The Sign of Four. Jeremy Brett version. 1987 ffs. I'd forgotten that this is the one where Holmes clambers over rooftops in Victorian London (Manchester) with a clearly visible TV aerial.
I believe there's another aerial pole to the background right. And coaxial on the left and the severed end of another on the right foreground.
The Hound of The Basketballs. Also Jeremy Brett. 1988. Fiona Gillies. Her first role. As Stapleton's Sister/Wife. Strange looking lady. Comes over as sultry and controlled more through attitude than looks, having a touch of the Wallace and Grommet/David Badiel about her. I enjoyed her in Joking Apart, which itself seems a lifetime ago, yet obviously this precedes it. Admittedly the series ran for seven seasons before Brett fucked it up by dying before they'd done them all; nonetheless it almost takes my breath away to realise this was an eighties phenomenon: Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes. In '89/'90, I went Italian with the Laverda, and had the affair with the married woman who'd change my life even more than haring about on a Jota would. Almost. That is, the bike and the chick who rode on the back of it mark the boundary between the old life and the new, and this is a reminiscence of the old. I was 27. Also that's about when the brain finishes developing, so really is the boundary between childhood and adultery, possibly the most tragic thing about that famous club.
"The Night of" - strange title, a mini-series, totally hooked after 2 episodes (it's probably ancient)
Currently watching clips / episodes of Parkinson on YouTube. These are absolute gems of television , I would go as far as to say this was the peak and purpose of television itself . The interviewing technique he had ,coupled with the mega - famous ( interesting ) guests, whom were on the whole, not there for self promotion is outstanding. Even though I was young at the time, I clearly remember sitting with my parents watching the Ali interview for example and this almost brings a tear to my eye with nostalgia. Great times. There has not been an interviewer or guests since that can hold a candle to this . Today’s efforts are just noise and self gratifying trash.
Mrs GG and I were fortunate enough to see Parky doing a tour where he was "interviewed" by his son about his career, interspersed with clips of the interviews that Parky was talking about. He was so modest about his part in these interviews it beggared belief. Like you, I watched them as a youngster with my parents and didn't fully appreciate them for what they were, and they are as you say absolute gems. He was the master of his craft, and through his interviews he introduced us to another master of his craft; the former welder and Humblebum, Billy Connolly. A life well lived.
Finished now, very good. Fully read up on the background, a bit sad with the timing. I wish they had done a second series, if J. G. had stayed around maybe they would have, although the part he was due to play would have been difficult to top.
Mr. Mercedes on Netflix, watched the first 2 seasons which were pretty good, abandoned the 3rd season half way through as it was getting tedious and boring...Brendan Gleeson is a top actor though
