The Owl Service (TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = The Owl Service


genre = Fantasy, Legend
writer = Alan Garner
presenter =
starring = Gillian Hills
Michael Holden
Francis Wallis
Edwin Richfield
Dorothy Edwards
Raymond Llewellyn
theme_music_composer = Trad, (played by Jean Bell)
opentheme = “Ton Alarch”
endtheme = “Ton Alarch”
country = UK
language = English
num_series = 1
num_episodes = 8
producer = Peter Plummer
story_editor =
camera = Multi-camera
runtime = c. 25 minutes per episode
network = ITV (Granada Television)
picture_format =
audio_format =
first_aired = 21 December 1969
last_aired = 8 February 1970
website =
imdb_id = 0338632
screenonline_org = 976641

"The Owl Service" was an eight-part television series based on the fantasy novel of the same name by Alan Garner. Produced in 1969 and televised over the winter of 1969-1970, the series was remarkably bold in terms of production. It was the first fully-scripted colour production by Granada Television and was filmed almost entirely on location at a time when almost all TV drama was studio-bound. It used editing techniques such as jump-cuts to create a sense of disorientation and also to suggest that two time periods overlapped. For the series, the book was adapted in seven scripts (later stretched to eight) by Garner and was produced and directed by Peter Plummer. [ [http://www.the-mausoleum-club.org.uk/timescreen/Trial%2010/owlart.htm The mausoleum-club.org The making of "The Owl Service"] ] The direction was quite radical and seemed to be influenced by the avant-garde, a noted contrast to what might be expected of a children's serial. [Paul Lewis, 2008: 'The Owl Service' DVD review. DVDCompare http://www.dvdcompare.net/review.php?rid=217]

Background

Following the success of the novel, which had won the Carnegie Medal and Guardian Award for children's literature, there was much interest in turning the story into a TV series with three companies vying for the rights. [ [http://www.the-mausoleum-club.org.uk/timescreen/Trial%2010/owlart.htm The mausoleum-club.org The making of "The Owl Service"] ] In the end, during the summer of 1968, Granada won out, approaching Alan Garner to script the series himself. The director chosen was Peter Plummer, who also acted as Producer. Since the novel was based on real locations, Plummer opted to use the same places where possible and although the scenes in the house were filmed in a manor near Liverpool, the rest of the filming took place in Wales (where the story was set). [ [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/976641/index.html Screenonline.org.uk] ] Filming began in April 1969 and was completed two months later. Trailers for the series were also shot, featuring material not used in the finished show.

The theme music was the traditional folk piece "Ton Alarch" played on the harp by Jean Bell, while the incidental music was taken from stock sources. [ [http://www.the-mausoleum-club.org.uk/timescreen/Trial%2010/owlart.htm The mausoleum-club.org The making of "The Owl Service"] ] The title sequence featured a hand shadow depicting an owl in flight, photographs of the valley and a flickering candle along with sound effects.

Cast

The parts of the three main characters Gwyn, Roger and Alison were played by Michael Holden, Francis Wallis and Gillian Hills respectively, the characters were intended to be slightly older in this version to the novel (Plummer considered them 17, but it is never stated). This instilled a more sexual subtext to the piece. Gwyn kisses Alison while on one of their walks (although given that they are playing out a recurring sequence of past generations, it is feasible to suggest they perhaps went further than that at some stage), and Roger's scene where he persuades Alison to become flowers ends with Alison looking at him as if he were a lover. The casting of Gillian Hills in particular heightened this sexual aspect. The actress, bearing more than a passing resemblance to Brigitte Bardot, had appeared nude in the film "Blow Up" and indeed also had a singing career in France. [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0385122/ Gillian Hills ] ] Holden and Wallis were less experienced (aged 19 and 22 respectively and fresh out of stage school). For the older characters, well-known character actors Edwin Richfield, Dorothy Edwards and Raymond Llewellyn were employed playing Clive, Nancy and Huw. In an unusual but effective move, the role of Margaret was never cast - the character being frequently present, but never seen. Both writer and producer appeared in the production - Garner as one of the villagers and Plummer in a photograph as the deceased Bertram. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338632/epcast Imdb.com - Cast information] ]

Episodes

For an overall plot description see the novel's article: The Owl Service.

Episode one

Holidaying in rural Wales, Alison, mother Margaret, new step-father Clive and his son, Roger are staying at a manor house formerly owned by Alison's uncle Bertram. Alison befriends the cook's son Gwyn. Together, they discover a set of dinner plates with a floral pattern, which Alison traces and forms into paper owls. Gwyn's mother Nancy is furious and demands the plates be returned. At night, Alison becomes possessed and as Roger looks in on her, she scratches his face.
*Originally transmitted: Sunday, 21 December 1969

Episode two

The half-crazed gardener, Huw tells Gwyn of an ancient legend and hints that the three teenagers may be in danger of re-enacting the story. Alison is acting strangely as she becomes taken with the female character of the myth. In the billiard room, Clive is astonished to see the wood-pannelling on the wall crumbling away to reveal a picture of a woman made of flowers.
*Transmitted: 28 December 1969

Episode three

Alison has hidden the plates away in a hut in the forest and becomes obsessed with the need to trace the pattern. Gwyn joins her in the hut and they spend the night there. In the morning, Huw rambles on to Gwyn that he was also one of three caught up in the legend and claims he is lord of the valley.
*Transmitted: 4 January 1970

Episode four

Roger is disturbed by some photographs he has taken in the valley which seem to depict a ghost. Nancy tells Gwyn that she had an affair with Bertram and bemoans the fact that she should have been the owner of the house rather than Margaret. Margaret meanwhile has forbidden Alison to see Gwyn, but while out walking, Alison meets up with him. Unknown to them, Margaret is watching through binoculars.
*Transmtted: 11 January 1970

Episode five

Alison and Gwyn become closer as they walk up the mountain, while Roger is at home feeling increasingly depressed and expresses his desire to leave to Clive. Alison and Gwyn promise to meet up every day out of sight of their parents at an agreed time, but on her return to the house, Alison is forbidden to see him. A few days later, Roger, Alison and Clive discover a locked door in the stables and wonder what's inside. Alison then realises that she is in her and Gwyn's meeting place and as he steps out of hiding, she is forced to snub him.
*Transmitted: 18 January 1970

Episode six

Gwyn is furious at the treatment he has been shown by Alison and is further upset by his mother. In an attempt to bond, Alison and Roger talk together and she reveals some of the things Gwyn had told her while on the mountain. Later, Gwyn corners Alison and forces her to discuss what's going on between them. Roger shows up and mockingly tells Gwyn he knows his secrets. Gwyn is enraged and storms away, determined to leave the valley and everyone behind.
*Transmitted: 25 January 1970

Episode seven

Gwyn has spent the night on a mountain when Huw catches up with him. Huw explains that the legend was re-enacted by him, Bertram and Nancy and is now being enacted again by Gwyn, Roger and Alison and can only end in pain. Gwyn is not interested until Huw reveals that he is his father. At the house, Roger decides to find out what is in the stable and goes to force open the door.
*Transmitted: 1 February 1970

Episode eight

On opening the door, Roger finds a table full of paper owls - the same as Alison had been making, but these were put there by Nancy. At the house, Gwyn has returned but is told by Nancy they are leaving. Struggling through the heavy rain with their cases, Gwyn tells her he is staying and she leaves him behind. Alison has become completely possessed by the legend and collapses. Huw takes her inside as scratches and feathers appear all over her. In panic, Roger attempts to help, but Gwyn refuses. Finally, Roger manages to talk Alison out of her state by realising the pattern on the plates was of flowers, not owls.
*Transmitted: 8 February 1970

Reception and reviews

During a test screening of episode one prior to broadcast, the concern was raised that the story was difficult to follow, so recap sequences were added to the start of each episode which explained the story so far. On original broadcast, due to a technicians' strike, the series was transmitted in black and white.

Many contemporary reviews were complimentary about the production although some expressed the concern that it was not suitable for younger viewers. In 1970, ITV nominated the series for the Prix Jeunesse - the leading award for children's films. The series failed to succeed as Plummer later explained: "the jury in Munich found it 'deeply disturbing' and questioned whether it was not indeed reprehensible to offer such material to young people" ["I've Seen a Ghost" Radio interview with Peter Plummer, 1979] Owing to this the series proved difficult to sell to overseas companies. During the 1980s however, many did purchase the series and was screened for the first time in countries such as Spain and Ireland. Still, some cuts were made to the episodes (such as Gwyn's "Dirty-minded bitch" line and Alison's scream in the final episode) although perhaps the most striking scene - a sequence from episode 3 depicting Gwyn's struggle with Alison in what appears to be a simulation of rape - remained intact. Today, "The Owl Service" is considered by many to be a landmark in children's drama and has been hailed as a classic production and daring in its presentation. [ [http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/owlservice.htm Televisionheaven.co.uk - Review] ]

The serial was repeated in 1978, for the first time in colour. This resulted in Granada placing an endcap with a copyright date of 1978 which might have confused viewers who didn't realise it was actually produced nine years earlier. According to the TV Times, this repeat was a tribute to cameraman David Wood who had died a few months earlier. No reference was made to the murder of Michael Holden (who had been killed in an unprovoked pub attack the previous year). [ [http://cultretro.blogspot.com/2007/01/owl-service-1969.html Cultretro.com - mention of Michael Holden's murder] ] A further repeat took place on Channel 4 in 1987. Despite its success, "The Owl Service" was never issued on video, but was released on DVD in April 2008. [ [http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=67654 DVDtimes.co.uk - Series review and DVD info] ]

An audio dramatisation of "The Owl Service" was produced and transmitted by BBC Radio 4 in 2000.

References

External information

*"Filming The Owl Service-A Children's Diary" by Ellen, Adam and Katharine Garner, 1970 William Collins and Co Ltd.
*"Timescreen" Issue 10, Winter 1987
*"I've Seen a Ghost", Richard Davis Radio documentary, 1979