Pleasing and heart-warming to view some of my off-air recordings; a couple of real gems.
First, Ethel & Ernest, (2016), an animated feature based on the award winning novel by Raymond Briggs - Ethel played by Brenda Blethyn and Ernest, Jim Broadbent. The plot traverses several decades in the life of this family and, indeed, mine, too from the early 30s as a newborn! Several reminders of Noel Coward's, This Happy Breed, (1944). in a similar working class background, their trial and tribulations throughout - think of the types played by Jack Warner and Kathleen Harrison as the Hugget's in several features. Doesn't mean a thing? Aw, forget it. Just relax and enjoy. You'll smile and laugh a great deal and I bet you reach for the tissues, too, at several points. Rec on BBC1, 28 Dec.
The other feature in an exquisite category was a welcome repeat of 84 Charing X Road, (1986)
-BBC 2, 30 Dec, 12 noon; a biographical drama by Helene Hanff, a best seller in its time, and her developing relationship with Frank Doel, senior buyer at the antique bookseller's, 84 Charing Cross Rd - a few yards from Cambridge Circus and probably also well remembered by a few forumites. Anne Bancroft played the feisty Manhattan journalist who communicated with Frank Doel, (Anthony Hopkins) over many years, although they never met. The additional pleasure for me in seeing this beautiful film was instant memories of being Tony's colleague and friend as students at the RADA, early 60s. He was at his best, understated and so believeable. Judi Dench had a subordinate role as his wife but lived 'in the moment' in every appearance. Memory lane again.
Judi's first professional role was the Virgin Mary at the York Mystery Plays in 1957, after she left Central School of Drama at 22 - and yours truly was also in the cast; proud to be associated with Mrs Dench (Olave),wardrobe mistress,- I see so much of Olave in the older Judi! - and Dr Reg Dench, her father, so gentle and wise as Abraham. So, watching 84 Charing Cross Rd after many years became an affectionate and endearing experience as I also enjoyed a wee dram and toasted the Dench family with a nod to Tony! 
First, Ethel & Ernest, (2016), an animated feature based on the award winning novel by Raymond Briggs - Ethel played by Brenda Blethyn and Ernest, Jim Broadbent. The plot traverses several decades in the life of this family and, indeed, mine, too from the early 30s as a newborn! Several reminders of Noel Coward's, This Happy Breed, (1944). in a similar working class background, their trial and tribulations throughout - think of the types played by Jack Warner and Kathleen Harrison as the Hugget's in several features. Doesn't mean a thing? Aw, forget it. Just relax and enjoy. You'll smile and laugh a great deal and I bet you reach for the tissues, too, at several points. Rec on BBC1, 28 Dec.
The other feature in an exquisite category was a welcome repeat of 84 Charing X Road, (1986)
-BBC 2, 30 Dec, 12 noon; a biographical drama by Helene Hanff, a best seller in its time, and her developing relationship with Frank Doel, senior buyer at the antique bookseller's, 84 Charing Cross Rd - a few yards from Cambridge Circus and probably also well remembered by a few forumites. Anne Bancroft played the feisty Manhattan journalist who communicated with Frank Doel, (Anthony Hopkins) over many years, although they never met. The additional pleasure for me in seeing this beautiful film was instant memories of being Tony's colleague and friend as students at the RADA, early 60s. He was at his best, understated and so believeable. Judi Dench had a subordinate role as his wife but lived 'in the moment' in every appearance. Memory lane again.
Judi's first professional role was the Virgin Mary at the York Mystery Plays in 1957, after she left Central School of Drama at 22 - and yours truly was also in the cast; proud to be associated with Mrs Dench (Olave),wardrobe mistress,- I see so much of Olave in the older Judi! - and Dr Reg Dench, her father, so gentle and wise as Abraham. So, watching 84 Charing Cross Rd after many years became an affectionate and endearing experience as I also enjoyed a wee dram and toasted the Dench family with a nod to Tony!
I warmed to your 'intergenerational' phrase as I'm quite convinced that Ethel & Ernest will gradually become a seasonal classic. Right time of the year to look back before moving on and I've also had a shufti of This Happy Breed, 1944; now tempted to get Noel Coward's, Cavalcade, 1932, off the shelves. The plot is limited to the first three decades of the 20th century, starting with the Boer War, but there is still a goose-pimple moment when the young lovers set sail on their honeymoon and the camera pans on the HMS Titanic lifebelt as they leave for their cabin. Audiences used to gasp at this moment. Of course, we also enjoyed the huge impact which the Forsyte Saga made on Sunday TV viewing in the late 60s. However, my favourite intergenerational experience will always be The Life & Death of Col. Blimp, 1943, which mesmerised a 12 year-old Aberdonian in its frequent interchange with the time factor. 
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