The Singing Detective 

Tormented and bedridden by a debilitating disease, a mystery writer relives his detective stories through his imagination and hallucinations.

Stars:

Michael Gambon, Patrick Malahide, Joanne Whalley

6 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Michael Gambon	...	Philip Marlow 6 episodes, 1986
Patrick Malahide	...	Mark Binney / ... 6 episodes, 1986
Joanne Whalley	...	Nurse Mills 6 episodes, 1986
David Ryall	...	Mr. Hall 6 episodes, 1986
Gerard Horan	...	Reginald 6 episodes, 1986
Leslie French	...	Mr. Tomkey / ... 6 episodes, 1986
Ron Cook	...	First Mysterious Man 6 episodes, 1986
George Rossi	...	Second Mysterious Man 6 episodes, 1986
Sharon D. Clarke	...	Night Nurse 6 episodes, 1986
Lyndon Davies	...	Philip (aged 10) 6 episodes, 1986
Geff Francis	...	Porter 6 episodes, 1986
Janet Suzman	...	Nicola 5 episodes, 1986
Alison Steadman	...	Mrs. Marlow / ... 5 episodes, 1986
Jim Carter	...	Mr. Marlow 5 episodes, 1986
Imelda Staunton	...	Staff Nurse White 5 episodes, 1986
Janet Henfrey	...	Schoolteacher 5 episodes, 1986
Bill Paterson	...	Dr. Gibbon 4 episodes, 1986
William Speakman	...	Mark Binney (aged 10) / ... 4 episodes, 1986
Simon Chandler	...	Dr. Finlay 4 episodes, 1986
Charles Simon	...	George Adams 4 episodes, 1986
Wally Thomas	...	Grandad Baxter 3 episodes, 1986
Kate McKenzie	...	Sonia 3 episodes, 1986
Trevor Cooper	...	Cloth Cap / ... 3 episodes, 1986
Charon Bourke	...	Amanda 2 episodes, 1986
Mary MacLeod	...	Sister Malone 2 episodes, 1986
Thomas Wheatley	...	Registrar 2 episodes, 1986
Ken Stott	...	Uncle John 2 episodes, 1986
Jo Cameron Brown	...	Aunt Emily 2 episodes, 1986
Niven Boyd	...	First Soldier 2 episodes, 1986
Angela Curran	...	Mary 2 episodes, 1986
David Thewlis	...	Second Soldier 2 episodes, 1986

Storyline

Reworking material from his first novel, "Hide and Seek" (1973), and folding this into a prismatic blend of autobiographical details, popular music and 1940s film noir, Dennis Potter delivered a drama now regarded as a 20th-century masterwork. Detective novelist Philip Marlow (Michael Gambon) suffers from the crippling disease of psoriatic arthritis. Confined to a hospital bed, Marlow mentally rewrites his early Chandleresque thriller, "The Singing Detective," with himself in the title role, drifting into a surreal 1945 fantasy of spies and criminals, along with vivid memories of a childhood in the Forest of Dean. As past events and 1940s songs surface in his subconscious, Marlow's voyage of self-discovery provides a key to conquering his illness, while his noir-styled hallucinations evoke the Philip Marlowe of Chandler's "Murder, My Sweet" (1944), starring Dick Powell, who later became a "singing detective" on radio's "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" (1949), crooning to ...

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Plot Keywords:

detective | hallucination | disease | private detective | hospital | 

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

Australia UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 November 1986 (UK)

Also Known As:

Az éneklő detektív

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC),Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min (6 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The illustrations during the opening titles were done by comic book artist Mark Thomas.

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Quotes

Philip E. Marlow: Into each life some rain must fall.
Dr. Gibbon: Metaphysics?
Philip E. Marlow: Music.

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Connections

Referenced in Forever Ealing (2002)

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Soundtracks

Peg o' My Heart
(uncredited)
Music by Fred Fisher
Performed by Max Harris & His Novelty Trio during the credits

User Reviews

Masterpiece of unique proportions

This is a masterpiece of unique proportions. Dennis Potter appears everywhere in the plot through his characters. Amazing soundtrack, a match to the surreal plot! Don't look for answers, just take the trip that Potter suggests and don't miss a single detail. Switch off the light, stop eating popcorn and pay attention to each and every scene. It will reward you.