Fake Show: Divide & Rule
I made myself get on and post this (always best to do something at least a little bit constructive)!
For those new to these parts, there exists a meme, a monster of a meme called "I Surrendered", where you get given prompts & make up TV shows and then the whole thing eats your brain. Naturally, being me, last time I used one of my prompts to make up a fake 1970s show (it was properly gloomy and everything) - and then it ate my brain even more than usual. (I might be writing fic for it for runaway_tales now).
Then Liadtbunny said something more recently about doing a prequel, at which I laughed at the idea - and then went off and plotted the whole thing out.
Thanks to everyone who helped out when I failed on suitable 1970s actors for one of the leads - your suggestions were all awesome, and it was a tough casting decision. (I'm still not sure the best man won, but don't tell him that.) (As part of the meme, I may pretend the show is real. It isn't. Obviously.)
***
When I posted about the 1973/4 drama series Heroes of the Revolution, some people seemed to be under the impression that there was, or was meant to be, a second series. This was never true - it was always conceived of as a one-off serial. However, what isn't as well known is that 1975 saw a prequel in the shape of mini-series Divide & Rule, the equally cheery tale of the downfall of the last government and the dictator Thomas Hallam's rise to power in the late 1950s, and that may have been what people were thinking of.
"Don't you know that Mr Hallam is going to save the country? Just don't stand in his way..."
1958: The ongoing crisis in Britain worsens by the day and the government don't seem to be doing anything to improve matters. Politician Thomas Hallam has a plan, a vision of what could be done to save the country from ruin, but some of the more established cabinet members don't want to listen. Some of them even seem to imagine the crisis will pass if they wait long enough. Well, Hallam's done enough waiting and he's not going to stand by and let the country fall apart.
Standing between Hallam and his goals: several cabinet ministers and the Prime Minister himself. One by one, they'll fall...
DIVIDE AND RULE
Cast
Thomas Hallam (Edward Woodward)
"The only way we can go far enough in time to avert disaster is if we've got the power to force people to do what must to be done. Endless debates in parliament are never going to achieve what we need to do merely to survive."
Hallam is frustrated by the continuing and alarming inability of the current (shaky) government to act. He's got a radical idea about how to get the country through this and he's got support from several people, including Whittaker. But if the old guard won't budge, then he's ready to try ruthless tactics to avoid Britain's ruin.
Pic of Laurence Hardy as the older Hallam in HotR, so you can judge the casting as you will:
Sir Ronald Whittaker
"I hadn't realised he intended to go quite this far..."
Whittaker is one of Hallam's friends and supporters in the government. He agrees that the situation can't be dealt with by the current half-measures and is willing to back up Hallam in all legitimate methods. The path to realising exactly what Hallam's ideas will lead them both to is a slow one, but eventually he'll be the one to sow the seeds of Hallam's downfall.
Major Alan Jemmings (Ronald Pickup)
"Mr Hallam's all about ideas and aims, isn't he? I'm behind him, of course, but I think I'd like an insurance policy."
Hallam's friend and supporter, who works in Military Intelligence. Unlike Whittaker, he's fully behind Hallam (well, as long as he gets something out of it, too).
Edward Iveson (James Maxwell, Eps 1-2)
"We are traitors, you and I. That was always what we made of each other, no matter the reasons."
The Foreign Secretary. Hallam has uncovered incriminating information about him, which he uses to blackmail Iveson into supporting him and helping him remove some of the other members of the cabinet. Everyone has limits, however, and Iveson may be reaching his.
Julia Iveson (Suzanne Neve)
"I hoped you'd believe me. I could have used your help. But don't worry. If I fail, you'll have all the proof you need."
Iveson's wife, who's got a complicated history of her own, and some unofficial contacts that she will use against Hallam if pushed. And she will be...
Richard Fielding (Bernard Archard)
"Mr Hallam seems prone to dangerous hyperbole and exaggeration. I prefer not to unduly cause panic among the people."
Current Prime Minister, who doesn't believe that there are any immediate solutions to the ongoing crisis. Some would accuse him of being more interested in preserving artefacts than other human beings...
Diana Foyle (Barbara Murray, Eps 1-2)
"It's an outrageous accusation! You can't dignify the gutter press by taking any notice of it."
One of Hallam's chief opponents, and as a rare woman in power, she's not about to give up her position that easily.
Amyas Harding (Patrick Troughton, Ep1)
"If you've come here at this time of night, I can only suppose you have something very important to say - and that it's probably thoroughly unpleasant."
Home secretary, and the first obstacle to be dealt with in Hallam's rise to power.
Sylvia Howe (Emily Richards)
"What I'm doing here - it's finally something important, something that actually matters."
Hallam's secretary and personal assistant (who may be about to become the second Mrs Hallam). She thinks the situation is serious enough to warrant Hallam's extreme measures.
Afzal Syed (Salmaan Peerzada)
"You're assuming we're not done for anyway. I want to choose the way I go out!"
Writer (among various other things) who's friends with Jack Brayfield, and thoroughly sceptical about Hallam and his plans.
Jack Brayfield (Martin Jarvis)
"It's a good story all right, it's just... not what I'd have expected from the source, let's say."
Reporter known to Iveson. He's grateful for the story Iveson has just given him, but some things have got him worried...
Jane Howe (Celia Gregory)
"If you ask me, you're being dangerously naive, that's all."
Sylvia's sister, who's going out with Alan Jemmings (which is how Sylvia is recommended to Hallam as secretary). Their father also owns the paper Brayfield writes for. Unlike Alan and Sylvia, Jane has definite objections to Hallam & his ideas.
Sidney Elliott (George Sewell)
"He confided in me because he felt sure I was the one man who wouldn't try to stop him. He knew I would see the logic without being distracted by what I suppose you'd call the morality of the business."
Senior Officer in MI5, who has strong suspicions of how far Hallam's ambitions go - and how much support he has within the security services, so he's about to turn to some more unofficial channels to stop him.
Episode Guide
Part One: Uncertain Way of Gain
"From now on, you're going to help me. I've thought it through - and you don't have a choice..."
The crisis worsens and the National government are failing to respond - at least in the opinion of Thomas Hallam. He tries to persuade the Prime Minister to listen to his more drastic ideas to tackle the current emergency situation, but the PM refuses to have anything to do with such measures. Hallam uses some damning information to blackmail the Foreign Secretary, Edward Iveson, into helping him. And Amyas Harding, the Home Secretary is Hallam's first target...
Part Two: So Far In Blood
"Don't expect me home tonight..."
Hallam continues to work at discrediting some of the key people who stand in his way - causing further lack of confidence in the National Government, which is now looking very precarious. Iveson tries to warn Whittaker, who isn't ready to hear accusations against his friend, especially not from such a source. It's too late to prevent the removal of Diana Foyle. Next, it'll be the immovable Prime Minister...
Part Three: Swords Our Law
"At three o'clock, a bomb will go off inside the Houses of Parliament, and as soon as possible after that, Mr Hallam will declare martial law. All I want is to stop him!"
The lack of confidence in the government, the Prime Minister's refusal to resign, violent acts in the capital and more trouble in Europe all add up to giving Thomas Hallam exactly what he wants at last: reason and means to step in and save the country. First, there are battles to be won, and some of his enemies are still active and determined to stop him by any means necessary, Julia Iveson first among them. And Ronald Whittaker's finally beginning to see that people might have a point about his friend's ambitions...
***
Divide & Rule has always attracted less attention than Heroes of the Revolution but it's never been repeated, nor released onto VHS, so that isn't surprising. (Indeed, it was believed for a while that the ITV network hadn't retained any copies in the archives - a rumour that was happily proved to be untrue.) However, Network are finally bringing it out onto DVD at the end of the year, which is bound to please Edward Woodward's fans, as well as anyone who enjoyed Heroes of the Revolution.
***
NB. I had terrible trouble finding images of everyone c.1975 this time. I think most, annoyingly, wound up being either from 1968 or 1979 and not being quite the right age at all. The internet failed me, I tell you, and so did my DVD collection. You may picture me glaring at most of them for being WRONG.
Crossposted from Dreamwidth -- Comments there:
For those new to these parts, there exists a meme, a monster of a meme called "I Surrendered", where you get given prompts & make up TV shows and then the whole thing eats your brain. Naturally, being me, last time I used one of my prompts to make up a fake 1970s show (it was properly gloomy and everything) - and then it ate my brain even more than usual. (I might be writing fic for it for runaway_tales now).
Then Liadtbunny said something more recently about doing a prequel, at which I laughed at the idea - and then went off and plotted the whole thing out.
Thanks to everyone who helped out when I failed on suitable 1970s actors for one of the leads - your suggestions were all awesome, and it was a tough casting decision. (I'm still not sure the best man won, but don't tell him that.) (As part of the meme, I may pretend the show is real. It isn't. Obviously.)
***
When I posted about the 1973/4 drama series Heroes of the Revolution, some people seemed to be under the impression that there was, or was meant to be, a second series. This was never true - it was always conceived of as a one-off serial. However, what isn't as well known is that 1975 saw a prequel in the shape of mini-series Divide & Rule, the equally cheery tale of the downfall of the last government and the dictator Thomas Hallam's rise to power in the late 1950s, and that may have been what people were thinking of.
"Don't you know that Mr Hallam is going to save the country? Just don't stand in his way..."
1958: The ongoing crisis in Britain worsens by the day and the government don't seem to be doing anything to improve matters. Politician Thomas Hallam has a plan, a vision of what could be done to save the country from ruin, but some of the more established cabinet members don't want to listen. Some of them even seem to imagine the crisis will pass if they wait long enough. Well, Hallam's done enough waiting and he's not going to stand by and let the country fall apart.
Standing between Hallam and his goals: several cabinet ministers and the Prime Minister himself. One by one, they'll fall...
DIVIDE AND RULE
Cast
Thomas Hallam (Edward Woodward)
"The only way we can go far enough in time to avert disaster is if we've got the power to force people to do what must to be done. Endless debates in parliament are never going to achieve what we need to do merely to survive."
Hallam is frustrated by the continuing and alarming inability of the current (shaky) government to act. He's got a radical idea about how to get the country through this and he's got support from several people, including Whittaker. But if the old guard won't budge, then he's ready to try ruthless tactics to avoid Britain's ruin.
Pic of Laurence Hardy as the older Hallam in HotR, so you can judge the casting as you will:
Sir Ronald Whittaker
"I hadn't realised he intended to go quite this far..."
Whittaker is one of Hallam's friends and supporters in the government. He agrees that the situation can't be dealt with by the current half-measures and is willing to back up Hallam in all legitimate methods. The path to realising exactly what Hallam's ideas will lead them both to is a slow one, but eventually he'll be the one to sow the seeds of Hallam's downfall.
Major Alan Jemmings (Ronald Pickup)
"Mr Hallam's all about ideas and aims, isn't he? I'm behind him, of course, but I think I'd like an insurance policy."
Hallam's friend and supporter, who works in Military Intelligence. Unlike Whittaker, he's fully behind Hallam (well, as long as he gets something out of it, too).
Edward Iveson (James Maxwell, Eps 1-2)
"We are traitors, you and I. That was always what we made of each other, no matter the reasons."
The Foreign Secretary. Hallam has uncovered incriminating information about him, which he uses to blackmail Iveson into supporting him and helping him remove some of the other members of the cabinet. Everyone has limits, however, and Iveson may be reaching his.
Julia Iveson (Suzanne Neve)
"I hoped you'd believe me. I could have used your help. But don't worry. If I fail, you'll have all the proof you need."
Iveson's wife, who's got a complicated history of her own, and some unofficial contacts that she will use against Hallam if pushed. And she will be...
Richard Fielding (Bernard Archard)
"Mr Hallam seems prone to dangerous hyperbole and exaggeration. I prefer not to unduly cause panic among the people."
Current Prime Minister, who doesn't believe that there are any immediate solutions to the ongoing crisis. Some would accuse him of being more interested in preserving artefacts than other human beings...
Diana Foyle (Barbara Murray, Eps 1-2)
"It's an outrageous accusation! You can't dignify the gutter press by taking any notice of it."
One of Hallam's chief opponents, and as a rare woman in power, she's not about to give up her position that easily.
Amyas Harding (Patrick Troughton, Ep1)
"If you've come here at this time of night, I can only suppose you have something very important to say - and that it's probably thoroughly unpleasant."
Home secretary, and the first obstacle to be dealt with in Hallam's rise to power.
Sylvia Howe (Emily Richards)
"What I'm doing here - it's finally something important, something that actually matters."
Hallam's secretary and personal assistant (who may be about to become the second Mrs Hallam). She thinks the situation is serious enough to warrant Hallam's extreme measures.
Afzal Syed (Salmaan Peerzada)
"You're assuming we're not done for anyway. I want to choose the way I go out!"
Writer (among various other things) who's friends with Jack Brayfield, and thoroughly sceptical about Hallam and his plans.
Jack Brayfield (Martin Jarvis)
"It's a good story all right, it's just... not what I'd have expected from the source, let's say."
Reporter known to Iveson. He's grateful for the story Iveson has just given him, but some things have got him worried...
Jane Howe (Celia Gregory)
"If you ask me, you're being dangerously naive, that's all."
Sylvia's sister, who's going out with Alan Jemmings (which is how Sylvia is recommended to Hallam as secretary). Their father also owns the paper Brayfield writes for. Unlike Alan and Sylvia, Jane has definite objections to Hallam & his ideas.
Sidney Elliott (George Sewell)
"He confided in me because he felt sure I was the one man who wouldn't try to stop him. He knew I would see the logic without being distracted by what I suppose you'd call the morality of the business."
Senior Officer in MI5, who has strong suspicions of how far Hallam's ambitions go - and how much support he has within the security services, so he's about to turn to some more unofficial channels to stop him.
Episode Guide
Part One: Uncertain Way of Gain
"From now on, you're going to help me. I've thought it through - and you don't have a choice..."
The crisis worsens and the National government are failing to respond - at least in the opinion of Thomas Hallam. He tries to persuade the Prime Minister to listen to his more drastic ideas to tackle the current emergency situation, but the PM refuses to have anything to do with such measures. Hallam uses some damning information to blackmail the Foreign Secretary, Edward Iveson, into helping him. And Amyas Harding, the Home Secretary is Hallam's first target...
Part Two: So Far In Blood
"Don't expect me home tonight..."
Hallam continues to work at discrediting some of the key people who stand in his way - causing further lack of confidence in the National Government, which is now looking very precarious. Iveson tries to warn Whittaker, who isn't ready to hear accusations against his friend, especially not from such a source. It's too late to prevent the removal of Diana Foyle. Next, it'll be the immovable Prime Minister...
Part Three: Swords Our Law
"At three o'clock, a bomb will go off inside the Houses of Parliament, and as soon as possible after that, Mr Hallam will declare martial law. All I want is to stop him!"
The lack of confidence in the government, the Prime Minister's refusal to resign, violent acts in the capital and more trouble in Europe all add up to giving Thomas Hallam exactly what he wants at last: reason and means to step in and save the country. First, there are battles to be won, and some of his enemies are still active and determined to stop him by any means necessary, Julia Iveson first among them. And Ronald Whittaker's finally beginning to see that people might have a point about his friend's ambitions...
***
Divide & Rule has always attracted less attention than Heroes of the Revolution but it's never been repeated, nor released onto VHS, so that isn't surprising. (Indeed, it was believed for a while that the ITV network hadn't retained any copies in the archives - a rumour that was happily proved to be untrue.) However, Network are finally bringing it out onto DVD at the end of the year, which is bound to please Edward Woodward's fans, as well as anyone who enjoyed Heroes of the Revolution.
***
NB. I had terrible trouble finding images of everyone c.1975 this time. I think most, annoyingly, wound up being either from 1968 or 1979 and not being quite the right age at all. The internet failed me, I tell you, and so did my DVD collection. You may picture me glaring at most of them for being WRONG.
Crossposted from Dreamwidth -- Comments there: