- Oxbridge Blues
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Oxbridge Blues Genre Drama Written by Frederic Raphael Theme music composer Richard Holmes Country of origin United Kingdom Language(s) English No. of episodes 7 Production Producer(s) James Cellan-Jones Cinematography John Hooper Running time 75 minutes Production company(s) BBC Broadcast Original channel BBC2 Original run 14 November 1984 – 19 December 1984 Oxbridge Blues is a British television mini-series, produced by the BBC and first shown in 1984. It is an anthology of seven 75-minute teleplays, most of which focus on relationships of one kind or another. All of the teleplays except one take place in England; "He'll See You Now" takes place in the U.S.
The eponymous first teleplay in the series, "Oxbridge Blues", was nominated for a BAFTA television award for Best Single Drama. The series was broadcast in the U.S. on A&E in 1986 and on PBS in 1988.[1] In Australia, the series was broadcast on ABC in 1987.[2]
The seven teleplays are dramatized from short stories by the novelist Frederick Raphael, and he described the series as "mostly kind of chamber pieces — modest dramas about love and sex and honour and marriage".[1] Raphael directed one episode, James Cellan-Jones directed four, and Richard Stroud directed two.
In December 1984, the BBC published the seven teleplays together in book form, entitled Oxbridge Blues and Other Plays for Television.[3]
Contents
Episodes
Each episode of Oxbridge Blues is a separate and unrelated story, with different characters in each.
# Title Director Original airdate 1 "Oxbridge Blues" James Cellan-Jones 14 November 1984 "Oxbridge Blues" tells of two brothers whose fame and fortune is dramatically altered when one becomes a best-selling sex novelist. 2 "That Was Tory" Richard Stroud 21 November 1984 "That Was Tory" tells of the old passions and new jealousies that provoke an odd coupling between a married man and the wife of his good friend. 3 "Similar Triangles" James Cellan-Jones 28 November 1984 The thrill is gone for two adulterous lovers when the spouse of one dies. 4 "He'll See You Now" Frederic Raphael 28 November 1984 A neurotic actress is tempted into a more intimate relationship with her analyst. 5 "The Muse" Richard Stroud 5 December 1984 "The Muse" describes a wimpish cartoonist who takes on the rough-'n-tumble personality traits of his most popular character. 6 "Cheap Day" James Cellan-Jones 12 December 1984 A chance meeting with a handsome stranger tempts a happily married woman into testing the water of infidelity. 7 "Sleeps Six" James Cellan-Jones 19 December 1984 "Sleeps Six" describes an idyllic holiday in the South of France that turns into an ordeal for a film producer and his loving wife. Main cast
- Ian Charleson – Victor Geary ("Oxbridge Blues")
- Rosalyn Landor – Wendy ("Oxbridge Blues")
- Amanda Redman – Maxine ("Oxbridge Blues")
- Michael Elphick – Curly Bonaventura ("Oxbridge Blues")
- Malcolm Stoddard – Philip Geary ("Oxbridge Blues"); Michael ("Similar Triangles")
- Kate Fahy – Eileen ("Similar Triangles"); Lizzie (Cheap Day")
- Ciaran Madden – Laura ("Cheap Day"); Rachel ("Similar Triangles")
- Norman Rodway – Alec ("Cheap Day"); Narrator ("Similar Triangles")
- Geoffrey Palmer – Fred ("Cheap Day")
- Christopher Good – James ("Cheap Day")
- Ben Kingsley – Geoff Craven ("Sleeps Six")
- Diane Keen – Sherry Craven ("Sleeps Six")
- Jeremy Child – Philip Witham ("Sleeps Six")
- Jackie Smith-Wood – Lady Jane Witham ("Sleeps Six")
- Susan Sarandon – Natalie ("He'll See You Now")
- Barry Dennen – Dr. Stein ("He'll See You Now")
- David Suchet – Colin ("The Muse")
- Frances Tomelty – Angela Lane ("The Muse")
- Carol Royle – Tory ("That Was Tory"); Ellen ("The Muse")
- John Bird – Clive ("That Was Tory")
- Joanna Lumley – GiGi ("That Was Tory")
Music
The series theme music was composed by Richard Holmes, and sung by the English group Cantabile.
Awards and nominations
- The first episode, "Oxbridge Blues", was nominated for a BAFTA television award for Best Single Drama.[4]
- Susan Sarandon won the 1987 CableACE Award for Best Actress in a Dramatic Series for her performance in the episode "He'll See You Now".
- Ben Kingsley was nominated for a CableACE Award for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series for his performance in the episode "Sleeps Six".[5]
Notes
- ^ a b Blau, Eleanor. "TV Notes." New York Times. April 28, 1988.
- ^ Hooks, Barbara. "Oxbridge Blues Are Not Easy to Come By." The Age. August 27, 1987.
- ^ Raphael, Frederic. Oxbridge Blues and Other Plays for Television. BBC Books, 1984.
- ^ Television Nominations 1984 at BAFTA
- ^ Oxbridge Blues – Awards
External links
- Oxbridge Blues at the Internet Movie Database
- Oxbridge Blues at TV.com
- Oxbridge Blues at the BFI
Categories:- BBC television dramas
- 1984 in British television
- 1980s British television series
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