LONG LIVE THE 50s & THE 60s - PRIVATES AND THE HOUR (SERIES 2)

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Britain in search for a new identity, in the effort to forget the horror of two world wars, striving to recover in the shadow of the haunting foreboding of an atomic attack,  is in the background of  two BBC drama series I've recently watched: BBC1 afternoon show, Privates, and BBC2 second season of The Hour. Both series are brilliant and recommendable. Maybe my introduction can mislead you, they are neither gloomy nor depressing.They are differently entertaining series, thrilling emotions and fun garanteed. Both are already available on DVD (see direct links below to win a copy or to purchase sites) . If you've missed them, no excuses.

Privates  - We gotta get out of this place

Privates is a BBC1 drama series setin 1960, when National Service was not an option.   The 5-part series follows eightprivates who are part of the last intake of National Service, stationed at a basic training depot in North Yorkshire. The episodes follow them hurting, growing, rebelling and having fun. Fun is a key word you shouldkeep in mind, because the series is totally amusing, original andintriguing. 
The events are seen from the point of view of oneof the 8 conscripts,  the pacifist Private Keenan,  played by thetalented Alexander Vlahos
(Mordred in BBC Merlin). He finds himself thrown into an environment hedefinitely despises and watchers will have to wait on - but not for long -  to figureout why someone like him hasn't  chosen the civil service, instead . With Private Keenan, the most awkward and unpromising group of conscripts: the apparentlyeccentric Private Lomax played by Ross Anderson, the Eton toff PrivateWhite-Bowne played by Jack Fox, the Elvis fan Private Davies played by MatthewAubrey, the Cockney Private Wratten played by Billy Seymour, the somewhatinnocent Private Rothman played by Sam Swann, the clumsy Private Hoy played byDavid Kirkbride and the shy Private McIlvenny played by Conor MacNeill.

Alexander Vlahos as Private Keenan from http://forum.merlinitalia.it

The personal predicaments and family matters of their officers - Captain Gulliver (Patrick Baladi) and Sergeant Butcher (Michael Nardone) mingle with the eight protagonists' new and past experiences,  the result is a convincing choral portrait with many hilarious moments as well as gripping and touching ones. The stories are told and highlighted through great music from 60s, the songs thoroughly chosen to complete the nostalgic picture.
The end of the series was a real cliffhanger. Please BBC, a second series and, possibly, on prime time TV.
Buy Privates DVD at amazon.co.ukDiscover more at BBC Official Site or Imdb
Win a copy of Privates DVD (deadline 7 Febraury)
Watch these two videos from YouTube  

The Hour 2 

The second series of Abi Morgan's 1950s TV news drama returned better than ever. I liked series 1 very much  (my review) and totally loved season two. Peter Capaldi, Hannah Tointon and Tom Burke join the cast we met in series one, including Romola Garai, Ben Winshaw ,  Dominic West and Anna Chancellor.The series features corruptionand political intrigue, in the background the unsettling and rapid change of the late 50s. Involvedin the space race and aiming at becoming a nuclear power, Britain seems on thethreshold of a new era of modernisation, economic optimism, scientific progressand cultural change connected to new immigration from the Commonwealth. The 6-part new series sees the team coping with ITV cutthroatcompetition and struggling to broadcast the stories they believe in as they copewith the haunting spectre of the Cold War and changing social mores.Bel Rowley (Romola Garai) is still single and determined not toget involved with another married man. She finds out that Hector (Dominic West)is being lured to ITV. She fights for her programme and finds herself charmedby her adversary, Bill Kendall (Tom Burke), the producer who wants to stealtheir anchor man. Hector Madden (Dominic West) has risen to the status of anational celebrity. He is unsettled by his wife’s  (Oona Chaplin) desire to establish her own TV careerand finds himself drawn to the late night clubs of Soho where he befriends Kiki(Hannah Tointon), a club performer.Freddie Lyons (Ben Whishaw), who was fired after ‘The Lord Elms’live interview, makes an unexpected return to The Hour. Having been away forseveral months travelling around the world, he returns as co-host of The Hourand a married man, to both Bel and Hector’s surprise. Lix (Anna Chancellor) is stillat the foreign desk, fighting for airtime for international stories,but we are revealed a new intimate side to her  when Randall, the new manager,  arrives at The Hour.The stellar cast deliverstunning performances, the scripts are gripping, the music of the 50s makeseverything atmospheric and nostalgic. Get ready to suspence and thrillingmoments and, especially to a breathtaking, overwhelming final episode ending with a cliffhanger. It seems BBC can’tdo without lately. Fingers crossed for a third season. With Ben Winshaw in it.Yes, I believe in miracles.   Watch a trailer from YouTube

Buy The Hour DVD at Amazon.co.uk

Buy The Hour DVD at Amazon.comDiscover more at BBC2 Official Site

Abi Morgan talks The Hour season two