"The Hour" (2011) TV series 2011-

Creator:

Abi Morgan
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

2011 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A behind-the-scenes drama and espionage thriller in Cold War-era England that centers on a journalist, a producer, and an anchorman for an investigative news programme.

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Ben Whishaw	...	Freddie Lyon (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Romola Garai	...	Bel Rowley (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Dominic West	...	Hector Madden (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Anna Chancellor	...	Lix Storm (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Oona Chaplin	...	Marnie Madden (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Lisa Greenwood	...	Sissy Cooper (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Joshua McGuire	...	Isaac Wengrow (11 episodes, 2011-2012)
Julian Rhind-Tutt	...	Angus McCain (11 episodes, 2011-2012)
Paul Chahidi	...	Ron (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Anton Lesser	...	Clarence Fendley (6 episodes, 2011)
Hannah Tointon	...	Kiki / ... (6 episodes, 2012)
Peter Sullivan	...	Commander Laurence Stern / ... (6 episodes, 2012)
Tom Burke	...	Bill Kendal / ... (6 episodes, 2012)
Filippo Delaunay	...	Camera man (6 episodes, 2011)
Kostas Katsikis	...	Vision Mixer (6 episodes, 2011)
Robert Demeger	...	Malcolm Lyon (5 episodes, 2011)
Adetomiwa Edun	...	Sey Ola (5 episodes, 2011-2012)
Peter Capaldi	...	Randall Brown (5 episodes, 2012)
Vincent Riotta	...	Raphael Cilenti (5 episodes, 2012)
Kirsty Mather	...	Showgirl (5 episodes, 2012)
Morgan Watkins	...	Norman Pike (5 episodes, 2012)

Series Directed by
Jamie Payne		(4 episodes, 2011-2012)
Harry Bradbeer		(2 episodes, 2011)
Coky Giedroyc		(2 episodes, 2011)
Sandra Goldbacher		(2 episodes, 2012)
Catherine Morshead		(2 episodes, 2012)

Series Writing credits
Abi Morgan		(9 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Produced by
Ruth Kenley-Letts	....	producer (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jane Featherstone	....	executive producer (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Abi Morgan	....	executive producer (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Lucy Richer	....	executive producer / executive producer: BBC (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Derek Wax	....	executive producer (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Noelle Morris	....	associate producer (6 episodes, 2011)
Patrick Schweitzer	....	line producer (6 episodes, 2011)
Cahal Bannon	....	line producer (6 episodes, 2012)

Series Original Music by
Daniel Giorgetti		(6 episodes, 2011)
Kevin Sargent		(6 episodes, 2012)

Series Cinematography by
Chris Seager		(6 episodes, 2011)
David Luther		(6 episodes, 2012)

Series Film Editing by
Gareth C. Scales		(6 episodes, 2011-2012)
Xavier Russell		(2 episodes, 2011)
Nick Arthurs		(2 episodes, 2012)
Paul Machliss		(2 episodes, 2012)

Series Casting by
Jill Trevellick		(12 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Production Design by
Eve Stewart		(2 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Art Direction by
Leon McCarthy		(7 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Costume Design by
Suzanne Cave		(4 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Makeup Department
Debbi Salmon	....	key hair stylist / key makeup artist (6 episodes, 2011)
Karen Dawson	....	makeup designer / hair designer (3 episodes, 2011)

Series Production Management
Ben Holt	....	deputy head of production (6 episodes, 2012)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Natalie Allin	....	third assistant director (6 episodes, 2011)
David Chalstrey	....	second assistant director (6 episodes, 2011)
Amanda Dudley	....	third assistant director (6 episodes, 2012)
Alex Streeter	....	second assistant director (6 episodes, 2012)
Helen Ostler	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 2011)
John Bennett	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 2012)
Paul Dale	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 2012)
Kiaran Murray-Smith	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 2012)

Series Art Department
Beverley Gerard	....	standby art director / stand-by art director (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Amy Merry	....	assistant art director / graphic designer (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Julia Castle	....	production buyer / art department buyer (8 episodes, 2011-2012)
Henry Gallagher	....	scenic artist (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Cara Walker	....	art department assistant / art department runner (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Alan Chesters	....	construction manager (6 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jon Bates	....	stand-by props (6 episodes, 2011)
Nick Thomas	....	property master (6 episodes, 2011)
Megan Jones	....	art department trainee (6 episodes, 2012)
Naomi Moore	....	production buyer (5 episodes, 2012)
Heather Gordon	....	assistant graphic designer (4 episodes, 2011)
Dean Lee	....	props (4 episodes, 2012)

Series Sound Department
Jamie Caple	....	dialogue editor (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Marc Hope	....	foley editor (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Claire Mahoney	....	foley artist (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Stefano Marchetti	....	adr mixer (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Filipa Principe	....	dialogue editor (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Nigel Squibbs	....	dubbing mixer / sound re-recording mixer (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jason Swanscott	....	foley artist (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Richard Williams	....	foley editor (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Marc Lawes	....	sound effects editor (11 episodes, 2011-2012)
Stuart Read	....	foley mixer (8 episodes, 2011-2012)
Lee Sharp	....	boom operator / sound assistant / ... (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Rudi Buckle	....	production sound mixer / sound recordist (6 episodes, 2011)
Joe Carey	....	sound assistant (6 episodes, 2011)
Simon Epstein	....	foley mixer (6 episodes, 2011)
Steve Hancock	....	boom operator / sound maintenance engineer (6 episodes, 2011)
James Hosker	....	foley assistant (6 episodes, 2012)
Stuart McCutcheon	....	boom operator / sound maintenance engineer (6 episodes, 2012)
John Mooney	....	production sound mixer / sound recordist (6 episodes, 2012)

Series Visual Effects by
Amy Merry	....	titles designer (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Yianni Papanicolaou	....	titles animator (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Shanaullah Umerji	....	visual effects producer (5 episodes, 2011-2012)
Anthony Webb	....	visual effects (4 episodes, 2011)
Daniel Mark Miller	....	compositor (3 episodes, 2011)
Antony Bluff	....	producer: vfx (2 episodes, 2011)
Massimo Pasquetti	....	compositor: Molinare (2 episodes, 2011)

Series Stunts
Ian Pead	....	stunt performer (2 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Rob Arrowsmith	....	camera operator (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jim Philpott	....	key grip (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Matt Poynter	....	first assistant camera / focus puller: "a" camera / ... (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Rogan Brown	....	assistant grip / grip trainee (6 episodes, 2011)
Laurence Cendrowicz	....	still photographer (6 episodes, 2011)
Anthony Cupples	....	electrician (6 episodes, 2011)
Gary Parnham	....	electrician (6 episodes, 2011)
Paul Swann	....	camera and equipment support (6 episodes, 2011)
Brandon Evans	....	gaffer (6 episodes, 2012)
Daniel Nightingale	....	second assistant camera / clapper loader (6 episodes, 2012)
Catherine Staples	....	camera trainee (6 episodes, 2012)
Luke Stone	....	assistant grip / b camera grip / ... (6 episodes, 2012)
Tom Williams	....	first assistant camera / focus puller: b camera (6 episodes, 2012)
Jessica Wray	....	camera trainee (6 episodes, 2012)
Joelle Smith	....	camera trainee (3 episodes, 2011)
Nick Wall	....	still photographer (2 episodes, 2011)
Joe Martin	....	still photographer (2 episodes, 2012)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Becky Brown	....	assistant costume designer (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Emma Heath	....	costume assistant / stand-by costumer / ... (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Gabrielle Spanswick	....	costume supervisor (6 episodes, 2011)
Carly Griffith	....	costume assistant / stand-by costumer (2 episodes, 2011)

Series Editorial Department
Gareth Spensley	....	colorist (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Christopher Watson	....	assistant editor (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Justin Eely	....	on-line editor (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Michelle Cort	....	digital intermediate technician (6 episodes, 2011)
Jateen Patel	....	digital intermediate technician (6 episodes, 2011)
Katelin Westwood	....	data transfer (6 episodes, 2011)
Steve Owen	....	data transfer (6 episodes, 2012)
Fred Rushton	....	edit assistant (6 episodes, 2012)

Series Music Department
Abbie Lister	....	music supervisor (6 episodes, 2011)
Daniel Giorgetti	....	composer: title music (6 episodes, 2012)
Catherine Grieves	....	music supervisor (6 episodes, 2012)

Series Transportation Department
Guy Bostock	....	picture car coordinator (6 episodes, 2011)

Series Other crew
Victoria Brown	....	script editor (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Ross Monaghan	....	unit manager (12 episodes, 2011-2012)
Non Eleri Hughes	....	script supervisor (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Christopher Colman	....	stage hand (6 episodes, 2011)
Amanda Dudley	....	floor runner (6 episodes, 2011)
Antonia Grant	....	location manager (6 episodes, 2011)
Richard J.R. Jones	....	floor runner: dailies (6 episodes, 2011)
Naomi De Pear	....	script editor (6 episodes, 2012)
Emma Downes	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 2012)
Mark Grimwade	....	location manager (6 episodes, 2012)
Chrissy Murray	....	assistant accountant / assistant production accountant (6 episodes, 2012)
Alex Paterakis	....	floor runner (6 episodes, 2012)
Kelly Phillips	....	accountant / production accountant (6 episodes, 2012)
Tom Ackerley	....	floor runner (4 episodes, 2011)
Andrew Ryland	....	unit manager (4 episodes, 2011)
Sam Baron	....	floor runner (4 episodes, 2012)
Hester Abrams	....	researcher (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Alison Barnett	....	production executive (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jessica Cameron-Lewis	....	assistant coordinator / production secretary (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Adriene Whitwell	....	location assistant (2 episodes, 2011)
Matt Bensley	....	floor runner (2 episodes, 2012)

Production Companies

• Kudos Productions Ltd.

Distributors

• BBC America (2011) (USA) (TV) (cable)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2011) (UK) (TV)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2012) (Portugal) (TV)
• FX (2012) (Greece) (TV)
• Film1 Sundance Channel (2013) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting equipment
• ARRI Media  Arriflex D-21 camera provided by
• Coach House Studios  Avid editing on location
• Compuhire  TV playback
• Golden Age Television  historical technical advice
• H & H Films  camera equipment provided by
• Hothouse Music  Music Supervision
• Mad Dog Casting  extras casting
• Molinare Studio  post-production
• Production Copier Company  production equipment and services
• Taunus Film Synchron  German dubbing (uncredited)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Hornsey Town Hall, The Broadway, Haringey, London, England, UK

Company:

Kudos Productions Ltd.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Wright Stuff: Episode #15.135" (2011)

A good mixture between mystery and mad men

I just watched the first episode of the Hour on BBC. It was better than I thought it would be.

I had heard it was supposed to be a lot like Mad Men, or at least very similar. There are a lot of similarities, and in the first episode I think they overdid it at times the fact that it is 1950 where gender roles are quite specific. Apart from that it is not that much like Mad Men at all. This is not so much a show where men are the main characters and it is their work life and how they have to use their strong character to get ahead in a difficult business.

In the Hour it seems to be more about a journalist's life at the time, no matter if you are a man or a woman. Although gender roles will play a part, it is not necessarily the core of the show like in Mad Men. It is not as glamours either.

What I really like about the Hour that there is also a mystery part to it, almost like a police show. In the beginning of the pilot we are introduced to a murder. The police are calling it a robbery, but one of the journalists finds out there are more to the story. The episode then switches between finding out the truth, at the same time as we learn about the life of journalists in the BBC, and how men and women work together to make a new, current affairs show that covers important moments in history. I'm sure historic moments will be highlighted in the show as well.

So a mixture between Mad Men and a police mystery (that doesn't necessarily get solved in every episode).

So so far, very good.