I have to update my earlier review (text below) after now having completed watching the series on TPTV UK (April 2024):
First-the negatives-variable writing, some situations patently absurd, with a tendency to drag these out to the borders of irritation; a few slightly unconvincing Brit actors playing Germans and French; some repetitions, as if the writers were told at short notice of the decision to extend the run; a few howlers, the worst towards the end when the US B52 bomber is mentioned!
But the positives (and some!)-quite earthy language typical of the times (and the 1970s TV)-no wokery here; the rivalry between the Abwehr and the SS; the constant questionable trustworthiness of the French (but easy for the Brits to judge as we fortunately never experienced the brutal tension of mainland occupation); many scenes of almost unbearable tension (e.g. Ep. 9 "Betrayal", ep. 23 "The Train May Be Late"); two 2-parters (eps. 15/16 "Little Man, Big Gun", and 23/24 "Little Man What Next") may possibly be regarded as amongst the finest standalone episodes in UK TV history-I notice that these were written by a Vincent Tilsley-look him up! The superb acting by the principals and many others; sustained throughout was the performance of dear Peter Barkworth; Alfred Lynch did his best in a difficult role, as did the beautiful and enigmatic Cyd Hayman; a revelation was Philip Madoc, known by most for comic roles-here, his Lutzig is almost the personification of evil, and his performance vs. Gratz in the above-mentioned "Little Man, What Next" is a masterclass; this all leads of course to Robert Hardy's Gratz-an astonishing acting performance-the whole gamut is there from superior cunning to abject weakness and vulnerability-one could cite for ever examples, I would mention just one-in "Little Man, Big Gun" where he eventually drives mad the hapless Brit agent Cadet...
And so we at last get to the final tragic episode-I found it extremely moving, particularly the bittersweet scene in the café where poor Jimmy realises his flying days have passed him by, and Nina is enigmatic to the end....
Was a long wait of 53 years to revisit this-I expect that others are re-assessing too.
(This review supplements my earlier piece below):
Like other reviewers here, I saw this back in 1970 when young and impressionable, and had retained memories of it-unfortunately, seeing it now on TPTV is an experience that is-so far-embarrassing at worst but compelling at best! My mother (ex Ultra and SHAEF) disliked it intensely; my father (ex RAF Morse code operator) was less demanding and loved it-I shall stay the course to form my own opinion compared to theirs all those years ago.
The writing is variable from profound to excruciating (witness the early episode 6 when the three are holed up in an empty house). The great and much-missed Peter Barkworth seems often embarrassed; the Alfred Lynch character is laughable and usually deeply annoying-not only to his fellow travellers but to the hapless viewer; Cyd Hayman is beautiful but that cannot sustain one's belief in her character; I await Robert Hardy-even 50+ years on, I still remember being impressed by his performance-let's see if it is as impressive now...
I can forgive the obvious English outdoor locations, but not the ridiculous method the three have of traversing those endless fields!
What is interesting is the remarkably earthy language, some scenes and attitudes-have we moved on in a positive sense, or does viewing this now show how anodyne and "woke" TV has become?
Anyway, once again we can only thank TPTV for giving us the opportunity to assess this series again. (I write this after seeing Episode 6, so may revise my overall critique at journey's end...)
First-the negatives-variable writing, some situations patently absurd, with a tendency to drag these out to the borders of irritation; a few slightly unconvincing Brit actors playing Germans and French; some repetitions, as if the writers were told at short notice of the decision to extend the run; a few howlers, the worst towards the end when the US B52 bomber is mentioned!
But the positives (and some!)-quite earthy language typical of the times (and the 1970s TV)-no wokery here; the rivalry between the Abwehr and the SS; the constant questionable trustworthiness of the French (but easy for the Brits to judge as we fortunately never experienced the brutal tension of mainland occupation); many scenes of almost unbearable tension (e.g. Ep. 9 "Betrayal", ep. 23 "The Train May Be Late"); two 2-parters (eps. 15/16 "Little Man, Big Gun", and 23/24 "Little Man What Next") may possibly be regarded as amongst the finest standalone episodes in UK TV history-I notice that these were written by a Vincent Tilsley-look him up! The superb acting by the principals and many others; sustained throughout was the performance of dear Peter Barkworth; Alfred Lynch did his best in a difficult role, as did the beautiful and enigmatic Cyd Hayman; a revelation was Philip Madoc, known by most for comic roles-here, his Lutzig is almost the personification of evil, and his performance vs. Gratz in the above-mentioned "Little Man, What Next" is a masterclass; this all leads of course to Robert Hardy's Gratz-an astonishing acting performance-the whole gamut is there from superior cunning to abject weakness and vulnerability-one could cite for ever examples, I would mention just one-in "Little Man, Big Gun" where he eventually drives mad the hapless Brit agent Cadet...
And so we at last get to the final tragic episode-I found it extremely moving, particularly the bittersweet scene in the café where poor Jimmy realises his flying days have passed him by, and Nina is enigmatic to the end....
Was a long wait of 53 years to revisit this-I expect that others are re-assessing too.
(This review supplements my earlier piece below):
Like other reviewers here, I saw this back in 1970 when young and impressionable, and had retained memories of it-unfortunately, seeing it now on TPTV is an experience that is-so far-embarrassing at worst but compelling at best! My mother (ex Ultra and SHAEF) disliked it intensely; my father (ex RAF Morse code operator) was less demanding and loved it-I shall stay the course to form my own opinion compared to theirs all those years ago.
The writing is variable from profound to excruciating (witness the early episode 6 when the three are holed up in an empty house). The great and much-missed Peter Barkworth seems often embarrassed; the Alfred Lynch character is laughable and usually deeply annoying-not only to his fellow travellers but to the hapless viewer; Cyd Hayman is beautiful but that cannot sustain one's belief in her character; I await Robert Hardy-even 50+ years on, I still remember being impressed by his performance-let's see if it is as impressive now...
I can forgive the obvious English outdoor locations, but not the ridiculous method the three have of traversing those endless fields!
What is interesting is the remarkably earthy language, some scenes and attitudes-have we moved on in a positive sense, or does viewing this now show how anodyne and "woke" TV has become?
Anyway, once again we can only thank TPTV for giving us the opportunity to assess this series again. (I write this after seeing Episode 6, so may revise my overall critique at journey's end...)