IMDb > "The Singing Detective" (1986)
"The Singing Detective"
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditsepisode listepisodes castepisode ratings... by rating... by votes
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsawardsuser ratingsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot keywordsmemorable quotes
Did You Know?
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
box office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

"The Singing Detective" (1986) More at IMDbPro »TV mini-series 1986-

Photos (See all 17 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
8.2/10   2,864 votes »
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Contact:
View company contact information for The Singing Detective on IMDbPro.
Seasons:
1
Release Date:
16 November 1986 (UK) See more »
Plot:
Tormented and bedridden by a debilitating disease, a mystery writer relives his detective stories through his imagination and hallucinations. Full summary »
Awards:
6 wins & 8 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(76 articles)
The New Who Review – The Bells of Saint John
 (From Comicmix. 31 March 2013, 4:00 PM, PDT)

Rufus Sewell: almost famous
 (From The Guardian - TV News. 30 March 2013, 2:00 AM, PDT)

Rufus Sewell: almost famous
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 30 March 2013, 2:00 AM, PDT)

User Reviews:
THE Singing Detective See more (47 total) »

Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 31 of 34)

Michael Gambon ... Philip Marlow (6 episodes, 1986)

Patrick Malahide ... Mark Binney / ... (6 episodes, 1986)

Joanne Whalley ... Nurse Mills (6 episodes, 1986)

David Ryall ... Mr. Hall (6 episodes, 1986)
Gerard Horan ... Reginald (6 episodes, 1986)
Leslie French ... Mr. Tomkey / ... (6 episodes, 1986)

Ron Cook ... First Mysterious Man (6 episodes, 1986)

George Rossi ... Second Mysterious Man (6 episodes, 1986)
Sharon D. Clarke ... Night Nurse (6 episodes, 1986)
Lyndon Davies ... Philip (aged 10) (6 episodes, 1986)
Geff Francis ... Porter (6 episodes, 1986)

Janet Suzman ... Nicola (5 episodes, 1986)

Alison Steadman ... Mrs. Marlow / ... (5 episodes, 1986)

Jim Carter ... Mr. Marlow (5 episodes, 1986)

Imelda Staunton ... Staff Nurse White (5 episodes, 1986)
Janet Henfrey ... Schoolteacher (5 episodes, 1986)

Bill Paterson ... Dr. Gibbon (4 episodes, 1986)
William Speakman ... Mark Binney (aged 10) / ... (4 episodes, 1986)
Wally Thomas ... Grandad Baxter (3 episodes, 1986)
Charles Simon ... George Adams (3 episodes, 1986)
Kate McKenzie ... Sonia (3 episodes, 1986)
Trevor Cooper ... Barman / ... (3 episodes, 1986)
Charon Bourke ... Amanda (2 episodes, 1986)

Simon Chandler ... Dr. Finlay (2 episodes, 1986)
Mary MacLeod ... Sister Malone (2 episodes, 1986)
Thomas Wheatley ... Registrar (2 episodes, 1986)

Ken Stott ... Uncle John (2 episodes, 1986)

Jo Cameron Brown ... Aunt Emily (2 episodes, 1986)
Niven Boyd ... First Soldier (2 episodes, 1986)
Angela Curran ... Mary (2 episodes, 1986)

David Thewlis ... Second Soldier (2 episodes, 1986)
(more)
Create a character page for: ?

Series Directed by
Jon Amiel (6 episodes, 1986)
 
Series Writing credits
Dennis Potter (6 episodes, 1986)

Series Produced by
John Harris .... producer (6 episodes, 1986)
Rick McCallum .... executive producer (6 episodes, 1986)
Kenith Trodd .... producer (6 episodes, 1986)
 
Series Original Music by
Stanley Myers (2 episodes, 1986)
 
Series Cinematography by
Ken Westbury (6 episodes, 1986)
 
Series Film Editing by
Bill Wright (3 episodes, 1986)
Sue Wyatt (3 episodes, 1986)
 
Series Casting by
Michelle Guish (1 episode, 1986)
 
Series Production Design by
Jim Clay (6 episodes, 1986)
 
Series Costume Design by
Hazel Pethig (6 episodes, 1986)
 
Series Makeup Department
Frances Hannon .... make-up and hair designer (6 episodes, 1986)
 
Series Production Management
Michael Darbon .... production manager (6 episodes, 1986)
Rosemary Padvaiskas .... production manager (6 episodes, 1986)
 
Series Art Department
Joanna Ball .... graphics designer / graphic designer (6 episodes, 1986)
Laurie Miller .... property master (6 episodes, 1986)
David Morris .... properties buyer (6 episodes, 1986)
 
Series Sound Department
Clive Derbyshire .... sound recordist (6 episodes, 1986)
Rob James .... film dubbing mixer / dubbing mixer (6 episodes, 1986)
Colin Ritchie .... dubbing editor / sound editor (4 episodes, 1986)
John A. Parry .... film sound recordist (3 episodes, 1986)
Mark Day .... sound editor / dubbing editor (2 episodes, 1986)
Susan Metcalfe .... dubbing editor (2 episodes, 1986)
 
Series Special Effects by
Chris Reynolds .... special effects technician (1 episode, 1986)
 
Series Visual Effects by
Mat Irvine .... visual effects designer (6 episodes, 1986)
 
Series Camera and Electrical Department
Sid Morris .... gaffer (6 episodes, 1986)
Alfie Williams .... grip (6 episodes, 1986)
Nigel Slatter .... camera operator (5 episodes, 1986)
James Moss .... second assistant camera / clapper loader (3 episodes, 1986)
 
Series Casting Department
Michelle Guish .... casting advisor (5 episodes, 1986)
 
Series Editorial Department
Alan Bishop .... colorist (1 episode, 1986)
Rob Sylvester .... editing assistant (1 episode, 1986)
 
Series Music Department
Max Harris .... music advisor / music supervisor (6 episodes, 1986)
 
Series Other crew
Garry Boon .... assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1986)
Ian Brindle .... production associate (6 episodes, 1986)
Diana Brookes .... production assistant (6 episodes, 1986)
Lynda Pannett .... assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1986)
Anna Price .... assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1986)
Quinny Sacks .... choreographer (6 episodes, 1986)
Nick Wyse .... assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1986)

Joanna Ball .... title designer (unknown episodes)
 

Production CompaniesDistributors
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Runtime:
USA:415 min | UK:70 min (6 episodes)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Certification:

Did You Know?

Trivia:
The scene where a delusional old patient climbs into bed with Marlow, thinking that he is his wife, actually happened for real to Dennis Potter during one of his innumerable stays in hospital.See more »
Quotes:
Soldier:It's doing what we're told that makes us free.See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Film Geek (2005)See more »
Soundtrack:
Peg o' My HeartSee more »

FAQ

Comparison please
See more »
16 out of 17 people found the following review useful.
THE Singing Detective, 15 November 2003
Author: donaldgilbert from Seattle, WA

Although my comments could belong under the 2003 film version, I choose rather to make the comparison here because the film, more than anything else, gives reinforcement to the view that there are reasons this original miniseries is 6 hours long.

In the original, there really isn't a wasted minute of it's 6-hour running time. The complexity of this man's situation requires that the story reveals several different conflicts in his life simultaneously, and how they relate and resolve through psychiatry, The Singing Detective writing, his relationships (past and present), and the music that had become so important in his life. For the film version, because most of this can't be explored in such a short amount of time, most of these elements aren't included. As a result, the film is light and detached... and forgettable.

Apart from that. as another reviewer here pointed out, the acting and casting is MUCH MUCH better in this original despite the lack of famous handsome Hollywood faces (the 2003 film features Mel Gibson sporting a bald head piece to look like a 'nerdy' psychiatrist!).

I'm not an easy critic, but this version is in my top five of all time (movies, not TV- it feels more like a movie that TV to me). 10 of 10

Was the above review useful to you?
See more (47 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for "The Singing Detective" (1986)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Is this the best example smoogster
Need help with dialogue in episode 5 banapaulo
Teacher: (Janet Henfrey) bsfraser2003
Two Of The best scenes bsfraser2003
This isn't a musical! davidq_2003
What was BAFTA thinking?! melj
See more »

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Singing Detective La corta notte delle bambole di vetro 1408 Freeway
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Episode guide Full cast and crew Company credits
External reviews News articles IMDb TV section
IMDb Drama section IMDb Australia section

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Edit page' button will take you through a step-by-step process.

You may add a new episode for this TV series by clicking the 'add episode' button