The Paul Temple Cases

[Bernardo]

By Timothy! Friday 11th June at 11.30am on Radio 4 the theme music will announce with no hesitation or deviation that Paul Temple and Steve are on the wireless and on the case again.

I say no deviation as it is another modern production using the original script and similar microphones and effects as the the original recording, made in 1947, which has been lost.

The Notorious Doctor Belasco is full of the plot devices, situations and locations that those two sleuths are famous for.

I can't wait, pity it is at 11.30am though, one can not imagine a sleazy Mayfair club so well at that time in the morning.

[Nick Dando]

Both the re-created Sullivan and the Madison mysteries have been very good. Crawford Logan does a good job as Paul; Gerda Stevenson has to put up with being a bit-part character, but that was the way it was written.



BBC - Press Office - Network Radio Programme Information BBC Week 23 Friday 11 June 2010



Paul Temple And Steve Ep 1/8



Friday 11 June

11.30am-12.00noon BBC RADIO 4





Crawford Logan as Paul Temple and Gerda Stevenson as Steve

In a new production of the 1947 detective series, Paul Temple And Steve, two of radio's great detectives return to the airwaves refreshed and reinvigorated to investigate the activities of a shadowy and ruthless criminal mastermind in post-war London.



In the first episode, The Notorious Dr Belasco, Paul and his wife, Steve, are enlisted by Sir Graham Forbes of Scotland Yard to help track down the mysterious Dr Belasco.



Paul and Steve find clues in cigarette lighters and bodies in shrubberies; dance the night away in louche Latin American night clubs; meet sinister menservants and suspicious foreigners; and have their lives threatened at every turn. It's just as well Steve remembered to bring along her revolver as well as her ration book.



The cast features Crawford Logan as Paul Temple; Gerda Stevenson as Steve; Gareth Thomas as Sir Graham Forbes; Jimmy Chisholm as Nelson; Eliza Langland as Mary Hamilton; Nick Underwood as Kaufman; and Greg Powrie as Charlie/Worth.



Francis Durbridge, the creator of Paul Temple, was born in Hull in 1912 and died in 1998. He was one of the most successful novelists, playwrights and scriptwriters of his day.



Producer/Patrick Rayner for the BBC

[Bernardo]

This is the second production in the style of the original series. The first was so good one could not see the join but after hearing episode one of Paul Temple and Steve, the Notorious Dr Belasco I am a bit disappointed as the actors, I felt, overplayed their parts and the 1940's atmosphere sounded contrived. The dialogue was the same as the original script but the nuances were not and the sound effects were contemporary with the technical age but they did not sound quite right. Still enjoyable period romp with the gentleman amateur detective saving Scotland Yard and I will listen to the second episode as the dead bodies are beginning to pile up already.

[Bernardo]

For my own sense of fair play: My critique above seems a bit strong now I have listened to the second episode which was really in period complete with the pre-Coronation Scot music breaks. A real must hear for Paul Temple fans.

[Bernardo]

Up to episode 5 now, if you are a Paul Temple fan and you have not listened to 'The Belleso Affair' you have, unfortunately, missed something. Radio 4 11.30am.

[The Thunder Ch]

I'm a fan of the Paul Temple mysteries (although admittedly mainly because Simon Lack is in all but one of them). Although they are so formulaic it is to laugh, it's fun to listen to the acting company and their rapport.

My favorite varies between Paul Temple and the Alex Affair and Paul Temple and the Van Dyke Affair. I love the ending of that, and Richard Hurndall gives a great vocal performance.

[The Thunder Ch]

By the way, does anyone have a copy of The Conrad Case. I'm listening to it now. In episode 1, about halway through the ep, the Temples are requested to go to a village called.... Godsden is what it sounds like, but I can't find it after a Google search. Is it an invented town, or am I not hearing the name properly?

[CaptainWaggett]

It may be a made-up name but if not, there's a Godstone (pronounced Godstn) in Surrey

Godstone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Santonix]

I too enjoy listening to Paul Temple my favourite is Paul Temple and The Gilbert Case.

[The Thunder Ch]

It may be a made-up name but if not, there's a Godstone (pronounced Godstn) in Surrey

Godstone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I bet that's it! Thanks, Captain!

[waldo_lydecker]

Always throwing bombs out of windows and having cars shot to pieces. I love them. The BBC 'recreations' of lost series are also really well done.

[Steve Crook]

Always throwing bombs out of windows

Always be careful when you're walking past Paul Temple's house. You never know what they might throw out


Steve

[mrs_emma_peel]

Paul Temple and Steve ...
Episode 1 ... The Notorious Dr Belasco 1/8
BBC Radio 4 Thursday, 26th January, 2012 ... 11.00-11.30pm

This is a brand new, 8 part full-cast dramatisation remake of the lost 1947 archive drama recording of Francis Durbridge’s Paul Temple and Steve ... this new production stars Crawford Logan as Paul Temple and Gerda Stevenson as Steve (Gerda has been acclaimed as the finest actress in Scotland).

From 1938-1968, crime novelist and detective Paul Temple and his beautiful journalist wife Steve solved case after case in one of BBC Radio's most popular and thrilling serials ever broadcast. Now the elegantly suave and sophisticated duo return refreshed and reinvigorated to the airwaves ... to investigate the activities of a shadowy and ruthless criminal mastermind in post-war London.



Enlisted by Sir Graham Forbes of Scotland Yard ... Mr and Mrs Temple are asked to help track down the mysterious Dr Belasco. Paul and Steve find cryptic clues in cigarette lighters and bodies in shrubberies ... at night the couple dance in dangerous and risque Latin-American night-clubs, meet sinister man-servants and suspicious foreigners ... and have their lives threatened at every turn. Just as well the gorgeously elegant statuesque Steve Temple remembers to bring along her revolver ...

This new production for BBC Radio 4 uses the original scripts, vintage sound effects and much of the incidental music from the missing 1947 production. As far as possible, it is a technical and stylistic replication and enhancement of how that production might have sounded had the original recording survived.

Sources: AudioGo/BBC Radio 4
Emma

[Nick Dando]

Paul Temple and Steve ...
Episode 1 ... The Notorious Dr Belasco 1/8
BBC Radio 4 Thursday, 26th January, 2012 ... 11.00-11.30pm

This is a brand new, 8 part full-cast dramatisation remake of the lost 1947 archive drama recording of Francis Durbridge’s Paul Temple and Steve ... this new production stars Crawford Logan as Paul Temple and Gerda Stevenson as Steve (Gerda has been acclaimed as the finest actress in Scotland).


Sources: AudioGo/BBC Radio 4
Emma

Odd. I thought one of the finest actresses in Scotland was Tilda Swinton.

But these recreations have been great fun. I caught the first two series, but have failed miserably to keep up with them. Thankfully, and one of these days I will, they are available on CD from the Beeb.

Nick

[Steve Crook]

Odd. I thought one of the finest actresses in Scotland was Tilda Swinton.

Agreed, and she's much too big to be placed in peril like Paul Temple's wife Steve often was. Tilda would sort out those bad guys

Steve

[CaptainWaggett]

Agreed, and she's much too big to be placed in peril like Paul Temple's wife Steve often was. Tilda would sort out those bad guys

Steve

But can she drink a cocktail and wear a hat at the same time?

[mrs_emma_peel]

Would have liked to have heard Francis Matthews (Francis, was for me, always the real, suave and sophisticated, Paul Temple) and Ros Drinkwater (was always how I imagined the real, beautiful Steve) play Paul and Steve on radio, in addition to BBC television, in the Paul Temple adaptations. They were a superb pairing for television - and their splendid acting and voices would have been equally perfect and distinctive for the radio roles.
Emma

[waldo_lydecker]

These BBC remakes of the Temple shows are so well done it's a great treat. I wish more old shows were given such a tasteful and positive revival.

[Steve Crook]

But can she drink a cocktail and wear a hat at the same time?

Well Tilda was drinking a cocktail last time I met her, but she doesn't often wear a hat

Steve

[Nick Dando]

She wore a most splendid tricorne in Orlando.

Nick