"Talking Heads 2" (1998) TV mini-series 1998-

Seasons:

1

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

TV Mini-Series | Monologue

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Thora Hird	...	Violet (1 episode, 1998)
Eileen Atkins	...	Celia (1 episode, 1998)
David Haig	...	Wilfred Paterson (1 episode, 1998)
Patricia Routledge	...	Miss Fozzard (1 episode, 1998)
Julie Walters	...	Marjory (1 episode, 1998)
Penelope Wilton	...	Rosemary (1 episode, 1998)

Series Directed by
Stuart Burge		(2 episodes, 1998)

Series Writing credits
Alan Bennett		(6 episodes, 1998)

Series Produced by
Alan Bennett	....	executive producer (1 episode, 1998)
Lorraine Goodman	....	associate producer (1 episode, 1998)
Mark Shivas	....	producer (1 episode, 1998)

Series Original Music by
George Fenton		(1 episode, 1998)

Series Cinematography by
Tim Palmer		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Sue Wyatt		(1 episode, 1998)
Chris Gill		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Stuart Walker		(1 episode, 1998)
Francesca Boyd		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Diane Dancklefsen		(1 episode, 1998)

Series Costume Design by
Dany Everett		(1 episode, 1998)

Series Makeup Department
Frances Hannon	....	hair stylist / makeup designer (1 episode, 1998)
Linda McInnes	....	makeup designer (unknown episodes)
Lynda Tully	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Liz Pearson	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Campbell	....	first assistant director (1 episode, 1998)

Series Art Department
John Bush	....	production buyer (1 episode, 1998)
Jack Carter	....	construction manager (1 episode, 1998)
John Hogan	....	property master (1 episode, 1998)
Mina Martinez	....	graphic designer (1 episode, 1998)

Series Sound Department
Tony Jackson	....	sound recordist (6 episodes, 1998)
Mags Scholes	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
David Fader	....	camera operator (1 episode, 1998)
Joe Ryan	....	gaffer (1 episode, 1998)
John Treays	....	lighting director (1 episode, 1998)

Series Editorial Department
Josef d'Bache-Kane	....	assistant on-line editor (1 episode, 1998)
Liz Pearson	....	post-production supervisor (1 episode, 1998)
Alan Tully	....	telecine grader (1 episode, 1998)
Alan Bishop	....	telecine grader (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Sarah Atkinson	....	production coordinator (1 episode, 1998)
Patrick Isherwood	....	production accountant (1 episode, 1998)
John Rakoff	....	rehearsal manager (1 episode, 1998)
Heather Storr	....	script supervisor (1 episode, 1998)
Francine Brown	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Beverly Winston	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Slow Motion Limited

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1998) (UK) (TV) (BBC 2)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Quotes:

Violet:What's her name came round today...her that helps me with talking
[she thinks]
Violet:name of a cricket bat, else a gas oven...Verity. She's a nice looking lass but makes nowt of herself, a big jumper thing...I said, I bet you've got a right nice...' She goes, 'Describe, Violet, describe...' I said, 'A right nice...them two things with pink ends that men like...Bust'. By, she did look narked! She said, 'Things are different now, Violet. Women have control of their own bodies.' I said, 'Is that why I can't get them to take me to the toilet?'

Movie Connections:

Follows "Talking Heads" (1987)

Brilliant and disturbing

My comment is restricted to the episode (one of six in the series) called "Waiting for the Telegram" with Thora Hird, as it is the only one I've seen. I had taped it and planned to watch it for ten minutes before going out. I couldn't turn it off, and by the end I was sobbing loudly enough to disturb the neighbours. After half an hour of listening to one actress speaking, I had new insight into WWI, the AIDS epidemic and its effect on young men today (paralleled tacitly, but unmistakeably, to the decimating effect of war on youth), and the effects of age, disability, and loneliness.

I have since bought and read the book of the series (worth it for the author's introduction alone), and was too disturbed to sleep afterwards, particularly by the episode with Julie Walters. I will be getting the complete series on video as soon as possible and recommending it to everyone in the entire world.

Watch this for profound insight into the human condition. Not easy, but worth it. Alan Bennett is a genius.