The Flipside of Dominick Hide 

Dominick Hide, a time traveller from the year 2130, is studying the London transport system of 1980. Time travellers are supposed to be observers, and are strictly forbidden to land their ... See full summary »

Director:

Alan Gibson

Writers:

Jeremy Paul, Alan Gibson

Stars:

Peter Firth, Caroline Langrishe, Pippa Guard

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Firth	...	Dominick Hide
Caroline Langrishe	...	Jane
Pippa Guard	...	Ava
Patrick Magee	...	Caleb Line
Trevor Ray	...	Alaric
Sylvia Coleridge	...	Great Aunt Mavis
Jean Trend	...	Helda
Timothy Davies	...	Jim Bone
Denis Lawson	...	Felix
Bernadette Shortt	...	Midge
Tony Melody	...	Harry
Bill Gavin	...	Brian
David Griffin	...	Carl
Karl Howman	...	Geoffrey
Jenny Donnison	...	Carole

Storyline

Dominick Hide, a time traveller from the year 2130, is studying the London transport system of 1980. Time travellers are supposed to be observers, and are strictly forbidden to land their flying saucers. One time traveller who broke this rule accidentally killed a dog, changing history and causing many future people to disappear. Inspired by his Great Aunt Mavis, Dominick decides to find his great great grandfather. He begins to land in 1980, where his strange clothes and speech make him seem an eccentric oddball. His quest brings him into contact with beautiful boutique owner Jane, and they fall in love. As Dominick's visits become more frequent and more prolonged, he increasingly risks his indiscretion being discovered by his boss, Caleb Line, and every moment he spends in the past increases the danger that he will catastrophically change the future.

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Plot Keywords:

time travel | character name in title | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 December 1980 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This episode takes place in 2130 and 1980.

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Connections

Referenced in Did You See..?: Episode #1.7 (1980)

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Soundtracks

Yesterday
(uncredited)
Composed by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

User Reviews

Ahead of its time

When this film was shown as part of the BBC's 'Play for Today' season I had some French homework to do for school the following day.

The story which took time travel, a genre which was and always has been popular with science fiction writers, to a new level. Concentrating on the characters in the story (and an excellent story it is), rather than the sci-fi elements themselves made this compelling viewing. It actually made the science fiction elements appear to be more 'real'.

I'm sure if I were to see it again it would seem a little dated, but at the time (and a few years later when it was repeated as a prologue to the inferior, but nonetheless interesting and worth watching sequel 'Another Flip for Dominick') it was way ahead of anything else on the screen (small or large).

Needless to say, I failed to complete my French homework and received some extra work to do as a punishment - but it was worth it.