From a universe a few points to peppermint.
Nightshade!
British Republic television series in the "spy-fi" genre with the eponymous professor (and his replacements) fighting various Sinister Alien Invaders, Mad Scientists and Foreign Scum[1] with designs on Britain. Occasionally used as a cover for the SSD’s odder activities. Also noted for the frequency of the appearance of the Esperanto Institute as a clandestine agency for European hegemony.
Ran from 1966 to 1976 (ending rather abruptly for obvious reasons). An attempt to revive the series in 2006 (updated of course for the post-Revolution days) failed disastrously when a set fire (blamed on pyrotechnic problems[2]) killed eleven people.
Star Explorers
One of the first forays into pan-European television (and later films) this long running (aired continuously from 1965 to the present day, if spin-offs are included) science fiction series centred initially around the crew of the Commonwealth exploration ship Pathfinder. In addition to its longevity the series is notable for its use of an ensemble cast (allowing for changes in crew), replacement ships, multiple spin-offs and willingness to confront controversial issues.
Seven Days to Noon.
A charming English comedy (with black comedy elements) about a couple due to get married at midday, seven days hence. Many obstacles are thrown in the way of their happiness, including the outbreak of the Revolution of ’76, the full-scale evacuation of central London and the subsequent insurrection. As the church they are planning to get married in is in the centre of the evacuation area, it looks like the wedding might be cancelled until a former army chaplain turned revolutionary steps in. But he has secrets of his own...
Passport to Pimlico.
Tense drama, produced in 1999, that records the brief existence of the Pimlico commune during the winter and spring of 1976-7. What started so promisingly turned into a bloodbath as the various factions in the London borough turned against each other until the post-Revolution government was forced to use the new police and army to end the brief existence of the micro-state within London.
Noted (and awarded for) its unflinching historical accuracy, and for the lack of opportunities to actually see it in England until its first television airing in 2006. In the run up to xmas 1999 train trips to Scotland were organised to combine viewings with shopping opportunities.
Monday in Montgomery.
The early days of the neo-Confed crackdowns in the early 1950s. Told from multiple viewpoints and noted for it’s excellent depiction of the sheer banality of mass murder.
The Longest Day.
Revolutionaries at the Glasgow barricades as the Revolution of ’76 begins. Noted for its high body count (only two of the seven viewpoint characters would survive to the end) and it's shocking ending.
London's Burning.
Historical TV mini-series produced for ITV in 2002 depicting the London Underground disaster of 1952 and the aftermath. Noted for segueing from optimistic heroism to horror showing the brutal crackdown on regime opponents scapegoated for the disastrous explosions and fires.
Features a non-speaking cameo from actor John Miller, famous for his portrayal of the Fallen Angel in the EBC television series.
Back to the Future
Part of the ‘Fifth Wave’ of North American film-making, this tense science-fiction thriller depicts the complex series events that occur when a mad scientist and his kidnapped teenage assistant travel back in time to 1955 and the Canadian/European Intervention. The sequels had the travellers visiting the 1930s to frustrate a plan to stop the breakup of the USA (having seen the terrible consequences of a united America) and getting involved in the Black Holocaust.
The latter has the heroes visited by their descendants to reassure them that things will indeed get better.
The Land of Sad Songs.
A history of Scotland from 1916 to 1986 told through its revolutionary and resistance music, usually played over a montage of silent images and footage.
The Autumn of London
A bleak historical novel, written in 1999 and adapted to a trilogy of films starting in 2002, about the last days of the Populist government in the run-up to the Revolution of ’76.
Patrol Boat.
Irish television series that ran initially for seven seasons from 1970 to 1976 centred on the LE Áine a Bay class offshore patrol ship operating in the Irish Sea and the multitude of missions it faces including preventing (and occasionally assisting with) smuggling, espionage, rescues and skirmishes with British ships, spies subs and aircraft, plus cooperative operations with EuroNav.
Noted for it's coverage of the inclusion of women on Irish warships for the last two seasons, the balanced coverage of environmental issues such as fishery limits and teh rapidity which which a seemingly boring scene to segue to shocking violence.
Revived in 1985 when the missions of the new ship (the LE Aileen) was complicated by the new nations and new relationships.
[1] Capitalisation fully justified by the programme's over-the-top characterisation and plots.
[2] Yeah, right...
Nightshade!
British Republic television series in the "spy-fi" genre with the eponymous professor (and his replacements) fighting various Sinister Alien Invaders, Mad Scientists and Foreign Scum[1] with designs on Britain. Occasionally used as a cover for the SSD’s odder activities. Also noted for the frequency of the appearance of the Esperanto Institute as a clandestine agency for European hegemony.
Ran from 1966 to 1976 (ending rather abruptly for obvious reasons). An attempt to revive the series in 2006 (updated of course for the post-Revolution days) failed disastrously when a set fire (blamed on pyrotechnic problems[2]) killed eleven people.
Star Explorers
One of the first forays into pan-European television (and later films) this long running (aired continuously from 1965 to the present day, if spin-offs are included) science fiction series centred initially around the crew of the Commonwealth exploration ship Pathfinder. In addition to its longevity the series is notable for its use of an ensemble cast (allowing for changes in crew), replacement ships, multiple spin-offs and willingness to confront controversial issues.
Seven Days to Noon.
A charming English comedy (with black comedy elements) about a couple due to get married at midday, seven days hence. Many obstacles are thrown in the way of their happiness, including the outbreak of the Revolution of ’76, the full-scale evacuation of central London and the subsequent insurrection. As the church they are planning to get married in is in the centre of the evacuation area, it looks like the wedding might be cancelled until a former army chaplain turned revolutionary steps in. But he has secrets of his own...
Passport to Pimlico.
Tense drama, produced in 1999, that records the brief existence of the Pimlico commune during the winter and spring of 1976-7. What started so promisingly turned into a bloodbath as the various factions in the London borough turned against each other until the post-Revolution government was forced to use the new police and army to end the brief existence of the micro-state within London.
Noted (and awarded for) its unflinching historical accuracy, and for the lack of opportunities to actually see it in England until its first television airing in 2006. In the run up to xmas 1999 train trips to Scotland were organised to combine viewings with shopping opportunities.
Monday in Montgomery.
The early days of the neo-Confed crackdowns in the early 1950s. Told from multiple viewpoints and noted for it’s excellent depiction of the sheer banality of mass murder.
The Longest Day.
Revolutionaries at the Glasgow barricades as the Revolution of ’76 begins. Noted for its high body count (only two of the seven viewpoint characters would survive to the end) and it's shocking ending.
London's Burning.
Historical TV mini-series produced for ITV in 2002 depicting the London Underground disaster of 1952 and the aftermath. Noted for segueing from optimistic heroism to horror showing the brutal crackdown on regime opponents scapegoated for the disastrous explosions and fires.
Features a non-speaking cameo from actor John Miller, famous for his portrayal of the Fallen Angel in the EBC television series.
Back to the Future
Part of the ‘Fifth Wave’ of North American film-making, this tense science-fiction thriller depicts the complex series events that occur when a mad scientist and his kidnapped teenage assistant travel back in time to 1955 and the Canadian/European Intervention. The sequels had the travellers visiting the 1930s to frustrate a plan to stop the breakup of the USA (having seen the terrible consequences of a united America) and getting involved in the Black Holocaust.
The latter has the heroes visited by their descendants to reassure them that things will indeed get better.
The Land of Sad Songs.
A history of Scotland from 1916 to 1986 told through its revolutionary and resistance music, usually played over a montage of silent images and footage.
The Autumn of London
A bleak historical novel, written in 1999 and adapted to a trilogy of films starting in 2002, about the last days of the Populist government in the run-up to the Revolution of ’76.
Patrol Boat.
Irish television series that ran initially for seven seasons from 1970 to 1976 centred on the LE Áine a Bay class offshore patrol ship operating in the Irish Sea and the multitude of missions it faces including preventing (and occasionally assisting with) smuggling, espionage, rescues and skirmishes with British ships, spies subs and aircraft, plus cooperative operations with EuroNav.
Noted for it's coverage of the inclusion of women on Irish warships for the last two seasons, the balanced coverage of environmental issues such as fishery limits and teh rapidity which which a seemingly boring scene to segue to shocking violence.
Revived in 1985 when the missions of the new ship (the LE Aileen) was complicated by the new nations and new relationships.
[1] Capitalisation fully justified by the programme's over-the-top characterisation and plots.
[2] Yeah, right...
