To Serve Them All My Days (TV series)
| To Serve Them All My Days | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Based on | To Serve Them All My Days by R. F. Delderfield |
| Written by | Andrew Davies |
| Directed by |
|
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Ken Riddington |
| Running time | 50 minutes |
| Production company(s) | |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Original release | 17 October 1980 – 16 January 1981 |
To Serve Them All My Days is a British television drama series, adapted by Andrew Davies from R. F. Delderfield's 1972 novel To Serve Them All My Days. It was first broadcast by the BBC over 13 episodes in 1980 and 1981, and in 1982 by PBS in the United States as part of their Masterpiece Theatre anthology series.
Plot
As in the novel, the protagonist is David Powlett-Jones (John Duttine), a coal miner's son from South Wales, who has risen from the ranks and been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in World War I. In 1918, after being injured and shell-shocked, he is hired to teach modern history at Bamfylde School, a fictional public school in North Devon, in the southwest of England, where he wins the respect and acclaim of colleagues and pupils. He serves under headmaster Algy Herries (Frank Middlemass), forms a friendship with Ian Howarth (Alan MacNaughton) and marries Beth (Belinda Lang). He engages in a long bitter rivalry with the jingoistic science master Carter (Neil Stacy) but the two of them later become friends. Powlett-Jones is eventually appointed headmaster.
Production
The series was filmed over 11 months in 1980,[1] with Devon and Dorset locations[1] including Milton Abbey School in Dorset.[2]
Cast
- John Duttine as David Powlett-Jones
- Frank Middlemass as Algy Herries
- Alan MacNaughton as Howarth
- Patricia Lawrence as Ellie Herries
- Neil Stacy as Carter
- Susan Jameson as Christine Forster
- Charles Kay as Alcock
- Kim Braden as Julia
- John Welsh as Cordwainer
- Cyril Luckham as Sir Rufus Creighton
- Simon Gipps-Kent as Chad Boyer
- Belinda Lang as Beth
- Nicholas Lyndhurst as Dobson
- David King as Barnaby
- Phillip Joseph as Emrys Powlett-Jones
- Michael Turner as Brigadier Cooper
- Norman Bird as Alderman Blunt
Reception
Writing for The New York Times, John J. O'Connor described the production as "a richly textured tapestry crammed with the social details that were the speciality of Mr. Delderfield",[3] with "a steady flow of insightful and touching moments".[2] He praised the performances of the cast and that of Duttine in particular.[2][3]
The adaptation was nominated in the Best Drama Series category at the 1981 British Academy Television Awards and in the Outstanding Limited Series category at the 1983 Primetime Emmy Awards.[4]
DVD release
All episodes of To Serve Them All My Days are available on DVD in the UK and the US.
References
- 1 2 O'Connor, John J. (21 November 1982). "TV View; How an Unknown Became a British Star". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- 1 2 3 O'Connor, John J. (16 June 1984). "TV Weekend; A Series That Makes the Rerun Worthwile". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- 1 2 O'Connor, John J. (10 October 1982). "Masterpiece Theater Weaves a Rich New Tapestry". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ↑ " To Serve Them All My Days Awards". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 5 May 2014.