The rare treat of this series was the allowance of humanisation/context given to the German side of the story, most movies and documentaries start with an angry moustache but few if any divulge how it got there, brave and honest tv for the time
I first saw Secret Army when I was 8 years old (1978) could'nt wait til the next episode on the following saturday. I must confess that Kessler was my favourite character. I've got the three boxsets and have watched them numerous times. I see Clifford Rose is still with us...in his 90's! Must have been all those veggies from Alain that's kept him going.
I was 8 in 1977 when Secret Army started but I really got into it during series 3 in 1979 & then the re runs in 1981 plus I enjoyed Kessler too. Although having watched Kessler more recently I think it could have been made a bit better?
@@TheWorldofGood79 If I remember correctly, 'Kessler' was on quite late, so I was'nt allowed to stay up and watch it, but Years later I watched an (Australian) video copy and did'nt think it was up to much either, it was heavily '80's influenced in its making and so looks dated today. Enemy At The Door was another good series at the time too.
The reason Jan Francis character (Lisa Colbert/Yvette) was written out was Gerard Glaister felt they had miscast Francis in the role. His idea was to write her out over the first 3-4 episodes of S2 having a mental breakdown due to the stress of running Lifeline. Jan Francis was having none of that and looked around for a move. She can be seen immediately after her departure in the 1979 movie version of Dracula, as Mina van Helsing, so the shooting schedule for that would have been much longer than for BBC series, and she would probably not have been able to commit to both. Either way, series 1 - as you say - was over long at 16 episodes and it took until way after the half way point to really get into it's stride. S2 is far superior in my view, and S3 really ties up a lot of loose ends and brings things to an inevitable head. I first watched SA in 77-79 when I was 16-18. Watching it again now on Talking Pictures I have only come to appreciate the nuance in many of the characters - especially the contradictions within Kessler, a man who can be romancing his mistress one moment, and checking whether an interrogation suspect has been sufficiently beaten up the next - without batting an eyelid, AND making the whole appalling situation seem like it is 'just another day at the office'. It's a series which could have been made over four 13 episode series, where the characters could have been even more flushed out, and some of the storylines could have been run over 2 or 3 episodes, particularly those of some of the airmen who were, on occasion, treated like red shirts in Star Trek.
Superb series. Brandt and Reinhardt were brave, decent men. Of course, Kessler had to see to their demise. I enjoyed Natalie's 'French/Belgian' accent lol
I suspect any reimagining of the series would lose its charm, as so many have done. I can't remember the name now, but that contemporary war film comes to mind - with modern rock music inserted into some action sequences... totally inappropriate!
Great video, thanks. Jane Francis was also the voice of most of the Famous Five audiobooks. Fell asleep listening to her many a night as a child and occasionally in my forties.
Many thanks for making this video. Secret Army is the best drama the BBC ever made bar none. It should be shown on primetime BBC1 in 2021. The story lines are based on many true events & show how brave our allies in many mainland European countries were.
Yes an excellent series. if it were to be remade today Bernard Hepton's character would be in a gay relationship with Christopher Neame's character, several characters would be ethnic minorities and one a transitioning character.
You mean Belgium and French Resistance. To my mind although it was based on several different escape lines The Comet Line was started by a young girl little "Cyclone" Dede De Jongh.
A great series. If I have one gripe, it was the anti-Communist propaganda in some of the episodes. Not unique to SA, but also seen in the likes of Codename Icarus (1981), and a plethora of TV and film output.
The rare treat of this series was the allowance of humanisation/context given to the German side of the story, most movies and documentaries start with an angry moustache but few if any divulge how it got there, brave and honest tv for the time
Indeed!
Love this series. So glad you've chosen to remind people of its existence.
Thank you. I only discovered it myself in late 2019. ;)
I first saw Secret Army when I was 8 years old (1978) could'nt wait til the next episode on the following saturday. I must confess that Kessler was my favourite character. I've got the three boxsets and have watched them numerous times. I see Clifford Rose is still with us...in his 90's! Must have been all those veggies from Alain that's kept him going.
lol That must be it! ;)
I loved Natalie.
Snap i was the same age when i got into this Brilliant Show!!!
I was 8 in 1977 when Secret Army started but I really got into it during series 3 in 1979 & then the re runs in 1981 plus I enjoyed Kessler too. Although having watched Kessler more recently I think it could have been made a bit better?
@@TheWorldofGood79 If I remember correctly, 'Kessler' was on quite late, so I was'nt allowed to stay up and watch it, but Years later I watched an (Australian) video copy and did'nt think it was up to much either, it was heavily '80's influenced in its making and so looks dated today. Enemy At The Door was another good series at the time too.
RIP Ron pember.
Indeed. :(
I saw every episode when I was a kid 😀
The reason Jan Francis character (Lisa Colbert/Yvette) was written out was Gerard Glaister felt they had miscast Francis in the role. His idea was to write her out over the first 3-4 episodes of S2 having a mental breakdown due to the stress of running Lifeline. Jan Francis was having none of that and looked around for a move. She can be seen immediately after her departure in the 1979 movie version of Dracula, as Mina van Helsing, so the shooting schedule for that would have been much longer than for BBC series, and she would probably not have been able to commit to both.
Either way, series 1 - as you say - was over long at 16 episodes and it took until way after the half way point to really get into it's stride. S2 is far superior in my view, and S3 really ties up a lot of loose ends and brings things to an inevitable head.
I first watched SA in 77-79 when I was 16-18. Watching it again now on Talking Pictures I have only come to appreciate the nuance in many of the characters - especially the contradictions within Kessler, a man who can be romancing his mistress one moment, and checking whether an interrogation suspect has been sufficiently beaten up the next - without batting an eyelid, AND making the whole appalling situation seem like it is 'just another day at the office'.
It's a series which could have been made over four 13 episode series, where the characters could have been even more flushed out, and some of the storylines could have been run over 2 or 3 episodes, particularly those of some of the airmen who were, on occasion, treated like red shirts in Star Trek.
Thanks for the comment. Red shirts in Star Trek lol! ;)
Superb series. Brandt and Reinhardt were brave, decent men. Of course, Kessler had to see to their demise. I enjoyed Natalie's 'French/Belgian' accent lol
A great series, well written and acted. If only modern series could combine quality writing with modern budgets and technology.
Quite!
I suspect any reimagining of the series would lose its charm, as so many
have done.
I can't remember the name now, but that contemporary war film comes to
mind - with modern rock music inserted into some action sequences...
totally inappropriate!
Great video, thanks. Jane Francis was also the voice of most of the Famous Five audiobooks. Fell asleep listening to her many a night as a child and occasionally in my forties.
Cheers! ;)
I'd have liked to fall asleep listening to Jan Francis.... but I think her husband might have objected..... 🙄😅
She was also excellent in 'Just good friends'
Many thanks for making this video. Secret Army is the best drama the BBC ever made bar none. It should be shown on primetime BBC1 in 2021. The story lines are based on many true events & show how brave our allies in many mainland European countries were.
Thank you. It is an excellent show. :)
I loved this series. Chalk up one for the internet as without it this American living in the 21st Century would never have seen this show.
Well there has to be something good about this century. ;) :p
Yes an excellent series. if it were to be remade today Bernard Hepton's character would be in a gay relationship with Christopher Neame's character, several characters would be ethnic minorities and one a transitioning character.
lol ;)
ROFPMSL !!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Sadly, yes
Great review, it's my favorite British drama ever
Thank you! :)
I have watched it in Persian doubled . It had a lot of Sensorships but I was excellent. Thanks a lot
Cheers! ;)
Brilliant show
It is indeed.
You mean Belgium and French Resistance. To my mind although it was based on several different escape lines The Comet Line was started by a young girl little "Cyclone" Dede De Jongh.
Jan quit when she heard Yvette was going to have a breakdown in series 2 so quit.
This looks cool! thanks for letting me know about it :D
Cheers! It is a very good show. :)
Top choice.
Thank you! :)
Listen carefully, I shall say this only once !
Not on this one thanks this serious war.
Interesting book people should read - 'Conjuring Hitler'
For the first five minutes I was thinking it sounded a lot like Allo Allo lol
lol You can definitely see the direct influence. But it's a top class show regardless. ;)
I'm hunting it down right now actually.
Excellent. My work here is done. ;)
Apparently Allo Allo was actually meant to be a parody of Secret Army.
@@michaelreilly6874 Yes it was, I've seen some episodes and they're nearly identical
A great series. If I have one gripe, it was the anti-Communist propaganda in
some of the episodes. Not unique to SA, but also seen in the likes of
Codename Icarus (1981), and a plethora of TV and film output.
The Quill