Another remake: A warning from history.

Spoken like a true Mail reader, but you left the term 'much-loved' out somewhere along the line.

But not at all sure about the thread title: was Upstairs, Downstairs a remake? Or have you spent the afternoon glued to the Yesterday channel?

I was expecting this to be about a remake of  'The Nazis - A Warning From History'.

If so, a Daily Mail link would have been a superb irony!

(Wondered why on Earth such an excellent series needed a remake so soon.)

I never could stand 'Upstairs Downstairs' first time around (or Forsyte Saga or Poldark or The Onedin Line). I am sure they had their merits, but they will always remind me of boring Sunday evenings when I was a kid. Programmes like that just meant... 'the weekend is over and it's school again tomorrow'.

As a schoolboy, I never thought that watching Angharad Rees was boring.

Andrew Everard:

Spoken like a true Mail reader, but you left the term 'much-loved' out somewhere along the line.

But not at all sure about the thread title: was Upstairs, Downstairs a remake? Or have you spent the afternoon glued to the Yesterday channel?

Given that Jean Marsh is the only original and Art Malik will play Gordon Jackson's character as the butler, I think it could be safely classed as a remake.

plastic penguin:

Andrew Everard:

But not at all sure about the thread title: was Upstairs, Downstairs a remake? Or have you spent the afternoon glued to the Yesterday channel?

Given that Jean Marsh is the only original and Art Malik will play Gordon Jackson's character as the butler, I think it could be safely classed as a remake.

I think Andrew was referring to your use of the phrase... "another remake". It implies that the original 'Upstairs Downstairs' was itself a remake.

Funny thing ,interpretations. I understood another remake.

chebby:

I was expecting this to be about a remake of  'The Nazis - A Warning From History'.

If so, a Daily Mail link would have been a superb irony!

(Wondered why on Earth such an excellent series needed a remake so soon.)

I never could stand 'Upstairs Downstairs' first time around (or Forsyte Saga or Poldark or The Onedin Line). I am sure they had their merits, but they will always remind me of boring Sunday evenings when I was a kid. Programmes like that just meant... 'the weekend is over and it's school again tomorrow'.

Like you I'm not a huge fan of the original. Although it acted as a springboard to some of our actors like Pauline Collins, Nicola Pagett...along with established actors such as the wonderful Gordon Jackson.

Yup, I used the "Nazis: A warning from history" as a stark example of how dire these type of productions are. Whether it's the big screen or tv, it's a waste of license money. Just emphasises the lack of creativity within British film and Television...   

chebby:

plastic penguin:

Andrew Everard:

But not at all sure about the thread title: was Upstairs, Downstairs a remake? Or have you spent the afternoon glued to the Yesterday channel?

Given that Jean Marsh is the only original and Art Malik will play Gordon Jackson's character as the butler, I think it could be safely classed as a remake.

I think Andrew was referring to your use of the phrase... "another remake". It implies that the original 'Upstairs Downstairs' was itself a remake.

ANOTHER, as in yet more old series given a face-lift...

plastic penguin:

Yup, I used the "Nazis: A warning from history" as a stark example of how dire these type of productions are. Whether it's the big screen or tv, it's a waste of license money. Just emphasises the lack of creativity within British film and Television...   

So now we're saying Laurence Rees's series was 'dire', and 'a waste of license money'? Or are we drawing parallels between the remake of a drama series and wartime atrocities? Either way I can't help but feel you're on Godwinesque dodgy ground, pp...

Andrew Everard:

plastic penguin:

Yup, I used the "Nazis: A warning from history" as a stark example of how dire these type of productions are. Whether it's the big screen or tv, it's a waste of license money. Just emphasises the lack of creativity within British film and Television...   

So now we're saying Laurence Rees's series was 'dire', and 'a waste of license money'? Or are we drawing parallels between the remake of a drama series and wartime atrocities? Either way I can't help but feel you're on Godwinesque dodgy ground, pp...

"Dodgy ground" is my middle name...

I'm sure there are some decent remakes, however, they are a minority. The vast majority are rubbish...

I'm just trying to support a worthy cause e.g. original tv and film concepts.

plastic penguin:

e.g. original tv and film concepts.

...Although of course structuralists would argue that there's no such thing...

Andrew Everard:

plastic penguin:

e.g. original tv and film concepts.

...Although of course structuralists would argue that there's no such thing...

I'm sure structuralists would about most things, but the bald realisation is that tv companies are making money (nothing wrong with that) by re-hashing outmoded programmes, usually with the finance of US companies, as opposed to investing in new talent.

The direct comparison is music acts from the 60's and 70's - a vast majority of the bigger names are still touring, yet only one or two of the original members are still relevant. The Hollies, Marmalade, The Four Tops... I could cite many more examples but wouldn't bore you.

I've been a huge supporter of new talent since 2004 - these old series play a huge part of our film and tv history, and therefore are sacrosanct, but we need to move on and develop up and coming talent, and not stagnate. 

As it happens, the OH has just borrowed the original U/D series on DVD from a friend.  I think her words were something along the lines of: "after watching two episodes, I am astounded they made more than one episode at this point!"

Eeeee, nostalgia ain't what it used to be...

ESP2009:

As it happens, the OH has just borrowed the original U/D series on DVD from a friend.  I think her words were something along the lines of: "after watching two episodes, I am astounded they made more than one episode at this point!"

Eeeee, nostalgia ain't what it used to be...

Exactly right - as a piece of nostagia it's fine, but a remake? it'll be like the Emperors new clothes....

Then again, it may be better. Until we watch it, we won't know...