ROMANCE [2.3.1977]
Described in TV Times as “a series
of plays based on great romantic stories” [1] this 60 minute Thames Television series only ran to six
weekly episodes broadcast over the months of March and April 1976.
The works chosen appear to have been
included as much for their symbolic importance as well as their
entertainment value. Covering a 95 year period of profound change in
society's attitudes towards women and women's attitudes towards
society the wide range of authors and character situations should
have made for interesting watching. The TV Times write up [2] said the series “Should do for women what “The Big Match” does
for chaps”.
The episodes were “Moths”[1880]
by Ouida, “Three Weeks” [1907] by Elinor Glin, “The Black
Knight”[1926] by Ethel M Dell, “High Noon”[1939] by Ruby M
Ayres, “House of Men”[1963] by Catherine Cookson and
“Emily”[1975] by Jilly Cooper.
IBDb says Grainer wrote incidental
music for “The Black Knight” The House Of Men” and “Emily”
as well as the series theme.
ONCE UPON A TIME IS NOW [22.5.77 USA]
Long lost TV documentary special about actress Grace Kelly the only details of which come from a pre-showing publicity write up in an American newspaper [3] which indicated it included, amongst exclusive family interaction sequences, interviews with co stars William Holden, Cary Grant, Alec Guiness, James Stewart / Raymond Massey ["Rear Window"] as well as Directors Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kramer and George Seaton and designer Edith Head.
'In presenting an original view of Princess Grace from film star to royal princess the program will include footage of her early days as a model in New York, as she appeared in televison commercials and kinescope scenes of her as a performer in live TV dramas. Film highlights of her notable career in Hollywood will include scenes from "The Country Girl"[oscar winner] "To Catch A Thief" "High Society" "Montgambo" "The Swan" "Dial M for Murder" and "High Noon".
Grainer is credited with writing the title song and composing the films incidental music.
A RATHER REASSURING PROGRAMME [23.7.77] revised review 25 June 2021
Obscure Ned Sherrin program that did not even warrant a mention in his 2005 autobiography although Grainer wrote its signature theme tune. Increasingly brief write ups in the Daily Mirror newspaper [4] and more detailed listings in TV Times as well as a July 23 1977 TVT article "Vulgar I May Be But Don't Call Me Common" indicate it struggled along for six episodes with six writers and seven actors using Sherrin as a focus point. One sarcastic side swipe in a newspaper entertainment column suggested it wasn't very funny and an insult to Sherrin's satire legacy [5] Although a 2016 online IMDb review suggested it was worth watching
"... It was shot on film without a laugh track and poked fun at investigative journalism. Sherrin travelled the length and breadth of the country interviewing various eccentrics such as the worlds first bionic hooligan and fronted spoof new[s] items such as the adoption agency where orphans interview prospective parents, a school for mercenaries and the University of Anything Goes ... it was all a bit hit and miss, but when on target, the sketches were hilarious. Sherrin closed each edition with the words "I find that rather reassuring". Not enough viewers were reassured apparently and there was no second season" [6]
Each episode had a headline topic - "What Happened to Our Moral Fibre?" 23.7.77 "Is There A Media Conspiracy?" 30.7.77 "Whatever Happened to Heroes?" 6.8.77 "Has The Word Profession Any Meaning These Days?" 13.8.77 "Why Isn't Mankind One Big Happy Family" 20.8.77 "Has Family Life As We Know It Gone Forever" 27.8.77 [7]
1977 References:
[1] TV Times Vol 86 #9 p37
[2] TV Times Vol 86 #9 p8
[3] "The Lawton Constition"[Southwest Oklahoma]" [22.5.77]
[4] Various TV program listings Daily Mirror 23.7.77 to 27 8.77
[5] Weekend Preview Daily Mirror 30.7.77 p13
[6] IMDb reviews Yonilikka-22 2 May 2016
[7] TV Times program listings 23.7.77 to 27.8. 77
