Our Friends In The North - 1979-1995 [VHS] [1996]
![Our Friends In The North - 1979-1995 [VHS] [1996]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412KH78C03L._SL160_.jpg) 
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Suitable for 18 years and over Sony Bmg Release date: Monday 28th of April 1997 Starring: Director(s): Format: PAL, Number of discs: 1 Running time: 281 minutes |
Over the years, the paths of these characters intertwine, diverge then cross again, albeit occasionally stretching the bounds of plausible coincidence. The drama takes place against the backdrop of local authority and police corruption in the 60s, the radical far-left militancy of the early 70s, Thatcher's election, the 1984 miner's strike and the subsequent "murder" of Northern communities. What's brilliant about Our Friends is its melding of the personal and the political, with the soap opera of family estrangement played out against a backdrop of social decline. Peter Vaughn, playing Nicky's Dad as a former Jarrow marcher stricken by Alzheimer's, is especially poignant. If you didn't see this the first time, do so now. On the DVD: Our Friends in the North has a bonus disc featuring a discussion with writer Peter Flannery and the producers and directors in which the making of the programme is revealed to have been as epic and protracted a saga as the drama itself. There are interviews also with stars Christopher Eccleston and Gina McKee. --David Stubbs
RRP: £16.99
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
An epic saga stretching from 1964 to 1995, Our Friends in the North follows the lives of four young people in North-East England. Nicky Hutchinson (Christopher Eccleston) is initially courting Mary Soulsby (Gina McKee) but the relationship cools when it takes second place to his campaigning for Harold Wilson's Labour Party. She weds Tory Tosker Cox instead, but their marriage is a miserable one, living in a rot-infested high rise block built following a dubious new housing scheme. Meanwhile, "Geordie" Peacock, finally tiring of his drunken, abusive father, headbutts him and hitches down to London, where he ends up working for a surrogate "family" led by Malcolm McDowell's flash Soho sex club baron.
British drama at its best
Review date: 2010-03-07 Rating: 10 out of 10
Just watched this again, and it's even better than I remembered. It focusses on the lives of four characters accross three decades. The characters are really well-developed, and multi-dimensional. The attention to detail in creating the look of each period is really impressive, right down to the level of carefully considering which car from each period would suit each character. The 1984 episode focusses on the miner's strike, and is particularly powerful: an astonishingly important event in British history, the significance of which is often overlooked.
It is not just the major political anchor points that are impressive, but the personal issues affecting the characters, which are the gritty parts of real-life that affect us all: career, family, bereavement, illness etc. All the central performances are utterly convincing, particularly when you consider that Christopher Eccleston was the only one who was relatively well-known at the time. This was the first time I ever saw Daniel Craig in anything, and although his character is not the most interesting, he has a presence on screen that made me think this is an actor who could be a big star if/when he finds the right role.
In recent years, I have not seen anything to quite compare with this series. However, the price being asked for it here seems a bit excessive. I'm sure you can find this set for considerably less if you search around.
Reviews
Peerless
Review date: 2010-01-12 Rating: 10 out of 10
Tyneside has suffered from an atrocious array of dramas attempting to tap into the spirit of the place. Nothing has come anywhere near this apart from one amazing BBC drama, magnificently written by Peter Flannery - Our Friends in the North.
It spans the years 1964-1995, its nine episodes focus on the four main characters, Geordie, Tosker, Mary and Nicky as they mature from fresh-faced youths to middle age. It's a fascinating study of the nature of friendship, ambition, love, adventure, idealism and despair. All the while it is primarily set against the backdrop of the rapidly changing face of UK General Elections. This is very definitely a drama where politics take centre stage and it offers a great glimpse into the changing nature of the politics of the left and the changing nature of the 60s working class right up to the 90s 'sub' working class. It pulls no punches whatsoever.
Tyneside is vividly protrayed and the characters are absolutely authentic. I've known dozens exactly like them and Geordie's despicable father brought back particularly unpleasant memories of some of my friends' fathers from my childhood. I've never seen that type of person written (and acted) so well before. One of my close friends virtually IS Tosker, we all knew a few Nickys, were friends with a Mary or two and stood Geordies one for old times on many an occasion.
I'd say it's pretty much required viewing for anyone who wants to understand how Tyneside was during that period and it's a perfect example of how the BBC should work. Licence Fee revenue spent wonderfully well and long may it continue. Heaven forbid the end of the BBC and the removal of the possibility of magnificent dramas like Our Friends in the North being made.
If you haven't seen this before then I envy you - it is superb and you ought to enjoy every minute of it.
OUR FRIENDS IN THE NORTH
Review date: 2009-02-02 Rating: 10 out of 10
I HAVE WANTED TO SEE THIS OUSTANDING SERIES AGAIN FOR YEARS BUT ALWYS SOMEHOW MANAGED TO MISS THE RE RUNS ON SKY.
THIS SERIES WHEN FIRST SCREENED IN THE ESRLY 90'S HAD A LASTING IMPRESSION UPON ME WHICH HAS IN NO WAY DIMINISHED OVER THE INTERVENING YEARS. POSSIBLY THROUGH HAVING GROWN UP THROUGH THE YEARS IT COVERED MADE IT ALL THE MORE RELEVANT AS I CAN REMEMBER ALL OF THE TIMES AND YEARS DEPICTED AND IDENTIFY WITH THE CHANGING CHARACTERS AS THEY GREW UP FROM LATE TEENS TO MATURITY. THE ISSUES THEY FACED AND DECISIONS THEY MADE SEEM ALL THE MORE REAL FOR HAVING FACED SIMILAR ISSUES IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
A MUST SEE FOR ANYONE WHO WAS IN THEIR TEENS AT THE END OF THE 60'S AND AN ENTERTAINING SERIES FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN OUR RECENT PAST POLITICAL AND SOCIAL HISTORY.
A MASTERPIECE. WELL WRITTEN, WELL CRAFTED AND OBSERVED AND BRILLIANTLY ACTED BY A HOST OF BUDDING ACTORS WHO HAVE SINCE ALL GONE ON TO ILLLUSTRIOUS CAREERS IN ACTING.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED VIEWING.
This is the whole point of the BBC - to inform, educate and entertain
Review date: 2008-11-21 Rating: 10 out of 10
When people now wonder where the BBC is going and what happens to the licence fee in a world of millions of satellite and cable channels (most of which are rubbish) let it be said that this series is the epitome of what the BBC stands for. It is supposed to inform, educate and entertain. This series does all three magnificently. The concept, the scripting, the casting, the producing, the editing - all of it is brilliant from start to finish. Another reviewer, Rob of South Shields (a Newcastle suburb) notes he grew up later than the period in which this is set - but I was a child at that time in that very same Newcastle. The emotion is all so real that it is like being punched in the stomach - the corruption, the infighting and everything that grew out of it.
When the BBC produces its most superlative work, as here, no other broadcaster in the world can touch it.
Now consider, in the light of the recent scandal of imbecilic presenters ringing up and insulting an actor. One of those presenters is paid in a year almost what this whole series cost to make. (At the time there were raised eyebrows at how much of BBC 2's drama budget had gone on just one production.)
The presenters in question are grotesquely overpaid.
The millions which went into Our Friends in the North, in contast, were money exceptionally well spent.
For people who lived through the era in question, who relate to the political world and the community around them as we all should, and who also know Newcastle upon Tyne and the peculiar socio-political history of the Northeast, this is far more than a play and far more than television. It is not escapism but life itself in the most tangible sense.
Much television in recent years is junk.
This, on the other hand, while painfully raw and brutally true to life in parts, is the best of the best, written by the best, starring the best and broadcast by the best. Would that the BBC never ever strayed from this path.
Do yourself a favour - buy it, watch it - and, in due course, watch it again. Then please post your own review.
Very, very good TV!
Review date: 2007-10-11 Rating: 10 out of 10
Brilliant drama! Pity it has no English subtitles. Sometimes, the accent from Newcastle is a little difficult to understand!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Daniel Craig
David Bradley (IV)
Mark Strong (II)
Christopher Eccleston
Gina McKee
Creators:
Christopher Eccleston (Primary Contributor)
Daniel Craig (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Sony Bmg
Manufacturer: Sony Bmg
EAN: 0743214762738
Binding: VHS Tape
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 1997-04-28
Universal product code (UPC): 743214762738
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Running time: 281 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1999-09-30
Tech info, cast and quotes/trivia when available. Exclusions may apply with free delivery. Price and availabiltity subject to change
