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Post by barrythebook on Sept 28, 2022 19:10:28 GMT
I remember my late father reiterating something he'd read or watched about John McVicar which has always stuck in my mind. When McVicar was in prison he used to give the warders a very hard time and in response, while he was in solitary, at mealtimes they'd open the hatch on his cell door and spit in his food before they handed it to him. Just to p£ss them of even more, he'd eat the food whilst they watched through the hatch, some of the warders urging at what they were seeing. He didn't seem to be prepared to let anyone get the better of him.
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Post by barrythebook on Sept 19, 2022 12:53:17 GMT
As Arch mentioned, he played the nasty villain character very well and I'm sure he was the 'go to' for many writers and directors to fulfil such roles.
RIP.
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Post by barrythebook on Sept 18, 2022 14:13:08 GMT
I just played that live album and it is fantastic! Incidentally, if you can manage to watch the 'Colin Hay - Waiting for my Real Life' documentary this is one of the best music documentaries I've seen in a very long time. P.S. it's on a certain video site we all know. Have you watched the video of 'Are You Looking At Me?" which seems to be an account of CH's move as a young man from Scotland to Australia in the very late 60s? Very good, informative lyrics and a great performance from CH. A massive decision to make and carry through at the time - all power to him.
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Post by barrythebook on Aug 20, 2022 13:42:48 GMT
Nice opening post AW, well said.
RIP.
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Post by barrythebook on Aug 18, 2022 15:25:49 GMT
Another track to add to the list would be 'You're The Best Thing' by The Style Council.
Great song but puke inducing at a wedding imo.
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Post by barrythebook on Jul 28, 2022 18:15:59 GMT
A great character and so many credits which have already been mentioned. I thought his character in Fawlty Towers was superb, 'I'll rely on my own mettle to sort out any problems', 'Could i book the television for this televisual feast?'.
Also recently watched a documentary from the 1970s on TalkingPictures hosted by Bernard Cribbins where he follows the beer brewing process, starting with the harvest of the hops through to the beer being served in the pub - great stuff.
RIP BC.
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Post by barrythebook on Jul 24, 2022 20:25:30 GMT
Much better left as an instrumental imo, one of the all time great TV theme tunes.
So what came first? The instrumental for the show that Sammy and Don put lyrics to, or was this a track that Hawaii-five-0 knicked for a theme tune?
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Post by barrythebook on Jul 24, 2022 10:34:48 GMT
Yeah, can't see anything erotic about Candy taking her shoes off and you wonder why they didn't show that. Oh shoes? I must have a dirty mind
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Post by barrythebook on Jul 23, 2022 21:44:12 GMT
Interesting stuff about Keating steve and some great observations on the episode. Talking of the choreographer, I love his line, 'No, no, take them out one at a time!' Neither he or Candy are in shot but the viewer knows exactly what's going on
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Post by barrythebook on Jul 23, 2022 17:09:35 GMT
Did a double take at the end credits, while I would never claim to be 'woke' I found it (slightly) disconcerting that Candy Davis' role was just listed as 'Stripper' Did anyone call her by her name in the episode? I missed bits of it yesterday so not sure. But it was how it was at the time, so nobody's to blame really, but it is odd that her character doesn't have a name, as she is 'prominent' in the episode (Gawd bless for that) She made the part her own though! I don't think she was mentioned by name anywhere in the episode. When she barges into Terrys kitchen Arthur says, 'I've seen 'er before aint i?' to which Terry replies, 'Most of her yeah, she works down the club.' but he doesn't refer to her by name which would have been a good a time as any. For me, the sexiest woman to ever have appeared on the show
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Post by barrythebook on Jul 23, 2022 8:25:58 GMT
Then there is Adam Faith's character - that isn't developed at all. Who is he, exactly? What is his stake in this whole affair? He's prepared to maim for what he wants (presumably Fred South's money?) but then ends up saying 'no hard feelings'. I haven't watched this for years but I remember thinking Faith and his sidekick had been hired by somebody to get the details of the bank account from Nikki. If he was working for someone professionally that would explain his offer of a handshake to Terry imo as it was just another job, not personal.
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Post by barrythebook on Jul 23, 2022 8:16:15 GMT
When Danny's getting the football results and the Crystal Palace match is mentioned as being a 'kicking match' with 3 booked and 1 sent off, that's always washed over me, until I was watching the re-runs of The Big Match. In those days it seemed to be quite rare for the ref to actually book anyone, even for some really crunching tackles. A different game then. Another thing which stands out on those re-runs is the state of some of the pitches! They're little more than ploughed fields and quite often the ball will be slowed down or even bogged down by the mud. It would be interesting to see players from the 70s playing on todays consistently great surfaces so that they could show their full potential and some of todays pretty boy prima donnas playing on a 70s quagmire of a pitch.
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Post by barrythebook on Jul 12, 2022 20:46:11 GMT
I've always assumed that Rose bedded Terry to sweeten him up and soften any bad feeling he may have towards her once he'd discovered that she'd stitched him up. I don't think she was the sort of woman who'd think twice about using her body to help her cause. Yes I agree Barry. Rose had previous with Terry so she knew he'd be a soft touch. She seemed to really like him, but she'd be trouble all the way. I liked the way Terry conned her - in fact Arthur was surprisingly slow on the uptake, considering he knew Rose was with Terry during the 'Bognor' chat. Good acting from all, but a shame that Chisholm or Rycott weren't available. Arthur was slow wasn't he now you mention it. Usually it doesn't take more than an innuendo or sly smirk from Terry for Arthur to realise that Terry's been in the sack with someone.
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Post by barrythebook on Jul 11, 2022 21:04:31 GMT
Sad news. Paulie was a good character who didn't take any sh$t!
RIP Tony.
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Post by barrythebook on Jul 10, 2022 21:27:15 GMT
George Cole: never funnier than showing us Arthur drunk, or doing a court appearance (the former in this episode)! GC playing a drunk Arthur was always a pleasure to watch - a masterclass in acting with many examples to choose from throughout the series.
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Post by barrythebook on Jul 10, 2022 21:22:17 GMT
I watched this back on Thursday. Things i missed previously Georgina Hale is easy on the eye. Ronnie Moore will be pleased his old team Rotherham United got an acknowledgment in the taxi office! As we age previously average birds get more attractive to us! Or do we just get less fussy?
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Post by barrythebook on Jul 8, 2022 19:40:44 GMT
Richard Griffiths ruins it for me. He went on to be truly funny as Uncle Monty, just a few years later, but here he over-acts badly and does a terrible London accent. What a great character 'Uncle Monty' is - some wonderful lines perfectly delivered by RG.
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Post by barrythebook on Jun 25, 2022 2:23:22 GMT
Welsh rugby international Phil Bennet past away earlier this month. I've just been watching some footage of his career playing for Llanelli, Wales and The Barbarians. Bennet initiated the move which led to what is recognised as the best Try ever scored in Rugby Union whilst playing for The Barbarians vs The All Blacks in 1973(?).
Absolute legendary player when the game was at its best for the spectator.
RIP.
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Post by barrythebook on Jun 17, 2022 22:56:29 GMT
Seems ITV 4 have heatstroke as they've shown this episode two days running! hopefully, they get back on track tomorrow. It wasn't late afternoon followed by about 9am was it? As that's their standard pattern They aired 'Gunfight' yesterday afternoon, ep2 - 'Bury My Half' this morning and then 'Gunfight' again this afternoon which seemed a bit strange, as you say lc, not their standard pattern.
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Post by barrythebook on Jun 7, 2022 19:44:26 GMT
It has to be Russell Brand. He's one of those tiresome types who are unfortunately becoming ever more numerous in what passes for our culture. This type of individual clearly believe being well-known confers a supreme wisdom upon them, which gives an indication of the messed up thinking which prevails in Celebworld. There are so many 'comedians', actors and other media flotsam and jetsam attempting to convince us they're experts on economic and politics that it's all becoming quite nauseating. What puzzles me is that these folks tend to live in sumptuous houses worth seven figures and generally keep reality at a safe distance yet they feel no shame in telling the great unwashed who to vote for or what to think on social issues. They endeavour to appear enlightened but only succeed in talking shight. I was trying to think of what to say about Brand but couldn't put into words. You've summed it up really well steve with nothing left for me to add other than if i ever met Brand i'd be extremely tempted to punch his horselike teeth down his f$cking throat!
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Post by barrythebook on Jun 7, 2022 19:32:56 GMT
A slippery, slimy wrong'un who only came out because he got found out.
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Post by barrythebook on Jun 7, 2022 19:20:20 GMT
Great memory to have stagger and good to hear that DW was integrating with some Minder fans. This type of thing must have happened quite regularly once location filming took over from studio based productions. Please make the story a real gem by saying the bike you were riding was a Raleigh Chopper. Unfortunately not, barry, although I did knock about on one a few years earlier, the red/yellow model. As I recall, our bikes at the time were on their last legs. Shame Arthur wasn't about to see us alright for some newer ones - though probably would have ended up falling off Penny Farthings (Albanian job lot, mix-up at factory, big wheel at the back etc)
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Post by barrythebook on Jun 7, 2022 18:31:49 GMT
Watched this again today and realised what a lovely performance Harold Innocent put in as 'incapable'. The eloquent speech he gives, after accidently bumping into a woman on the street when he comes out of the cornershop (a brilliant location btw which you wont find nowadays), can be taken as intelligent, sarcastic, funny, pathetic, pitiful or a little part of each all put together - it's a lovely little scene, whatever. Then waving 'goodbye' to the empty bottle he's thrown off a bridge into The Thames(?) can also be taken as sad, funny, pitiful etc. I was a little surprised to see him living in the bedsit. He was obviously fairly well bred, from a good background and education so I was thinking that even though he'd had his problems which led to a life of alcohol abuse, sleeping rough and losing his career that he'd be part of a very well to do, wealthy family who'd at least provide him with a roof over his head at the family home. Harold Innocent was impressive in the role of a man from an affluent background and in the highest of professions who has lost everything - including his self-respect - through his over-indulgence of alcohol. Re Incapable's family perhaps helping him out, I was listening to an interview a while back with Graham Cole, aka The Bill's Tony Stamp, which I thought of when watching this episode recently. As a young man Graham worked for the NHS and his duties included going on the streets to assist those living rough stay in as good health as was practical. Graham said he noticed one of the older female rough sleepers always had immaculate hair and it transpired the woman was from an old-school wealthy family who disowned her when she became pregnant outwith marriage, this having happened round about the 1930s. Terry gives a hint of Monty Wiseman's character in the car when Arthur broaches the 'work' he has in mind and Wiseman certainly kept any redeeming features very well-hidden, although it was a top-rate performance from Harry Fowler. There was more than a touch of the tragi-comic in this story, with Wiseman shouting at Incapable "Shift your drunken @rse!" and the coffin being placed the wrong way up in Terry's flat - "You've even got 'im on 'is 'ead!" I think it was in the Piers Morgan interview with Dennis that the scene with Patricia Maynard's character attacking Arthur was mentioned. Someone, perhaps Patricia herself, said normally the crew would laugh in this situation but there was an awkward silence when the scene ended, which Patricia was later to find out related to Dennis and Rula Lenska. So was Dennis carrying on with Rula behind PMs back?
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Post by barrythebook on Jun 7, 2022 15:03:11 GMT
It must have been a year or so after me and my pal had left high school when we were cycling through Tooting, en route to the Broadway on our old bikes, that my pal Mario, leading the way, turned back and shouted at me "It's Terry!" I didn't know what was going on until he suddenly pulled over and excitedly started pointing and saying "It's Terry, Terry McCann!" And it was. There's a scene in this episode where Terry visits the funeral parlour (Knox Brothers on Mitcham Road- which I believe has since moved premises) There was a small crowd of fans which had already gathered and the filming must have been on pause because Dennis was talking to a few people and signing autographs. I remember clearly he had a really warm smile as he looked down at the papers he was signing. Me and Mario stayed on our bikes and just watched, looking out for any sign of Arthur. But as we now know he wasn't in that particular scene. I remember it was a sunny afternoon that day and we were over the moon. What a moment that was! Great memory to have stagger and good to hear that DW was integrating with some Minder fans. This type of thing must have happened quite regularly once location filming took over from studio based productions. Please make the story a real gem by saying the bike you were riding was a Raleigh Chopper.
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Post by barrythebook on Jun 4, 2022 20:40:29 GMT
70s for me. Some great cop thrillers and gangster films from the era plus a lot of French and Italian movies that i didn't know existed until Arch gave me a lend of them, really good stuff. Also a time for some good British TV comedy series spin offs like Porridge, Likely Lads, Dads Army etc.
Plus, my favourite two films come from this decade - 'Villain' and 'The Warriors'.
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Post by barrythebook on May 8, 2022 19:46:44 GMT
Very sad news and out of the blue. I always looked forward to watching anything Dennis Waterman was in whilst growing up in the 70s/80s and happily sought out any other productions that he appeared in in later years. In Minder and Sweeney, DW has left us with two of the most iconic, well remembered and much loved TV programmes to have been screened.
Sad, sad day - RIP Dennis Waterman.
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Post by barrythebook on Apr 13, 2022 21:02:14 GMT
When Arthur walks out of the bank, just before he gets held-up, he reminded me of 'Flash Harry'. The slight swagger in his walk, his facial expression and the general look of him walking along with a briefcase in his hand made me think of GC's St Trinian days. Watch it and whistle the 'Flash Harry' tune to yourself, i think you'll see what I mean
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Post by barrythebook on Apr 11, 2022 20:44:19 GMT
The first GCSE year in England was 1988, my year was the first to take them. We'd been doing the syllabus for the previous 2 years including continuous assessment as it was called at the time ie. teacher-marked assignments and grading which formed part of the grade in some subjects like English. You're the same age as me then lecoyote, I was in the first year to take GCSE too. As I remember, wasn't there some misunderstanding (nationally) about the work we should be doing or the marking process or something and a certain amount of leniency was granted when it came to our final grades?
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Post by barrythebook on Apr 8, 2022 22:41:00 GMT
In a small village close to where i live, a farmer applied several times for planning permission on a plot of land that he owned, only to be refused on each application. The land was eventually sold as agricultural/grazing use only and was bought by the ex Mayor and at the time current councillor of the town. Guess what? Planning permission was applied for again and after some revisions were made to the original application, permission was granted. As bent as Uri Gellers wotsit. This sort of thing all too common unfortunately. You don't live in Herefordshire by any chance Barry? The Council there used to be notorious for that sort of thing - the senior councillors a bunch of carrot crunching would-be Al Capones who treated the county as if it was there solely for their own personal enrichment. I'm in West Cornwall ltd and believe me the 'old boys network' is rife, primarily between farmers, land management companies, valuers and sellers, they're in it together to make what they can imo.
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Post by barrythebook on Apr 8, 2022 18:14:19 GMT
dodgy council workers (nothing new in that) Jeavons character is stated, fairly late in the episode, as being a councillor i.e. an elected politician. In my experience a fair amount of them are on the take/fiddle. Land deals and planning are particularly fertile grounds for corruption, as indeed occurs in this episode. I've met a few bent council officers (i.e. employees), but most of them are ordinary people doing their jobs. It's the councillors who generally need watching - as I said plenty of them "at it". In a small village close to where i live, a farmer applied several times for planning permission on a plot of land that he owned, only to be refused on each application. The land was eventually sold as agricultural/grazing use only and was bought by the ex Mayor and at the time current councillor of the town. Guess what? Planning permission was applied for again and after some revisions were made to the original application, permission was granted. As bent as Uri Gellers wotsit.
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