Does anyone else have good memories of this programme? I remember it was the long hot summer of 1983, when I'd just did me 'O' Levels and had not a care in the world.
Checking an old shortcut I'd saved:
http://one-summer.tv83.net/
apparently its now available on DVD.
Yes, wonderful series. I can't believe it was over 20 years ago! The Brits produced some real gems in the 1980s and One Summer was one of them. That year was when I first got a VCR and an episode of One Summer was the first thing I recorded on it, and I've still got it.
Thanks, Red Squirrel, for that link....ahhh...James Hazeldine.
Note to self: Order DVD when it comes out.
Wow, I didn't know it was shown Down Under. It is a long time ago and David Morrissey was so young as well!
Maybe I should have explained to anyone who couldn't recall the title that it's about two Scouse lads, Billy and Icky, escaping to North Wales for that 'One Summer'
I've only just had a proper look at the One Summer website and I was shocked and saddened to learn that James Hazeldine is no longer with us. I didn't know. Shame on me. 55 is far too young to die and James had much to offer both as an actor and a person.
Another excellent TV series in which he appeared was The Omega Factor, made way back in 1979, which is now available on DVD. I'll definitely be ordering a copy.
Greetings everyone,
Willy Russell's "One Summer" with Ian Hart and David Morrissey is now out on Dick Van Dyke. It is a double disc set with extras. Info can also be found at www.willyrussell.com which for those who remembered and loved the Liverpool Scene Andy roberts, Neil innes etc has some great links.
Good to be back, need a holiday just to read what I've missed
best
Freddy
Welcome back, Freddy.(Freddy @ Feb 8 2006, 08:44 PM)
Greetings everyone,
Willy Russell's "One Summer" with Ian Hart and David Morrissey is now out on Dick Van Dyke. It is a double disc set with extras. Info can also be found at www.willyrussell.com which for those who remembered and loved the Liverpool Scene Andy roberts, Neil innes etc has some great links.
Good to be back, need a holiday just to read what I've missed
best
Freddy
This is wonderful news, thank you. I loved this series. Its screening here in the early 80s coincided with acquiring my first VCR and one of the episodes of One Summer was the first thing I ever recorded. I still have it. The 80s was rich with British drama like this.
David Morrissey was a fine young actor then, and hasn't he come along so well since? (the recent Blackpool was excellent)
And, of course, it will be with a mixture of sadness and joy to see a young James Hazeldine in a fine performance.
Placing order with Amazon now...
Pleasure Darling,
I know its popular with a lot of people, there was a separate web site about it, and am glad Willy Russell managed to sort out his differences.
Looking at Willy Rusell's web site reminded me that not only is he a talented bloke but that he also wrote the theme tune to the 1985 series CONNIE with Stephanie Beacham and Pam Ferris. Written by Ron Hutchinson, this was a great favourite of mine, wonderfully OTT, highly enjoyable.
Used to be on the same night as The Kellog City Centre Cycling series, fond memories
Freddy
I hope Len Deighton follows suit and finally allows Game, Set and Match to be released commercially though there's probably not much chance of that happening.(Freddy @ Feb 10 2006, 07:30 PM)
I know its popular with a lot of people, there was a separate web site about it, and am glad Willy Russell managed to sort out his differences.
Yes, I'd like to see this series again, too. I'm a big fan of Ian Holm and he was very good in this IMO. His autobiography, Acting My Life, made very interesting reading and I highly recommend it.(Remy @ Feb 13 2006, 09:37 AM)
I hope Len Deighton follows suit and finally allows Game, Set and Match to be released commercially though there's probably not much chance of that happening.
One Summer is at this moment winging its way to Oz. Can't wait.
Watched my newly purchased DVD of the full series of One Summer over the last few evenings, and what memories came flooding back!
Written by Willy Russell (Educating Rita, Shirley Valentine), One Summer tells the story of two Liverpool teenagers, Billy (David Morrissey) & Icky (Spencer Leigh), who, sick of their opressive city lives, flee to the Welsh countryside with Billy's mothers' bingo winnings, and the police in pursuit! The memory of a past camping trip enjoyed by Billy spurs them on, but they find that their idyllic vision of Wales is not much in evidence. Finally, they come across a kindly stranger named Kidder (James Hazeldine), who takes them in and supports them, but a tragic end to their few weeks of spiritual and physical liberation is looming.
Still hard-hitting after all these years, One Summer is a well written and acted piece of television, and the author manages to win the audience over as we find ourselves cheering the two lead characters on, even though they are at their cores muggers, thieves and gang members.
Billy shows a sensitive and deeply emotional side, whilst Icky is his childlike, naive dependant. As the summer progresses, it's clear that Billy wants to plant roots in Wales, whilst Icky finds a simpler life of truanting and petty crime more appealing. The father-like figure of Kidder mentors them both, but as he has his own dark secret from the past, we find that he too is effectively a runaway.
25 years since I last watched the series, I still found it funny, moving and, in the final episode, almost unbearably emotional. It's easy to see how David Morrissey came to be a well respected actor in later life, as he excels as Billy, and Spencer Leigh supports him well as Icky. The late and much missed James Hazeldine is outstanding as Kidder, and you can sense through his performance that his character is pained by an incident in his past.
They don't make them like this any more, or is that just nostalgia on my part? Still, I'm glad I ordered that DVD as, briefly, I felt like I did when I was 13 and first watched it!
Absolutely fantastic series! Also features a young Ian Hart as Rabbit and spotted briefly in the first episode is Victor McGuire who went on to being Jack Boswell in Bread amongst other things. DVD also has a great commentary on the 1st ep by Morrissey, Leigh and Hart.
The theme tune from Alan Parker is fantastic.
I remember this well from first time around and it was head and shoulders above most similar styles of drama at the time. Very believeable, and played with a huge heart by a good cast.
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