Distributor:Acorn Media UK Certificate: Not Rated |
10x50 minute episodes | Region 2 | PAL
Available to buy Extras: Yes
ANYONE
IN IT WE KNOW?
James
Bolam, Rosalind Bailey, Susan Jameson, William Squire, Jeremy Child,
Bernard Horsfall, Paul Shelley, Sabina Franklin, Mel Martin, Judy Loe,
Colin Douglas
WHAT’S
IT ABOUT THEN?
The
fourth and final season of
classic seventies drama When The
Boat Comes In made some four
years after the third season,
Jack Ford returns from America
where he has been involving in
several underhand deals
including running bootleg
liquor, the Wall Street Crash of
1929 has left him down on his
luck and out to salvage some of
his former life back.
SO
IS IT ANY GOOD?
A
much lower key Jack Ford lies at the heart of this final series, which
just turns out to be probably the best set of episodes yet. Times have
changed not just for Jack but for the world at large, the excess of the
1920's has ended with the stock market crash leading to a whole new
depression.
This
is a different kind of series too in the fact that many of the original
cast are not in it, Matt Hedley has died and Jessie and Dr Billy only
really play a part during the final third of the 10 episode series but
of course the series is Bolams anyway and he is such a strong presence
that he fills the screen every time he appears.
Key
plot points include real life events such as the Jarrow marches and the
Spanish Civil War (where the surprising climax to the series takes
place), other developments see Jack getting involved with London society
and quickly getting up to his old sailing close to the law ways before
going all the way and getting involved in gun running for the Spanish
Civil War. The final two episodes are superb television, helping to
bring a proper sense of closure to the show and make you realise just
how far downhill television of today has gone.
Taken
as a whole the four series of When The Boat Comes In (every episode is
now available from Acorn
Media UK) prove to be some of the finest television of not just the
seventies but some of the best TV ever. Essential.
ANY
SPECIAL FEATURES?
This
6 disc set contains text based cast filmographies and production notes
and a photo gallery.
