I’m glad I read this! I once had a terrible spell of bronchitis and watched this over the course of a weekend—it had to have been 20 years ago but I remember so much about the show. Your post makes me want to rewatch it. I will. Thanks!
Oh, that hadn't even occurred to me, but it definitely feels like an element. Potter's Marlow as his own Kurtz, sick and raving, as the fictional Marlow tracks him down, finally actually killing him. I wonder...
I was a bit too young for this when it was first broadcast and Dennis Potter was not the sort of fare my parents would have watched so I have still never seen it, although I’ve often thought that I would like to. The only Dennis Potter I’ve actually watched is Blue Remembered Hills when I was in my teens. I remember it as bleak and interesting, if not exactly enjoyable, but it stands out in my mind and I think that is a mark of quality storytelling.
I love the Mike Royce quote. It’s a good observation. Twin Peaks was so good because, in the end, it didn’t really matter who killed Laura Palmer. I also think the device of using the different types of filming would have been interesting (my mind is still trying to compute how you integrate Only When I Laugh into The Singing Detective!) We started watching Kevin Can F**k Himself which plays with this idea. It’s an unsettling watch so we haven’t got very far but I am intrigued to see where it goes.
Update: Have now started watching The Singing Detective and can totally see where Only When I Laugh fits in. The jarring quality that would have provided would have been interesting to watch.
Oh wow - I’m kind of glad that you wanted to watch and now kind of worried in case you don’t like it. As you said about Blue Remembered Hills though, the quality is what stands out (I hope)
Ah that soundtrack! I loved it too. My mother in law burst into tears when I played it for her. Her teenage years remastered! And I still sing "Don't Fence Me In" whenever I'm driving alone.
What’s interesting is that now I can hear the soundtrack of my teenage years by walking into any store but that music had been completely forgotten by the ‘80s, even though it’s exactly the same time difference
I’m glad I read this! I once had a terrible spell of bronchitis and watched this over the course of a weekend—it had to have been 20 years ago but I remember so much about the show. Your post makes me want to rewatch it. I will. Thanks!
Thanks, Daniel - I heartily recommend a rewatch, as I suspect you could tell - its still a terrific piece of work.
You’ve inspired me—definitely going to do so asap.
Chandler's Marlowe was named in relationship with Joseph Conrad's Marlow, so I don't know if that was in Potter's mind as well?
Oh, that hadn't even occurred to me, but it definitely feels like an element. Potter's Marlow as his own Kurtz, sick and raving, as the fictional Marlow tracks him down, finally actually killing him. I wonder...
Thank you for the article. I love the book and its one of my all time favorite mini-series. I rewatch it every few years. RIP Michael Gambon
You must do one on Pennies from Heaven (probably Hoskin’s best performance).
I suspect we definitely need more Hoskins of any kind (at least we have a bit: https://www.themetropolitan.uk/p/abattoir-blues?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web)
I was a bit too young for this when it was first broadcast and Dennis Potter was not the sort of fare my parents would have watched so I have still never seen it, although I’ve often thought that I would like to. The only Dennis Potter I’ve actually watched is Blue Remembered Hills when I was in my teens. I remember it as bleak and interesting, if not exactly enjoyable, but it stands out in my mind and I think that is a mark of quality storytelling.
I love the Mike Royce quote. It’s a good observation. Twin Peaks was so good because, in the end, it didn’t really matter who killed Laura Palmer. I also think the device of using the different types of filming would have been interesting (my mind is still trying to compute how you integrate Only When I Laugh into The Singing Detective!) We started watching Kevin Can F**k Himself which plays with this idea. It’s an unsettling watch so we haven’t got very far but I am intrigued to see where it goes.
Update: Have now started watching The Singing Detective and can totally see where Only When I Laugh fits in. The jarring quality that would have provided would have been interesting to watch.
Oh wow - I’m kind of glad that you wanted to watch and now kind of worried in case you don’t like it. As you said about Blue Remembered Hills though, the quality is what stands out (I hope)
Half way through and loving it so have no fear!
Ah that soundtrack! I loved it too. My mother in law burst into tears when I played it for her. Her teenage years remastered! And I still sing "Don't Fence Me In" whenever I'm driving alone.
What’s interesting is that now I can hear the soundtrack of my teenage years by walking into any store but that music had been completely forgotten by the ‘80s, even though it’s exactly the same time difference