Tales of the Unexpected (TV Series) The Best of Everything (1981) User Reviews

Even mild mannered men have a breaking point..

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 13 February 2016]

Arthur Price is a quiet chap, lacking a little in charisma, a clerk, who's madly in love with the bosses daughter, the beautiful Ann. Arthur lacks in style, far from suave or debonair, living with his Landlady he takes in his posh friend Charlie Prince who's down on his luck, in the hope of piking up some of Charlie's style. Charlie begins taking liberties, skipping rent etc, pushing Arthur to his breaking point, who has now started dating Anne.

The 80's wasn't the most stylish era in all fairness, and this episode suffers a little because of that, it's a bit grey around the edges, a little colourless, that said it's a good story, Michael kitchen is really good, as is Jeremy Clyde.

The twist is OK, if a little unimaginative, but the good outweighs the bad, 6/10

"I'd like you to take me out."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 30 September 2021]

This episode combines a little of a bait and switch on the way to it's conclusion. You get the impression that freeloader Charlie Prince (Jeremy Clyde) might be a rival of Arthur Price (Michael Kitchen) for the affections of Ann (Judi Bowker). Charlie constantly refers to the upscale girl he's dating and how much it drains him of cash. He denigrates Arthur's meager means by saying things like "Take her slumming, they love it", all the while taking advantage of Arthur's easy going nature, as he lends Charlie money and allows him to stay at his flat without contributing to the rent. In something of a fluke, Arthur takes it upon himself to make an investment decision at his company, run by Ann's father (Brewster Mason), which turns out to be a real money maker, impressing both Ann and her Dad. Eventually, Arthur's impatience with Charlie results in a physical assault, inadvertently causing the man's death. Attempting to hide the corpse in a trunk and moving it into the basement of his apartment building, the real relationships among all the principles is finally revealed in the episode's surprising conclusion. Maybe not so surprising if you've seen any number of these types of stories, because as I said earlier, there's a little sleight of hand with the writing early on. Either way, you have a stunned protagonist who now has to face the horror of his fate.

Say, anyone else notice - Arthur's mustache disappeared about half way through the program!

Life in The City

[safenoe · 8/10 · 20 November 2016]

This episode of Tales of the Unexpected is set in The City of London. Not the City of the Council or Borough of London if you know what I mean (not Croydon London), but in The City, where wealth, suits and deals abound big time. Here this episode and all the trappings are symbolic of Thatcher's reign. This episode was screened in 1981, just two years after her victory over Labour with the promise to end the Winter of Discontent.

Michael Kitchen plays Arthur, who gains confidence to ask out Ann, the daughter of his high-powered boss. Arthur gets help from Charlie, but when Charlie gets under Arthur's skin, Arthur reaches breaking point big time. The ending is a major twist...it turns out Charlie is Ann's brother!!!!! Get out of the house now, the call is from the house!!!

OK Tales of the Unexpected episode.

[poolandrews · 5/10 · 17 April 2007]

Tales of the Unexpected: The Best of Everything starts as Arthur Price (Michael Kitchen) reveals that he has been in love with his boss's daughter Ann (Judi Bowker) for the past 6 years to his landlady (Rachel Kempson) but she has no advice for him, by a coincidence though Arthur meets a guy named Charlie Prince (Jeremy Clyde) who is everything he isn't, confident, smart, sophisticated, good looking & just about anything else you need to pull a bird. Arthur agrees to let Charlie stay at his flat as long he teaches him all he knows about pulling the ladies, at first things go great & before long Ann & Arthur are engaged to be married but it's not been plain sailing for Arthur who has had to do some unpleasant acts to maintain his current lifestyle...

This Tales of the Unexpected story was episode 4 from season 4 that originally aired here in the UK during April 1981, the second of two Tales of the Unexpected episodes to be directed by John Bruce this is yet another average crime drama themed episode rather than a horror or supernatural one. The story by Stanley Ellin was dramatised by Denis Cannan & is a reasonable way to pass 30 odd minutes but it reuses the well worn premise of someone who uses unscrupulous methods to get ahead in life getting his comeuppance in a twist ending which here is quite effective although I have found that I try to get into the filmmakers minds & try to guess the twist ending in the style of the show & generally speaking I'm more often right than not. This episode is a tad dull, it's not the most exciting piece of TV I've ever seen & while it has a decent story which it tells in reasonable fashion it's nothing special & is rather forgettable.

Set in London during the early 80's this one hasn't dated as badly as some Tales of the Unexpected episodes but it's a bit bland to look at. There are the usual assortment of familiar British actors on show including Michael Kitchen.

The Best of Everything is an average crime drama themed episode that's worth a watch but nothing special or original.

Great cast, downbeat episode

[aramis-112-804880 · 24 February 2023]

Michael Kitchen, Jeremy Clyde (of Chad and Jeremy, though he's a solid actor) and lovely Judi Bowker ("Dracula," "Clash of the Titans").

Michael Kitchen is a young man in love with the boss' daughter (Bowker). But ashamed of his circumstances and not knowing how to approach someone so far above his station he, needs advice on how to proceed.

A chance meeting with slick Jeremy Clyde leads to him adopting Clyde as a mentor. And he gets more than he bargained for.

An unexpected ending, if weighted heavily toward coincidence.

As expected, the acting is fine all around, with a minimum of shouting.