Recommended Television Programmes

[eighthobstruction]

,,,,back on iplayer if you missed it yesterday....second part tonight : Home from Home [Chronical of a vision]....https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod...-vision-part-1
....wonderful film....

[Nick Armstrong]

it's back...back...back! etc.
https://www.hbo.com/true-detective/s...w-cast-trailer

True Detectives 1&2 (Sky Atlantic) were some of the greatest TV I ever watched - and it manages a lot of depth and intensity in a concise number of episodes...Nic Pizzolatto still the writer so .... highest expectations...

Oh yessss!!

Thanks for this jayne!

[ardcarp]

Just watched Episode 1 of Les Mis. Quite enjoyed it...apart from the (otherwise delightful) company of two grandchildren, one studying French at university who kept us informed of departures from M. Hugo's original, and another who is obsessed with The Musical and kept us informed....you get the idea. Must try and watch the rest after term restarts!

[LMcD]

Just watched Episode 1 of Les Mis. Quite enjoyed it...apart from the (otherwise delightful) company of two grandchildren, one studying French at university who kept us informed of departures from M. Hugo's original, and another who is obsessed with The Musical and kept us informed....you get the idea. Must try and watch the rest after term restarts!

I was hugely impressed from the start, especially by the performances of Dominic West, Dacid Oyelowo and (inevitably, I guess) Derek Jacobi. The subtle interweaving of the various threads reveals that Andrew Davies has lost none of his dramatization skills. Those who find it too grim need reminding that the French title doesn't translate as 'This Happy Breed'.

[jayne lee wilson]

Oh yessss!!

Thanks for this jayne!

"If you ask me, the light's winnin".........

And remember that Series 2 Finale, out in the white sands of the Mojave, the black cars throwing up the dust, the grave already dug...?
A scene of true tragic grandeur....

***
Yes - excellent start for Les Mis, Dominic West outstanding, especially in that later scene with Petit-Gervais...

[johncorrigan]

Not sure if this aired down south, but if you like Billy Connolly you might enjoy the first of this two-parter - a wee autobiography of the Big Yin. Some great film of old Glasgow in there, and a few digs at Edinburgh, and the wonderful John Byrne is in there too, of course. Takes a wee bit to get going - as Billy said he's not very good at starting stuff.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bwzhy6/billy-connolly-made-in-scotland-series-1-episode-1

[Bryn]

Not sure if this aired down south, but if you like Billy Connolly you might enjoy the first of this two-parter - a wee autobiography of the Big Yin. Some great film of old Glasgow in there, and a few digs at Edinburgh, and the wonderful John Byrne is in there too, of course. Takes a wee bit to get going - as Billy said he's not very good at starting stuff.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod...es-1-episode-1

Better hurry. It's only available for the next 11 months.

[Oh, and Episode 1 is also to be repeated on Wednesday 9th at 02:05 pm on BBC2.]

[Nick Armstrong]

I was hugely impressed from the start, especially by the performances of Dominic West, Dacid Oyelowo and (inevitably, I guess) Derek Jacobi. The subtle interweaving of the various threads reveals that Andrew Davies has lost none of his dramatization skills.

It was absolutely excellent on all levels, I thought. Absolute treat.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It was absolutely excellent on all levels, I thought. Absolute treat.

Oh. It's (exactly) 41 years since I last (and first) read the book (in the Hapgood translation) and I sort-of felt that the characterisation of Javert was somewhat oversimplified from how I "remembered" - does he "explain" his background to Valjean like this?

But - I appreciated the extra background for Fantine (all three young women very well played), and thought Jacobi excellent. In fact, I thought the production/adaptation really "took off" from that point (the Gervais scene - what an extraordinary kid! - particularly effective); I'd been thinking that I might not bother with the rest of the series until then.

[gradus]

Oh. It's (exactly) 41 years since I last (and first) read the book (in the Hapgood translation) and I sort-of felt that the characterisation of Javert was somewhat oversimplified from how I "remembered" - does he "explain" his background to Valjean like this?

But - I appreciated the extra background for Fantine (all three young women very well played), and thought Jacobi excellent. In fact, I thought the production/adaptation really "took off" from that point (the Gervais scene - what an extraordinary kid! - particularly effective); I'd been thinking that I might not bother with the rest of the series until then.

Enjoyed it all but why have some characters speaking French when the drama is played out in English?

[Nick Armstrong]

Enjoyed it all but why have some characters speaking French when the drama is played out in English?

At least no-one's doing a Malkovich

[Stunsworth]

Enjoyed it all but why have some characters speaking French when the drama is played out in English?

My guess is that it’s because at the time the book is set French wasn’t the universal language in France, so it’s trying to replicate that in the English/French split. Another possibility is that the extras were native French speakers so couldn’t ‘do’ convincing English actors.

I made the mistake of reading the review of the programme on the Daily Mail website. While the review itself was very positive the comments below the line were depressing - both with regard to the BBC and the casting.

[Nick Armstrong]

I made the mistake of reading the review of the programme on the Daily Mail website. While the review itself was very positive the comments below the line were depressing - both with regard to the BBC and the casting.

The only 'vox pop' comments I've seen on various platforms keep talking about the absence of songs ...



(I saw the musical in 1980 when it opened when I was in Paris; happily nothing of it remains in my memory as I haven't seen it since.)

[LMcD]

The only 'vox pop' comments I've seen on various platforms keep talking about the absence of songs ...



(I saw the musical in 1980 when it opened when I was in Paris; happily nothing of it remains in my memory as I haven't seen it since.)

We saw 'Les Mis' in London some years ago, and I can honestly say that neither of us can remember a single moment of the occasion.

[ardcarp]

Enjoyed it all but why have some characters speaking French when the drama is played out in English?

I think it's an accepted stage/film technique to add a bit of national colour...in just the same way as scenery, costume (and occasionally music) does. Best not to over-think it!