Love on a Branch Line

Jaspar Pye, a hapless civil servant sent by Whitehall to close down an obscure statistical unit which is operating from a manor home, instead finds himself enchanted by the people and events of Arcady. The fact that the three daughters of the house find him instantly attractive, a sentiment reciprocated, is only the beginning. Mr. Pye's adventures find him the hero of a cricket match, a conspirator in mild skullduggery, sotted in a basement, besotted with the one sister out of reach, and thoroughly enmeshed in the course of life in this remote town. All roads lead to love, of one kind or another, for Jaspar. While performing his duties, he finds a sense of security and self which takes him to places undreamt of until the moment arrives to experience them.

A tasteful and thoughtful comedy mixing myth, wish-fulfilment and English charm.

It is the late 1950s. Jasper Pye is an earnest young civil servant commissioned to visit (and recommend the closure of) an odd little unit of Her Majesty's Government based in a castle on the border of Norfolk and Suffolk - a wartime stopgap measure mysteriously prolonged.

The locality is called Arcady, a hint that we will soon disconnect from everyday things. The last part of his journey is on a steam train, owned by the local Lord Flamborough. Legless since 1926, he lives on the train, travelling endlessly forward and back. His family's motto is hic manemus: here we remain. Jasper alights at a station called Arcady Halt.

The lord's three lovely daughters leave Jasper hovering between desire and disgrace: the nympho Belinda, unhappily-married Chloe, and the Pre-Raphaelite, virginal, 16 year old Matilda, frenziedly romantic but scared of sex.

Belinda makes a playful reference to Freud, who is never far away. Her mother, the beautiful Lady Flamborough, keeps whisking Jasper away to attend to her flowers. The Flamborough family has only married within its own extended ranks for generations. And then there is her husband's severed legs. Myth also plays an important role, but nothing is laboured in this delightful tale.

Sometimes bravery is needed not to face hardship, but to take the leap into joy. That is the challenge Jasper faces.

The series is very friendly to the intentions of the novel, though there are subtle differences in the ending.

A sweet and somewhat surrealistic fantasy-visit to a 1950's rural England that never was; occasionally feels like a visit to an adult theme-park. A bit of something for everyone - it combines elements of a "Stately Homes and Gardens" tour, railway nostalgia, adult comedy/romance, and surprising dashes of nudity and carnality. Lots of colorful and eccentric local characters. As it ended I felt that the new sweethearts would do well to get back to the real world as soon as possible! Many women will find the bumbling Michael Maloney sweetly handsome and sexy. Production values are high, and overall its a minor effort very well done.

Charming quintessentially English period (1957) drama. A little risqué at times but all acceptably within context.

Excellent performance from a top notch cast, especially Leslie Phillips who, as ever, played the Lord of the Manor is his inimitable style.

Each 50 minutes episode flashed by. A very absorbing watch.

I must have missed this first time around back in 1994. I downloaded this from YouTube. The quality isn't brilliant, but perfectly watchable.

Evocation of an England that existed more in legend and imagination that reality, this is listed as drama and comedy whereas it is a romance foremost. The best books and films derive from a solid story and this one draws me back to watch it every year or so, all four episodes flowing along with ease. Farce, comedy, improbability, fun, sex and personal evolution of our hero delivered by an almost faultless cast, script and production. Maria Aitken surely deserves a special mention for delivering the perfect presence of the lady of the manor. No 'spoilers' from me, just watch this. Pretty sure easily available for streaming and downloading from the usual places, enjoy.