"Cold Lazarus" (1996) TV mini-series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

4 June 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

Dr. Emma Porlock and her colleagues, attempting to unlock the secrets of human memory for the Masdon drug empire...

Plot Keywords:

Virtual Reality | Edited From TV Series | TV Mini-Series | Laboratory | Futuristic

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Albert Finney	...	Daniel Feeld (4 episodes, 1996)
Frances de la Tour	...	Emma Porlock (4 episodes, 1996)
Grant Masters	...	Tony Watson (4 episodes, 1996)
Ciarán Hinds	...	Fyodor Glazunov (4 episodes, 1996)
Henry Goodman	...	David Siltz (4 episodes, 1996)
Ganiat Kasumu	...	Luanda Partington (4 episodes, 1996)
Carmen Ejogo	...	Blinda (4 episodes, 1996)
Saffron Burrows	...	Sandra Sollars (4 episodes, 1996)
Diane Ladd	...	Martina Masdon (3 episodes, 1996)
Anna Chancellor	...	Anna Griffiths (3 episodes, 1996)
Joe Roberts	...	Chris / ... (3 episodes, 1996)
Tara Woodward	...	Beth (3 episodes, 1996)
Rob Brydon	...	Karl (3 episodes, 1996)
Claudia Malkovich	...	Kaya (2 episodes, 1996)
Terence Maynard	...	1st MSC Guard (2 episodes, 1996)
Silas Carson	...	2nd MSC Guard / ... (2 episodes, 1996)
Jason Salkey	...	3rd MSC Guard / ... (2 episodes, 1996)
David Foxxe	...	Andrew Milton (2 episodes, 1996)
Jonathan Cake	...	Nat (2 episodes, 1996)
Roy Hudd	...	Ben Baglin (2 episodes, 1996)
John Light	...	Student Daniel (2 episodes, 1996)
Guy Masterson	...	Police Chief (2 episodes, 1996)
Richard E. Grant	...	Nick Balmer (2 episodes, 1996)
Harry Ditson	...	Harry Schumpet (2 episodes, 1996)
James Peck	...	Fyodor's apartment Guard / ... (2 episodes, 1996)
Adam Bareham	...	Daniel's Father (2 episodes, 1996)
Donald Sumpter	...	Dr. Rawl (2 episodes, 1996)
Malcolm Rogers	...	Preacher (2 episodes, 1996)
Rupert Penry-Jones	...	Militiaman / ... (2 episodes, 1996)
Katy Carmichael	...	Second Hostess (2 episodes, 1996)
Natascha McElhone	...	Angie (2 episodes, 1996)

Runtime:

300 min (4 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Gloucestershire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

In the interview "Seeing the Blossom", Dennis Potter comments that he wrote "Cold Lazarus" and its prequel "Karaoke" based on the simple writer's premise: "If you wanted to make the world a better place, who would you kill?"

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Dr. Glazunov destroys Daniel Feeld's frozen head at the end, the wall screen still displays his voyage through the tunnel of light to heaven, despite not being plugged into anything any more.

Movie Connections:

Follows "Karaoke" (1996)

Soundtrack:

WILL THERE BE ANY STARS IN MY CROWN

An amazing accomplishment by Dennis Potter.

I consider Dennis Potter's "The Singing Detective" the best thing ever to appear on TV. "Karaoke-Cold Lazarus" are contenders for second place. It is vital to see Karaoke first because Dennis Potter wrote them as a part of a whole.

Potter racing against the clock to finish Lazarus before he died. They are funny, weird, mysterious and profound -- a rare combination for any medium. It helps to know a bit of Potter's bio to fully appreciate the depth of this accomplishment.

My favorite moment came when slimy TV producer Siltz exults in the opportunity to own a writer's mind (literally) in order to exploit it. I can imagine the smile on Potter's face when he first conceived that scene, seeing it as a metaphor for his showbiz struggles with the Siltzes of the world.

Anyone who appreciates great writing will love this. Dennis Potter wrote a brilliant script about his own death. I doubt anyone will top his feat for a long time.