18:01 GMT
Anyway, my friend informs me it is moving to Sky at the end of the month, which kills it for me. Murdoch could discover every missing Dr Who,M&I and TOTP Beatles and I still wouldn't give a penny.
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Post by Gary Sayers on Apr 20, 2018 13:39:31 GMT
The on screen info for 'Vacant Possession' (on sky) actually mentioned that it was a previously lost piece of TV, directed by Peter Moffat.
As for Gideon's Way, I'm really enjoying these. Not seen them since their original broadcast in the 1960s. Must admit though that yesterday's episode wasn't the best example.
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Post by John Green on Apr 20, 2018 14:16:47 GMT
The on screen info for 'Vacant Possession' (on sky) actually mentioned that it was a previously lost piece of TV, directed by Peter Moffat. When my old clockwork-driven TV packs in,I'll upgrade,and get TP on Freeview.At the moment,I can't. Did Vacant Possession turn up in an archive somewhere? It seems it was one of the lost pieces of film/TV history that was shown at the recent Renown Festival? Anyone know what else was announced? |
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Post by Brian Denton on Apr 20, 2018 16:50:08 GMT
Anyway, my friend informs me it is moving to Sky at the end of the month, which kills it for me. Murdoch could discover every missing Dr Who,M&I and TOTP Beatles and I still wouldn't give a penny. If you mean the TP channel it's only changing numbers on Sky but remains as is on Freeview etc... shame it's doing nothing at all for you but surely it must be a better alternative when someone like Keith Lemon is on the main channels? LOL. I was quite shocked to see Susan George as a schoolgirl on The Human Jungle..I didn't know she had ever been a schoolgirl  I also find that a lot of Gideon's Way is still relevant today..eg.Kay Walsh played an especially scary (what would be called today) home carer ..touching a nerve that many of us here maybe heading in (someone like) her direction. If it's staying receivable without paying Murdoch anything, then I'll be pleased. I merely mentioned that I found "Vacant Possession" pretty unremarkable. A lot of the film output is excellent. And even ordinary tv is interesting for the opportunity to see household names in their early careers, so the channel is most definitely a net plus. I first recall seeing Susan George in the 60s Dracula - I was 10, but my 21 year old brother was, shall we say, enthusiastic... I wonder if a young Claire Bloom or Susannah York will turn up in anything? |
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Post by Ray Langstone (was saintsray) on Apr 20, 2018 17:35:28 GMT
If you mean the TP channel it's only changing numbers on Sky but remains as is on Freeview etc... shame it's doing nothing at all for you but surely it must be a better alternative when someone like Keith Lemon is on the main channels? LOL. I was quite shocked to see Susan George as a schoolgirl on The Human Jungle..I didn't know she had ever been a schoolgirl I also find that a lot of Gideon's Way is still relevant today..eg.Kay Walsh played an especially scary (what would be called today) home carer ..touching a nerve that many of us here maybe heading in (someone like) her direction. If it's staying receivable without paying Murdoch anything, then I'll be pleased. I merely mentioned that I found "Vacant Possession" pretty unremarkable. A lot of the film output is excellent. And even ordinary tv is interesting for the opportunity to see household names in their early careers, so the channel is most definitely a net plus. I first recall seeing Susan George in the 60s Dracula - I was 10, but my 21 year old brother was, shall we say, enthusiastic... I wonder if a young Claire Bloom or Susannah York will turn up in anything?
You can watch Talking Pictures TV on Virgin 445, Freesat 306, Freeview or Youview 81 or on the Sky digital satellite platform, channel 343. |
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Post by Alan Turrell on Apr 20, 2018 21:08:45 GMT
I thoroughly enjoyed watching Gideons Way a really good series I remember watching George Cole in the episode "The Firebug" great stuff.
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Post by Brian Denton on Apr 20, 2018 22:55:07 GMT
Oh it was not bad, to be sure. I remember when I was a kid in Granada-land it was shown on Thursday nights about 10pm (I was allowed to stay up far too late!). Just like most things in life, they are often better remembered than revisited. And THAT opens up a whole new debate......
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Post by Patrick Coles on Apr 21, 2018 19:56:36 GMT
There were a few weaker episodes of 'Gideon's Way' - the one with the rather silly couple who did a robbery each month to live on was on the other night and was to me as weak as it was back in the mid sixties
however George Cole brilliant as the ill fated unhinged by tragedy figure of once decent family man Bishop setting blazes in 'The Firebug' was just as sad, compelling and thought provoking re 'death trap' housing in the London area (especially after that recent terrible block of flats fire) - note the tower blocks then being built in the background ?
a rare dramatic role for Alfie Bass as a Holocaust survivor in 'State Visit'
the rather worrying right wing extremists in 'The V Men'
the episode re a latter day Fagin ...with a small boy slapped about and locked in a cupboard...by his hideous mother !
the chilling case of a body behind 'The Wall' (Rillington Place, Cromwell Street)
Bryan Pringle's excellent chilling non speaking role as a deranged man trying to push a guy under a London Underground Tube train in 'Subway To Revenge'
and the racing car driver superbly played by Jack Hedley episode
plus the general window back onto mid sixties London and the culture of those days makes for a very compelling show full of top guest stars
I find myself wishing John Gregson's Commander George Gideon was in charge at Scotland Yard today...!
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Post by Alan Turrell on Apr 22, 2018 9:20:05 GMT
Yes, some of those episodes contain some pretty strong stuff I know the one with the hideous mother surprised me when I watched it.
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Post by Patrick Coles on Apr 22, 2018 12:11:30 GMT
yeah her slapping the little lad around the head (as if that could ever happen in reality ??) and locking him up in a cupboard
...and perhaps most moving was him asking if ALL of the sandwiches were for him in the Police station ...
of course in todays' media 'PC' obsessed TV land as stated above only nasty straight males do evil things like that to women and children of course...
funny too how Police Women seem to be respected officers in 'Gideon's Way'- wern't they ALL victims of blatant sexism back then...?
the episode with Kay Walsh as the killer lady 'carer' was very good
- didn't Russell T. Davies say something about there being NO strong roles for women back then ?
more TV historical revision it seems...
anyway still some strong episodes to go - 'The Rhyme and The Reason' with sixties bikers and Jo Robottom finding herself in a deadly situation is a good one
George Sewell and Derren Nesbitt both guest in good episodes too
Note how Talking Pictures channel have to put up intro warnings for modern ultra sensitive viewers before they screen episodes of 'Gideon's Way', 'The Detectives' (with Robert Taylor), 'Honey West', 'The Big Valley' and 'The Human Jungle'
- tho' NONE of those shows while at times hard hitting (literally) portray unacceptable views or actions as in any way being 'acceptable' quite the reverse !
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Post by Brian Denton on Apr 22, 2018 12:29:27 GMT
Note how Talking Pictures channel have to put up intro warnings for modern ultra sensitive viewers before they screen episodes of 'Gideon's Way', 'The Detectives' (with Robert Taylor), 'Honey West', 'The Big Valley' and 'The Human Jungle' - tho' NONE of those shows while at times hard hitting (literally) portray unacceptable views or actions as in any way being 'acceptable' quite the reverse ! I think a lot of this sort of thing is down to automating the warnings. I have Virgin Media and it always asks for my password for anything I've recorded which was broadcast after the watershed, if I'm follow up watching it during the daytime, irrespective of content. The ultimate absurdity was when I was warned that 'the following programme may contain scenes unsuitable etc....' and the programme was a BBC4 Documentary about kids tv in the early sixties ie Andy Pandy, Bill and Ben etc. It's lazy and infuriating, but as Tony Soprano would say - "What ya gonna do...?" |
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Post by paul carney on Apr 22, 2018 13:20:09 GMT
I got the box set of Gideon's Way many years ago and was pleasantly surprised at how well the whole series stood up after 30+ years. The first episode sets the tone with Derren Nesbitt in fine form playing his trademark neo-psychopath villain role, and I always found John Gregson to be very watchable.
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