The Chain

1984
1h 40m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Comedy featuring interweaving stories of seven households caught up in a property chain on moving day, each one dependent on the other.Comedy featuring interweaving stories of seven households caught up in a property chain on moving day, each one dependent on the other.Comedy featuring interweaving stories of seven households caught up in a property chain on moving day, each one dependent on the other.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

460

YOUR RATING

16User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 nominations total

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Screenwriter Jack Rosenthal used the same character name, "Bamber", for the head removal man in this movie and in the television series Moving Story (1994). In both cases, the character was a know-it-all who incessantly impressed, and bored, his colleagues with his prodigious knowledge, hence the nickname "Bamber", a reference to Bamber Gascoigne, the Question Master on University Challenge (1962).

Goofs
Des's mum hands a cup of tea to Thomas. When seen from behind, he has the cup and saucer resting on his thigh, When viewed from his front, he has the cup at chest height.

Quotes
[repeated line]
Bamber: Moving house is very upsetting. It's a big upsetment - people get upset.

Connections
Spin-off Moving Story (1994)

Soundtracks
Karma Chameleon
Composed by Boy George (as O'Dowd), Roy Hay, Jon Moss, Mikey Craig,
Phil Pickett
Performed by Billie Whitelaw
Used by kind permission of Virgin Music (Publishers) Limited and Warner Bros. Music

User reviews16

Featured review

10/10

A brilliant TV drama, with superb actors

This is TV drama at its best. The plot is tightly constructed, involving seven linked house moves. Jack Rosenthal's writing is exceptional, blending comedy and pathos in just the right proportions, and the very realistic London settings are an integral part of the drama.

The script is delivered to perfection by a team of top-quality actors, led by Warren Mitchell and Bernard Hill as the linking furniture removers. The introduction suggests an overall 'seven deadly sins' theme, and on reflection that can be picked out. But the stories intertwine and grip the viewer so effectively that broader messages are of little consequence. The recent revival of Rosenthal plays on BBC's arts channel is a reminder of the high quality of TV drama in the 1970s and 1980s, now sadly diminished. And the overall IMDB rating is a complete mystery, given the votes actually cast for The Chain.