Hard Labour: Mike Leigh's first TV drama for the BBC in 1973. Shot entirely on location in Leigh''s native Salford Hard Labour depicts the grinding daily routine of stoical domestic cleaner Mrs Thornley and her cantankerous family. The Permissive Society: The title is ironic - a popular expression in mid-70''s sexually liberated Britain but a far cry from the gentle innocent warmth of this short play shot entirely in a television studio. Funny and moving a tentative awkward first date in a Lancashire high rise flat is interrupted by the young man''s elder sister returning... prematurely after being stood up. Nuts In May: Follow Keith and Candice-Marie a rather self-righteous vegetarian couple in their exhausting attempt to enjoy an idyllic camping holiday in Dorset. Their rigid notions of peace and quiet are somewhat challenged by other campers with a more relaxed approach to life the resulting conflict posing the questions who are really the good guys? The Kiss Of Death: David Threlfall gives a brilliant performance as Trevor an off-beat undertaker''s assistant with a dry sense of humour and a healthy resistance to conformity. He and his best friend Ronnie are confronted by and finally escape the clutches of two predatory and fiercely conventional young women Sandra and Linda. Filmed on location in Oldham. Who''s Who?: A film about toffs and snobs. Richard Kane stars as Alan an obsequious autograph hunter who works as a clerk for a City stockbroker and whose wife breeds pedigree chinchilla cats. Through Alan''s eyes we look at the lives of his upper class employers and the younger Sloane Ranger set at his firm. Abigail''s Party: Immediately after its smash-hit run at The Hampstead Theatre London this 1977 stage-play was wheeled by Mike Leigh into an electronic TV studio - like The Permissive Society it isn''t a film. A suburban evening of hilarious disaster gross embarrassment and untimely death is presided over by the monstrous Beverly for which performance Alison Steadman won two best actress awards. Grown-Ups: A young working-class couple Dick and Mandy move into a council house to find their old teacher living next door with his wife. Their new life is plagued by endless visits from Mandy''s lonely elder sister Gloria a situation that finally erupts into a major catastrophe involving the neighbours. Home Sweet Home: The tragic-comic tale of a lonely postman the social workers who chivvy him about his estranged teenage daughter and his secret affairs with the wives of his fellow postmen. Four Days In July: A wonderfully engaging and bitterly humorous take on The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Set (and shot) in Belfast in July 1984 around the annual 12th July Loyalist Parades the film examines the communities on both sides of the divide. Through the depiction of a Catholic couple and a Protestant couple each on the brink of the birth of their first child Mike Leigh explores the daily lives of the divided community. Five-Minute Films: This collection also includes a rare treat five short films written and directed by Mike Leigh - Afternoon Birth of the Goalie Old Chums A Light Snack and Probation. Originally filmed in 1975 these five films lasting five minutes each were intended to be the first in an ongoing series but weren''t actually broadcast until 1982 during a season of Leigh's work on BBC. [show more]
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As one of Britain foremost film-makers and dramatists Mike Leigh has enthralled disturbed and provoked theatre television and movie audiences for over 40 years His first film Bleak Moments premiered in 1971 to great critical acclaim but he was not able to direct another feature film for 17 years Instead he honed his skills on television leaving an unrivalled legacy - from acclaimed five minute shorts to classic plays such as Abigail Party and films like Nuts In May In his television work Mike Leigh created the style that would make him unique among film-makers The way he deals with issues of class race politics and sexuality in both poignant and comic terms; his working methods of evolving films from intense improvising rehearsals and his collaboration with great actors - including Alison Steadman Liz Smith Lesley Manville Phil Davis David Threlfall Brenda Blethyn and Stephen Rea - make his work instantly recognisable This collection includes all of Mike Leigh surviving BBC work from Hard Labour (1973) to Four Days in July (1985) Disc 1 Hard Labour & The Permissive Society & 5 x Five-Minute Films Disc 2 Nuts in May & Kiss of Death Disc 3 Abigail Party & All About Abigail Party plus Welcome Party Nibbles Intro & Goodbye Disc 4 Who Who? & Grown-Ups Disc 5 Home Sweet Home & Four Days in July Disc 6 The Conversation The Long Goodbye Arena Making Plays
Six-volume set featuring the acclaimed director's TV plays and dramas for the BBC. Leigh's best-known works during this productive period were the award-winning 'Abigail's Party' (1977), a satirical glimpse at middle-class values in the 1970s, and 'Nuts in May' (1976), the adventures of a self-righteous vegetarian couple trying, and failing, to enjoy the tranquility of Dorset on a camping holiday. Other dramas featured in the set include: 'Hard Labour', 'The Permissive Society', 'The Kiss of Death', 'Who's Who', 'Grown-Ups', 'Home Sweet Home', 'Four Days in July' and 'Five-Minute Films', a collection of five short films - 'Afternoon', 'Birth of the Goalie', 'Old Chums', 'A Light Snack' and 'Probation' - each lasting five minutes.
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