"The Beiderbecke Affair" (1985) TV series

Directors:

David Reynolds
Frank W. Smith

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

6 January 1985 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Trevor Chaplin teaches woodwork and likes to listen to jazz. Jill Swinburne teaches English and wants to help save the planet...

Plot Keywords:

Jazz | Corruption | Police | School Teacher | Leeds

Cast

James Bolam	...	Trevor Chaplin (6 episodes, 1985)
Barbara Flynn	...	Jill Swinburne (6 episodes, 1985)
Dominic Jephcott	...	Det. Sgt. Hobson (6 episodes, 1985)
Terence Rigby	...	Big Al (6 episodes, 1985)
Dudley Sutton	...	Mr. Carter (6 episodes, 1985)
Keith Smith	...	Mr. Wheeler (6 episodes, 1985)
Danny Schiller	...	Little Norm (5 episodes, 1985)
Colin Blakely	...	Chief Supt. Forrest (4 episodes, 1985)
Keith Marsh	...	Harry (4 episodes, 1985)
Alison Skilbeck	...	Helen / ... (3 episodes, 1985)
Sue Jenkins	...	Janey (3 episodes, 1985)

Runtime:

320 min (6 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Belmont level crossing, Forest Lane, Starbeck, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Company:

Yorkshire Television (YTV)

Trivia:

The names of the leading characters were developed from the characters in Alan Plater's earlier series "Get Lost!" (1981). When the actors had to be re-cast, Plater looked for new names for what were similar characters. Neville Keaton from 'Get Lost' was a woodwork teacher who liked jazz and football. For the Beiderbecke Trilogy, he became Trevor Chaplin, Keaton and Chaplin being two of Plater's comic heroes. Judy Threadgold from 'Get Lost' was an English teacher and an environmentalist who had been named in homage to Sunderland A.F.C. goalkeeper Harry Threadgold. For the Beiderbecke Trilogy, she became Jill Swinburne, named after Newcastle United F.C. goalkeeper Tom Swinburne.

Quotes:

[over school dinner, discussing the attempts to frighten them]
Trevor Chaplin: I still think it's a lot of fuss about a dead cat.
Jill Swinburne: *You* wouldn't have liked it.
Trevor Chaplin: I had a noose and I didn't scream.
Jill Swinburne: You big brave macho incredible hulk, you.
Trevor Chaplin: I just got up on the desk and took it down.
[Trevor chuckles]
Trevor Chaplin: As my mother used to say, "no noose is good noose".
Jill Swinburne: Gordon Bennett!
Trevor Chaplin: You don't even like cats.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Followed by "The Beiderbecke Tapes" (1987)

Soundtrack:

Cryin' All Day

slow moving with irritating characters

The TV show was slow moving and the 'offbeat' characters were sometimes irritating. Only through the miracle of fast forward was I able to make it through the first 2 hours.

The write-up indicates that it's some kind of comedy/mystery but I didn't see much of either.

If it really picks up after the first 2 hours, please let me know, because I doubt that I will watch the rest without a recommendation.

This review is supposed to be without spoilers so I will continue in a vague, non-spoiler, fashion. I found the two main characters uninteresting and unsympathetic. I found myself asking 'Would a normal adult do that?' The man with the hedge trimmer looking out the window was irritating and when the male lead interacted with him, he looked pathetic. Would a normal adult put up with someone as irritating as him?