richieuk

I am new to this forum, so I am curious to know whether there are many among you who are fans of the 1970-72 Granada series "A Family at War." Created by John Finch, who also served as principal writer, "A Family at War" follows the Ashton family of Liverpool throughout the years of World War II, actually opening in 1938 and progressing through the close of 1945. Historical detail is immaculate, and the scripts and acting are splendid. All 52 episodes of this powerful series are now available on DVD.

Marky B

Hi Richie
I vaguely remember the series - the only thing I remember about is Ralph Vaughn Williams' Symphony Number 6. Welcome to the forum,Richie.
In fact,I am sure A Family At War is mentioned somewhere else on the forum.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I once shot an elephant in my pyjamas - how he got in my pyjamas,I'll never know

richieuk

Yes, Granada used the Boult/LPO recording from early 1949, a definitive performance committed to vinyl less than a year after RVW completed the work. If you would like to refresh your memory about the first-movement excerpt used on the programme (and view some scenes from the series in the bargain), visit A Family at War (Fan Site) at www.baylor.edu/afamilyatwar and click on the "Slide Show" button with your computer speakers on.

Richie

monkie56uk

I have not long ago watched all the episodes and enjoyed them, shame some had to be shot in black and white but hey still a great series.

batman

Why is it a shame that some episodes are in black and white? Black and white episodes have a unique feel to them and are often IMHO preferable to colour ones.

Don't miss out on a chance to win a rare film in Bat-Quiz 13 closing date - 31/8/8.

TimR

I watched the whole series when I was a boy, back in the stone age (the 70s )

I enjoyed it then very much. I don't know how it would seem now. I remember it as being a 'soap' style drama - not my sort of things usually - but it was about wartime Britain and had lots of detail, and that was more than enough to keep me involved.

Hereafter, in a better world than this,
I shall desire more love and knowledge of you

TimR

Agreed. I liked the black and white - it suited that series.

Hereafter, in a better world than this,
I shall desire more love and knowledge of you

glyn horton

I watched all the series last year and enjoyed it immensely. The one thing that intrigues me about it is that it was very popular and well received by the public and critics yet most of the 'stars' seemed to disappear into obscurity afterwards despite the success. Only John Nettles and Barbara Flynn later appeared in star roles and that wasn't until the eighties with Bergerac and the Beiderbecke series. Ian Thompson, Colin Campbell and Colin Douglas seemed to go straight into playing small parts when the series finished and Coral Atkins retired to look after adopted children. Does anyone know what happened to Leslie Nunnerley? She also ended up playing very small parts in The Bill and Rumpole of the Bailey in the eighties before disappearing off the scene completely.

TimR

I don't know who played the mother in that series - but she showed up at the beginning of Star Wars as Luke's mother. I remember seeing the film and saying "That's the'mum' from Family At War". It was a very small part - she was given a send off to eternity at the very beginning.

The father in that series would call her "silly old sausage". That became a family phrase - it was so odd and different.

Hereafter, in a better world than this,
I shall desire more love and knowledge of you

Mark O

Shelagh Fraser, there's a pic of her one of the threads, she was also in an episode of 'The Professionals' on ITV2 a couple of weeks back.

Mark

TimR

I liked her calm, reserved acting - I remember her clearly in that role thirty years later.

Hereafter, in a better world than this,
I shall desire more love and knowledge of you