Post by Lord Emsworth on Jan 9, 2020 11:21:23 GMT
Last night I finished Out which I own on DVD
Out is a British television crime drama written by Trevor Preston and directed by Jim Goddard. It was produced by Thames Television in 1978 and starred Tom Bell as Frank ("Frankie") Ross. It was hugely popular at the time of its release with an average audience of 10 million viewers The series ran 1 season (6 episodes), with Bell declining to make a sequel.
Tom Bell as Frank Ross is released from prison after an eight stretch and keen to find out who grassed him up.
Essential viewing, especially if you like brown lambskin car coats, green Ford Granadas, wide-lapelled suits, talk of slags, aggravation, the filth, faces round the manor etc.
Tom Bell as Frank Ross is excellent, and his cool, brooding, single minded and relentless presence is what makes it work so well. It's hard to imagine many other actors being so perfect in the role. Frank Ross may be selfish and inconsiderate but it's impossible not to root for him.
Out is awash with great set piece scenes: the scuffle with the knife wielding thug; the private poker game; Frank's reunion with his mistress; tracking down each member of the heist that went wrong etc.
The supporting cast are all splendid too, as are the South London locations
The overall theme of whether the ends justify the means, and how the police have to resist expedient quick fixes, is timeless
My only criticism is that perhaps Trevor Preston was a bit over ambitious and so many intriguing plot strands were left hanging - what happens to the sick wife, to Frank's wayward son, to Chris's bankrupt business etc?
It's superb, and really needed a second series.
Out is a British television crime drama written by Trevor Preston and directed by Jim Goddard. It was produced by Thames Television in 1978 and starred Tom Bell as Frank ("Frankie") Ross. It was hugely popular at the time of its release with an average audience of 10 million viewers The series ran 1 season (6 episodes), with Bell declining to make a sequel.
Tom Bell as Frank Ross is released from prison after an eight stretch and keen to find out who grassed him up.
Essential viewing, especially if you like brown lambskin car coats, green Ford Granadas, wide-lapelled suits, talk of slags, aggravation, the filth, faces round the manor etc.
Tom Bell as Frank Ross is excellent, and his cool, brooding, single minded and relentless presence is what makes it work so well. It's hard to imagine many other actors being so perfect in the role. Frank Ross may be selfish and inconsiderate but it's impossible not to root for him.
Out is awash with great set piece scenes: the scuffle with the knife wielding thug; the private poker game; Frank's reunion with his mistress; tracking down each member of the heist that went wrong etc.
The supporting cast are all splendid too, as are the South London locations
The overall theme of whether the ends justify the means, and how the police have to resist expedient quick fixes, is timeless
My only criticism is that perhaps Trevor Preston was a bit over ambitious and so many intriguing plot strands were left hanging - what happens to the sick wife, to Frank's wayward son, to Chris's bankrupt business etc?
It's superb, and really needed a second series.
