Public Eye

It's been over 30 years since I last saw Public Eye on UK ITV, but having just watched some of the 1969 episodes released on DVD it's as I remembered it: grimy and gritty. There was a marvellously downbeat downtrodden atmosphere to all the series (I'm too young to remember the first from the mid-sixties, all wiped), partly thanks to the fact neither ABC nor Thames wanted to spend much money on it, and not just the acting or the stories. Those who remember the series have no chance in forgetting the lugubrious theme music, oft repeated per episode at the commercial break bumpers.

Welcome to Brighton? broadcast 30.07.69: Framed ex convict Frank Marker indelibly played by angular and craggy Alfred Burke leaves HMP Ford for a new start in Brighton. A few ordinary adventures later his cynical outlook is seemingly proved justified by our glimpse into a dull grainy world of varying but usually seedy human emotions. Being an "Enquiry Agent" was in his blood, as performing a simple favour to an acquaintance in prison brings out the bloodhound in him.

I don't go overboard for "realism" in films or TV - give me Abbott & Costello any day! But I do recommend Public Eye for something refreshingly different to today's type of TV drama, a realism at once hard but at the same time humdrum and fantastic too, and also basically portraying a non-colour, non-violent and non-CGI world too.

Alfred Burke deserves to be ranked with Sean Connery, Edward Woodward and Roger Moore for his portrayal of Frank Marker in Public Eye. This was the detective story from the council estate, and at the time in the UK, there were no better writers nor better actors. Burke plays the poor man's private eye, operating in an environment where there is neither money not glamour. He needs his fee to pay the rent and light, but often does not collect anything other than a beating. His cases are not the stuff of Sam Spade, but Marker is the right stuff nonetheless.

I missed the UK Gold reruns, but will not miss them again. If you watch no other '60s specials, watch this.

These series in my opinion are British television at its very finest, centred around a marvellous sustained performance by Alfred Burke which stands comparison with anything to be seen anywhere in film, TV or theatre; and scripts of high intelligence, firmly grounded in the downbeat experiences of everyday English life, yet psychologically profound.

The support acting rises to the occasion too, in all the episodes I have seen - Pauline Delaney's performance in Series 4 for example.

By all accounts the show was widely popular when originally broadcast, and it is a mystery to this viewer why repeat broadcasts are so very seldom seen.

I really wish the first 3 seasons of this were available today as the rest are an understated, measured joy, especially season 4.

Really, it is all down to Alfred Burke (well, and Pauline Delaney in season 4) who puts in an understated, measured performance that is a joy to watch. Frankly, at the moment, I can't think of a better low rent police/crime TV star. OK, there are dud episodes. OK, the foils after Pauline Delaney are never as good But Burke just keeps on giving.

I think a lot of credit must go as well to the creators/writers who set a just so mood. Even down to perfectly matched theme music.

Thoroughly deserves t better known than it is.

Currently enjoying a well deserved rerun on UK tv; how refreshing it is to see a drama that doesn't need to resort to rape, murder, histrionics or sex every five minutes, and contains clear & audible dialogue without any mumbling or constant background music. Public Eye works brilliantly, despite an often minimal plot, because the writing and acting are first class, certainly a good deal better than anything i've seen of late. Proof that less is more.