This is a superb dramatic mini-series made for Independent Television in Britain, which has now been rediscovered at last. It was written by John Mortimer, and clearly draws upon his boyhood experiences of growing up in rural Buckinghamshire and his later experiences as a divorce lawyer and then as a criminal barrister. The main character is played brilliantly by David Threlfall, one of Britain finest actors. He plays Leslie Titmuss, son of a working class couple in the country who through overwhelming ambition reinvents himself as a 'gent', marries a rich girl, and ends up as a cabinet minister in Margaret Thatcher's government. Titmuss is a ruthless schemer with little if any moral sense. Threlfall appears to have modelled his portrayal of Titmuss on Cecil Parkinson, for he has perfected the same strangulated way of affected speaking and the same intensely pinched look of earnestness that the cad and bounder Parkinson had. But there is no resemblance between the Titmuss role and Parkinson's affair with Sarah Keays, as Titmuss has no time for affairs and is only interested in power, social advancement, revenge on the toffs who insulted him when young, and riches. The character in the story is thus clearly not meant to be Parkinson. The finest performance of all in this series is perhaps that by Zoe Wanamaker as 'Charlie' Fanner, the wife of Titmuss. This is one of the finest performances of her entire career, and is so subtly modulated that even when she is silent and on the edge of the action, she is busy acting as a distracted and desperate young woman in distress, casting semi-demented glances to right and to left, listening or not listening as the case may be, but always building her character. However, she is never so impolite as to steal scenes from other actors, though it is hard to take one's eyes off her. A marvellous performance is given by Thorley Walters as Doughty strode, a member of the old school gentry who cannot understand how he is being undone by the scheming Titmuss, who tricks him into stepping down from Parliament as the local MP by hinting that he is due for a peerage, and Titmuss then takes his seat in Parliament, and eventually owns his manor house as well. Colin Blakely, who was dying of leukaemia already by this time, gives his final performance as the local doctor, and a great performance it is too. He died at the age of only 56, but this is a terrific performance to remember him by. Richard Vernon is superb, as so often he was, playing the aristocrat who floats above the fray and more or less manages to cope with Titmuss as a son in law. Jill Bennett is scary and electrifying as Vernon's wife, Lady Fanner, in a highly complex part where she has to go to pieces slowly and in bits. Bennett also died young, aged 58, four years later. The other lead role, apart from Titmuss, in the series is the Rev. Simeon Simcox, played in a masterly fashion by the always inspired Michael Hordern. When Simcox dies, he leave a fortune worth millions to Titmuss. The question is: why? He leaves nothing to his sons, played excellently by Peter Egan and Paul Shelley, or his wife, sympathetically played by Annette Crosbie. The series is thus a continuing mystery story as the past is unravelled despite all the best efforts of all the characters not to talk about it. Everyone appearing in the film does a wonderful job. The series is brilliantly directed by Alvin Rakoff, and is one of the triumphs of his long career. John Mortimer's original script is positively inspired, and deeply passionate in its determination to excavate the foundations upon which the strange behaviour of tall he characters is based. It is not so much character development as character analysis. The series is gripping throughout and is one of the best classic British TV drama series of its time, without a doubt. It was followed by the sequel mini-series TITMUSS REGAINED (1991) by Mortimer, also starring David Threlfall, which I shall review in due course. The production design of this series by Michael Stringer deserves special praise.
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monkmangraham29 January 2022If you lived through the 60's, John Mortimer's 'Paradise Postponed' will bring back a flood of interesting memories. A lot of the story unfolds during the early 60's, before ever increasing road traffic wiped out the unspoilt English villages - before the advent of drugs and raucous music festivals - before hippies and flower power - before sex scandals - and before mindless violence rocked the nation and changed its stability forever. It was a time when traditional jazz was hugely popular and the top bands made it into the hit parade - notably Acker Bilk with 'Stranger On The Shore ' and Kenny Ball with 'Midnight In Moscow'.
Trad jazz provides a significant backdrop to the TV series of 'Paradise Postponed, particularly as one of the main characters, Fred Simcox, (Paul Shelley), plays drums in a four piece group. The standards which they play from the forties - like 'Slow Boat To China'- reflect the years before the beat Groups put the trad groups and dance bands out of business later on in the 60's .
In between his bursts of New Orleans style drumming Fred is at medical school - his studies further enhanced by his friendship with Dr Salter (Colin Blakely), a delightfully feisty, bibulous and cynical GP who prefers hunting to medicine. Fred's brother, Henry, is a writer enjoying considerable success and in line to make it in Hollywood.
Both men are the sons of the books central character, the Rev Simeon Simcox (Michael Hordern) , a passionate left wing socialist and a formidable campaigner for worthy causes such as peaceful coexistence, disarmament, social justice and political tolerance. His commitment involves actively participating in controversial demonstrations - including the Campaign For Nuclear Disarmament marches in the 1950's and 1960's.
The story abounds with other historical events in the 60's and later decades - including the Profumo scandal, the Vietnam war, Edward Heath's confrontation with the coal miners in the 70's, the rise of Mrs Thatcher, and the Falklands War in the 80's. So 'Paradise Postponed' is a valuable historical record as well as being a riveting story peppered with many amazing characters.
When the movie opens, The Rev Simcox has not long died and the rest of the story revolves around his will, which nominates Leslie Titmuss (DavidThrelfall) as the sole beneficiary - nobody in the family is included. Titmuss is not a very nice man. A devious social climber with political aspirations, he seeks to fast track his ambition by marrying Charlotte (Zoe Wanamker) , daughter of Sir Nicholas Fanner (Richard Vernon), a towering figure in the local Conservative party. Titmuss has already been in the story earlier on, when he is thrown in the river at a Young Conservatives Ball.
His plan backfires when he becomes aware that Charlotte despises his greed for money, his worship of success, his ruthless lust for power, his contempt for his parents, and the way he sneers at his upbringing and background. Charlotte is modest, honest, caring and down to earth. Titmuss becomes an MP and a Cabinet Minister - in his eyes the ultimate achievement. Charlotte is not impressed by either. Predictably, they argue endlessly about the future of the child of the marriage.
Henry Simcox plans to contest the will on the grounds that his father was of unsound mind when he made it. Fred does not believe that to be the case, and begins to investigate his family's past history and its possible connection with the will. Many skeletons are found to be in the cupboard.
Charlotte's marriage to Leslie Titmuss has always been vociferously opposed by her mother, Lady Fanner (Jill Bennett) -another powerful and engaging character. Grace Fanner is a self centred and patronising snob who spends her days tippling champagne and yearning for her younger days, endless playing an old 78 of Cole Porter's 'You're The Top'. She loathes Titmuss.
The movie is beautifully shot in the Thames Valley towns of Marlow and Henley and in the surrounding countryside. One is struck by the lack of traffic and the noticeable absence of parking meters in those far of days in the 60's. The gentle urban landscape is already being defiled by a high rise residential tower. One of the most poignant scenes involves a young couple losing an idyllic cottage they have set their heart on, only to be faced with relocating to featureless accommodation high above the countryside they love.
The reason behind the selection of Leslie Titmuss is finally exposed, amidst many other intriguing and unexpected revelations - including the love life of Rev Simeon Simcox. It reminds us that obsessional and unusual sexual attraction can happen to anyone - including country vicars!
'Paradise Postponed' is a wonderful movie. You can tap into any episode at random and enjoy revisiting the fascinating story again and again. Great value for money!