Monday, March 13, 2023

CROWN COURT (1972 - 1984)

 MY LATEST ADDITION TO ADDICTIVE TV. 


I just randomly stumbled across this long-running British courtroom drama series made by Granada for ITV for most of the seventies until 1984.  This groundbreaking show is apparently being currently rerun on British TV after an absence of 40 years.  I, however, stumbled upon the show randomly on youtuberz and was immediately hooked.  The show dramatizes court cases using actors following a written script.  The show is shot live like a stage play with several stationary cameras and no retakes; it's done straight through.  Also really interesting is the fact that, while the cast in the courtroom all all actors, the jury is selected using real people -- actual citizens -- who watch the proceedings and are given a half hour to render their verdict based upon what they've seen.  Because the show is filmed live with no retakes, the cast rehearses two endings -- based on a guilty or not guilty verdict from the 'real people' jury -- so that they know what to do at the end of the show depending on the verdict.  Each case usually spans three 25-minute episodes and I've watched over a dozen already.  This shizzle's addictive!  Another major drawing point for me is the fact that not only is it full of that 1970's ambiance I love but also is filthy with character actors I love.  The programme was apparently well-known as the show that launched a galaxy of stars.  Colin Firth has his first TV job on CROWN COURT
OMG it's a 12 year old Colin Firth!!!

and the cast features everyone from Oscar-Winner Jim Broadbent to ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE's Richard Wilson to late great Hammer Horror icon Barbara Shelley
Stylish and sexy Barbara Shelley!

(that's her in the hat up above).  There are TONS of actors here who've appeared on DOCTOR WHO -- you can also see Ian Marter in the photo up top as well) as well as a couple actual Doctors:  Patrick Troughton and Peter Capaldi can also be seen in court on this wonderful show. 
OMG a punk Peter Capaldi from 1984!!!

All the shows are on DVD (in British Region 2 only so you'll need a multi-region playah) and I've picked up over half of them already!!!  Some are incredibly easy to get and inexpensive while a couple volumes are impossible to get and outrageously overpriced!  But at least there are some episodes on youtuberz you can see (including the Patrick Troughton one). 
Patrick Troughton has been naughty . . . maybe

 

3 comments:

Cheeks DaBelly said...

WOW!! This seems like quite the find to me. I love me some Colin Firth! And then there's Capaldi, and Troughton??? Dah fuck! And hey, where's my copy of Everything Everywhere All At Once??? It like won something over the weekend.

Cerpts said...

Not only dems but you'll also see tons of actors from all the old DOCTOR WHO episodes.

Oh yeah. That. Yep, still have that extra dvd of EEAAO that you can have. If only there was some way to get it to you . . .

Also fair warning: I am 9 DVDs into your 2023 CHRISTMAS CERPTS DVDs and much more on da way. This will be the be all and end all of Christmas Video Cerpts. If you have any requests of anything to add to them, please let me know. It will include old favorurites and new Christmas junk; it's designed to be on your shelf until the Merry Krimble time and then you can grab it and watch it every Christmas for that holiday spirit. And yes, I am making one for myself as well.

And besides besides dat, I may even manage to finish up those OTHER Video Cerpts that have been ALMOST finished for about 5 years! Maybe with some CROWN COURT episodeys . . . .

Cheeks DaBelly said...

Such a tease!