Flambards

This series is absolutely incredible. For several summers after it came out in '78, PBS would run the entire 13 part series. My sister and I watched it religiously. Then, inexplicably, it seemed to drop off the face of the earth. We were so excited when, years later, A&E ran it, albeit with commercial interruptions and cutting. Even more excited when another local PBS channel aired the complete version of the series. We both have them on tape now and have watched them again, and again... and again. I have read the books by KM Peyton, and although they are very good, this is one instance where the film version surpassed the books. The performances were fantastic. Christine McKenna as the freespirited orphan Christina, Steven Grives is excellent as the naughty, arrogant (but lovable) Mark, and Alan Parnaby as the shy, intelligent William. We watch the characters grow from sheltered teenagers to adults with difficult choices to make. Based on three books, one can almost see the "break" within the series, the first part being Christina's arrival at Flambards, her introduction to horseback riding, her adjustment to living with the crumbly, wheelchair bound Uncle Russell, and the two brothers. Secondly, she falls in love with William and runs off to London with him so that he may pursue his dream of designing airplanes. There they live a relatively carefree existence until World War I approaches and William decides to join the Royal Flying Corps. These characters are so endearing, so lovable; the entire series is beautifully filmed, music and costuming are great, and the "flying machines" are spectacular. What is most astonishing to me is that very few people I've talked to have ever heard of this series, and it is so seldom shown anymore that I doubt if many people will be introduced to it any time soon. Yet, I have actually gotten people ADDICTED to it by watching my videos; in college I would come home from class to find my roommates completely engrossed and watching it for the second, or third time. I do wish that this series would get the recognition it deserves. I believe now that it is available as a video boxed set, which is at least a start, but I believe that PBS should revive this, and other great series from the 70's.

I first saw this visiting my grandmother. One episode and then I was hooked! This is a wonderful mixture of horses, old English countryside life, people one cares for and a down to earth atmosphere. In the middle of the series the setting changes to an early 20th century airfield where the exciting history of flying is in its beginning. Everything takes a turn with the start of world war I... The people feel real and the story is strong and one that could very well have happened.

I well remember the day I saw in the paper that there was a rerun of these series, only one hour away... I tumbled down the stairs down to the convenience store, stacking up on empty videotapes and telling my boyfriend that the video now was booked for the next 13 mondays...

Just a wonderful feeling!

I must have watched Flambards three times through! I also read the book! It's a terrific horsey airplaney soap opera with a wonderfully strong and surprising heroine. Gives the viewer a flavor of 1910's England.

I first saw these programmes in 79 when I was 11 years old, I absolutely loved it. I've recently bought the series on DVD, and couldn't wait to get some time to myself to watch each episode. I cant get it out of my head! The story, the music, it's all just wonderful. It's not long since I finished the whole series, and I've already started watching them all again. The locations and costumes were spot on for that period. Looking out now for Alan Parnabys more recent work, he was so good as William Russell I've fallen in love with him all over again! Would love to know more about the actors, where they're from, where they are now, their ages etc. There have been many TV series and films that I've seen over the years, but nothing has got to me quite like Flambards!!

"Flambards" gets virtually everything right; characters that we truly care about, great acting, wonderful music, and a story with twists and turns, skillfully told. But what is does better than anything is truly conjure up the spirit of Edwardian England.

The period around 1910 was one of the great watersheds in history; airplanes, cars, and gramophones heralded a new age, only to have World War One stop everything in its tracks. "Flambards" captures all of this perfectly; the resentment of the old guard, the thrill of the new possibilities (especially for women), and the despair of the war years. Of all of the things about this series, the mood and atmosphere are the best.

As an aside, speaking as an airplane buff, the airplanes are incredible. They are painstakingly accurate reproductions of real types, and it's wonderful to get a chance to actually see in the air types that you've only read about in books.

This is a virtually perfect mini-series, quite possibly the best of its kind ever made. It's that good.