Garrow's Law

[rochvelleth]

Has anyone been watching Garrow's Law? For those who don't know, this was a four-part BBC period drama about an 18th C lawyer who made massive breathroughs in the legal system concerning representation for defendents. So, it's both interesting and informative, which is always something I like - and I'm very happy to put it in the 'excellent 18th C

Comments

[constant_muse]

I know I'd love this series if I could get around to watching it, and a recommendation from you confirms it.

put it in the 'excellent 18th C drama' box in my head that currently just has City of Vice Yes! I thought it sounded a lot like "City of Vice".

"City of Vice" is one of the very few DVDs I own, having neglected to watch that on TV too. The effect of DVDs or watch later I'm afraid is to make me too idle even to bother with TV schedules.

There must be more 'excellent 18th C. drama', though.

How about "Blackadder III"?! (my favourite Blackadder series)
And there's my all-time favourite film, "The Draughtsman's Contract", if we can talk 'long 18th century' (*g*)

[rochvelleth]

I don't think I've ever found anyone else who's seen City of Vice, and now two turn up at once :)

There must be more 'excellent 18th C. drama', though.

Hmm, yes, I'm sure there must actually... I suppose I've only been watching recent things. Blackadder III has to count, yes! I've not see The Draughtsman's Contract, I don't think. There's the Moll Flanders adaptation with Alex Kingston, that was quite good. And The Patriot was an excellent film, IMO. I love the 18th C - it's one of my favourite periods. Also, I should point at my Scaramouche icon for further 18th C film goodness (Stewart Granger, French Revolution), and might also add the Tale of Two Cities starring Dirk Bogarde.

Maybe now is a good time to say that I wish there were more 17th C drama too - The Devil's Whore was brilliant, and left me wanting lots more.

[wastingyourgum]

Oh, I loved 'City of Vice'! I thought it was excellent, not to mention Iain Glen is spectacularly easy on the eyes. ;) Would kill for another series of that (and teensy nationalistic "yay!" for two Scotsmen playing the Fielding Bros.)

I happened across 'Garrow's Law' while channel-hopping the other night and paused because they were in a court and all in period costume and then I spotted Joe's Daddy and Stephen Waddington (King Richard). (Side note: every time I watch 'Last of the Mohicans' I somehow forget that he's in that!)

Sadly however I didn't have time to watch and it was almost finished anyway. I'll certainly keep an eye out for any repeat showings though, especially if Paul Hilton (Roger Gis) was in it too. I thought he was outstanding in 'Casualty 1909', another one in the 'interesting and informative historical drama' category.

[rochvelleth]

Woohoo, another City of Vice lover! Iain Glen is lovely, isn't he? And his voice, mmmm... I love Ian McDiarmid too, he's a wonderful actor.

Thank you for the names, I always miss those. And I had no idea he was in Last of the Mohicans... I think it must be at least 15 years since the last time I saw it, actually. Time for a rewatch!

[wastingyourgum]

Ian McDiarmid is seriously under-rated. Most people just can't think of him as anything other than Emperor Palpatine.

I had no idea he was in Last of the Mohicans
Yep - he's the English officer, Major Heyward (and I spelled his name wrong - it's Steven-with-a-"v").

[rochvelleth]

It's weird how fandoms are colliding here, but one thing that I love Ian McDiarmid in is a particular episode of the Professionals where he plays a crazy gunman (very sympathetic character, I think, though not everyone likes him so much).

[roh_wyn]

OMG, this is just the sort of thing I would have loved to have seen, given my training in the law and my interest in history. One more day that I can regret living on this side of the Pond. Maybe BBCA will carry it?

*sigh*

[rochvelleth]

Yes, I was thinking you would enjoy it. I do hope BBCA go for it - I think it got reasonable ratings, so maybe they will.

[constant_muse]

This is getting more and more like 'degrees of separation'! I didn't recognise Iain Glen in "City of Vice", just thought he was wonderful and rather sexy, but I should've, because he starred in another fave of mine, Euston Film's "The Fear" (1988), which I was just looking up on Amazon, feeling nostalgically tempted ...

Haven't seen "The Patriot", but that reminds me of another 18th C. drama I liked a lot, "Jefferson in Paris" (notable for a very brief appearance of Anthony Valentine). We're talking feature films here though.

And, how could I forget?, "The Scarlet Pimpernel" series with Richard E. Grant and Martin Shaw!!

[wastingyourgum]

"The Scarlet Pimpernel" series with Richard E. Grant and Martin Shaw!!

God, yes - that was fantastic! Richard E. Grant - now there' a voice that could melt butter...

I also just remembered the recent 'John Adams' bio mini-series with Paul Giamatti - that was extremely well done too.

[rochvelleth]

Oh yes, I didn't watch John Adams, but I thought it sounded good. I think we had terrible TV reception when the first episode was on and then it didn't seem worth catching up.

[roh_wyn]

John Adams was easily one of the best historical things I've seen on TV recently. The casting and the acting were both brilliant. Stephen Dillane made the best Thomas Jefferson ever.

[dcwash]

I watched "Party Animals" so I could get a glimpse of Joe Armstrong in his one episode, and so I could check out the new Doctor Who. Both were good, but Andrew Buchan was the one I would up falling in love with. I'll have to check this out. Thanks!

(By the way, I wrote my master's thesis on 18th-century Virginia, pre- and post-Revolution. So, yes, I am VERY into this era!)

[rochvelleth]

Is Andrew Buchan in Party Animals? I must confess I've only watched the bits with Joe Armstrong in that episode of Party Animals... maybe I should watch the whole thing :)

By the way, I wrote my master's thesis on 18th-century Virginia, pre- and post-Revolution. So, yes, I am VERY into this era!

Oh yay! It's great to see all this enthusiasm for the 18th C, which was such an important time in recent history IMO. By the way, I was just recommending The Patriot to Jaycat above - have you seen it? What did you think?

[dcwash]

Party Animals is very good, and, though it's set in London and deals with British politics, it rings very true to what I've learned about political operatives while living Washington: they're both idealistic AND highly competitive, and you never know which side is going to take prominence from minute to minute. Hell, THEY don't even know! It's not just about politics, though. It's about young-ish people trying to find their way in the world, and families, and love, and all of that.

I haven't seen all of The Patriot, let's put it that way. I'm such a pill about historical movies that I'm no fun to be with, so I tend to skip them if it's something I know much about. My brother had it on one time when I was over there, and I caught the scene (out of context) where the happy black folks and happy slave-owning white folks all joined together for a pot-luck on the beach and thought, ".....no. Sorry. Not watching." Plus I tend to want to throw things at Mel Gibson under the best of circumstances

[rochvelleth]

Oh WOW! What an amazing family link. You must be very proud!

Party Animals sounds great, I think I should catch up with it. And re The Patriot, well... I won't say that it doesn't have its off moments (like the one you tuned in for, as well as the implausible romance bit), but many of the performances are solid, and I'm a sucker for epic historical stuff. And who cares about historical inaccuracy? :)