Jan 28 2008
First and Last DVD
This is not a commercial DVD review, but I feel it’s worth a mention because I have had a number of people requesting this classic BBC Drama, which was shown in 1989, and, to the best of my knowledge, has never been repeated. It’s a drama I have on DVD because I was lucky enough to tape it, then keep it, later transcribing it to DVD format. It’s a rare gem, very hard to find drama, gathering cobwebs in the BBC archives, presumably, not even writer Michael Frayn has a copy of it, I’m told.
First and Last takes it’s name from a Hotel in John O’ Groats, Scotland, and the story charts the journey of Alan Holly (Joss Ackland) a genial, retired man in his ’60’s, from Landsend, Cornwall, to John O’ Groats, on foot. Meaning of course, trekking from the southerly most point of the United Kingdom, to the most northerly. It tells the story of Alan, his families struggles to comprehend his walk, anxious wife at home, (Pat Heywood) sending him fresh laundry, his snooty Daughter Sandra (Laura Davenport) and his doctor Son Stephen (Tom Wilkinson) It’s about the varied, interesting characters he meets along the way, the dangers, his own discoveries about himself, and the eventual realisation his failing health might yet prevent him from finalising his dream.
Moreover, the walk becomes Alan Holly’s valediction of his own life, and a personal homage to the land he has lived his life in. At times funny, others poignant, this drama is rich in the “feel good” quality, sadly lacking in much of today’s (if not all) television.
It seems a shame there is so much quality rotting in the vaults, perhaps the BBC would consider a repeat of these type of dramas too much of an embarrassment to today’s offerings, signifying how far the mighty has fallen…
Snap ! I was lucky enough to record this brilliant drama, when originally shown in 1989 onto video tape, I’ve watched it quite a few times, and it’s still interesting and enjoyable to watch.
Like you I’ve transferred to DVD, it’s too good a drama to go missing !
Thanks for stopping by Joe! There is not too many copies of this excellent drama, and works of this quality are all too rare.
i have been trying for ages to track down a copy of what i believe to be one of the best play/films ever .any help to obtain a copy would be most grateful.tia.
Nice website!!