BBC4 One Night In The 60's (5/6/04) Part1 - Z Cars (1963)

First of a series of programmes shown as part as BBC4's Summer In The Sixties season back in 2004.
A whole night dedicated to classic 60's TV starting with an episode of 'Z-Cars - 'Made For Each Other' from 1963 starring regulars Frank Windsor and Brian Blessed with an early TV appearance from a young Judy Dench.

[@davids8449]

Superb acting. In Britain life went down hill completely 1978, now as a nation Britain is Finished

[@SuperIliad]

Made for Each Other, Season 3, Episode 2, aired 11 September 1963. Brian Blessed as PC Smith; Joseph Brady as PC Weir; James Ellis as PC Lynch; Colin Welland as PC Graham; Frank Windsor as Det. Sgt. Watt; Bob Keegan as Sgt. Blackitt; Kate Brown as Shirley Burscough; Judi Dench as Elena Collins; Peter Woodthorpe as Kenneth Harvey; Peter Claughton as Mr. Collins; Lala Lloyd as Mrs. Collins; George Hagan, Magistrate; Harvey Ashby, Clerk to the Court; John Sefton, Prosecuting Officer; Leonie Forbes, Girl in Café; Philip Morant as Mr. Burroughs; Benn Simons, Police Sergeant.

[@jamespaley7139]

Wow. Tiny bit obsessive. Jealous of the recall. Though Respect

[@lizdoyle7158]

You can see here Judi Dench was destined to be a huge talent she played her part in Z cars so well Z cars🚔🚔🚔 was a FABOULOUS TV 📺📺📺series thanks to youtube we can see again

[@matthewlawrenson3628]

7:09 - Whoops, the camera bumped into the set. Never mind, these things happen on live TV. Carry on.

[@jimmyviaductophilelawley5587]

I finally understand why old ladies go weak at the knees for Brian Blessed!!!

[@derrickgreen9020]

Brian never used to bellow in those days.

[@johnwood2448]

I know script writing and reality doesn't always tally but can't help thinking that this is pre Commissioner Cressida Dick and P. C. Wayne Couzens Nostalgia, probably not what it used to be.

[@markashton2007]

The woman playing Anna Collins the main feamle is a young Judi Dench

[@scottgeorge4268]

It's really interesting to see how interviews by police were conducted before PACE.

[@derrickgreen9020]

Raymond Baxter!

[@Smashyization]

I am with Smith 100%

[@mrbigarms]

Judy Dench was a much better actor when she was yonger!

[@marvwatkins7029]

Fancy should have been a social worker, perhaps?

[@MariaReina-ez2yr]

😱😱😱!!! 7:21

[@jamespaley7139]

Brian blessed in for a secret 😘. Really loved his partner.

[@Robert_Manners]

This is the most repeated episode of the series.

[@marieannwalsh662]

Judi Dench always irrating .

[@kernowarty]

The girl in this is really over acting.

[@kernowarty]

Wow. I have just realised. It is Judy Dench!!! Still over acting though.

[@choppy249]

kernowarty . I think that was just the way the actors were directed in those days. It happened a lot in shows of that time I seem to remember . Especially when the subject was meant to be a troubled soul , so to speak. I think it was what they called , giving a gritty , down to earth , realistic performance. We have to remember that before this point in time , most actors seemed rather wooden and dull especially in tv and were accused of not injecting enough passion etc into their performances. About the time of this Z. cars episode all that was beginning to change and audiences were starting to demand more realistic , cutting edge acting to their favourite shows. What we see in this episode and other shows of the same era I think is the industries response to this growing demand for more realism. Of course by today's standards it can seem slightly bizarre and even over acting but at the time it was what passed for gritty realism and true passion. It was a bit like going from one extreme to another in order to achieve change but things did settle down somewhat after ten years or so when we reached the mid seventies. They seemed to get a better balance by then. It is just how things progressed to get to where we are now. They were still very early days in tv at that time really. Like you I was amazed to find out that was Judi Dench. She was so young then wasn't she. I do believe though that she was a terrific actress and I feel sure as I said before that the Director would have been urging her to give this slightly chaotic performance. It is just what was expected at the time. I enjoyed watching this so much though. It reminded me of times gone by.

[@richardarcher3435]

I don't see her as over acting. Just acting. I can't see the acting any different to today's acting, they're acting the part and that's it. It's production that's different today.

[@MrSkaRobot]

It has a very Live TV aesthetic to it, making sure the camera catches everything. the location film bit with Fancy and Weir by the shop windows has some over-the-shoulder shots and cuts, some dark lighting. but when people interact in the studio, seems they make sure they all facing the camera and avoid any sort of subtlety and let loose with the heightened emotions, expressions. It is enjoyable to me tho, more than the Sweeney, watching actors just act and do their craft, without big action sequences.

[@SuperIliad]

Made for Each Other, Season 3, Episode 2, aired 11 September 1963. Brian Blessed as PC Smith; Joseph Brady as PC Weir; James Ellis as PC Lynch; Colin Welland as PC Graham; Frank Windsor as Det. Sgt. Watt; Bob Keegan as Sgt. Blackitt; Kate Brown as Shirley Burscough; Judi Dench as Elena Collins; Peter Woodthorpe as Kenneth Harvey; Peter Claughton as Mr. Collins; Lala Lloyd as Mrs. Collins; George Hagan, Magistrate; Harvey Ashby, Clerk to the Court; John Sefton, Prosecuting Officer; Leonie Forbes, Girl in Café; Philip Morant as Mr. Burroughs; Benn Simons, Police Sergeant.

[@mikekemp9877]

spot alan lake from a previous episode in the row behind fancy in court waiting room.