As a huge fan of Secret Army, I finally found this unbroadcast final episode after 35 years
Firstly, I can see why this wasn't broadcast at the time. It's somewhat haphazard in its production, and doesn't fit at all well with the 'wartime' episodes. The concept of this episode is set in 1969 during the making of a fictional retrospective documentary about Lifeline. It was clearly a huge change for the Secret Army production crew, who had a good go at it, but failed to achieve their objective, and they possibly didn't actually know what that was.
But ... For fans of the series, this should be watched. Our historical perspective of WW2 has changed enormously since 1979 when it was made, and it makes more sense now than back then.
It has a very overt anti-communist message, especially the final scene (which is beyond dreadful) But, again after 40 years, this too can be seen as the product of it's time and the history of that decade.
Performances by Bernard Hepton, Clifford Rose and Angela Richards are excellent as you would expect. Juliet Hammond Hill as a supposedly 50 year old anti-communist freedom fighter is a bit harder to accept though.
If you have a deep appreciation of Secret Army, then watch this. If not - don't.
Firstly, I can see why this wasn't broadcast at the time. It's somewhat haphazard in its production, and doesn't fit at all well with the 'wartime' episodes. The concept of this episode is set in 1969 during the making of a fictional retrospective documentary about Lifeline. It was clearly a huge change for the Secret Army production crew, who had a good go at it, but failed to achieve their objective, and they possibly didn't actually know what that was.
But ... For fans of the series, this should be watched. Our historical perspective of WW2 has changed enormously since 1979 when it was made, and it makes more sense now than back then.
It has a very overt anti-communist message, especially the final scene (which is beyond dreadful) But, again after 40 years, this too can be seen as the product of it's time and the history of that decade.
Performances by Bernard Hepton, Clifford Rose and Angela Richards are excellent as you would expect. Juliet Hammond Hill as a supposedly 50 year old anti-communist freedom fighter is a bit harder to accept though.
If you have a deep appreciation of Secret Army, then watch this. If not - don't.
