Flickers

Flickers

1980 - United Kingdom

Fresh from a third-rate career in the music halls, forty-year-old Arnie Cole (Bob Hoskins) has turned movie pioneer, showing single-reel films in makeshift cinemas during the first quarter of the twentieth century. 

Arnie's true ambition is to produce films of his own; but he is barely able to keep his creditors at bay as the head of a travelling company that screens movies in any available hall or store. The troupe includes Llewellyn (Fraser Cains), his girlfriend Letty (Sherrie Hewson) and his piano player Violet (Sheri Shepstone). Arnie's only chance at survival is to explore every possible source of financing, no matter whom he has to con. Clive (Andrew de-la-Tour), son of a department store owner, is a prime candidate. That is, until Arnie is introduced to Maud (Frances de-la-Tour), Clive's plain and snobbish sister, who takes one look at the hapless showman and declares, "He'll have the fillings from your teeth!" 

Bob Hoskins in Flickers
Bob Hoskins inspects the film in 'Flickers'

However, fate is about to deal Arnie an unexpected hand: The unmarried Maud has had the misfortune to get herself pregnant, and the would-be father has taken flight. So, in return for a promise of marriage and a father for her baby, Maud bankrolls Arnie's movie projects. This light-hearted, captivating series was created and written by sitcom veteran Roy Clarke (Keeping Up Appearances, Last of the Summer Wine) and won great critical acclaim in 1980 as well as a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Limited Series in 1982.

Published on December 12th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Vanity Fair

Historical drama miniseries based on the 1848 novel of the same name by William Makepeace Thackeray

Also starring Frances De La Tour

The Shillingbury Tales

A delightfully amusing story about rural village life and the local residents, a number of whom are members of the village brass band.

Also released in 1980

Shogun

Based on James Clavell's novel, about a 17th century English navigator, John Blackthorne, who becomes shipwrecked off the coast of Japan and is held captive by samurai warriors, 'Shogun' is a prime example of "The Golden Age of the Miniseries."

Also released in 1980

Pennies from Heaven

Dennis Potter's remarkably innovative series about a sheet music salesman whose imagination often bursts into full song, building musical numbers around the greatest frustrations in his life.

Also starring Bob Hoskins

The Flames Trees of Thika

Elspeth Huxley's autobiographical account of her childhood when, at just six years of age, she left London with her parents, Tilly and Robin Grant, who set out to establish a coffee plantation in Kenya.

Also tagged Historical Drama

Thick as Thieves

A man released from prison discovers his wife has taken up with his best friend.

Also starring Bob Hoskins

Having returned from a colonial life in Malaya to an England he longer recognised Basil Allenby-Johnson, "the Alf Garnett of the middle classes", takes a verbal swing at feminism; permissive and undisciplined youth; age prejudice by employers; student demos; the press; and the health service.

Also tagged Roy Clarke

The Flipside of Dominick Hide

Dominic Hide, a time-travelling observer from the year 2130 has an agenda. Going back back 150 years in search of his great-great-grandfather is illegal. And things become further complicated when he falls in love.

Also released in 1980