The Poacher
27/01/79 W Richard Carpenter / D James
Allen
“That painted macaroni’s no highwayman”
Appearances can be deceptive in this fun
episode which opens with Turpin and Swiftnick’s latest coach having already
been robbed. Seems there’s a poacher about and suspicion soon falls on a
mysterious newcomer Joshua Vizard who certainly looks like he could be a
highwayman with a dark demeanour that suggests villainy. On the other hand Sir John’s
visiting cousin Willoughby is a powdered ponce fond of quoting poetry and
sporting the latest fashionable wig from London. He couldn’t possibly be the
poacher could he? Richard Carpenter’s script creates a pantomimesque atmosphere
filled with word play and somewhat exaggerated performances from the cast. This
is Carpenter in his element jousting with language and the proceedings play
well for all ages- kids will enjoy the action and the silly accents, older
viewers will appreciate the allusions and the neat twist of the plot. Perhaps
the final five minutes which becomes a sort of hide and seek in Glutton’s manor
is a touch too overplayed but by then you’re with it all the way.
James Allen directs to give a sense of
space with some fabulous wide shots of coaches and riders while the action
scenes, especially those in the house at the end, are tightly presented. Guesting
Rupert Frazer is a lot of fun as Willoughby and I like the fact that even when
his true intent and skills are revealed he remains as foppish as ever even when
engaged in a fencing duel. Michael O’Hagan glowers and mutters as Vizard while
Richard O’Sullivan has a ball with more disguises, something that is becoming a
series trait. And watch Christopher Benjamin’s Glutton being more concerned
with his pictures getting damaged during the fighting as he hides behind the
women! Some may find the whole thing too arch but it really is a little gem
with so much packed into twenty-three minutes.
The Pursuit
03/02/79 W Richard Carpenter / D James
Allen
“Of all the artful, scheming,
cunning…captivating little charmers. Just wait till I catch her.”
If the previous episode sold us an
unlikely highwayman, `The Pursuit` pulls the same trick albeit with a girl
turning out to be the thief who takes all of Turpin’s recent gains. The episode
lives up to its title which refers both to the lengthy chase sequences and also
the fact that Turpin is rather smitten by Belinda who resides with her mother
and sister in a well appointed country house. Matters don’t go quite the way
you expect with Turpin constantly outplayed by the wily Belinda, at least until
her cousin tricks her.
Stacy Dorning plays the role with a
light touch while her real life sister and mother play Abigail and their fictional
mother too. It’s a jokey episode which James Allen shoots with emphasis on
reaction shots at which the cast excel. We also learn that Turpin can turn his
hand to the piano if needed. Outside there are some dynamically staged chases
on horseback on what was clearly a very warm day filming.
In the end Carpenter’s preference for
double crossing rather overwhelms the episode with a late addition of some
Americans cramming just a bit too much so a handy collapsing jetty solves a
problem just in time.
The Blacksmith
10/02/79 W Richard Carpenter / D Charles
Crichton
“I bide my time..”
The best episode yet shows how the
series works even better with slightly less hysterical performances. When blacksmith
Sam Morgan who is also looking after Turpin’s horde is arrested by Spiker, a
plan to spring him from jail ends up rescuing a man of the road and as it tuns
out opportunist called Isaac Rag. Played with seedy charm by Alfie Bass, Isaac
proves a crucial character in the story as liable to help Turpin as he is to
also pilfer from him. He calls Turpin “Captain” and Swiftnick “young spark” and
I hope he’s back
As the scenario develops Sir John finds himself as the guest of Turpin allowing
Christopher Benjamin to scowl magnificently though Glutton also makes sure he
helps himself to plenty of wine. Thus far the clashes between these recurring
antagonists and Turpin have had a speedy quality that allowed for only a lot of
shouting and cajoling. This is better staged as the story demonstrates just how
much everyone tries to get the upper hand.
David Daker gives Spiker the demeanour
of a put upon child at times as nothing goes quite right for him this week!
It’s a great episode too for both Richard O’Sullivan and Michael Deeks who have
really gelled in these roles and are great at interpreting Richard Carpenter’s
lively dialogue. It would be so easy to make them darker characters (as I
suspect a Dick Turpin series made these days would) but this series and its two
leads have such a light touch it does must of the heavy lifting and keeps the
audience on side.
This episode also highlights the tiny detail that Carpenter puts into his
scripts like the reference to the circular horse shoes. There’s also a stand
out sequence involves a fight that makes inventive use of a smithy utilising
almost everything that’s around to incapacitate or trip someone. This gymnastic
confrontation is a perfect advert for the skill that goes into the fight scenes
which could easily look too staged. In consideration of the family audience
nobody is killed yet each of Spiker’s men are put out of the picture with
ingenuity and imagination.
17/02/79 W Richard Carpenter / D James
Allen
“What happened to Dick Turpin? Shall I
tell you? He’s a memory.”
Things turn more serious when Spiker’s
plan to discredit Turpin by hiring an imposter to carry out nasty deeds gains
traction even to the point of convincing Swiftnick that Dick has gone rogue and
he ends up shooting him. Yet a wily Isaac Rag helps the injured Turpin for
reasons that are not entirely clear. For an elderly gent he also seems very
lively and well travelled but it’s worth it because Alfie Bass’ performance is
gold once again. Isaac is the sort of character at which Richard Carpenter
excels so you can forgive his use as something of a plot device in this
episode.
It’s a slightly unlikely tale well
handled by all especially Michael Deeks whose shock at what he sees as a
betrayal is put across very well by the actor who gets a strong speech. You really
feel the sense of shock and their later reunion is sweet. For a story that
hinges on appearances though you can’t help but be amused when Turpin and
Swiftnick turn up for a fair at which the fake outlaw is due to appear dressed
as farmers looking like The Two Ronnies! With a lengthy time period and a
somewhat speedy recovery from Turpin this is an example of why this series
needed longer episodes. 23 minutes is not quite enough to convincingly work
through the storyline in but watch `The Imposter` for excellent performances
from Alfie Bass and Michael Deeks as well as the novelty of Sir John actually
going outside and not eating!
The Upright Man
24/02/79 W Richard Carpenter / D Charles
Crichton
“You’ve got a squealer in the
brotherhood- why don’t you admit it.”
The great thing about Richard
Carpenter’s series was the sense of authenticity he brought into the plots even
if they may not always be 100% accurate. This episode - complete with an odd
table lifting contest - shows us a brotherhood of rogues ruled over by the so
called Upright Man. Tyson Sarney as he is slightly amusingly named is played
with a gallon of pirate-like relish by Ray McAnnally and the viewer is let in
early on the fact that he is betraying other members to the ambitious Lieutenant
Price. Those captured are subsequently hung while he and Price share the
reward.
Dick Turpin comes to see the widow of
the latest victim only to find he’s been hounded out of the pub they ran by
Tyson’s gang. Cue much ribaldry and ale as an already suspicious Turpin joins
the brotherhood to expose the “squealer”. He suspects the unpleasantly dour
Harry Bassett (Tony Haygarth snarling as only he knows how!) but when Dick himself
is tricked he finds out who is responsible and turns the tables in style.
It’s an episode that really takes us deep into this time and also shows how
clever Turpin can be. Richard O’Sullivan’s measured performance contrasts well
with the loutish behaviour of the brotherhood as he watches and takes the
measure of everyone. There is a moment near the end when it looks like the
brotherhood will turn on Tyson in a shocking way but even though that doesn’t
happen this is an episode that shows the grim life some of these people were
living. It shows how clever Carpenter was at being reasonably accurate yet also
framing a good story as well.
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