Fortunes of War. Episode 2: June 1940

Synopsis
Television serial, in seven parts, based on the Balkan and Levant trilogies, Olivia Manning’s autobiographical accounts of her travels with her husband Reggie Smith between 1939 and 1943. Together for the first time as Harriet and Guy Pringle, Guy decides to put on a university production of Troilus and Cressida. Directing the local British colony in Bucharest at the beginning of the Second World War gives expression to his feelings of despair, but also gives hope. Paris falls on the opening night and the black-and-white documentary scenes of the Nazis’ triumphant entry are intercut with brief excerpts of the band of British soon-to-be-refugees performing the play.
Series
Fortunes of War
Language
English
Country
Great Britain; United States
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Transmission details
18 Oct 1987 at 21:05 (Channel: BBC1)
Duration
55 mins

Credits

Director
James Cellan Jones
Producer
Betty Willingdale
Cinematographer
John Record
Writer
Olivia Manning
Screenplay
Alan Plater
Production Design
Tim Harvey
Cast
Alan BennettProfessor Lord Pinkrose
Charles KayDobson
Elena SecotaSophie Oresanu
Emma ThompsonHarriet Pringle
Kenneth BranaghGuy Pringle
Ronald PickupPrince Yakimov

Additional Details

Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Plays
Troilus and Cressida
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Amateur theatre

Notes

Notes
The DVD is available Region 1 only (2006).
The 2.53 min Shakespeare scene can be viewed at http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1071284/index.htm
History
Shown in the USA 18/10/1987 on WNET/Thirteen in the Masterpiece Theatre slot.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Name

Primetime Television

Name

WGBH Boston

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7255 1444
Fax
020 7436 0165
Address
21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN

Distributor (Sale)

Name

Retail outlets

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Fortunes of War. Episode 2: June 1940". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av37671 (Accessed 25 Nov 2024)