Alfred Burke Is Frank Marker
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- Alfred Burke’s 70 year career was nothing less than extraordinary. Beginning shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War to his performance in Oedipus at The National in his 90th year, Burke staked a claim as one of Britain’s most versatile and successful actors.
But like George Cole as Arthur Daley, Patrick Macnee as Steed, and David Jason as Del Trotter, Burke will always be best known for playing one specific and much-loved character - the down-at-heel private inquiry agent, Frank Marker, in seven series of Public Eye, broadcast between 1965 and 1975.
With contributions from those who worked with Alfred Burke, including directors David Wickes (Public Eye, The Sweeney, Philip Marlowe - Private Eye), Michael E Briant (Doctor Who, Blake’s 7, Treasure Island), and actors Lynn Farleigh and Stephen Greif, we take a look at how Alfred Burke made Frank Marker such an engaging and memorable character.
As a 64 year old I well remember Public Eye the first time around. Years later I wrote to Alfred Burke to thank him for the Public Eye years which I loved and still do. I didn't expect s reply, in fact I may have said in the letter that there's no need to reply. Months went by and I forgot all about the letter. You could have knocked me down with a feather the day a reply landed on the doormat! It was handwritten, I recognised his writing from some close ups of Frank making notes, it was two pages long. He apologised for not replying sooner but he'd been away working. He said how much he enjoyed the Public Eye years. What a class act though, a personal, handwritten reply. Love Public Eye, series like The Sweeney etc may have had car chases and punch ups... but we had Frank, filling up his paraffin stove, lighting his single gas ring and blowing the fluff of a sweet he found in a drawer! Thank you for this video. Steve.
I’m 68 and watched it 1965, lasted for far too long - 10 years.
How wonderful to receive a letter from Alfred Burke.
Excellent thanks 😊
Alfred Burke’s portrayal of Frank Marker is a masterpiece. And what a wonderful little island of sanity Talking Pictures TV is.
Alfred Burke & Jeremy Brett much missed great actors.
One of the best actors to come out of England perfection .
I enjoyed watching the Public Eye series when it first came out. Like Alfred, I was born in Peckham, and used to see him around the area when he was much older. I believe he lived in East Dulwich Road, by Goose Green. I was going home one afternoon and he sat in front of me on the bus with a lady friend. I'm not sure who she was, but maybe his wife? I wish I had said hello!
Having recently found Public Eye again on TH-cam im currently working my way through every episode I can find.
I'm 64 and can remember when it was aired in the early 70's, for some reason it appealed to me as a 10 year old lad and I have always remembered it ever since. It still holds that same appeal and more, now that I'm able to fully appreciate the artistry. It really was high quality and many episodes are like films. I'm happy to have found this tribute too. Thank you.
Thoughtful and interesting program. What a rare treat these days.
I was 10 years old when I first saw Public Eye in 1972, and, even at so young an age, Alfred Burke’s portrayal of Frank Marker left such an impression on me that I never forgot it. Props to the makers of this interesting and insightful programme. I can’t find adequate words to express how much I enjoyed it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What an actor, what a man. I'd love to have known him.
Likewise and I'd also have loved to have a pint or 3 with Frank! Or in his case a half of course!😊
I've lost count the amount of times I've gone through the series, Public Eye. I can't tire of it and do occasionally get frustrated thinking about some of those early episodes never to be seen.
Thanks for uploading. This is a very commendable documentary on a high quality drama series that needs to be given proper recognition.
That was beautiful. I loved Public Eye before I saw it. Found the book in a charity shop (of the years preceding the Brighton ones) - about 40 years ago - and asked my (now long-dead wonderful) Dad about it... he wasn't an ITV fan.. lol... I have loved Alfie (I believe I can call him that after years of adoring him) Burke long-time. Thank you so much. He lived just over the river from me and I wish I'd known that when he was still alive. I'd have spent more time in Barnes. Lol. Wonderful. xx
Also sad to see Stephen Greif being very much alive and living... what a lovely actor he was too... xx
Only recently discovered Public Eye and am currently avidly watching Series 5 on Talking Pictures TV. Absolutely love it.
Way before my time (at time of its filming), so this background documentary about Alfred is pure gold. Thank you.
Wow An amazing piece about the aul' fella
Thanks and super credit to the writers, producers and participants to just nail it perfectly.
what a wonderful tribute that I'm sure all our family and friends and followers of Frank Marker will cherish..
Many thanks for putting this together and just wonder the later career on stage that was his real family and home.
Kelly Burke (younger) twin no 2
RIP Alfie
Enjoy this film 📽
This was my Dad's favourite, Kelly, and I often watched it with him. I can't begin to tell you what a joy it has been to rediscover this gem on Talking Puctures. Each episode is a total joy and Frank Marker is so authentically real all thanks to your Dad.
I used to sit and watch this with my Mum from when I was eight until my teens.
I'm watching them on youtube now, and thinking about my dear old Mum!
Just found public eye . Love it
So good to see Michael Briant.
A great actor and great to see Lynne Farleigh a lovely lady.
Rest in peace, Mr Stephen Greif.
Completely hooked after watching an episode years ago. Total class. As for Brighton I always remember Keith Waterhouse's memorable quote. The place looks like it is helping the police with their enquiries!!
Didn't want this to end. Throughly enjoyed it.
Absolutely brilliant! A truly great actor..have recorded the Public Eye series (thanks to Talking Pictures tv) so have discovered Alfred Burke quite late! Anyone thinking of entering into the dramatics arts should watch this superb actor..a Class act.
My favourite video s of all time never get tired of watching Alfred Burke best actor of all time thanks Alfred
Absolutely brilliant viewing!! Many thanks to those who put this together. I have watched this wonderful programme twice now.
A fascinating, yet fitting look back at Alfred Burke's long career. In particular, his role much cherished by many, many viewers .... Frank Marker!!
Are there any plans to release this brilliant programme on DVD or Blu-ray? If so, I'd buy it in a heartbeat!!
Excellent - What a Brilliant Tribute to Alfred Burke and to Public Eye - Always enjoyed Public Eye and Alfred Burke - if I had to choose 1 programme as the best it would most certainly be Public Eye - still as great now as it ever was and every episode is Solid Gold - from it's start in 1965 to this Top Documentary the Standard remains first rate
What a shame only a few episodes of the ABC years exist. Such a well acted consistently good class series. No loony plots of today, incessant music, wobbly arty farty camera work and predictable formulaic acting. Will never be repeated.
Always good to see Marker cleaning up the mean streets of Eton and Windsor😁 As a kid during the early 70s I was aware of Public Eye through it being promoted but was too young to watch it. I detected a bleakness in it, which interested me, far away from "The Banana Splits" and "Double Deckers"merriment. When I got the DVD box set a few years back, it didn't disappoint. Thanks for this much needed documentary. I really enjoyed it.
I love the series. ❤️
Superb the best thing i've seen on you tube in a long time
A wonderful celebration of Alfred Burke as Frank Marker. Thanks for uploading.
Thank you and thanks to talking pictures for showing this wonderful series
The one phrase that I feel best describes the show, and indeed, Marker himself, the country and the period in time they were made and set in is simply "so near, and yet, so far". With the cost of living the way it is there must be at least one chord that it is striking with people today who have and are watching Public Eye for the first time. Another is a seemingly prevalent attitude I find of "don't ask me. ask him/her" even amongst the maturer generations these days. And that is when I am making to feel I am constantly encountering when I take a step outside the front door.
This was absolutely wonderful...thank you to all concerned.
Congratulations on making such an interesting and professional tribute to wonderful Alfred Burke, and the superb Public Eye TV series.
Apparently he was married to Barbara Bonelle and they had two sets of twins: Jacob and Harriet, born 1956; and Kelly and Louisa, born 1960.
Superb documentary on a landmark series
The series are a regular on Talking Pictures. Excellent underplayed, understated performances. This is a wonderful tribute to Alfred Burke and Frank Marker. Just one picky observation - the wrong ABC logo is used about 4 minutes in - you use the pre-transmission logo for ATV - it had to change its company name from ABC (Associated Broadcasting Company) to ATV (Associated TeleVision) prior to going on air because of legal action by ABC's parent company
What an excellent documentary about Alfred Burke and Public Eye! I really enjoyed watching it and the insights from the people who knew him were really fascinating!
Great job!
Charisma.
Fantastic post. Thank you.
A really enjoyable and interesting documentary. Thank you.
Wonderful!!
Brilliant stuff, well done to all concerned!
Alfie was completely right that filming the series would've killed what was special about it. He must've seen what happened to Special Branch - two superb videotape studio series with Derren Nesbitt, Fulton McKay etc, then the soulless, sub-Sweeney shenanigans a few years later when it came back on (Euston) film with a new cast. Film didn't accelerate the pace though, it just led to a distance, a lack of intimacy' An intimacy between the audience, Frank and his immediate events and interactions, was what Public Eye relied on. Special Branch on film was a false restart that didn't work until the whole format was shaken up by Thaw, Waterman et al.
The sweeney was the best police series ever the films were good too , pity they didn't make more .
Long live frank marker, first class TV watched it first time around early 70s, and come across it again on talking pics TV, so I bought the box sets to watch any time I want, Alfred made the part realistic smooth and slowly true class, thank you.
Everything seems fast and over the top nowadays but watching this series it's great to see the little things that everyone does and not rushed like making a cup of tea or walking into a shop you can visualise what's happening i love it
my dad's best friend claimed that he never watched ITV, and my girlfriend's family in the 70s took the radio time but not the tv times as they "never watched ITV".
Thank you for uploading. Loved his Public Eye series and still watch it now. A great all around actor.
Tessa wyatt dad, Tony Blackburn's father in law, loved him all my life,
It's nice to see laptop when a man in a trench coat passes by the table. I wonder how Frank Marker would have got used to this new technology nowadays during solving his cases. :) That's quite interesting.
Frankly speaking a cult hero
City centre ones all , but i watched them all them years ago, he walked past rotunda
The story of video tape being expensive does not hold much water..........if so transfer them to 16mm opt film
great actor, great man, great bit of British T.V..
Brilliant series then - Callan, Public Eye, Harry Palmer, Danger Man et al. Not the low grade over blown hero stuff you get now.
A similar character in the USA filmed later in the mid 70s was Harry O (David Janssen. I wonder if the makers of that programme had watched Alfred Burke as Frank Marker ?
And got public eye box set
I was a bit in love with him to be honest! A great actor.
How dare you call Frank smelly! Public Eye made by Euston Films would have been fantastic! What a shame.
Effectively Alfie played himself
In short Public Eye was made when Britain still had some culture left..........Today in 2023 Britain is finished
Someone had to fight .
What does this comment mean ?
@@hawkswoodfilms4952 Plain enough isn't it .
Means he never joined army, Mohammed Ali did not either, , same thing, up to them, if they dont want to kill,