One Summer

One Summer was one of the best TV drama's I had the pleasure of watching. As a Young 1980's teenager lad myself, I felt empathy for the characters. Going to school, summer camp, peer problems, teenage angst. I had it, they had it. Their problems were mine. (albeit without their violent moments and the illiteracy). I saw the series twice in full. Once in 1983 when it first aired, then again the following year. Alas, I never saw it again, and since reaching adulthood, I have been trying to find it. Partly I think to relive my youth, but also to recapture the emotional feelings it left me with. The humour, sadness and the graphic images live with me to this day. Tattooed into my memory bank, never to be erased. Dramas of this calibre do not come along too often. Some come and go without a second thought. Not this one. This was wonderful in its writing and acting. Why it has never been shown again (to my knowledge), remains a mystery. This would be a repeat I'd watch again and again.

I received my copy of this DVD direct from Network DVD and what a superb package. The commentaries from David, Spencer and Ian were very informative and nostalgic in their content. What made this extra special was that I missed the final episode when it was first shown so I've waited 20+ years to see it and it was well worth the wait. The locations, the way that it was filmed and the atmospheric lighting was excellent. It really highlighted the tragic lives of these youngsters growing up in such a deprived environment. I am sure that there would have been scope for a follow up to see if Billy made anything of his life and whether he returned to Wales. If only there were more dramas of this quality on television today.

This 5 part coming-of-age drama had a profound affect on me as a teenager. It was the first screen appearance of David Morrissey, who has since gone on to a fair level of screen success both in the UK and US. Also appearing as the troubled Icky was the brilliant Spencer Leigh, who unfortunately has not had the same success and appears to have appeared in very little since, and nothing in the last 10 years... I can still hum the haunting harmonica theme by Alan Parker.

All my friends are of the same opinion. It affected us all as 14 year olds and at a desperate time in Thatcherite England I think this play gave us all hope and taught us simple but important lessons. I recall John Sim saying something similar in an interview when promoting State od Play. He also said that it made him want to be an actor and David Morrisey (his co-star in SofP) inspired him to go do it. I remember that the clothes were cool for the time and we all wanted Icky's Tacchini tracksuit top.

It is difficult to tell youngsters how bad things were int he early 80's in this country. We all thought we were going to get blown up any minute and nobody had any money.

I'll never forget when I watched the first episode in August 1983. I was captivated by it then and I still am.

Maybe its because it captures both the innocence of ignorance of youth we all have and we all inevitably loose.

Maybe I love it because I still learn for those anarchic days when we think we're immune to absolutely everything and the outside world is a mere illusion.

One summer captures the essence and desires of youth.

I've followed David Morrissys career ever since and think he's one of our very finest actors.

I originally recorded the series on my betemax recorder. We watched it until it almost snapped.

And now I have the series on bluray I haven't worn it out yet.

But that's only because there are more durable.