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Wednesday, February 28, 2007

You Must Remember This...

"You must remember this, a kiss is just a kiss...a sigh is just a sigh..."
And so each episode of "As Time Goes By" begins.
Lionel Hardcastle: I saw you, and I stopped breathing. I really did. Jean Mary Pargetter: Aww...
Lionel Hardcastle: I started again, of course, or I would have died...
Warm, witty and ever so delightful. A true treasure...a rare jewel. How we would love to sit down to dine with Jean, Lionel, Judy, Sandy and all the "As Time Goes By" gang. A warm and tender series, we are enraptured by each new episode. The writing is top notch, the actors simply superb. How lovely to finally have all of these episodes offered on video tape and now, on DVD. Please dear reader, do yourself a favor and invite Jean and Lionel into your life...they have found each other again and we are all the better for it. A treasure from start to finish. Who is more delicious than Oscar winner Judi Dench and the glorious Geoffery Palmer? When you tire of the network televison assault on your senses...or when you find yourself shuddering at what passes as *pleasant comedy*, pick up these episodes, fix yourself a hot cup of tea, settle in and prepare to be delighted.
A sweet and unexpectedly long-lasting romantic sitcom from the BBC in which two masters of the genre, Geoffrey Palmer and Dame Judi Dench, made the art of comedy look easy. Palmer played Lionel, an ex-army officer and Kenyan coffee planter who returns to England to write his memoirs, entitled My Life In Kenya. Seeking the help of a temporary secretary to take care of the typing, an agency offers him the services of Judith Pargetter. Attracted by her youthful vigour, Lionel invites her out to dinner but chances to meet too with her mother Jean. During the Korean War she and Lionel had been very close, intent on marriage, but one vital letter went astray and each thought the other had given up. The point now was, could the old fires be stoked after a 38-year parting? And what about the twice-married Judith, who was rather keen on Lionel herself? Such was the situation and the dilemmas at the start of the first series. As time went by As Time Goes By changed tack somewhat and in the middle period concentrated on getting Jean and Lionel back together. Eventually they cohabited and married but things were never that simple for the prickly couple who were both too independent to settle easily into married life. As Lionel progressed in the literary world complications arose. First there was Alistair, his smarmy agent who soon started dating Judith and who, to Lionel, represented all that was wrong with the modern generation. Then there was Lionel's eccentric father Rocky and his pursuit of his dream woman Madge. But the biggest diversion of all, outside of the central relationship, was the fact that Lionel had sold the story of his and Jean's romance to an American TV company, who were going to turn it into a glossy mini-series. Numerous episodes followed the progress of the production before they all got to see the finished article.
By the time of its eighth season the show was enjoying considerable success in the USA where, despite her Oscar-winning film performances, Judi Dench was best known as Jean from As Time Goes By. The series proper ended in 2002 with the wedding of Judith and Alistair, and the departure of Canada- and marriage-bound Sandy (Jean's employee and Judith's friend) and Harry (her on-off boyfriend, a policeman), leaving Jean and Lionel quietly to themselves. A week later there was an hour-long compilation of highlights from the preceding 64 episodes in which the pair looked back at selected moments from their recent years together, ostensibly so that Lionel can consider writing part two of his autobiography. Three years later, the show's legion of devotees were given a chance to catch up on all the regulars in a two-part seasonal special.

15 comments:

jafabrit said...

Judi was fabulous in that series. I have just ordered th oneiden line on dvd from blockbuster. Talk about an old series, but I loved it.

Cheryl Wray said...

I'm absolutely going to have to check that out! I love Judi D, but have somehow missed this series! My mother also loves BBC series, so I may need to hunt it down for her too.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Have a LOVELY day!!

Betty Jo said...

I've never seen this. I need to look into it. It sounds like my kind of show. Thanks for sharing! xoxoxo

Deb said...

One of my all time favourite series! I absolutely love "As Time Goes By" - reruns are still shown here a few times a week. Fantastic post! Thank you also for your kind comments on mine!!

Brown English Muffin said...

Lionel Hardcastle: I started again, of course, or I would have died..

Too funny!!!

Don't you hate all the trouble we have to go through for British TV over here?

Hey do you like listening to the radio over the internet as you blog?

I ALWAYS listen to BBC7 they have some great British Shows playing. The afternoon is kiddie hour that makes me mad...but during that time you can listen to the archives.

I've just started listening to 3 British Soaps: Westway, Silver Streets and the Archers.

Dads Army is hilarious as well.

Here's the link I could listen ALL day: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/bbc7.shtml

Brown English Muffin said...

I guess I could have made it actual link for you sorry:

BBC7

Amy said...

Absolutely one of my all-time favorite shows!!! We watch it nearly every Saturday night even though we can very nearly recite all the scripts. Fine acting!! Lovely characters! Good friends off the set, too, as I understand it.

smilnsigh said...

My favorite! Judi Dench. And yes, this show is delightful.

Mari-Nanci

diana said...

ooooooooooh that sounds like a lucscious summer project !! thanks for the tip...... I learn so much from other bloggers. xo

TJ said...

I watch this on Saturday nights...love it!!!
I want to live in their house!!
It is the most homey place!!
:-D

Valerie said...

i love Dame Judi to begin with, but that show is just soooo bloody funny! i love it!

Mary L. Briggs said...

We absolutely love that show! Don't have it on DVD (yet) but we watch it late every Sunday night.

Jill LaFaye said...

I have watched a few of these episodes..but..I am a "Keeping Up Appearances" addict. Do you watch it..it comes on right before "As Time Goes By"..Saturday nights @ 8pm here in Tennessee.

Lisa Oceandreamer Swifka said...

Judi is a fave actress and I used to watch BBC America all the time...I LOVE all things British...but sadly I have not watched this series. I will now have to check it out.
I still like the old OLD reruns of Keeping Up Appearances. LOl!
XOXO

Sheila said...

Oh Susie Q...I go on vacation and miss the best posts.. I am so happy to be catching up on yours. This was one of my very favourite programs, and we were never lucky enough to seel all of them, though from time to time a series pops up. I loved everything about it ...even the way their home was decorated...
Thank you for this little look back...
Hugs
xx