Flickers (British TV Mini-Series)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: C-     Episodes: B

 

 

It is bad enough that so many of the great silent classics have been lost and many still do not appreciate the era, but so few fictional works have been done on the period that it is a shame.  One that did it and did it right is the still-impressive 1980 British TV production Flickers, which stars Bob Hoskins as Arnie Cole, a hard workings man who is trying to find a scheme that will make him rich and sees the potential in the new medium of film.  He goes out of his way to find ways to produce and screen anything he thinks will sell.

 

A friend of his explains that his family has some money, but that he will have to speak with his sister Maud (a terrific Frances de la Tour) to convince them to show films inside their vats department store.  Eventually, Arnie convinces them, but things go amazingly wrong and relationships become complicated.  At the same time, the cinema begins to take off, so for the sake of making money, people begin making decisions they might not have otherwise.  That makes for great period storytelling, some character studies and some great performances by the cast.  A loving portrait of the period, the teleplay by creator Roy Clarke is witty, blunt, classy and even hilarious, with Hoskins not chewing up scenery as he would later.  This was even show on PBS’ Masterpiece Theater, but in this era of digital everything, this has a much larger audience than ever and is a must-see for those who love film and like some good laughs.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image was shot in the late 1970s in the analog PAL video format and has a few more flaws than what you would get from PAL Music videos from the 1980s, but outdoor shots look filmed or film-like despite detail troubles.  Overall, this has a great look and feel to it, including its own authentic period location.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is pretty good for its age and dialogue is clear enough.  Extras are all text and include cast filmographies and information on composer Ron Grainer.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo