bloodworm

This is long shot but has anyone a copy of "the Silver Sword" starring Melvyn Hayse (aint half hot mum), 7 episodes in all circa 1957

The one that gets away is always the biggest but not always the best !!

sciara

I have been haunted by this series (The Silver Sword) since I was a kid and it is just recently that I have found out all about it (while looking at 6-5 Special on Whirlygig) and would love to talk to you bloodworm about it and how it would be possible to get a copy of it. It was serialised again in 1971 with a totally different team of actors. I am now 65 and have thought about it every so often all of my life!

Geoffers

I remember the original, too, though the actor I remember is Frazer Hines who played a character called Jan. Later that year he appeared as a michievous schoolboy in Chaplin's "A King in New York" and many of the children watching in the cinema shouted "Jan" at the screen when he appeared.

Much more recently my younger brother asked me if I knew the theme music that was used as he was doing the sound for a play in London and the director requested it specifically as a childhood memory of his own.

So I guess the series is fondly remembered by many but I'd be amazed if anybody has a tape.

bloodworm

The silver sword is one of those childhood memories that sticks. The 7 episode series was broadcast in 1957 and starred Melvyn Hayes (Edek Balaki), Frazer Hines (Jan),Brenda Dunrich (Mrs Wolff) and Gwen Watford (Magrit Balaki) to name but a few. It was remade in 1971. The story of 3 Polish children in world war 2 trying to reunite their family. Alas much research has led to a blank. The bbc or any old film stockist has not been able to help me on either production, but we can live in hope.

C/U

The worm

The one that gets away is always the biggest but not always the best !!

sciara

Thank you very much to all of you for coming back to me about "The Silver Sword" and also to Haunted Helen who I cannot reply to personally because I am not sure how to use this format yet! I do not have a copy or a tape of the programme myself but was hoping Bloodworm might be able to help me (thank you for your prompt reply Bloodworm). I wonder if it is possible to get a tape of the serialisation of the version that took place in 1971? I can remember Melvyn Hayes in it and he looked the part because he was so gaunt and thin but I cannot remember the other actors. I am going to get the book by Ian Serraillier which is based on a true story and see if I can reminisce my childhood!

bloodworm

Sorry to say that both versions are proving difficult to find and the only hope i think is the BBC, but rest assured that if i have any luck at all i will be in touch...Both versions are listed at The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) giving full cast lists and dates if you are interested in looking them up.... Enjoy the book

C?U

The Worm

The one that gets away is always the biggest but not always the best !!

Blue_Owl

Says you can watch the final episode

The National Museum of Photography, Film & Television - Television

david freeman

I too have been haunted by this serial which I watched as a little boy of 6years old.
The theme music and opening title shots have also been etched into my memory.
Last week my wife and I visited the National Media Museum in Bradford where I was able to watch the final episode of The Silver Sword which I had not seen for almost 50 years!
The opening music and the shot of the silver sword resting in the ruins of the Balicki's house were exactly how I remembered them.
I have tried for many years to find out the title of the music with no success, but just to hear it again was fantastic.
If there is anyone out there who can shed any light on the title music, I would love to hear from you.
I would never have discovered this museum had I not come across this forum after performing a search for "The Silver Sword" and reading a reply from one of your members.
So thank you for allowing me to fulfil a 50year old ambition!

Geoffers

My brother tells me the music used was an arrangement of the third theme from the first movement of Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony (Leningrad).

I've listened to this and it sounds familiar but I can't remember it from 50 years ago!