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IMDbPro

1990

  • TV Series
  • 1977–19781977–1978
  • 55m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
146
YOUR RATING
1990 (1977)
DramaSci-FiThriller
In a dystopian future, Britain is under the grip of the Home Office's Public Control Department (PCD), a tyrannically oppressive bureaucracy riding roughshod over the population's civil libe... Read allIn a dystopian future, Britain is under the grip of the Home Office's Public Control Department (PCD), a tyrannically oppressive bureaucracy riding roughshod over the population's civil liberties.In a dystopian future, Britain is under the grip of the Home Office's Public Control Department (PCD), a tyrannically oppressive bureaucracy riding roughshod over the population's civil liberties.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
146
YOUR RATING
  • Creator
    • Wilfred Greatorex(series creator)
  • Stars
    • Edward Woodward
    • Robert Lang
    • Tony Doyle
  • Creator
    • Wilfred Greatorex(series creator)
  • Stars
    • Edward Woodward
    • Robert Lang
    • Tony Doyle
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 12User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Episodes16

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    Primi Townsend and Edward Woodward in 1990 (1977)
    1990 (1977)
    1990 (1977)
    1990 (1977)
    David McKail, Primi Townsend, and Edward Woodward in 1990 (1977)
    Primi Townsend in 1990 (1977)
    1990 (1977)
    1990 (1977)
    1990 (1977)
    Primi Townsend in 1990 (1977)
    1990 (1977)
    1990 (1977)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Edward Woodward
    Edward Woodward
    • Jim Kyle
    Robert Lang
    Robert Lang
    • Herbert Skardon
    Tony Doyle
    Tony Doyle
    • Dave Brett
    Paul Hardwick
    Paul Hardwick
    • Faceless
    Barbara Kellerman
    Barbara Kellerman
    • Delly Lomas
    Lisa Harrow
    Lisa Harrow
    • Lynn Blake
    Yvonne Mitchell
    Yvonne Mitchell
    • Kate Smith
    George Murcell
    George Murcell
    • Greaves
    David McKail
    • Inspector Macrae
    Clifton Jones
    Clifton Jones
    • Henry Tasker
    Michael Napier Brown
    • Jack Nichols
    John Savident
    John Savident
    • Dan Mellor
    Honor Shepherd
    • Marly
    Donald Gee
    • Dr. Vickers
    Mathias Kilroy
    • Tommy Pearce
    Stacy Davies
    • PCD Inspector…
    Harry Fielder
    Harry Fielder
    • PCD Man
    Clive Swift
    Clive Swift
    • Tony Doran
    • Creator
      • Wilfred Greatorex(series creator)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Yvonne Mitchell (Kate Smith), Paul Hardwick (Faceless) and the series' most prolific director Alan Gibson did not live to see the actual 1990. Mitchell died on March 24, 1979 at the age of 63, Hardwick died on October 22, 1983 at the age of 64 and Gibson died on July 5, 1987 at the age of 49.

    User reviews12

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Wanted: On DVD
    I just about remember this as a child, In was at 11-12 too young to really get it, though the limited understanding I had, was enough to stay in the memory as sinister.

    It was a product of the time in that it took what some saw as the post war advance of 'big government' to one possible conclusion. Just like the best sci-fi, of the best, understated British kind, with the pessimistic view of a future inherent in this genre.

    But I cannot agree with the idea that this series foretold today, the recent, under the previous government (though some may cite the handling of the 1984/5 miners strike by the government of the day as well) questioning of civil liberties, the expansion of a 'police state', all the CCTV, the DNA database, the (latterly) unsuccessful attempts to lengthen detention of terrorist suspects, were not, unlike in '1990', the systematic work of a very authoritarian regime. Rather it was driven by fear. Fear of hostile media on crime, fear of, if a massive '9/11' style attack happened, being thought of any neglect that allowed an attack. An obsession to meet targets to produce evidence of 'fighting crime'.

    Reality check - most CCTV systems in the UK are not controlled by the police, the state in general, rather they are operated on private premises, shops, shopping centres, business parks etc. Central control only exists in the third Bourne movie.

    For all that, it does now seem that the coalition are going to roll back many of the controversial changes of the last 15 years or so. Because in a democracy, a change of government can do this. Unlike the world depicted in '1990'.

    Still, I would love to see a DVD release, it was a superior series which did make for useful comment of a possible future, some of which did occur, though not so far in the all encompassing way of '1990'.
    helpful•7
    2
    • GrahamEngland
    • Jul 10, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 18, 1977 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      55 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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