Author Topic: The Edge of Darkness  (Read 1886 times)

Tim Hall

  • Victoria is my queen
The Edge of Darkness
« on: 30 June, 2014, 04:31:12 pm »
BBC 4, 22:00

Bob Peck, Joanne Whalley (swoon), Joe Don Baker.

Right up there with the best stuff the BBC have ever made.
There are two ways you can get exercise out of a bicycle: you can
"overhaul" it, or you can ride it.  (Jerome K Jerome)

T42

  • Apprentice geezer
Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #1 on: 30 June, 2014, 05:53:48 pm »
Got it on DVD.
I've dusted off all those old bottles and set them up straight

Rhys W

  • I'm single, bilingual
    • Cardiff Ajax
Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #2 on: 30 June, 2014, 07:10:03 pm »
For some reason, I never got round to watching this at the time. Looking forward to some 80s nuclear paranoia nostalgia!

T42

  • Apprentice geezer
Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #3 on: 30 June, 2014, 09:37:44 pm »
Funny thing is that we weren't nearly as paranoiac in the 80s as we are now. Back then I could still walk onto a plane with a 400mm lens & shoulder pod in my hand luggage and security didn't bat an eyelid.  One bastard Polyp in Hamburg did shove my camera bag through the X-ray twice though, when I told him I'd like to take my film out first.
I've dusted off all those old bottles and set them up straight

RJ

  • Droll rat
Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #4 on: 30 June, 2014, 10:20:23 pm »
Different type of paranoia, with different bogeymen.

Still a pretty good series, though...
(click to show/hide)

Rhys W

  • I'm single, bilingual
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Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #5 on: 30 June, 2014, 11:10:13 pm »
It's a hoot to see everybody smoking everywhere and big phones of course.

Just been reading up about it, fascinating stuff. I'd just started university when it was first broadcast, which explains it - I didn't have a TV and could only watch what everybody else in the hall's lounge was watching.

Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #6 on: 30 June, 2014, 11:35:03 pm »
It's a hoot to see everybody smoking everywhere and big phones of course.

It's not the size of the phones, or even the diallyness of them, so much as the way that people let them ring and only pick them up when they've finished whatever they're in the middle of doing, in the reasonable expectation that the caller will wait long enough for them to do so.  A habit that's been completely erased in modern culture by the proliferation of multiple extensions, answering devices, caller ID, mobile phones and text messaging.

Delightfully old-fashioned, indeed.

Mr Larrington

  • A bit ov a lyv wyr by slof standirds
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Re: Edge of Darkness
« Reply #7 on: 30 June, 2014, 11:43:20 pm »
I am pleased to note that when I needed a DVD to check that all the Electric String behind the Anbaric Wireless-with-Pictures was plugged into the right 'oles, it was "Edge Of Darkness" to which I turned.
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

T42

  • Apprentice geezer
Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #8 on: 01 July, 2014, 06:46:34 am »
It's a hoot to see everybody smoking everywhere and big phones of course.

Wait a couple of years and they'll bring out a version in sepia-tint.
I've dusted off all those old bottles and set them up straight

Juan Martín

  • Consigo mi abrigo
Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #9 on: 01 July, 2014, 08:32:58 am »
I missed this when it was first broadcast as I was away at sea. Luckily a friend had video taped the whole thing and lent me the tapes when I came home on leave. One evening on my return from the pub I settled down to watch the first episode; I was still there at 0500, table littered with coffee cups, glasses and with ashtray overflowing (see comment re smoking above) having watched the whole thing in one hit. It’s brilliant stuff and I will try to watch it at a more leisurely pace this time.

Rhys W

  • I'm single, bilingual
    • Cardiff Ajax
Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #10 on: 01 July, 2014, 08:37:24 pm »
It's a hoot to see everybody smoking everywhere and big phones of course.

Wait a couple of years and they'll bring out a version in sepia-tint.

Watching it in 4:3 on a 16:9 TV has much the same effect.

Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #11 on: 01 July, 2014, 09:00:11 pm »
Just watched the first episode.

Found it just as moving as I did 29 years ago.

Mrs Pingu

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Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #12 on: 01 July, 2014, 09:01:35 pm »
Bugger, it's not on iplayer
Do not clench. It only makes it worse.

Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #13 on: 03 July, 2014, 09:12:37 am »
Takes a couple of days to come up on iPlayer IIRC. And isn't this the third time it's been on? I watched the original, and I'm sure I've seen a repeat (of the original, not the crass remake that was made, maybe as a film).

What I find amazing about it is that, although the finale is incredible, one can suspend belief and be drawn in to the moment.

And I've also still got Smiley's People to re-watch!.
We are making a New World (Paul Nash, 1918)

Rhys W

  • I'm single, bilingual
    • Cardiff Ajax
Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #14 on: 03 July, 2014, 09:44:56 pm »
It was first repeated in 1992 I believe.

If you think the finale is incredible, apparently Troy Kennedy Martin had to be talked down from his original idea that at the end Bob peck turns into a tree!

Pingu

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Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #15 on: 03 July, 2014, 09:49:48 pm »
Bugger, it's not on iplayer

Got it, ahem, elsewhere.

Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #16 on: 03 July, 2014, 11:48:16 pm »
I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned the soundtrack.
I was at Manchester Poly on day-release when it was shown the first time. It must have been when we were doing organic practicals (I did Applied Chemistry) since I only just got home in time for it starting (last bus, the sadly missed Ribble Bus Company).
Brilliant TV and certainly eye-opening.
It also taught me some chemistry; I was sceptical about the validity of the "episode" during the conference when Jedburgh pulls out his "surprise"* but I learned that it's pretty much what would happen.
I have the series on DVD so I'm not watching it this time around.



*Hope that's vague enough not to spoil it for anyone who's not seen the original.


Tim Hall

  • Victoria is my queen
Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #17 on: 03 July, 2014, 11:54:31 pm »
Bugger, it's not on iplayer

Got it, ahem, elsewhere.

Got, ahem, a link?
There are two ways you can get exercise out of a bicycle: you can
"overhaul" it, or you can ride it.  (Jerome K Jerome)

Wascally Weasel

  • Slayer of Dragons and killer of threads.
Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #18 on: 04 July, 2014, 03:29:15 pm »
I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned the soundtrack.

I still have my vinyl copy of the soundtrack  :smug:

Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #19 on: 04 July, 2014, 04:28:33 pm »
It looks like they're not going to show it on Iplayer, the reason given is "We’re sorry but this programme is not available on BBC iPlayer for rights reasons." aka "we're selling this on DVD and downloads, so..."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074p8c

Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #20 on: 04 July, 2014, 07:12:40 pm »
Got, ahem, a link?

I can't quite remember if I saw this first time round or not. I certainly remember Clapton's involvement in the theme tune though.

I watched the first episode [and a half] here:

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v1130155F26HZm9T?h1=Edge+of+darkness+1

Bit grainy, but it was the 1980s :-)
Garry Broad

Wascally Weasel

  • Slayer of Dragons and killer of threads.
Re: The Edge of Darkness
« Reply #21 on: 07 July, 2014, 04:53:10 pm »
I missed the first several episodes the first time it was released, started just after half way through and found it compelling - fortunately it was re-shown almost immediately on BBC1 - it was originally broadcast in six episodes on BBC2, and the very quick repeat on BBC1 was shown in three parts.  To this day, that's how I like to watch it, to episodes at a time - Northmoor is still my favourite episode.

On the original VHS release it was similarly put into three parts, but crudely so that the end and start credits were omitted - as the start and end credits play out over actual scenes rather than just being titles this was effectively a cut.

I didn't realise this until I got the later DVD release.