Ridley Road

I write to endorse the views of another reviewer of this series as to its basic unhistoricality. The BBC and major US media providers are showing an increasing tendency to disregard the actual historical events and cultural realities, in the interest of importing entirely unrealistic racial, ethnic, and cultural themes artificially into those times. Lest anyone suspect my sympathies, I also lived through the 60's and my wife is Jewish, her entire family lost to the Holocaust and other anti-Semitic atrocities of World War II.

Plainly put, there was no widespread Fascist movement in either the US or Great Britain in 1962. Does anyone seriously think that the British constabulary, less than two decades after World War II, in which many fought and had comrades died, would have any sympathy at all for a British Nazi Party? The prosaic fact is that they had none at all.

In the US, George Lincoln Rockwell, the American Nazi, had a following in the dozens. To be sure, in the American South, society clung to an increasingly outdated racial bigotry. But it was increasingly under attack by larger forces. 'To Kill a Mockingbird' won the Pulitzer Prize that year, and the Civil and Voting Rights Acts were passed just two years later.

A drama about Fascist movements that emphasized their aberrance and potential criminality might be acceptable. However, the notion that they had any widespread social appeal is not only incorrect, but slanderous, and somewhat dangerous in itself. You don't redo history simply because it's convenient,.

It's like everything 60s is shoveled into this before it happened, the dressers got carried away again?. Eddie Marsan stands out, as ever, with a great performance, the others, mostly...mabye, they were just killing time till the pub opened? It's all a bit BBC with compromise writ large, which sadly, makes the story and characters suffer at the end of the day. I'd advise getting better writers and a motivated cast. The BBC used to do this stuff so well.

Having been brought up about 500 yds from Ridley Rd, I looked forward to seeing this. Having seen the first episode, I am reminded of the wise words of Mark Twain, "The difference between truth and fiction, is that fiction has to be believable. This was not.

I am old enough to remember both Colin Jordan and Oswald Mosley, and in particular, the 1962 "visit" by the latter to Ridley Rd in 1962. This ended within minutes with Mosley receiving a police escort to get him out of the area. I'm not certain, but If that was not his last public appearance, it must have been close to it.

What I don't recall from that period, was that there was a Dalston office of Mossad operating in the area. I know that may seem harsh, but the problem I have with it, is that even as "Faction", it doesn't work for me. When it's gets as specific as naming a real place and a real date, you'd expect to see bits that you can recognise as being "based on a true story". But so far, I've seen nothing of the sort. This bears no resemblance to my recollections of Ridley Road and events in 1962.

My Review - Ridley Road. A new BBC Thriller

My Rating. 6.5 /10

It's a coincidence that the 2 series I'm reviewing today concern stories of anti Jewish Groups and anti Semitic violence . One is set in a fictional America "The Plot Against America." the other based on fact is "Ridley Road ." Set in 1962 Ridley Road is a new BBC four-part drama that covers a little known part of British History ( I certainly wasn't aware of it ) Its both a Political Thriller and a fated love story that takes place in London's East End when far right fascism was on a violent rise .

Based on a novel by Jo Bloom it's the story of the Jewish men and women who fought against the fascists led by Colin Jordan played by Rory Kinnear.

The British National party that would become The National Front were supplemented by the National Socialist Movement led by Colin Jordan.

I read that the series gets its title from the road that housed the headquarters of the coalition of Jewish men known as the 62 Group who took on the National Socialist Movement in retaliation to the groups anti Semitic violence and persecution.

I found the Screenplay by Sarah Solemani at times a trifle improbable and melodramatic especially concerning the romance between Viviene Epstein ( Agnes O'Casey) who follows her boyfriend Jack Morris (Tom Varey) an undercover informer for the 62 Group to London where she also is recruited to join her boyfriend as a spy and convince The National Socialist Group that she will be a valuable and loyal member .

Agnes O'Casey in her first television role is very impressive in this demanding role as she transforms from a shy young mousy Jewish teenager who after a Carnaby Street makeover and intensive undercover spy training eventually talks her way into Colin Jordan's country home headquarters that house the members of his fascist organisation .

There's some thrilling and suspenseful moments in Ridley Road but I got a little bored with the love story it just seemed a little improbable to me that this young girl could achieve what she does seemingly to just impress her boyfriend . The melodrama reaches a climax towards the conclusion of the series . Some of the scenes between Colin Jordan Vivian and his first wife who was Francoise Dior ,the niece of Christian Dior seemed too hysterical .

Then I changed my mind when I read that in fact Francoise also was a Nazi and helped fund various right-wing causes after the war. Their wedding ceremony reportedly involved them both nicking a finger, pressing them together and allowing the drops of blood to fall onto a copy of Mein Kampf.

I enjoyed this series with reservations keep an eye out for it on the ABC I View starting Saturday the 13th of November.

Very loosely based on true events, not historically accurate, and melodramatic, I nevertheless loved the PBS four-part miniseries Ridley Road to the point of getting up and cheering or yelling, "get out of there," during some of the action sequences.

Vivian Epstein, (alias Jane Carpenter), a twenty-three-year-old Jewish woman from Manchester, England sneaks off to London to follow her boyfriend James, (alias Peter Fox), when he mysteriously leaves town. She wants out of a marriage arranged by her parents and to be with the man she loves.

Vivian, who works as a hairdresser in Soho, learns that James is working undercover in the National Socialist Movement in order to inform resisters of the groups planned actions. The NSM violently targets and kills Jews. Vivian dyes her brunette hair blonde and becomes a spy in the Jewish resistance movement the 62 group, (headquartered on Ridley Road), first to find James, and then because anti-fascists DO rather than just sitting on the sidelines and talking. Vivian, who becomes fearless in her mission to save lives, gains the trust of NSM leader Colin Jordan. This gives her access to private conversations and offices in the NSM headquarters.

The series is a blend of romance, action, and political thriller. Part of the fun and impact of the series is it's unapologetic good versus bad trope, highlighting the bravery of the resistance fighters in general, and Vivian and James in particular.

Agnes O'Casey as Vivian enjoys a rollicking star turn in her first production. I will watch for her in other projects.