Noah's Castle (1979– ) User Reviews

Memories

[kaggylou1 · 9/10 · 2 January 2007]

I was only about wight or nine when I saw this...can't remember what year it was broadcast in Australia, but it was one of the most believable and frightening series I had ever seen. I know more about Britain's history than I did then, but it still was chilling. The father holding a metaphorical gun over his own children in threatening them not to tell about the food hoard was memorable, as was David Neal's performance throughout.

If this series ever became available on DVD I would be first in line! What a shame there are no more youth series with the brains and grit Noah's Castle possessed today.

A dimly remembered drama... at least by me.

[Strange-8 · 8/10 · 14 May 2002]

I remember seeing this series sometime in the early or mid eighties when I lived in Australia. It depicted a British society on the brink of anarchy with troops roaming the debris-littered streets and food prices rising to the levels of Weimar era Germany. The family which are the most prominently featured is headed by a stern army colonel type. Although he isn't actually in the military, his reasoning seems pretty close to it. He has planned ahead for the apparently looming breakdown of social order by hoarding serious amounts of food, petrol and other essentials (as well as booze, "for barter", he said!) in the cellar of the fairly isolated family home (the "Noah's Castle" of the title). He decides that the best way to safeguard this hoard is to have a heavily fortified front door, a British army issue revolver and to strongly encourage the rest of the family not to tell anyone about what they have hidden. That aside, There's not a lot else I remember to spoil the ending with (it was over 15 years ago that I saw it, after all).

Sample of dialogue:

Father:(speaking to daughter) How much was that tin of beans?

Daughter:(eating beans out of the tin) £2.

Father: And tomorrow, it'll be 3. D'you know where this county's headed?...Anarchy.

What I remember best about this show is undoubtedly the opening titles which feature a scruffy, denim clad youth fleeing down a rock-strewn street (running away from the camera) closely followed by a couple of British soldiers in fatigues. They become visible one-at-a-time as they run from behind the camera in slow(ish) motion, eerily in time with the moodily grim synthesiser music. Very of-it's-time, but very memorable (unlike the series itself).

Mortimer family values

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 27 December 2016]

Although it's never really explained in Noah's Castle the reason for a famine that hits Great Britain in the future the effects are for all to see. In this 7 part mini-series we see what the Mortimer family has done to protect itself and survive the famine. David Neal has seen this coming for some time and has moved from London out to a more suburban area. He's bought himself an old manor house with a strong and hidden cellar. No doubt to shield priests in counter reformation days it now hides the stockpiles of food for Neal's wife and four kids.

Simon Gipps-Kent plays one of his sons and he narrates the story and it is his eyes from which we see the action. If suspected of hoarding there could be serious consequences for the Mortimers. All of the kids have differing views on what their father is doing. All however never forget that it is for their survival.

Crisis brings out the best and worst in people. Alun Lewis and Christopher Fairbank who are both interested in elder Mortimer daughter Annette Ekblom have a differing approach. Fairbank works for a relief organization. Lewis wants a systemic approach to the problem from a revolutionary point of view. There's also Lee Macdonald who has organized the local black market and has some plug uglies to enforce his will. The whole series is geared to making sure he doesn't find out about the Mortimer stockpile and what happens when he does.

The short life and tragic death of Simon Gipps-Kent has made him and this mini-series something of a cult item. Before this I was familiar with Gipps-Kent through him playing Pip in Great Expectations and a Doctor Who story from the Tom Baker years. What a sad end for him in 1986 at a young age.

Noah's Castle is a sharp reminder of one of the calamities that could hit the human race if we are not careful about marshaling our resources. It also is a reminder about just who does the marshaling.

Noah's Castle

[oileyerr · 16 May 2005]

I remember watching this thought provoking & rather chilling serial when i was still at school.

I recently read the book that this serial was adapted from. The book was written at a time in the mid seventies when unemployment, strikes and inflation were rampant. There was always a severe threat that civil disorder and a breakdown of society could occur. The book & the T.V. series were very much of their time.

The part that stands out the most, for me, was the ending each week. Soldiers wearing Northern Ireland style riot gear, surrounded by armoured vehicles were seen on a hilltop on the outskirts of a large town. Radio announcements were heard being broadcast & each week the situation seemed to be worsening. The news being broadcast was usually about people striking for higher wage demands or higher food prices & inflation running riot.

The series which was broadcast in 1980 was set in the near future. There was a possibility that what occurred in the T.V. series could come true in real life.

In the summer of 1981 Great Britain was rocked by inner city rioting & looting, very similar to that portrayed in Noah's Castle. It was a frightening and worrying time.

Noah's Castle was a very well written drama that was more adult message in it's theme. It was also sending us all a hidden message.

odd period piece kids drama

[ib011f9545i · 7/10 · 16 February 2021]

I was 18 when this was shown so never saw this. The person on here complaining about when it was shown might consider that ITV was not a monolith back then and programmes were shown at different times in different regions. But to the programme. I watched the dvd recently. The plot is that there is raging inflation and food shortages anda family led by an ex soldier sets up his own ark but with no guests this time round. In 1970s Britain there were real problems,strikes and poverty and rising crime. I know this is a kids show but the plot is both simplistic and confusing. There is rationing so why is there food shortages? unless it is due to poverty but it is unclear. The army is on the streets but they don't do much to control the situation. But if you remember the 1970s or are studying the period you might find it interesting.

A different kind of apocalypse

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 24 May 2017]

NOAH'S CASTLE is a seven-part children's TV series courtesy of Southern Television. It's a lot more mature and less silly than you'd believe considering the genre, and it features a near-future society in which food shortages have led to rioting and lawlessness on the streets. A different kind of apocalypse, then, an economic one for a change, which makes a nice difference from the usual clichés.

The series is inevitably low budget and focuses on the adventures of a small number of characters, mainly a family and their friends and associates. I found it quite suspenseful and influential, with a creepy theme tune that seems to have influenced THE TERMINATOR. Scenes of faceless soldiers prowling the streets are vivid enough to send a chill down the spine, while the familiar cast (many of whom are recognisable from British TV) work hard to make their characters convincing. Watch out for the unique sight of Frank Butcher (Mike Reid) and Zammo (Lee Macdonald) playing father and son! Christopher Fairbank (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY) also has a good, against-type role.

I Remember Enjoying It

[Theo Robertson · 10 October 2004]

A pity Strange-8 didn't seem to enjoy this children's serial as much as I did . Yeah I do confess that I can't remember the show scene for scene ( I only saw it on its original broadcast 25 years ago ) but if memory serves me right this was deeply thought provoking stuff and I'm willing to bet my life that it's more intelligent and compelling than stuff made for an adult audience in 2004 never mind children

In many ways NOAH'S CASTLE is a precursor of ITV's QUATERMASS production that was made at round about the same time and in many ways mirrors the early chapters of John Christopher's doom laden The Death Of Grass , though this is probably coincidence since there's only so many ways you can write this type of scenario . Hyper inflation is destroying Britain's economy and the scenario is far worse than that seen in 1930s Germany because no one can afford much in the way of food and the population are on the verge of starvation . This is a possible flaw with the central plot since it's never explained why a country crippled by hyper inflation would be on the brink of starvation . Surely the rich would be able to afford food ? but for some strange reason butchers and bakeries are empty while shoe shops still remain open for business

Reading through the cast list on this page I'm struck by how many of the cast were totally unknown at the time of broadcast but who are now familiar faces due to their long running roles . People like Christopher Fairbank ( AUF WEIDERSEIN PET ) , Lee McDonald ( GRANGE HILL ) and Alun Lewis ( EMMERDALE ) . There is a cast member who was well known in 1979 and that was Mike " Ricky " Reid long before he became Frank Butcher in EASTENDERS but in the 70s Reid was a well kent face due to his stand up comedy routines . Here he plays the villain of the piece Vince Holloway . Much of the story centers around Holloway holding a birthday party for his daughter , one of whose friends brings some food as a present which sets Holloway on a personal quest to find out where it came from . Suffice to say Holloway is not the sort of gentleman who will ask nicely for some food if he finds the family's store . Some people may find the ending slightly irritating since it's inconclusive but like I said you could easily watch Nigel Kneale's 1979 QUATERMASS serial or read The Death Of Grass from chapter 4 if you want the story to continue

I'm also glad that the previous commentator mentioned the opening title sequence as being so memorable . From memory I recall it was superbly done with some very haunting synth music . The end credits featured several cross cut scenes of soldiers on patrol though spoof radio announcements about riots and civil disorders did seem rather unsubtle . But I'll wager you any money that the title sequence of this kids show is more impressive than many shows broadcast on British television today