SINGING DETECTIVE, THE, NO. 3: LOVELY DAYS (TV)
Summary
This six-part drama, written by renowned British author Dennis Potter, combines elements of drama, music, and the detective genre. The drama consists of three plots that run parallel and often interweave and collide in surreal moments: the impressions, thoughts, and travails of writer Phillip Marlow (Gambon), who is confined in the hospital with a disfiguring skin disease; the story of the young Phillip Marlow (Davies) and his family troubles; and the escapades of protagonist Phillip Marlow (Gambon) in the spy novel "The Singing Detective." Throughout, the hospitalized Marlow's thoughts and delusions materialize in musical and dramatic sequences. The same characters often appear in more than one plot. In the third episode, Marlow recalls experiences and memories from his youth, including his mother (Steadman) leaving his father (Carter) and bringing him to London against his wishes; a teacher (Henfrey) who is cheerful about World War II almost ending; and his confrontation with his mother about her infidelity to his father. In the present, Marlow realizes that these memories are returning to him during a psychiatric evaluation at the hospital. As a result of treatments for his skin condition, his appearance has improved and he has regained some mobility. George (Simon), a patient in the next bed, disgusts Marlow with bawdy stories about his experiences with women in post-war Germany. The "singing detective" confronts Mark Finney (Malahide), who has hired him to clear his name, and reveals that he knows Finney is a spy involved in smuggling Nazis out of Germany after World War II. Finney gets angry, pays Marlow off, and tells him to leave. As Marlow leaves, he is followed by a Russian spy.
(This program aired on PBS under the umbrella of "Channel Crossings." Contains graphic images and sexually explicit language; viewer discretion advised.) Acquisition and cataloging of this program was made possible by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: BBC1 (United Kingdom)
- DATE: January 14, 1988 Thursday
- RUNNING TIME: 1:03:10
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T91:0235
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction; Musical; Private detective; Writers
- SERIES RUN: BBC1 - TV series, 1986
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rick McCallum … Executive Producer
- John Harris … Producer
- Kenith Trodd … Producer
- John Amiel … Director
- Dennis Potter … Writer
- Quinny Sacks … Choreographer
- Michael Gambon … Cast, Philip Marlow
- Janet Suzman … Cast, Nicola
- Patrick Malahide … Cast, Mark Binney / Raymond
- Alison Steadman … Cast, Mrs. Marlow / Lili
- Joanne Whalley … Cast, Nurse Mills
- Bill Paterson … Cast, Dr. Gibbon
- David Ryall … Cast, Mr. Hall
- Gerard Horan … Cast, Reginald
- Leslie French … Cast, Mr. Tomkey
- Jim Carter … Cast, Mr. Marlow
- Ron Cook … Cast, First Mysterious Man
- George Rossi … Cast, Second Mysterious Man
- Imelda Staunton … Cast, Staff Nurse White
- Wally Thomas … Cast, Granddad Baxter
- Lyndon Davies … Cast, Philip (aged 10)
- Janet Henfrey … Cast, Schoolteacher
- Charles Simon … Cast, George Adams
- Sharon D. Clarke … Cast, Night Nurse
- Geff Francis … Cast, Porter
- Trevor Cooper … Cast, Cloth Cap
- Ken Stott … Cast, Uncle John
- Jo Cameron Brown … Cast, Aunt Emily
- Angela Curran … Cast, Mary, the Lodger
- Niven Boyd … Cast, First Soldier
- David Thewlis … Cast, Second Soldier
- Claire Phelps … Cast, Rita
- Neil Pittaway … Cast, Brian
- Errol Shaker … Cast, Mortuary Attendant #1
- Astley Harvey … Cast, Mortuary Attendant #2