"The Black Adder" (1983) TV series

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

15 June 1983 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | History

Tagline:

The most gripping sitcom since 1380.

Plot:

Prince Edmund, a.k.a. the Black Adder, constantly schemes to take the crown from his father and brother with the help of Lord Percy and Baldrick.

Plot Keywords:

Black Adder | England | King | Battle | Cunning Plan

Cast

Rowan Atkinson	...	Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh / ... (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Elspet Gray	...	The Queen / ... (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Tim McInnerny	...	Percy / ... (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Patrick Allen	...	Narrator / ... (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Robert East	...	Harry, Prince of Wales (6 episodes, 1983)
Brian Blessed	...	King Richard IV / ... (6 episodes, 1983)
Tony Robinson	...	Baldrick / ... (6 episodes, 1983)
Bert Parnaby	...	Cain, A Blind Beggar / ... (3 episodes, 1983)
Roy Evans	...	Abel, A Blind Beggar / ... (3 episodes, 1983)
David Nunn	...	Messenger / ... (3 episodes, 1983)
Perry Benson	...	Daft Ned, A Peasant / ... (3 episodes, 1983)

(more)

Series Directed by
Martin Shardlow		(6 episodes, 1983)

Series Writing credits
Rowan Atkinson		(7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Richard Curtis		(7 episodes, 1982-1983)
William Shakespeare		(6 episodes, 1983)

Series Produced by
John Lloyd	....	producer (6 episodes, 1983)

Series Original Music by
Howard Goodall		(7 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Cinematography by
William Dudman		(2 episodes, 1983)

Series Film Editing by
Mike Jackson		(6 episodes, 1983)

Series Production Design by
Chris Hull		(6 episodes, 1983)
Nigel Curzon		(3 episodes, 1983)

Series Costume Design by
Odile Dicks-Mireaux		(6 episodes, 1983)

Series Makeup Department
Deanne Turner	....	makeup designer (6 episodes, 1983)

Series Production Management
Marcus Mortimer	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1983)

Series Art Department
Tricia Ruddell	....	property buyer (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Steve Connelly	....	graphic designer (6 episodes, 1983)
Penny Rollinson	....	property buyer (3 episodes, 1983)

Series Sound Department
Richard Chamberlain	....	sound (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
John Taylor	....	boom operator (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Clive Derbyshire	....	film recordist (4 episodes, 1983)

Series Visual Effects by
Chris Lawson	....	visual effects designer (6 episodes, 1983)

Series Stunts
Gareth Milne	....	stuntman (2 episodes, 1983)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Brian Clemett	....	lighting / lighting technician (6 episodes, 1983)
Ron Peverall	....	camera supervisor (6 episodes, 1983)
William Dudman	....	film cameraman (4 episodes, 1983)

Series Editorial Department
Angela Wilson	....	vision mixer (6 episodes, 1982-1983)
Mykola Pawluk	....	vt editor / editor: video tape (6 episodes, 1983)

Series Other crew
Hilary Bevan Jones	....	assistant floor manager / production team (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Jan Hallett	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1983)
Peter Granger	....	technical manager (5 episodes, 1983)
Clive Derbyshire	....	film recordist (2 episodes, 1983)

Production Companies

• 7 Network
• BBC Worldwide
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1983) (UK) (TV) (original airing)
• BBC Video (????) (UK) (VHS)
• BBC Video (????) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Blackadder

Runtime:

35 min (6 episodes)

Country:

UK | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 | Australia:M | Singapore:PG | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England, UK

Company:

7 Network

Trivia:

Much of this series was shot on film and on location in the north of England, which resulted in a cost considered exorbitant at the time for a BBC comedy series. As a result it was not renewed for a second series. However, in 1984 the team was able to convince BBC One (with new controller Michael Grade) to produce a second series with the understanding that costs would have to be cut dramatically (for example "Blackadder II" (1986) being shot entirely in a studio on videotape, except for a small amount of location filming used for the ending credits).

Quotes:

Opening tune singer: The sound of hoof beats 'cross the glade / Good folk, lock up your son and daughter / Beware the deadly flashing blade / Unless you want to end up shorter / Black Adder, Black Adder, he rides a pitch black steed / Black Adder, Black Adder, he's very bad indeed / Black: his gloves of finest mole / Black: his codpiece made of metal / His horse is blacker than a vole / His pot is blacker than his kettle / Black Adder...

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Funny Blokes of British Comedy (2005) (TV)

Why not Sir Rowan?

I love Rowan Atkinson. I think he's the best contemporary British comedian around. Rowan has a great talent especially playing Edmund Black Adder. Edmund, the Black Adder, begins the series in the Black Plague or Black Death. The second series is a lot better with Queen Elizabeth I played by the wonderful Miranda Richardson (I wondered what happened to her). This role was before her Oscar nominating role in Damage. She is hysterical as the Virgin Queen which I bet is the funniest Queen Elizabeth I in history. I love the costumes, the language. The series got better as it went along. I loved Hugh Laurie as the dumb prince. Tony Robinson as Baldrick always made me laugh. The Black Adder kept moving on until World War II. Don't you think it's time that Rowan Atkinson became knighted.