The Feathered Serpent

[David C Taylor]

Can anyone please tell me which episodes exist from the 1970s ITV children's drama serial The Feathered Serpent, which starred Patrick Troughton and Diane Keen?

[Mark One]

All of the episodes exist and the company, Network have mentioned it as a potential DVD release ( hopefully ) at some time.

[Alan Jeffries]

Am I mistaken, or was there also a follow up series? It would be great if it was released, I remember it being one of the better ITV serials.
The other one I remember well is The Jensen Code.

Alan

[Mark One]

Yes, there were two series ( 1976 and 1978 ) 12 episodes in total, all exist.

There were some great ITV serials for Children, back in the 70's, hope more of them see the light of day..on DVD..!

[David Ramolo]

Are you suggesting that you'd rewatch this simple minded pap again? Adult drama perhaps, but apart from nosalgia for 5 mins, you'd probably be bored out of your skull.

[Mark One]

It's a fondly remembered series, that many would like to see again.

There were many Childrens series that gave Adult Drama a run for it's money, amongst the fantasy offerings were programmes such as "The Owl Service", "Timeslip", "Escape Into Night" and "King Of The Castle".

DVD is the perfect outlet for many people to re-visit these programmes and ascertain for themselves, if they are as good as they remember.

[Graeme Figgis]

I know someone who bought Timeslip for a nostalgia fix. They couldn't get through it. Said it was slow moving, cardboard drama very much of the early 70s. I recall FS being much the same. On studio sets about as big as the local WH Smith. It is more of a childish hankering for a past that never will return than true enjoyment.

[Deleted]

I loved Timeslip originally AND when it finally came out on VHS! Having missed the very last episode in 1970, the pay off (which I finally saw in 1993 or thereabouts) delivered very well indeed. It's a drama of strong concepts which doesn't talk down to it's audience, rather than being all fizz and FX / no substance. The fact that some may find it slow today says to me more about a jaded audience with no attention span. It's also ultimately their loss not to be able to enjoy a drama about ideas. We'll all differ on this topic though, I expect!

[Francis Flanders]

If it is so bloody good, why has it never been repeated for over 30 years?

[Mark One]

A number of reasons spring to mind.

1/ Several episodes were recorded in B/W due to the 70/71 ITV strike, when it was repeated in 73/74, the presentaion of B/W material was not a problem ( it is now of course...we all know people who will not watch B/W material because "it can't be any good") there were still many homes, back then, with B/W sets and pre-Colour broadcasts were not that far back anyway.

Now,Ironically, all bar one of the 26 episodes, exists as B/W Film Recordings.

2/ When could it be repeated..?

As a Childrens Programme,It can't be shown at peak time and it can't be shown on Childrens channels, as it's a 36 year old B/W programme.

It was released on VHS 10 years ago and has since been released on DVD, both here and in America.

As Laurence said, it was a great series ( one of many ) produced at the time, full of great ideas and only seems slow now because of the "Pop video" paced shows of today.

[Alan J]

I agree totally. I remember Timeslip with great affection and even now as an adult I still find it a great watch. OK the sets look cheap [but probably expensive back then] but even the Doctor Who sets look nasty with today's eyes. And, as Terrance Dicks and Barry Letts, along with most of the other producers, it's the story that counts. If the story is a good one.
Timeslip had that. Global warming, cloning, who was talking about them in 1970? Those were concepts alien to a ten year old. And yes TV was slower back then. I was re-watching the first season of the X-Files and my first thought was how woefully slow it was. Time changes along with perceptions.
As Laurence said, Timeslip didn't talk down to its audience. Doctor Who did a lot of the time. And before I get the back of the Who fans up I am one myself. And an awful lot of shows still do, children and adult. You'll come up with a few without really trying.
I once read a review in one magazine of the 1924? version of The Lost World. The reviewer was highly critical of the SFX he found in it, citing the fact that he could see through the brontosaurus. Can you really judge past shows with those of today?
So bring on the old stuff. Let the viewers judge it!

Alan <Ranting. Had a bad day. Sorry.>

[Greg H]

It would be nice to see this actually if its got Troughton in it I cant claim to have seen it before, so I cant really comment on its relative value, but i'll certainly give it a spin if i get the chance. Cheers for the heads up If nothing else this series certainly seems to get a strong response. lol.

[Alan Jeffries]

Just been off doing a little research abot TFS. Pat Troughton and Diane Keen were indeed in it.
My memory tells me that Troughton was only in the first season, but memory cheats, so I may be wrong there.

The series was written by John Kane, who wrote for many series inc Black Beauty, Kids from 47A, Terry & June and Happy Ever After. But my biggest surprise was that it was co-written by Edgar Wallace. The Edgar Wallace that is. Who wrote loads of stuff including the original King Kong.

Alan