Recommended Television Programmes

[Sir Velo]

Currently enjoying Philip Mould Art in Isolation.

[johncorrigan]

I’ll probably get used to the new one, jc, but I always have doubts about reviving old series, the often don’t work for me - Maigret comes to mind, and the new Porridge! Then for me Bond will always be Mr Connery, but I supposed hey still had to make money from the franchise as he aged!

Yeah! Don' have the same prob as I don't recall watching VdV much first time round.
And after Sean Connery left they should have changed the name of the Bond franchise, in my opinion. Where have we had this conversation before?

[eighthobstruction]

Well to be fair, the original theme is heard on the piano above the conventional new theme music (which I think follows the harmonic pattern of the original).

Like johncorrigan, I’ve seen a few of the old Van der Valk episodes on Talking Pictures TV and the title sequence is generally the best bit - duff is the word, and Barry Foster’s acting was often terrible I thought.

Ample room for a new alternative and Marc Warren is no duffer.... but having only seen the first 30 minutes so far, the script is disappointingly uninspired with cliché piled on cliché...

(Ditto after an hour)

....I think your talking about cliches is a bit of a .....

[Nick Armstrong]

....I think your talking about cliches is a bit of a .....

[eighthobstruction]

....I'll get my [me] coat

[muzzer]

Well to be fair, the original theme is heard on the piano above the conventional new theme music (which I think follows the harmonic pattern of the original).

Like johncorrigan, I’ve seen a few of the old Van der Valk episodes on Talking Pictures TV and the title sequence is generally the best bit - duff is the word, and Barry Foster’s acting was often terrible I thought.

Ample room for a new alternative and Marc Warren is no duffer.... but having only seen the first 30 minutes so far, the script is disappointingly uninspired with cliché piled on cliché...

(Ditto after an hour)

Yes, the thing about TPTV, if you’ll allow the abbreviation, is the risk of watching stuff and realising it’s not very good. VdV appears to be a case in point!

Happily, I’ve loaded up the digibox with plenty of TPTV and this evening have watched the film A Touch of Love (1969) about a grad student who keeps her unplanned baby. Plenty of Bloomsbury locations, superb acting and not a little social commentary. Based on The Millstone by Margaret Drabble. Yes, of its time, but that in itself is of note.

[LMcD]

Yes, the thing about TPTV, if you’ll allow the abbreviation, is the risk of watching stuff and realising it’s not very good. VdV appears to be a case in point!

Happily, I’ve loaded up the digibox with plenty of TPTV and this evening have watched the film A Touch of Love (1969) about a grad student who keeps her unplanned baby. Plenty of Bloomsbury locations, superb acting and not a little social commentary. Based on The Millstone by Margaret Drabble. Yes, of its time, but that in itself is of note.

I think that can be said about a lot of films from that period, such as 'The Servant' and 'A Taste of Honey', to name just two.

[Nick Armstrong]

Yes, the thing about TPTV, if you’ll allow the abbreviation, is the risk of watching stuff and realising it’s not very good. VdV appears to be a case in point!

Happily, I’ve loaded up the digibox with plenty of TPTV and this evening have watched the film A Touch of Love (1969) about a grad student who keeps her unplanned baby. Plenty of Bloomsbury locations, superb acting and not a little social commentary. Based on The Millstone by Margaret Drabble. Yes, of its time, but that in itself is of note.

Yes, I plan ahead too and try to record likely-looking numbers on their schedule, films mostly. There’s some pretty awful stuff from the 40s and 70s but the 50s and 60s produced some gems. The low-budget pictures from studios like Merton Park and Nettlefold often feature atmospheric London locations. On two occasions, I’ve jumped to see my road-end c.1959...!

The other day, I enjoyed a civil service satire called Dear Mr Prohack with the magnificent Cecil Parker as a draconian Treasury official who comes into a personal fortune, a youthful Dirk Bogarde playing his son

As noted elsewhere on this thread, TPTV also gives a great opportunity to hear the film work of William Alwyn, Georges Auric et al...

[LMcD]

Yes, I plan ahead too and try to record likely-looking numbers on their schedule, films mostly. There’s some pretty awful stuff from the 40s and 70s but the 50s and 60s produced some gems. The low-budget pictures from studios like Merton Park and Nettlefold often feature atmospheric London locations. On two occasions, I’ve jumped to see my road-end c.1959...!

The other day, I enjoyed a civil service satire called Dear Mr Prohack with the magnificent Cecil Parker as a draconian Treasury official who comes into a personal fortune, a youthful Dirk Bogarde playing his son

As noted elsewhere on this thread, TPTV also gives a great opportunity to hear the film work of William Alwyn, Georges Auric et al...

We recently enjoyed 'The Detective', based on the 'Father Brown' stories, with Alec Guinness as the crime-busting cleric and Peter Finch as the suave sinner.

I've lost count of the number of films that Dirk Bogarde made while under contract to Rank! I'd forgotten that he was one of the first British officers to enter Belsen. It's hard to believe that 21 years have passed since we lost him.

[johncorrigan]

Yes, I plan ahead too and try to record likely-looking numbers on their schedule, films mostly. There’s some pretty awful stuff from the 40s and 70s but the 50s and 60s produced some gems. The low-budget pictures from studios like Merton Park and Nettlefold often feature atmospheric London locations. On two occasions, I’ve jumped to see my road-end c.1959...!

The other day, I enjoyed a civil service satire called Dear Mr Prohack with the magnificent Cecil Parker as a draconian Treasury official who comes into a personal fortune, a youthful Dirk Bogarde playing his son

As noted elsewhere on this thread, TPTV also gives a great opportunity to hear the film work of William Alwyn, Georges Auric et al...

Yesterday on TPTV, trying to avoid the News, I caught a great wee dramatised portrait of Edinburgh and its inhabitants in a half-hour film, called 'Waverley Steps'. The film was shot in the City in 1948, and with some wonderful old images of the City, many of which I am familiar with nowadays, and some bits which have not changed one jot. Probably more traffic back then than there is at the moment, mind you. One of the most amusing bits was seeing cars parked on Princes Street - hangin' offence nowadays!

[Serial_Apologist]

Yes, I plan ahead too and try to record likely-looking numbers on their schedule, films mostly. There’s some pretty awful stuff from the 40s and 70s but the 50s and 60s produced some gems. The low-budget pictures from studios like Merton Park and Nettlefold often feature atmospheric London locations. On two occasions, I’ve jumped to see my road-end c.1959...!

There are some great shots of derelict pre-Cannery Wharf (sic) parts of Docklands and Cannin' Tahn if one holds ones nose and watches episodes of The Professionals or The Sweeney from the mid-70s, ignoring (of course!) the flares, platform shoes and terrible sexisms! Possibly better with the sound down, though one misses some great backing music! There are hardly any remaining brownfield sites for those final muddy brick-strewn shoot-outs!

[Andrew]

Anybody watching Van der Valk? Why no ‘Eye Level’ ? Nostalgia may not be what it was but this guy’s no Barry Foster!

I watched it, expecting it to be a thin parody of the original, but, although I hate to admit it, I quite liked it! It certainly held my attention throughout the programme and there were echoes of the original theme tune, rather cleverly done, I thought.

I ought to add that I run a DAF as a classic car (see avatar) so was disappointed not to see any of them, but some 45 years after the original, that was, perhaps, asking a bit much! The "Plank" joke was a good'un, too!

I've just noticed this is my 33rd post.... DAF....33.... I'll get my coat!

[Constantbee]

Better Call Saul Season 5 - Netflix Original

The best yet Utterly compulsive viewing. The characters are shaping up well for Breaking Bad. Jimmie's legal career goes from strength to strength. Gus Fring, the ruthless drug lord reveals a social conscience that surprises us. We know Kim Wexler's not going to appear in BB but we don't know why yet. Still lots of local colour and oh that beautiful camera work

And the best thing is Season 6 is shooting about now

[Nick Armstrong]

better call saul season 5 - netflix original

the best yet Utterly compulsive viewing. The characters are shaping up well for breaking bad. Jimmie's legal career goes from strength to strength. Gus fring, the ruthless drug lord reveals a social conscience that surprises us. We know kim wexler's not going to appear in bb but we don't know why yet. Still lots of local colour and oh that beautiful camera work

And the best thing is season 6 is shooting about now

I agree completely!

[Constantbee]

I ought to add that I run a DAF as a classic car (see avatar) so was disappointed not to see any of them, but some 45 years after the original, that was, perhaps, asking a bit much! The "Plank" joke was a good'un, too!

I've just noticed this is my 33rd post.... DAF....33.... I'll get my coat!

A design classic. You don't see many of those on the European mainland. How's Barnet? I used to have an allotment there years ago. A peaceful oasis in a busy life ... Don't rush off