EHV_Emmetts

I've recently purchased series 1 to 6 on DVD (£9 each from HMV ).

I noticed that the very first episode of series one (the pilot ) was filmed in black and white. Does anyone know why this occurred? I'm assuming that at the time of shooting the BBC was experiencing industrial action by members' of one of the broadcasting unions.

I've also noticed that dear old Arthur Brough (Mr. Grainger) doesn't half bumble and stumble his way through his lines. This seems to put off the other actors who then don't know where to look, this causes them to look straight at the camera.

In a later series we see James Hayter playing Mr. Tebbs (he replaced Arthur Brough when he died). Poor old James, he looked very stilted and ill at ease with the entire situation, and appeared to having some difficulty walking.

CaptainWaggett

In the 1970s my mother worked in department store that was almost identical to Grace Brothers (though the clothes departments were rather larger!). There were still floorwalkers and the shop was still owned by Mr NameOfShop and his young , well 50ish, son (who used to come round with words of encouragement every so often), known as Young Mr Alec.

batman

"Do you know why fattries are called fattries .... it's because they are big and people make things in them."

penfold

Henceforth, I will always think of you as being Mrs Slocombe's daughter....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

CaptainWaggett

That would be the best! Mum worked in the posh china department - one of the greatest regrets of my life is visiting her one day and leaving about three minutes before a drunk knocked over a whole table of Royal Doulton.

Steve Crook

Check the IMDb trivia for that pilot episode.

The original pilot was recorded on colour videotape as part of the "Comedy Playhouse" (1961) series and had a "BBC Colour" credit at the end. However the original videotape has been lost or wiped; the only known copy of the episode in existence today is a black-and-white film-recording.


That page also says:
Originally transmitted unexpectedly during the 1972 Munich Olympics when the BBC needed replacement programming following the massacre of Israeli Athletes by a Palestinian terrorist group.

Steve

EHV_Emmetts

Thanks for that information.

James Fox

A great show. This plays on virtually every PBS station in America.

Especially like the early seasons with Mr. Lucas and Mr. Granger.

bhowells

Come to think of it there were quite a few cast changes throughout the shows twelve year run, Trevor Bannister left in series 7 and was replaced by Mike Berry who played a character called Mr Spooner. Alfie Bass turned up towards the end and it became really silly when young Mr Grace was replaced by his Dad.

Midway through the run it got camper and camper and just an excuse for the cast to cavort about getting cheap laughs in silly costumes., Mr Humphries in his leiderhosen. for e.g.

Husky

I'm currently working my way through the DVDs. I did notice one episode (I think it was Forward Mr Grainger) where the episode seemed to end very abruptly, there didn't seem to be any kind of payoff. I wondered whether something had been cut out.

Steve Crook

How does the running time compare with other episodes?

Steve

EHV_Emmetts

Is that the episode where Mr. Grainger is temporarily promoted to departmental manager?

Husky

Yes, that's the episode - actually I just watched it again and the ending didn't seem abrupt, so either it's another episode I was thinking of, or I'm going bonkers (probably the latter).

cally

The original pilot was recorded on colour videotape as part of the "Comedy Playhouse" (1961) series and had a "BBC Colour" credit at the end. However the original videotape has been lost or wiped; the only known copy of the episode in existence today is a black-and-white film-recording.

1971 surely?

Steve Crook

No, 1961

The 1971 series of Comedy Playhouse on the IMDb is the CBS series of the same name. The 1961 BBC series ran until 1975

The year given for a TV series on the IMDb is the year when the first episode was broadcast

Steve