Too Late to Talk to Billy
- Episode aired Feb 16, 1982
- 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
92
YOUR RATING
This play, set in 1977, is about rank, responsibilities and relationships within a Belfast family.This play, set in 1977, is about rank, responsibilities and relationships within a Belfast family.This play, set in 1977, is about rank, responsibilities and relationships within a Belfast family.
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Did you know
- TriviaThis episode takes place in 1977.
- ConnectionsFeatured in James Ellis: An Actor's Life (2007)
Featured review
More than a Family Melodrama
"Too Late to Talk to Billy" is the first in a trilogy of television dramas by the Ulster playwright Graham Reid. Contrary to what one reviewer states, all three instalments were broadcast by the BBC as part of the "Play For Today" series; that series ended in August 1984 and the final part of the trilogy, "A Coming To Terms For Billy", was shown in February of that year.
The "Billy" of the title is Billy Martin, a young man in his late teens or early twenties, living in a working-class Protestant area of Belfast. The word "Protestant" here needs to be given its Northern Irish meaning; both Billy and his father Norman admit that they do not believe in God, but as has been said there are no atheists in Northern Ireland, only unbelieving Catholics and unbelieving Protestants. The Martins are what is known as a dysfunctional family. Norman is a hard-drinking, fiery-tempered, violent man whose solution to any problem is to lash out at it with his fists. He has been estranged from his wife Janet ever since he discovered that she was having an affair with an insurance man named Steve, and remains estranged even though Janet is now in hospital, terminally ill with cancer. Norman lives in the family home with Billy, his adult daughter Lorna and two younger daughters Ann and Maureen
The play was made in 1982 and set during the late seventies, the time of what have become known as "The Troubles". As others have pointed out, however, this is a family drama, not a political one, so while the Troubles form the backdrop to the story they are not its subject. The UDA (Ulster Defence Association) play a minor role; here they are portrayed as a gang of thuggish street brawlers, although in reality they were a dangerous terrorist organisation, responsible for over 400 deaths, mostly Catholic civilians. The Martin's neighbour John Fletcher and Billy's friend Ian are both members. John fancies himself as the local hard man, although he is not as hard as he thinks he is, whereas Ian, who is a coward at heart, thinks that membership will give him some sort of street cred.
In some respects Norman and Billy are alike. Both are stubborn and quick-tempered, and Billy is nearly as quick with his fists as his father. Neither have joined the UDA or other militant Protestant organisations; they have no objection to brawling or violence, but both see themselves as independent spirits and feel that their independence would be compromised by membership of any organisation. Despite their similarities, however, there is a growing sense of estrangement between the two. Billy resents both Norman's treatment of Janet- he feels that she was forced into her affair with Steve by Norman's bullying of her- and his frequent use of force to discipline his children. Billy may be an adult, or near-adult, but Norman thinks he is not too old to be kept in line by a good beating. One difference between the two is that Billy is teetotal; he has seen what drink has done to his father, and does not like it.
The title "Too Late to Talk to Billy" can be taken in more than one way. On the one hand it refers to Norman's inability to talk matters over with his son, and with other members of his family, preferring to resort to violence or to displays of temper. Had he taken the trouble to talk to Billy at a much earlier stage, relations between the two might not have deteriorated to the point of hatred. On the other hand it might also refer to Billy's own reluctance to discuss his feelings, particularly with his girlfriend June, who is shortly going off to university in England.
At the heart of the play is a titanic double act between James Ellis as Norman and a young, pre-stardom Kenneth Branagh as Billy. Ellis is today best remembered as the likeable police officer Bert Lynch in "Z-Cars", so it came as a shock to the public to see him as a violent ruffian. Branagh's Billy is a conflicted young man who knows that he has grown up as the son of a violent ruffian and is determined to avoid growing up like him. Other fine performances come from Brid Brennan as the quiet Lorna, Colum Convey as Ian and the young Tracey Lynch as the irrepressible, cheeky Ann. "Too Late to Talk to Billy" could have been a run-of-the-mill family melodrama; what lifts it beyond that category is the strength of the acting. 9/10.
The "Billy" of the title is Billy Martin, a young man in his late teens or early twenties, living in a working-class Protestant area of Belfast. The word "Protestant" here needs to be given its Northern Irish meaning; both Billy and his father Norman admit that they do not believe in God, but as has been said there are no atheists in Northern Ireland, only unbelieving Catholics and unbelieving Protestants. The Martins are what is known as a dysfunctional family. Norman is a hard-drinking, fiery-tempered, violent man whose solution to any problem is to lash out at it with his fists. He has been estranged from his wife Janet ever since he discovered that she was having an affair with an insurance man named Steve, and remains estranged even though Janet is now in hospital, terminally ill with cancer. Norman lives in the family home with Billy, his adult daughter Lorna and two younger daughters Ann and Maureen
The play was made in 1982 and set during the late seventies, the time of what have become known as "The Troubles". As others have pointed out, however, this is a family drama, not a political one, so while the Troubles form the backdrop to the story they are not its subject. The UDA (Ulster Defence Association) play a minor role; here they are portrayed as a gang of thuggish street brawlers, although in reality they were a dangerous terrorist organisation, responsible for over 400 deaths, mostly Catholic civilians. The Martin's neighbour John Fletcher and Billy's friend Ian are both members. John fancies himself as the local hard man, although he is not as hard as he thinks he is, whereas Ian, who is a coward at heart, thinks that membership will give him some sort of street cred.
In some respects Norman and Billy are alike. Both are stubborn and quick-tempered, and Billy is nearly as quick with his fists as his father. Neither have joined the UDA or other militant Protestant organisations; they have no objection to brawling or violence, but both see themselves as independent spirits and feel that their independence would be compromised by membership of any organisation. Despite their similarities, however, there is a growing sense of estrangement between the two. Billy resents both Norman's treatment of Janet- he feels that she was forced into her affair with Steve by Norman's bullying of her- and his frequent use of force to discipline his children. Billy may be an adult, or near-adult, but Norman thinks he is not too old to be kept in line by a good beating. One difference between the two is that Billy is teetotal; he has seen what drink has done to his father, and does not like it.
The title "Too Late to Talk to Billy" can be taken in more than one way. On the one hand it refers to Norman's inability to talk matters over with his son, and with other members of his family, preferring to resort to violence or to displays of temper. Had he taken the trouble to talk to Billy at a much earlier stage, relations between the two might not have deteriorated to the point of hatred. On the other hand it might also refer to Billy's own reluctance to discuss his feelings, particularly with his girlfriend June, who is shortly going off to university in England.
At the heart of the play is a titanic double act between James Ellis as Norman and a young, pre-stardom Kenneth Branagh as Billy. Ellis is today best remembered as the likeable police officer Bert Lynch in "Z-Cars", so it came as a shock to the public to see him as a violent ruffian. Branagh's Billy is a conflicted young man who knows that he has grown up as the son of a violent ruffian and is determined to avoid growing up like him. Other fine performances come from Brid Brennan as the quiet Lorna, Colum Convey as Ian and the young Tracey Lynch as the irrepressible, cheeky Ann. "Too Late to Talk to Billy" could have been a run-of-the-mill family melodrama; what lifts it beyond that category is the strength of the acting. 9/10.
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- JamesHitchcock
- Nov 23, 2022
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