"To Serve Them All My Days" (1980) TV mini-series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

10 October 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

David Powlett-Jones has just returned to England from the trenches of WWI. He was injured and shell-shocked and...

Plot Keywords:

Headmaster | English | Shell Shock | WWI | School Play

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 2 nominations

Cast

John Duttine	...	David Powlett-Jones (13 episodes, 1980-1981)
Frank Middlemass	...	Algy Herries (13 episodes, 1980-1981)
Alan MacNaughton	...	Howarth (12 episodes, 1980-1981)
Patricia Lawrence	...	Ellie Herries (10 episodes, 1980-1981)
Neil Stacy	...	Carter (8 episodes, 1980)

Series Directed by
Ronald Wilson		(6 episodes, 1980)
Peter Jefferies		(5 episodes, 1980-1981)
Terence Dudley		(2 episodes, 1980-1981)

Series Writing credits
Andrew Davies		(13 episodes, 1980-1981)
R.F. Delderfield		(13 episodes, 1980-1981)

Series Produced by
Ken Riddington	....	producer (1 episode, 1980)

Series Original Music by
Kenyon Emrys-Roberts		(1 episode, 1980)

Series Cinematography by
Ken Major		(unknown episodes)
Rodney Taylor		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Neil Pittaway		(unknown episodes)
John S. Smith		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Raymond Cusick		(1 episode, 1980)
Michael Young		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Reg Samuel		(1 episode, 1980)

Series Makeup Department
Maralyn Sherman	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (13 episodes, 1980-1981)
Judy Cain	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Sheelagh Rees	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Bill Bonner	....	props (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Colin Hassell	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Ian Leiper	....	sound: outdoor scenes (unknown episodes)
Laurie Taylor	....	studio sound (unknown episodes)
Trevor Webster	....	studio sound (unknown episodes)
Graham Wilkinson	....	studio sound (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Yousuf Aziz	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Peter Catlett	....	studio lighting (unknown episodes)
Bert Robinson	....	lighting: outdoor scenes (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Shirley Coward	....	vision mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Robert H. Gabriel	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Bruce Gallaway	....	film recordist (unknown episodes)
Evgeny Gridneff	....	script editor (unknown episodes)
Nicholas Hamm	....	assistant floor manager (unknown episodes)
Margot Hayhoe	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Janet Radenkovic	....	assistant to director (unknown episodes)
Prue Saenger	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Eileen Staff	....	assistant to director (unknown episodes)
Nigel Taylor	....	assistant floor manager (unknown episodes)
Jan Willson	....	assistant to director (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1980) (UK) (TV) (original airing)
• Acorn Media (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• Memphis Belle (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Runtime:

673 min (13 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Canford School, Dorset, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The filming at the Milton Abbey School in Dorset, which served as Bamfylde in the series, took place during actual school term. The "real" students at the school happily mixed with the cast and crew and many of the boys who appear in the series are genuine schoolboys.

Goofs:

Continuity: Several times, the length of David's tie changes between indoor and outdoor scenes in the same sequence. Example: Episode 8 opens with David walking back to Bamfylde early in the morning. His tie ends well above his belt. When David arrives at his house and talks with Molyneux, David's tie extends below his belt. From there, David goes outdoors to meet Algy and Brigadier Cooper, and his tie is once again short.

Quotes:

Christine Forster: Rowley was my moral tutor at Durham University. In this capacity, he introduced me to socialism... then to his bed... then married me, much to the disgust of his grand family. And he quarreled with me. Finally he left me. Nothing stuck except the socialism. See? No scars.

Soundtrack:

School Song

A Fine Touching Story of the English Public School System

I saw this film when it appeared on Masterpiece Theater in the 80's and was enthralled by it. After 20 years it has been released on DVD by Acorn Media and BBC. I purchased a copy, and it is just as great today as it was originally on Masterpiece Theater. The characters of Headmaster Algy Herres and Teacher Ian Howarth are particularly appealing. I thought the only weak spot in the entire film was the portrayal of Christine, Powlett-Jones second wife. I would recommend this movie to any family without hesitation.