"Karaoke" (1996) TV mini-series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

2 June 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Daniel Feeld is a screenwriter with pains in his gut and a new screenplay called "Karaoke", about a...

Plot Keywords:

Karaoke | TV Mini-Series

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Keeley Hawes	...	Linda Langer (4 episodes, 1996)
Albert Finney	...	Daniel Feeld (3 episodes, 1996)
Richard E. Grant	...	Nick Balmer (3 episodes, 1996)
Hywel Bennett	...	Arthur 'Pig' Mallion (3 episodes, 1996)
Roy Hudd	...	Ben Baglin (3 episodes, 1996)
Saffron Burrows	...	Sandra Sollars (3 episodes, 1996)
Ian McDiarmid	...	Oliver Morse (3 episodes, 1996)
Simon Donald	...	Ian (3 episodes, 1996)
Steven Mackintosh	...	Waiter (Movie) (3 episodes, 1996)
Neil Stuke	...	Peter (Movie) (3 episodes, 1996)
Anna Chancellor	...	Anna Griffiths (2 episodes, 1996)
Liz Smith	...	Mrs.Baglin (2 episodes, 1996)
Alison Steadman	...	Mrs.Haynes (2 episodes, 1996)
Kate O'Toole	...	Staff Nurse (2 episodes, 1996)
Fay Ripley	...	Club Barmaid (2 episodes, 1996)

Runtime:

50 min (4 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Cameo: [Ewan McGregor]The passer-by whom Daniel Feeld overhears quoting lines from his script is an un-credited McGregor who had appeared in another Dennis Potter play, "Lipstick on Your Collar" (1993), 5 years earlier.

Movie Connections:

References The Shining (1980)

for all it's faults, a worthy and lavish swansong for a sadly missed and marvellous talent.

scriptwriter great dennis potter sadly passed away before this flawed but admirable big budget brit mini series was first aired on UK telly in 1996 (both this and it's sequel 'cold lazarus' were screened jointly on b.b.c. and channel 4 at his request). albert finney gives a customary superb central performance as a writer sufferring from terminal cancer who begins expierancing de ja 'vui when people around him start emulating lines and situations from his work. though not in the same calibre as 'pennies from heaven' or 'the singing detective'; it still remains an entertaining piece even though it could have benifetted by being tightened with a shorter length in certain scenes. it's little wonder that some scenes do meander slightly as potter was on a tight deadline due to his poor health so obviously was unable to supply rewrites. it's still well worth watching especially for it's high budget and impressive production values. with a top notch supporting cast featuring alison steadman, roy hudd, liz smith, ian mcdiarmid (looking amazingly like potter himself before he went 'star wars') and richard e. grant; watch out for two early walk ons from ewan macgregor and natasha mcelhone. only hywel bennett disappoints with an over the top ham turn as a dubious pub landlord. to date; this enjoyable series like potter's previous, critically mauled 'blackeyes'; is sadly unavailable on video/dvd.