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DramaTV Movie

Country

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In 1945, the Carlions assemble at an English country house for a family gathering. During the event, they must determine who is to take over the family brewing empire, since the present head of the business, Sir Frederick, is getting old. The results of the 1945 general election causes a major stir, and some angry farmers occupy a barn.

Release Date : 1981-10-20

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : BBC

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Leo McKern

Character Name : Sir Frederick Carlion

Original Name : Leo McKern

Gender : Male

James Fox

Character Name : Philip Carlion

Original Name : James Fox

Gender : Male

Wendy Hiller

Character Name : Daisy - Lady Carlion

Original Name : Wendy Hiller

Gender : Female

Penelope Wilton

Character Name : Virginia Carlion

Original Name : Penelope Wilton

Gender : Female

Jill Bennett

Character Name : Alice Carlion

Original Name : Jill Bennett

Gender : Female

Deborah Norton

Character Name : Faith

Original Name : Deborah Norton

Gender : Female

Joan Greenwood

Character Name : Dollie van der Biek

Original Name : Joan Greenwood

Gender : Female

Alan Webb

Character Name : Sir Piers Blair

Original Name : Alan Webb

Gender : Male

Tim Seely

Character Name : Andrew Oliphant - Father

Original Name : Tim Seely

Gender : Male

Frederick Alexander

Character Name : Andrew Oliphant - Son

Original Name : Frederick Alexander

Gender : Male

Frederick Treves

Character Name : Matthew Harcourt

Original Name : Frederick Treves

Gender : Male

Eliza Buckingham

Character Name : Margaret Harcourt

Original Name : Eliza Buckingham

Gender : Female

Edward Rawle-Hicks

Character Name : Teddie Harcourt

Original Name : Edward Rawle-Hicks

Gender : Male

Tamzin Neville

Character Name : Elizabeth Harcourt

Original Name : Tamzin Neville

Gender : Male

Richard Durden

Character Name : Guy Wheldon

Original Name : Richard Durden

Gender : Male

Aubone Tennant

Character Name : Nigel Wheldon

Original Name : Aubone Tennant

Gender : Male

Julian Wadham

Character Name : Robert Carlion

Original Name : Julian Wadham

Gender : Male

Suzanne Burden

Character Name : Lindsey Carlion

Original Name : Suzanne Burden

Gender : Female

Bryan Coleman

Character Name : Edward Carlion

Original Name : Bryan Coleman

Gender : Male

David Neville

Character Name : James Blair

Original Name : David Neville

Gender : Male

Madoline Thomas

Character Name : Nanny

Original Name : Madoline Thomas

Gender : Female

Frank Mills

Character Name : Ashford

Original Name : Frank Mills

Gender : Male

Malcolm Storry

Character Name : The Inspector

Original Name : Malcolm Storry

Gender : Male

Ralph Nossek

Character Name : Mr Joseph

Original Name : Ralph Nossek

Gender : Male

Donald Eccles

Character Name : The Dean

Original Name : Donald Eccles

Gender : Male

Richard Vanstone

Character Name : Hop Picker

Original Name : Richard Vanstone

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-11-17

With WWII won, the "Carlion" family gather at their stately home in the run up to the British General Election. These are wealthy and privileged people who run a brewing business and it's their head "Sir Frederick" (Leo McKern) who is now looking to pass on the mantle. As with many family gatherings, the atmosphere quickly becomes quite toxic only here it's not just the mix of personalities that sparks, but attitudes. Politics in the kingdom is changing, attitudes are changing and the days of gentry and serf might well be on the way out as it becomes clear that Clement Attlee's socialist government is going to be running the country with quite a substantial mandate. McKern holds this together well providing a mix of stoicism and belligerence as his character has to deal with societal changes as well as those affecting his own role in his business and his family. Dame Wendy Hiller and Penelope Wilton also contribute well helping to illustrate the changing nature of the role of women in this brave new world, too. There are also references to the hitherto under-the-heal labouring classes who finally take their pitchforks in hand and gently (they are British, after all) make their presence felt. It's a little bit verbose at times, and Richard Eyre doesn't always manage to sustain the pace leading to maybe a few too many troughs amidst the undoubted peaks provided by a cast who present us with a familial equivalent of Janus - looking both behind them and to the front, left and then right, all at the same time unsure how to jump. Perhaps prophetic of a period of national "realignment" under Margaret Thatcher's newly elected government that was about to start as this was made?