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Spider's Web (BBC, 1982)

"I love you."

"Oh, I'm so glad."

"Well that's entirely the wrong answer. You're supposed to say: 'I'm so sorry', in a deep, sympathetic voice."

"Oh, but I'm not sorry, I'm delighted. I like people to be in love with me."

#spider's web #agatha christie #single play #classic tv #play adaptation #1982 #bbc #Basil Coleman #penelope keith #robert flemyng #thorley walters #elizabeth spriggs #david yelland #john barcroft #holly aird #jonathan newth #brian protheroe #david crosse #mark draper #lee fox #shown as a kind of festive treat on boxing day '82‚ this tv movie adapted Christie's most successful stage work (ludicrous outlier The #Mousetrap not included). Spider's Web was written in the mid 50s around the same time as the better remembered Witness for the Prosecution #and was written at the behest of Margaret Lockwood‚ who was looking for a starring role a little lighter than the villainous femme fatales #she was then becoming associated with. Keith works hard to capture that same breeziness and slightly giddy flights of fancy that Lockwood #was ultimately so taken with (she stayed with the stage version and even shot a tv version‚ presumed lost). A fairly direct adaptation of #the stage play (Christie is the only credited writer) this is undeniably stagey and doesn't try hard to hide its theatrical roots: the #action is almost entirely confined to one room. Still‚ it's a fun bit of Christie nonsense with a charming cast (Barcroft is a rather #overlooked actor im quite fond of and he does good work as the exasperated detective) and ingenious plotting and twists that will be #familiar to any Christie fan. Particular shout out to Spriggs‚ who does a simply wonderful transformation late in the play‚ which entirely #changes the way you view her earlier performance‚ and to Yelland (later a Poirot regular!) for holding his own against more experienced act

The Brothers: Tug of War (3.4, BBC, 1974)

"When you come down to it, Ted, he can't overrule us."

"No, he's right about one thing, Brian, this is a special case. He speaks for Jill, he represents her interests; and anyway, if we allow factions to develop, we'll fall apart, we won't be able to work together."

"The way to deal with factions, Ted, is to take a firm stand - and that's your job as chairman and managing director!"

"I'm doing just that, Brian, and I'm telling you no! We don't go ahead without David's consent."

"Well, that's not taking a stand! That's allowing one difficult director to control you!"

#The brothers #tug of war #classic tv #BBC #1974 #Roderick Graham #N.J. Crisp #Jean Anderson #Patrick O'connell #Richard Easton #Robin Chadwick #Jennifer Wilson #Julia goodman #Gabrielle Drake #Gillian McCutcheon #Anna Fox #Malcolm Stoddard #Frank Jarvis #John Barcroft #Oh dear oh dear. Poor Jill; her and David's marriage continues to struggle in the face of his shiftiness and the strain made by her #Heavy investment in the company. Quite often with these story lines there's a degree of nuance and a willingness to show a certain amount #Of fault on the side of both parties. This story is all the most frustrating because it's so clear cut: Jill is just lovely and David is an #Absolute ass. And I'm sorry but boo hoo I feel emasculated because your big cash fortune saved my family business is not an #Excuse for cheating on your wonderful wife with her evil photographer friend. Oh that wicked Julie!#Aside from the havoc this is wreaking on his marriage David is also bringing chaos to the boardroom. He's a chip on his shoulder the size #Of a baked potato. Combined with Brian's recent discovery of his spine the scene is set for multiple showdowns of the testosterone type

The Rivals Of Sherlock Holmes: The Looting Of The Specie Room (2.11, Thames, 1973)

"You will often find that men who've received knighthoods for exceptional services to their country are also exceptional in other directions: exceptionally loud, exceptionally rude, and exceptionally mean."

Monty Dartie is celebrating having a son the way he knows best, by getting very drunk at George's club (the Hotch Potch). "Dear ol' Freddie," he says. "I say, George, let's have another drink!"

"What a 'strodinary coincidence!" says Dartie. "Here's another fellow who's had a son recently! What, you won't have a drink with us?" He then tells Young Jolyon that no, of course not, there's nothing to be proud of in his son, wrong side of the blanket, and then he was damn fool enough to marry the girl. Jo then shoves Dartie backwards into his seat, murmuring, "Manners, Dartie, manners," and moves on. George just laughs.

Dartie has no idea what to name the boy. Winifred wants something distinguished and classical. George suggests "Cato"-- he won a tenner yesterday on a nag called Cato. Dartie doesn't like that. "From the Roman stud book," says George. "Publius Valerius Cato, by Virgil, out of Lydia." Dartie decides to go with "Publius Valerius"-- he thinks Freddie will like that.

"Why not James?" says George.

"Oh, now, that's reserved!"

"Reserved? Is there another colt on the way somewhere?"

"Not that I know of, but I tell you what, me old George. That fella Soames has got a look in his eye!"

#the forsyte saga #young jolyon forsyte #monty dartie #george forsyte #john barcroft #kenneth more #terence alexander #ep03: the pursuit of happiness

Back at Park Lane, Soames is very pleased with himself for having arranged his sister's wedding reception so well. Cousin George pops up from a corner where he's been sitting quietly and happily drunk, complaining about what a collection of Forsytes they were, droves and herds of Forsytes, male and female created he them!

Later in the episode, George shares with Aunt Ann what he knows about Jo's current circumstances, since he knows she has a soft spot for him. He proclaims that nothing ever happens to him, and if he can help it, nothing ever will.

George, played by John Barcroft, is my favorite of the extended family. Aunt Ann was played by a giant of the stage, Fay Compton. The first-half cast was ridiculously good.

#the forsyte saga #ep 02: a family scandal #fay compton #john barcroft #cousin george #aunt anne

Cousin George cheers up Aunt Ann (oldest of the family) with news of her beloved black sheep nephew Young Jolyon.

"If you want to know how he's managing to live on bread and cheese and kisses, I'm afraid I can't tell you. Why? Because he doesn't confide in me. And what's more, I shouldn't care for it if he did. Thank the Lord, I say, for decent English reticence!"

#john barcroft #forsyte #a family scandal #fay compton

Widening the scope: Cousin George is drunk, but it's Emily's fault for providing so much to drink at the wedding reception.

#john barcroft #fanny rowe #a family scandal #forsyte

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