the hour

[HoneyDuke]

Not as good as mad men is it?

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

Ephiny it really jarred IMO when Bel told Freddie to stop being 'such a mutant'. Was that really something people said then? There are lots of other examples that I can't think of either!

[ppeatfruit]

Thanks LadyClarice another example that I thought of afterwards was the intercom and automatic door opener on Bel's flat, would there have been one in those days? I'm not quite old enough to remember (my GPs were caretakers of posh flats in Victoria in the 50s) but weren't there concierge or caretaker types in posh flats then?

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

I don't know about the intercom thing. I think her flat is really weird ? those frosted-glass doors that look like outside doors but open straight onto her kitchen. I'm useless about different building periods though so who knows?

[ppeatfruit]

Yes I think I do remember those doors! I've just realised why it looks odd it's the lighting!! As if the lighting director would have preferred to do it in black and white but made do with toning it all down to look dowdy and 50sish!

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

I need to watch the next one to remind myself of the lighting ... but when I think of it, yes, it is all a bit ... murky. Maybe the Beeb was like that then though; institutional, like a hospital or something.

[midnightexpress]

I'm quite enjoying it (2nd ep better than the first) but it's only 6 episodes in total I think, so nothing like MM really.

I think the period detail is really clunky though, and some anachronisms - would women really sit around drinking wine out of mugs in the office in the 1950s?? I'm not convinced.

The accents are all over the place too - half 50s BBC English and half I-don't-know-what, in the same character.

[areyoutheregoditsmemargaret]

There are so many anachronisms, it's driving me crazy, use of words like "brilliant" never used in fifties, the accents, even the actors' posture is all wrong.

to be really pedantic, the speech about "upper second from Oxford", Oxford didn't give out upper seconds in those days, just first, second, third and fourth class degrees. Tiny point but one of dozens and they niggle. If they can't get the details right then the bigger picture doesn't convince. Plus what is it with the Whishaw character. Why should we care about such a chippy prat? Swapping Hectors notes was a ludicrous thing to do and yet he's forgiven because he's allegedly such a brilliant journalist - but there's no evidence to back that up.

Oh, and the crossword clue line is lame, lame, lame

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

margaret, we are spiritual cousins! I hate the use of 'brilliant', and I also thought the 'upper second' thing didn't ring true (although I didn't know for sure). And YES about Whishaw's character. For me it's part of the overall problem with the script, which tells us things but doesn't show them. I haven't seen any evidence of Freddie being brilliant either but tbh am not even sure how 'chippy' or spoiled I think he is ? he's just very indeterminate as a personality. I thought at first that it was Whishaw's performance that was to blame, but he's quite well thought of isn't he? And Romola Garai was excellent in The Crimson Petal but I'm not impressed with her here, but that must be the script too ? surely she hasn't just suddenly stopped being able to act?

And GOD YES, the crossword thing is lame-o-rama.

[areyoutheregoditsmemargaret]

I had to google the Oxford thing to be sure, but I remember my uncle (who got a fourth ) telling me.

Chippiness - I took from the attack on Hector for having gone to public school and Oxford (yaaaawn). But as you say, it was tell-not-show. It is all down to an underwhelming script but then, despite all the hype surrounding her, I've never been really impressed by anything by Abi Morgan. She's written the filmn about Thatcher starring Meryl Streep that comes out soon, it'll be interesting to see if Maggie says things like "you're a mutant" to Ted Heath.

Agree, it's back to Mad Men tonight

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

I don't know her stuff, to be honest. I'll be interested in the Maggie T thing too. I see she's writing the Beeb's new Birdsong. That's a bit of a dilemma; it may well be rubbish because of her, but I think the fantastic Eddie Redmayne is in it and if so I'll want to watch it ...

[midnightexpress]

TBH, I'm not that convinced by the casting either. On paper, it looks fabulous, but I didn't like Romola Garai in the Crimson Petal much, and I thought Wishaw was a bit rubbish in the Brideshead adaptation that was on earlier in the year. And, while I'm probably a voice in the wilderness on this, I thought Dominic West was the weakest link in the otherwise god-like genius of The Wire. And I cannot take Julian thingumy-thing seriously as a middle-aged politician. I keep expecting him to launch into a funny walk.

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

Oh, I liked Garai in The Crimson Petal but maybe she is miscast here. I only know Ben W from Bright Star, where I thought he was fine but only fine, no more than that. And yes, although I quite liked West in The Wire I think he's poor here. I have to defend Julian R-T though! I'm thoroughly enjoying his performance so far. Oh, Anna Chancellor is also excellent IMO and I wish she'd been given more to do.

[HoneyDuke]

The crimson petal seemed quite authentic on period detail too, the costumes and sets were beautiful.

The hour just seems to be a massive fail. Can't have been cheap to produce.

[areyoutheregoditsmemargaret]

It makes me want to hide behind the sofa when the BBC hype something so much and it falls down so spectacularly

It's the same way I feel when M&S report bad sales figures - they're rubbish but they're an institution and if they go wrong the ravens might as well leave the tower of London

Felt the same way with Upstairs Downstairs, also puffed up and disappointing.

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

God, Upstairs... was rubbish wasn't it? I'd blanked it out forgotten.

How can they have such great hits (Crimson Petal, Shadow Line, Sherlock) and yet such spectacular misses as well? Where's the quality control?

[ppeatfruit]

Areyouthere i completely agree about the ridiculous hype they KEEP giving it!! I find a lot of T.V. stations get fixated on certain stars like Garai she's beautiful but IMO her acting really is 2nd rate. Even in the trailers she 'ate' her words IFYSWIM so she's hard to understand, and has about 3 expressions!

LadyClariceln T.V. and radio they have very young producers etc. who seem to be given free rein for some yoof loving policy reason and as you say not enough quality control. We should run it we'd be better!!

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

I'd love to be a producer! My output wouldn't be that varied though because I'd just have Anna Chancellor, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jim Broadbent, Eddie Redmayne, Eva Green and Rebecca Hall in everything. Still, at least the quality would be high.

[ppeatfruit]

I agree the quality is what really matters in any genre. Do you remember Mapp and Lucia? that was brilliantly done. Downton Abbey was passable but as you said Upstairs Downstairs needed a good kick up the axxx!

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

No, I don't know Mapp and Lucia. When was that? Downton Abbey is ITV though isn't it? I think it's quite good but does have a soapy whiff of, well ... ITV about it. Having said that, I will be watching the new series!

[ppeatfruit]

That WAS a while ago ( I think 10 yrs or so ) It was beautifully filmed in Rye with Geraldine Mcewan (I'm not sure that was spelt right) I can't remember the other actors' names all of whom were good and based on the books by... oh I can't remember, I'll google it.

What is strange is that ITV sometimes does costume dramas much better than the BEEB (remember Brideshead Revisited?) maybe they throw more money at it, have better quality control and also use experienced staff. I always enjoy stuff like Midsummer murders . I do have to declare a prejudice here 'cos DH and DD1 are in the ITV business!!

[ppeatfruit]

Mapp and Lucia was written by E.F. Benson . The books are fab you could probably get them 2nd hand on Amazon.

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

1980s according to Wikipedia.

I don't like things like Midsomer Murders I have to say, and don't remember Brideshead, but yes, no doubt some dramas have more money/better staff etc on board, whatever the channel. I do wonder if the production values and budgets of top-drawer US stuff like The West Wing, Six Feet Under, Mad Men et al has slightly spoiled me for most UK telly!

[limitedperiodonly]

I see she's writing the Beeb's new Birdsong.

Noooo! That's one of my all time most hated books and is written by that hateful git Foulkes. Why do people continue to pay him money and give him the oxygen of publicity or any oxygen at all?

Still, it'll give me something to talk about on here when the nights draw in.

When's it on?

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

I tried the book and had to give up. I don't know when it's on; IMDB just says 2012. I'm a bit confused about the casting; there are articles from April/May this year talking about Eddie Redmayne as Wraysford, but IMDB doesn't have him listed as in it. Anyway, yes, it may well be rubbish but depending on when it's on it could fill a gap!

[ppeatfruit]

ladyclarice IMO as with our T.V. there's plenty of dross along with the good stuff from America (i find i have to get past the accents to get into them though).

I'm deciding whether or not to watch The Hour tonight.( We live between England and Fr. with the hour ahead I have to reckon whether it's worth staying up for!)I might give it another chance!