Credited cast: | |||
Bruce Balden | ... | Self (as Bruce) | |
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Jacqueline Bassett | ... | Self (as Jackie) |
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Symon Basterfield | ... | Self (as Symon) |
Andrew Brackfield | ... | Self (as Andrew) | |
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John Brisby | ... | Self (archive footage) (as John) |
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Suzanne Dewey | ... | Self (as Suzy) |
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Charles Furneaux | ... | Self (archive footage) (as Charles) |
Nicholas Hitchon | ... | Self (as Nick) | |
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Neil Hughes | ... | Self (as Neil) |
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Lynn Johnson | ... | Self (as Lynn) |
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Paul Kligerman | ... | Self (as Paul) |
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Susan Sullivan | ... | Self (as Sue) |
Tony Walker | ... | Self (as Tony) |
In 1964, a film crew interviewed seven-year-old English kids: five or six from privilege, a Yorkshire farm lad, East-End girls, and boys from a children's home. Every seven years, Michael Apted re-interviews those willing (two declined this time). At 42, careers are stuck or flourishing; marriages are strong, shaky, or over (and Bruce recently married for the first time). They're dealing with parents' dying, and children coming-of-age. One is a single mom with young sons. One is remarried, but how are the five children from his first marriage? Lyn and Jackie face health problems with down-to-earth lucidity. Neil, on the margin at 28 and 35, has a glorious story of friendship at 42. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
I cannot say enough good things about this series. Each one seems to interest me more as I follow the lives of the kids I first saw in '7UP'. '42UP' continues to show us how they have evolved as people and how the British class system still has control over their lives. As an American I find it somewhat hard to understand that the class you are born into largely determines your educational choices and therefore part of the outcome of your life. I strongly suggest seeing as many of the series as you can, (7UP, 14UP, 21UP, 28UP, 35UP) before your see 42UP. But as a stand alone documentary it is still excellent.