Distributor: Acorn
Media UK Certificate: PG | 1973
| 13x50 minute episodes
Available to buy Extras: Yes Creator:John
Finch
3 Volumes (also
available to buy separately)
ANYONE
IN IT WE KNOW?
Kevin
Moreton, Michael Goodlife, Maggie Jones, Ray Smith, Aletha Charlton,
Frank Mills, Barbara Ewing, James Hazledine, Mona Bruce
WHAT’S
IT ABOUT THEN?
Times
are hard in the Yorkshire Town
of Skellerton in the depressed
1930’s and ten year old Sam
Wilson (Kevin Moreton) finds his
life turned upside down when his
dad walks out on his mum Dora
(Barbara Ewing) forcing the two
of them to move in with Sam’s
grandparents Jack and Polly
Barraclough. Also living with
them was Sam’s uncle George
and Aunt Ethel. Sam is also
close to his other grandfather,
tailor Toby Wilson. As the
series progresses Sam learns how
his new world works.
SO
IS IT ANY GOOD?
Created
by John Finch Sam was his next series following the superb Family At War
and again reflecting the concerns of a typical working class family,
similar in tone at times to the BBC’s later When The Boat Comes In,
the Barraclough family who are at the heart of Sam are coal miners but
times are hard. As the series opens Sam’s Uncle George (the superb Ray
Smith) has only just found work after five years on the dole and his
grandad Jack hasn’t worked for 8 years.
There
is plenty of drama in these 13 episodes, Sam gets sent to boarding
school at one stage, his mother Dora takes up with another man, causing
scandal by moving in with him but with tragic consequences (which we
won’t reveal here).
Sam
is first rate drama of a kind that just isn’t made anymore, Acorn
Media UK are releasing the second series shortly, this picks up the
story with Sam as a grown man and being played by Taggart himself Mark
McManus, we’ll be looking forward to it.
ANY
SPECIAL FEATURES?
Production
notes, a biography of series creator John Finch, press quotes, cast
filmographies and a photo gallery.
The
series is available from Acorn Media UK either as three separate volumes
or as a box set.
