"The Singing Detective" (1986) TV mini-series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

16 November 1986 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Musical | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Tormented and bedridden by a debilitating disease, a mystery writer relives his detective stories through his imagination and hallucinations.

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Disease | Hallucination | Hospital | Childhood

Awards:

6 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Michael Gambon	...	Philip Marlow (6 episodes, 1986)
Patrick Malahide	...	Mark Binney / ... (6 episodes, 1986)
Joanne Whalley	...	Nurse Mills (6 episodes, 1986)
David Ryall	...	Mr. Hall (6 episodes, 1986)
Gerard Horan	...	Reginald (6 episodes, 1986)
Leslie French	...	Mr. Tomkey / ... (6 episodes, 1986)
Ron Cook	...	First Mysterious Man (6 episodes, 1986)
George Rossi	...	Second Mysterious Man (6 episodes, 1986)
Sharon D. Clarke	...	Night Nurse (6 episodes, 1986)
Lyndon Davies	...	Philip (aged 10) (6 episodes, 1986)
Geff Francis	...	Porter (6 episodes, 1986)
Janet Suzman	...	Nicola (5 episodes, 1986)
Alison Steadman	...	Mrs. Marlow / ... (5 episodes, 1986)
Jim Carter	...	Mr. Marlow (5 episodes, 1986)
Imelda Staunton	...	Staff Nurse White (5 episodes, 1986)
Janet Henfrey	...	Schoolteacher (5 episodes, 1986)
Bill Paterson	...	Dr. Gibbon (4 episodes, 1986)
William Speakman	...	Mark Binney (aged 10) / ... (4 episodes, 1986)
Wally Thomas	...	Grandad Baxter (3 episodes, 1986)
Charles Simon	...	George Adams (3 episodes, 1986)
Kate McKenzie	...	Sonia (3 episodes, 1986)
Trevor Cooper	...	Barman / ... (3 episodes, 1986)
Charon Bourke	...	Amanda (2 episodes, 1986)
Simon Chandler	...	Dr. Finlay (2 episodes, 1986)
Mary MacLeod	...	Sister Malone (2 episodes, 1986)
Thomas Wheatley	...	Registrar (2 episodes, 1986)
Ken Stott	...	Uncle John (2 episodes, 1986)
Jo Cameron Brown	...	Aunt Emily (2 episodes, 1986)
Niven Boyd	...	First Soldier (2 episodes, 1986)
Angela Curran	...	Mary (2 episodes, 1986)
David Thewlis	...	Second Soldier (2 episodes, 1986)

Series Directed by
Jon Amiel		(6 episodes, 1986)

Series Writing credits
Dennis Potter		(6 episodes, 1986)

Series Produced by
John Harris	....	producer (6 episodes, 1986)
Rick McCallum	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 1986)
Kenith Trodd	....	producer (6 episodes, 1986)

Series Original Music by
Stanley Myers		(2 episodes, 1986)

Series Cinematography by
Ken Westbury		(6 episodes, 1986)

Series Film Editing by
Bill Wright		(3 episodes, 1986)
Sue Wyatt		(3 episodes, 1986)

Series Casting by
Michelle Guish		(1 episode, 1986)

Series Production Design by
Jim Clay		(6 episodes, 1986)

Series Costume Design by
Hazel Pethig		(6 episodes, 1986)

Series Makeup Department
Frances Hannon	....	makeup designer (6 episodes, 1986)

Series Production Management
Michael Darbon	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1986)
Rosemary Padvaiskas	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1986)

Series Art Department
Joanna Ball	....	graphics designer / graphic designer (6 episodes, 1986)
David Morris	....	properties buyer (6 episodes, 1986)

Series Sound Department
Clive Derbyshire	....	sound recordist (6 episodes, 1986)
Rob James	....	film dubbing mixer / dubbing mixer (6 episodes, 1986)
Colin Ritchie	....	dubbing editor / sound editor (4 episodes, 1986)
John A. Parry	....	film sound recordist (3 episodes, 1986)
Mark Day	....	sound editor / dubbing editor (2 episodes, 1986)
Susan Metcalfe	....	dubbing editor (2 episodes, 1986)

Series Special Effects by
Chris Reynolds	....	special effects technician (1 episode, 1986)

Series Visual Effects by
Mat Irvine	....	visual effects designer (6 episodes, 1986)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Sid Morris	....	gaffer (6 episodes, 1986)
Alfie Williams	....	grip (6 episodes, 1986)
Nigel Slatter	....	camera operator (5 episodes, 1986)

Series Casting Department
Michelle Guish	....	casting advisor (5 episodes, 1986)

Series Editorial Department
Alan Bishop	....	colorist (1 episode, 1986)
Rob Sylvester	....	editing assistant (1 episode, 1986)

Series Music Department
Max Harris	....	music advisor / music supervisor (6 episodes, 1986)

Series Other crew
Garry Boon	....	assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1986)
Ian Brindle	....	production associate (6 episodes, 1986)
Diana Brookes	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1986)
Lynda Pannett	....	assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1986)
Anna Price	....	assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1986)
Quinny Sacks	....	choreographer (6 episodes, 1986)
Nick Wyse	....	assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1986)
Joanna Ball	....	title designer (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

Distributors

• BBC Video (video)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1986) (UK) (TV)
• CBS/Fox (video)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

USA:415 min

Country:

Australia | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:MA | UK:15

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Potter originally planned to drop the noir thriller aspect of the plot after the first episode as he felt that it wouldn't hold the audience's attention.

Quotes:

Philip E. Marlow: Bastards. I'll wipe you out. Don't you know who I am? I'm the... I'm the Singing Detective!

Movie Connections:

Featured in X Rated: Top 20 Most Controversial TV Moments (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Peg o' My Heart

THE Singing Detective

Although my comments could belong under the 2003 film version, I choose rather to make the comparison here because the film, more than anything else, gives reinforcement to the view that there are reasons this original miniseries is 6 hours long.

In the original, there really isn't a wasted minute of it's 6-hour running time. The complexity of this man's situation requires that the story reveals several different conflicts in his life simultaneously, and how they relate and resolve through psychiatry, The Singing Detective writing, his relationships (past and present), and the music that had become so important in his life. For the film version, because most of this can't be explored in such a short amount of time, most of these elements aren't included. As a result, the film is light and detached... and forgettable.

Apart from that. as another reviewer here pointed out, the acting and casting is MUCH MUCH better in this original despite the lack of famous handsome Hollywood faces (the 2003 film features Mel Gibson sporting a bald head piece to look like a 'nerdy' psychiatrist!).

I'm not an easy critic, but this version is in my top five of all time (movies, not TV- it feels more like a movie that TV to me). 10 of 10