So tucked away on #iplayer possibly not find unless actively searching. Cannot recommend this 1971 “Play for Today” by Dennis Potter enough. John Le Mesurier won the BAFTA “Best Television Actor” for this. If only know him from “Dad’s Army” worth hour of your time.. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis... - ThreadSky

gleanniucha.bsky.social • 6 days ago

So tucked away on #iplayer possibly not find unless actively searching.

Cannot recommend this 1971 “Play for Today” by Dennis Potter enough.

John Le Mesurier won the BAFTA “Best Television Actor” for this. If only know him from “Dad’s Army” worth hour of your time..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p032kjfk

Comments

chrissa75.bsky.social•5 days ago

Bookmarked on iPlayer, thank you

gleanniucha.bsky.social•5 days ago

Downloadable too!

Until hit play get 30 days..

Useful if soon to be deleted online

gleanniucha.bsky.social•6 days ago

“After a lifetime supporting other actors with the strength of a pit-prop, gets the main part; he looks, sounds and feels exactly right"

- The Sunday Times

“His Hamlet”

- The Guardian

gleanniucha.bsky.social•6 days ago

Loosely inspired by Kim Philby and airing still a few years before Anthony Blunt’s public exposure as “the fourth man” it’s a piece very much of its time.

Le Mesurier though is the draw here, even now.

gleanniucha.bsky.social•6 days ago

By all accounts he was deeply worried by taking on the role and in his own ability to pull it off.

Like so many other British comedic actors before and since - hidden talents here that should have been put to greater use.

weblabrador.bsky.social•6 days ago

As John Laurie (of Dad’s Army) said,”I’ve done Hamlet, and I’m going to be remembered for this shit.”

unklerupert.uk•6 days ago

The same pain experienced by many, Kenneth Williams, Harry H Corbett. We loved them in the roles they became so well know for that trapped them, sadly.

gleanniucha.bsky.social•6 days ago

We’re not the Producers though..

If a BAFTA and positive audience feedback not a clue..

desdelboy.bsky.social•2 days ago

📌

yootha.bsky.social•5 days ago

I've always wanted to see this, so glad you flagged it up - thanks.

gleanniucha.bsky.social•5 days ago

I think many have heard of and wanted to (watch).

Tonight has been lovely.

gleanniucha.bsky.social•5 days ago

I don’t expect BBC Iplayer phoney AI to reflect..

😮‍💨

markdalgarno.bsky.social•4 days ago

John Le Mesurier was such a fine actor.

sanguinepar.bsky.social•5 days ago

Thanks again for sharing this - I just watched it, and it was absolutely compelling stuff. JLM is fantastic.

I was googling after and discovered that there's a radio version with Denholm Elliott, which might well be worth hearing. Not seen a recording, but there's this https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xx8y

sanguinepar.bsky.social•5 days ago

Not available sadly: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xlx2

gleanniucha.bsky.social•5 days ago

This do you?

🤗

https://youtu.be/x4xwLUXmQqY

sanguinepar.bsky.social•5 days ago

Gold medal! Thanks very much - will be interesting to see how it fares as a radio play without the visuals, especially the childhood flashbacks.

Also, disrector Derek Hoddinott - surely related to Diana Hoddinott of Yes Minister fame?

gleanniucha.bsky.social•5 days ago

Could be siblings. Could be coincidence 🤷🏼‍♀️

No idea where Derek born. Diana hailed from Somerset.

sanguinepar.bsky.social•5 days ago

Yeah, maybe just a coincidence, although a fairly uncommon name I would think. Oh well.

sanguinepar.bsky.social•6 days ago

That sounds amazing. Straight on the watch list, thanks 👍

gleanniucha.bsky.social•6 days ago

Has another two months left.

There is so much on #iplayer now for a year it’s a mission sometimes to find stuff

Will call out gems though because there’s material on there 50 or more years old that modern audiences will enjoy

sanguinepar.bsky.social•6 days ago

Doing the hard yards - much appreciated!

gleanniucha.bsky.social•5 days ago

“Traitor” typed in won’t even reveal as an option.

Have to use Play for Today.

Awful

sanguinepar.bsky.social•5 days ago

That's crazy. How is it that search is worse nowadays than it was 10 years ago?

duncanwatson8.bsky.social•5 days ago

And determined to stop as many people from watching it as they can, the BBC has not only tucked it away but also geoblocked it so only UK residents can see it. How sad if somebody uploaded it to YouTube. Dennis Potter would probably turn in his grave at the thought of it being watched worldwide.

gleanniucha.bsky.social•5 days ago

👍🏼

VPN?

A reminder to all can’t be found by simply searching traitor 🤯

Use Play for Today..

Awful application of key words

Traitor or Le Mesurier or both = nothing 🤦‍♀️

gleanniucha.bsky.social•5 days ago

Ironic so much interest in this today but pleasing.

Putin so removed from any idea of communism 😂

The ideology and foes may change but themes remain constant

del-boy.bsky.social•5 days ago

And Potter’s name for his cancer, Rupert, still going strong.

Thanks for digging this up.

gleanniucha.bsky.social•5 days ago

Dennis Potter’s Blue Remembered Hills with Michael Elphick, Helen Mirren, John Bird.

Country by Trevor Griffiths with Leo McKern and Jill Bennett.

Also both squirrelled away on the iplayer - but links do show below Traitor when view.

gleanniucha.bsky.social•5 days ago

Unusually for the BBC.

“Country” was completely (and very lush this is too) shot on film.

Clearly produced both to rival and as a thematic counterpoint to “Brideshead Revisited”.

BBC went so far as to air it opposite “Brideshead” part 2 - but in the days before video recorders that common!

🤦‍♀️

squirlykat.bsky.social•6 days ago

That’s brilliant isn’t it

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