Arthur Lowe: rare rescued gems on Radio 4extra

[Nick Armstrong]

Some entrancing and moving examples of Arthur Lowe's art on this 3 hour compendium programme, broadcast yesterday on R4extra to commemorate the fact that Arthur would have been 100 years old this coming Tuesday

Apart from the familiar Captain Mainwaring material (one radio edition of Dad's Army), there is also a Desert Island Discs unearthed thanks to a listener's tape...

...but the two real gems for me were the following (quoting the programme blurb):

Billy's Last Stand:
From 1965, Arthur stars in a startling drama, the first play from Barry Hines (who later wrote the novel 'A Kestrel For A Knave' - filmed by Ken Loach as 'Kes') In this darkly comic tale, Arthur Lowe plays casual labourer Billy who becomes the target of the schemes of parasitic Darkly, played by 'The Men From The Ministry' star, Ronald Baddiley. First heard on the BBC Third Programme.

With Great Pleasure:
Not heard since 1976, Arthur Lowe's own choice of favourite readings and sketches. Helped by Martin Jarvis, hear Arthur's take on one of his favourite writers, PG Wodhouse, as he plays the ultimate British butler, Jeeves.

The drama is a parable of sorts on work and contentment, pathos and humour combined in typical Barry Hines style, might appeal especially to our Yorkshire Chapter.

The sequence of readings is the jewel in the crown, though. Anyone who values perfect verse and prose reading shouldn't miss it.

Neither of these seems to be available anywhere else (YouTube etc).

[Beef Oven!]

Oh, this is marvellous! Joy of joys!

I have always loved Arthur Lowe, first as part of my formative years, growing up and watching Dad's Army, and then understanding what a a damn good actor and artist he was. I'll never forget his face as the camera focuses on him at the "Don't tell him Pike" moment!

That's to say nothing of miscellaneous examples of his genius such as his understatedly bewitching performance as Mr Kemp, Housemaster in 1968's "If".

They don't make 'em like that, anymore RIP.

Many thanks Caliban for unearthing these gemstones.

[Bryn]

Hmm. How near is Walmington on Sea to Eastbourne?

[Conchis]

Excellent stuff: I particularly enjoyed his DID, so thanks for the heads-up!

It's a shame that Joe Orton didn't live to write the great comic role he had in mind for Arthur Lowe (one of the few actors J.O. felt was a natural for his own style).

Arthur Lowe has been dead for thirty-three years, yet memories of him are still vivid. I actually preferred his work in the Lindsay Anderson films to D.A., which is a bit -over-familiar and not nearly as funny as it once seemed.

[Lat-Literal]

Some entrancing and moving examples of Arthur Lowe's art on this 3 hour compendium programme, broadcast yesterday on R4extra to commemorate the fact that Arthur would have been 100 years old this coming Tuesday

Apart from the familiar Captain Mainwaring material (one radio edition of Dad's Army), there is also a Desert Island Discs unearthed thanks to a listener's tape...

...but the two real gems for me were the following (quoting the programme blurb):

Billy's Last Stand:
From 1965, Arthur stars in a startling drama, the first play from Barry Hines (who later wrote the novel 'A Kestrel For A Knave' - filmed by Ken Loach as 'Kes') In this darkly comic tale, Arthur Lowe plays casual labourer Billy who becomes the target of the schemes of parasitic Darkly, played by 'The Men From The Ministry' star, Ronald Baddiley. First heard on the BBC Third Programme.

With Great Pleasure:
Not heard since 1976, Arthur Lowe's own choice of favourite readings and sketches. Helped by Martin Jarvis, hear Arthur's take on one of his favourite writers, PG Wodhouse, as he plays the ultimate British butler, Jeeves.

The drama is a parable of sorts on work and contentment, pathos and humour combined in typical Barry Hines style, might appeal especially to our Yorkshire Chapter.

The sequence of readings is the jewel in the crown, though. Anyone who values perfect verse and prose reading shouldn't miss it.

Neither of these seems to be available anywhere else (YouTube etc).

Thanks Caliban for this information.

Very keen on Arthur Lowe who, much as I like Le Mesurier and the rest of the cast, was and is Dad's Army.

And he was a lot more.

Hmm. How near is Walmington on Sea to Eastbourne?

Have had many conversations with various people about this matter. The filming was in Norfolk - Yarmouth and Thetford - but it was supposed to be in Kent (rather than Sussex). Dymchurch is mentioned so in some ways it is in that area close to the Sussex border. Of course, people look at where the arrows appear to be on the opening sequence too. But my take on it is that it bears resemblance - visually and atmospherically - to Westgate-on-Sea and Birchington-on-Sea which are on the Isle of Thanet in North Kent. Certainly the name combines the starting letter of the first and the last two syllables of the second. It is said that Dover is about 20 miles away and actually it sits 20-25 miles between Thanet and Dymchurch. While I wouldn't insist that it was in Thanet, I am uneasy about being so specific in regard to Dymchurch. It is probably best to conclude it is an approximation.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Yes - there are a couple of episodes in which Eastbourne is mentioned as being near-ish-by (not least the one where they float off in a dinghy and think they have landed in France). Didn't know it was supposed to be in Kent (and thanks to Lats for the Westgate/Birchington connections): always thought it to be somewhere like Pevensey or Seaford!

[Gordon]

Not to mention Leonard Swindley.

[Karafan]

Not to mention Leonard Swindley.

Aah, yes, Gordon! Mr Swindley and Miss Nugent: excellent!

[Lat-Literal]

Yes - there are a couple of episodes in which Eastbourne is mentioned as being near-ish-by (not least the one where they float off in a dinghy and think they have landed in France). Didn't know it was supposed to be in Kent (and thanks to Lats for the Westgate/Birchington connections): always thought it to be somewhere like Pevensey or Seaford!

It could be said that it is the difference between what is it and where is it.

My judgement - horrible word - is that it's Westgate/Birchington moved to the Kent/Sussex border on the Kent side.

But there is deliberately no sharp definition. It exists in its own right.

Incidentally, Jimmy Perry thought of Dad's Army when working as a Redcoat at Butlins at Pwllheli and Filey. The only Butlins in Kent was at Cliftonville in Thanet while for a Butlins in Sussex you would need to consider Brighton which is a long way from the Sussex/Kent boundary. If there was a vague carry-over in his mind, and in my humble opinion there must have been, the Butlins at Cliftonville was it, hence the name Warmington-on-Sea reflecting Westgate and Birchington - both "On Seas" - a couple of miles from Cliftonville.

[Serial_Apologist]

I actually preferred his work in the Lindsay Anderson films to D.A.

Yes! Beef Oven has already mentioned the hapless Mr Kemp in If..., to which I would add the dual roles, as catering manager, ("A golden rule in catering is always knowing what to do with your leftovers") and - which would be controversial today - blacked up as the African president hosted at businessman Ralph Richardson's home, in O Lucky Man.

[Gordon]

Aah, yes, Gordon! Mr Swindley and Miss Nugent: excellent!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ileCrbgMe2M after about 40 seconds in.......

[Bryn]

Yes - there are a couple of episodes in which Eastbourne is mentioned as being near-ish-by (not least the one where they float off in a dinghy and think they have landed in France). Didn't know it was supposed to be in Kent (and thanks to Lats for the Westgate/Birchington connections): always thought it to be somewhere like Pevensey or Seaford!

I was, if somewhat obscurely, alluding to the choice of La Mer as the disc he would take if only one was allowed.

[gradus]

Whilst it is no comic gem I have somewhere a long-ish promotional film/video shot in the early sixties starring Arthur Lowe, advertising the joys of crossing the North Sea by ferry from Felixstowe; the laughs are not intentional.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I was, if somewhat obscurely, alluding to the choice of La Mer as the disc he would take if only one was allowed.

Ah! Sadly, not even Wilson was the first to spot that one

[VodkaDilc]

Arthur Lowe still remains in my mind as Mr Swindley. By the time of Dad's Army I had moved on to a student life - certainly no time for television, with a world of music and other activities to discover. I see Miss Nugent still remains a stalwart of Coronation Street, though I think she married somewhere along the line and is now Mrs Bishop.

I recall meeting Jimmy Perry many times at parents' evenings. His son, Jimmy as well, I think, was in my first school.