Call the Midwife

[ardcarp]

Not sure this really counts as 'The Arts', general or otherwise, but as my family seems obsessed with matters gynaecological, I end up watching it for bonding purposes. As a child of the 50s, I have to point out that the expressions 'rolling out a programme of vaccination' (Christmas Special) and 'delivering pre-natal services' (first in new series) are totally anachronistic. 'Rolling out' was reserved for pastry; and 'delivering' for parcels, groceries and, appropriately, babies.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

They often do that in modern adaptations. No sense of HIPP.
Examples include the film Titanic, the BBC Robin Hood Series and now The Musketeers. It's yet another example of dumbing down, assuming that people would be too stupid to understand period culture and language.

[Mary Chambers]

. It's yet another example of dumbing down, assuming that people would be too stupid to understand period culture and language.

Or would be bored by it. I find it a minor sort of entertainment to spot all the 'mistakes' in programmes, films etc set in a time I remember well and the writers don't remember at all. It can be very funny. Reviews of them by young critics can be entertaining as well.

[Honoured Guest]

... as my family seems obsessed with matters gynaecological, I end up watching it for bonding purposes.

I find it a minor sort of entertainment to spot all the 'mistakes' in programmes, films etc set in a time I remember well

Don't midwives work in obstetrics, not gynaecology? And didn't they do so in the 1950s too?

[jean]

I hope the verbal anachronisms in the TV version of Death comes to Pemberley were the work of the adapter, not P D James herself.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Don't midwives work in obstetrics, not gynaecology? And didn't they do so in the 1950s too?

Dare I ask - are you sticking pins into people who stick pins into the BBC.

[ardcarp]

Don't midwives work in obstetrics, not gynaecology? And didn't they do so in the 1950s too?

Oops, sorry. Must look up the difference. I'm reminded of Les Dawson silently mouthing anything to do with 'women's troubles'. Anyway, it serves me right for being pedantic.

[Barbirollians]

Call The Midwife's first two series were based on the stories of the midwife in question .I hope the third series is as good but Heidi Thomas has shown herself to be a much better adapter than an original scriptwriter in the past - compare Cranford with her cliched and terrible remake of Upstairs Downstairs .

My mother was a student dental nurse in the same area in the 1950s and she believes that much of it is pretty accurate though not the modern day language used.

[amateur51]

They often do that in modern adaptations. No sense of HIPP.
Examples include the film Titanic, the BBC Robin Hood Series and now The Musketeers. It's yet another example of dumbing down, assuming that people would be too stupid to understand period culture and language.

I saw the Christmas episode of Downton Abbey and that was full of this sort of anachronism - fortunately everyone else in the room had fallen asleep so my humbuggery was not held against me

[Nick Armstrong]

I saw the Christmas episode of Downton Abbey and that was full of this sort of anachronism - fortunately everyone else in the room had fallen asleep so my humbuggery was not held against me

The advantage of being "the voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness" - no one can hear you scream... or give you gyp afterwards

The 'Midwife' programme hasn't troubled the airwaves at Caliban Towers: looks the sort of dull, soft-focus Sunday evening pap that has me running a mile.

[amateur51]

The advantage of being "the voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness" - no one can hear you scream... or give you gyp afterwards

The 'Midwife' programme hasn't troubled the airwaves at Caliban Towers: looks the sort of dull, soft-focus Sunday evening pap that has me running a mile.

M'Lud Fellowes probably doesn't see them as anachronisms but as part of a necessary stratagem to make the series 'relevant' to its contemporary audience

[johncorrigan]

The 'Midwife' programme hasn't troubled the airwaves at Caliban Towers: looks the sort of dull, soft-focus Sunday evening pap that has me running a mile. [/COLOR]

Nor here in West Angus Acres, Cal...to be perfectly frank I can't bear Miranda - one sight of her fizzog on the box and I'm rushing for the remote.

[Barbirollians]

The advantage of being "the voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness" - no one can hear you scream... or give you gyp afterwards

The 'Midwife' programme hasn't troubled the airwaves at Caliban Towers: looks the sort of dull, soft-focus Sunday evening pap that has me running a mile.

No that would not be fair at all. The first two series were excellent and I hate that sort of pap normally too. Daily Mail readers may have lapped it up but it has a strongly pro welfare state message !

[Nick Armstrong]

No that would not be fair at all. The first two series were excellent and I hate that sort of pap normally too. Daily Mail readers may have lapped it up but it has a strongly pro welfare state message !

Well, nonetheless I shall adopt the 'life is too short' approach!

[Anna]

I hope the verbal anachronisms in the TV version of Death comes to Pemberley were the work of the adapter, not P D James herself.

I saw the book in a charity shop, was tempted to get it just to check that point! I've seen Call the Midwife described as "a comforting mug of Ovaltine for a dreary Winter's night" I suppose much the same can be said about Downton Abbey now (my goodness the Christmas episode which I watched when it was repeated was about the most boring thing I've seen for a very long time) However, while CtM continues to get the ratings the programme will continue, whether Miranda Hart is the draw I don't know (like johncorrigan I have an aversion to her)