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Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky
RRP: £19.99
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Excellent drama.
Review date: 2008-02-08 Rating: 8 out of 10
This programme is based on three novels written by Patrick Hamilton in the 1930s and who would go on to write the Gorse Trilogy which the Nigel Havers drama The Charmer was based on.
The three episodes involve all the three main characters but with one being the main focus of each programme. Very well acted and nice to hear colloquial accents for a change in a BBC period drama. This is one series that is definately worth watching.
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Reviews
Superbly acted 1930s costume drama
Review date: 2008-01-05 Rating: 10 out of 10
This is a superb three-parter, played back-to-back, adapted from the semi-autobiographical 1930s trilogy by Patrick Hamilton.
Apart from the fine performances in the lead roles by Bryan Dick (Bleak House and The Virgin Queen), Zoë Tapper (who played Nell Gwynne in Stage Beauty) and Sally Hawkins (what a gifted actress she is - she just seems to get better and better every role she takes), there's great support from all the cast as the Beeb does what it does best - costume drama. There's an authentic feel to the whole thing as three very ordinary people are caught up in a twisting melodrama based on unrequited love.
Here Auntie has transported us to the thirties and you do feel you're really there (there are nice little touches like the can of Brasso on the bar for cleaning the pumps etc.- the unsung heroes of BBC dramas are its production designers and set dressers.)
My very favourite scenes (and that's up against some strong competition from other scenes) are when Ella (played by Sally Hawkins) deals with the amorous advances by one Ernest Eccles (Phil Davis, very good as ever) - The scenes are funny, poignant, tragic, realistic; the lot, and these two make it seem so easy. It's like watching a how-to acting lesson.
I won't put in any spoilers at all. If you like excellent acting and first-class costume drama, set aside a Sunday afternoon for this one. I think you'll enjoy it.
The best television drama of the decade.
Review date: 2007-07-26 Rating: 10 out of 10
Made on a small budget, though it doesn't show, this is as good as you get from television drama. Subtle, intimate and telling.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Sally Hawkins
Zoe Tapper
Phil Davis
Bryan Dick
Creators:
Bryan Dick (Primary Contributor)
Sally Hawkins (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503190125
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2005-11-07
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 149 minutes
Language: English (Original Language)