Rock Follies: The Talking Pictures (ITV 16 Mar 1976, Denis Lill)

In The Talking Pictures the girls are back in the Metropolis but finding that life is still not overly easy. Adult film director Chas Speed has an offer for the girls with an appearance in a new musical soft core film he has planned. The girls arn’t keen but Derek spotting an opportunity for a publishing deal and a soundtrack album pushes them into it. However when Chas wants to move the film in a harder direction the girls tell him where he can stick it – so to speak. A bright spot on the horizon arrives in the unlikely form of Q’s surfer boyfriend Carl who tells the girl that his new mentor wants to invest heavily in them.

The fab Denis Lill actually gets most of the plaudits in this episode as the likeable Chas Speed whose real colours are revealed when the girls rebel against his ideas. There is also big news involving Anna’s relationship with lecturer Jack – he has been having an affair with student Gloria who is also part of the co-operative where Dee lives.

The dream sequence this episode takes place against an all white background with the girls wearing flowing white costumes singing Sugar Mountain. As the song fades a sugar mountain painted backdrop is slowly revealed.

production details
RUNNING TIME: 60 minutes | AIRDATE: 16 March 1976

WRITER: Howard Schuman | DIRECTOR: Brian Farnham

Series: Rock Follies Season One Episode Four

cast
JULIE COVINGTON as Dee
RULA LENSKA as Q
CHARLOTTE CORNWELL as Anna
STEPHEN MOORE as Jack
BILLY MURRAY as Spike
EMLYN PRICE as Derek
MICHAEL J. SHANNON as Carl
DENIS LILL as Chas Speed
PETER ATTARD as Bull Trade
BILL STEWART as Bob
ANGELA CHADFIELD as Joyce
JOSS BUCKLEY as Chris
ANGELA BRUCE as Gloria
ELLIS DALE as Schubert
CYRIL CROSS as Sam Sprat
WILLIE JONAH as Mr N’Kruuni
DAVID DIXON as Rob
PETER JOHN VAN HOOKE, RAY RUSSELL, TONY STEVENS as The Group