"Oliver's Travels" (1995) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Director:

Giles Foster

Writer:

Alan Plater (writer)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

3 October 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Plot:

After his job is terminated, the a humanities professor and puzzle addict joins forces with a woman PC to travel the country while solving a cold case murder.

Plot Keywords:

Hadrian's Wall | Murder | Anagram | Constable | University

Cast

Ruth Madoc

...

Mrs. Evans (1 episode, 1995)

(more)

Series Directed by
Giles Foster		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Alan Plater		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Ruth Caleb	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
David Cunliffe	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Anji Dyer	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Richard J. Staniforth	....	associate producer: BBC Wales (unknown episodes)
Ray Townsend	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Carl Davis		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Sean Van Hales		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Dick Allen		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Andy Pryor		(unknown episodes)
Gail Stevens		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Mécheal Taylor		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Pamela Haddock	....	makeup designer (unknown episodes)
Julie Van Praag	....	makeup designer (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Thomas Mattinson	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Stenning	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Andrew Barnden	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)
Gary Flay	....	production buyer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Richard Dyer	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)
Richard King	....	dubbing mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Helen Caldwell	....	stunt arranger (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Sean Van Hales	....	photographer (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Jonathan Wood	....	colorist (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Laurie Goode	....	double (unknown episodes)
Patrick Schweitzer	....	location manager (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• BBC Wales
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• World Wide International Television

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1995) (UK) (TV)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1996) (USA) (TV)
• AcornMedia (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• BBC Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Yacinsky Design  package design

Runtime:

250 min (5 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Carr Brae, Lochalsh, Highlands, Scotland, UK

Company:

BBC Wales

Quotes:

[Mrs. Moody offers her condolences on Oliver's being let go from the university]
Oliver: I expected it from the first moment.
Mrs. Moody: You did?
Oliver: A letter arrived from your husband inviting me to meet him at a sherry party. It was signed, 'T. H. MOODY."
Mrs. Moody: Theodore Horatio. Family names, God help us.
Oliver: But don't you see? It's an anagram of 'THY DOOM.' "Oliver," I said to myself, "prepare to meet thy doom," and I did.

Quirky and romantic like classic Hollywood screwball comedy

This is a quirky romantic piece with lots of surprises. The leads are very engaging, intelligent and real. They are not overly glamorous but yet very attractive people you would not mind spending time with. This mini series is very reminiscent of the classic Hollywood screwball comedies of the thirties and forties . Preston's Sturges' Sullivan's Travels comes to mind. This is one of the best shows to ever appear on PBS and it's difficult to understand why it is not out on Video or DVD. I am very thankful that I made a copy of this program when it was originally aired on PBS.