Blott on the Landscape [DVD] [1985]

Will cheer you up

I've loved the novels of Tom Sharpe ever since I was a teenager and Blott has to be my favourite.The Handyman's have lived in the Cleene Gorge for 500 years but their line is in danger of dying out and all because Sir Charles won't do right by his wife, to add insult to injury, he wants to ruin her by driving a motorway through the Gorge and taking his wife Lady Maud family's house away from her in the bargain. Lady Maud has one ace up her sleeve, the family's faithful retainer, the enigmatic character Blott.The one thing people have to remember about Sharpe's characters is that they are grotesque caricatures of the middle classes, exaggerations of what we outside those worlds think people are like, something Sharpe took great delight in poking fun at. Of all the filmed versions of Sharpe's work Blott is one where this was taken to the limit, almost Hogarth in modern film form. You utterly dislike them all but at the same time you're intrigued by them and what they'll do next. This has been superbly portrayed by Geraldine James, all at once you dislike Maud but at the same time as she fights to save her home you're rooting for her to win. My favourite character has to be Julia McKenzie's portrayal of the scatty, ineffectual dominatrix Mrs Forthby, by being quite useless at her job of dominating her clients like Lynchwood by accident she actually succeeds in being extremely severe, a wonderfully subtle character trait. Then there is the enigmatic Blott, a refugee from Europe who was captured during WW2 and ended up working at Handyman Hall and eventually stayed on as the gardener and all round handyman, and Lady Maud's right-hand man. David Suchet just fills the screen at every moment with his extremely consistent character mannerisms throughout, not to mention the constant "trumping" he sings in line with the theme tune, as he wanders about doing Maud's dirty work.Of course with something like this set in the modern era it's going to look slightly dated in place but for the most part you can forgive the fact it was filmed over 20 years ago and concentrate on the story. People have complained that the quality is not great and yes compared to modern HD film quality this film looks a little dated but it's more or less the same for any outdoor TV film stock of the era and to be honest after 15 mins you'll not even notice it as the story will keep you engrossed.I would strongly advise you read the book before you see this, for me it made it come alive even more. The characters not quite as exaggerated in the book but the film does a wonderful job of really bringing them to life in all their hideous glory, every single character has something to gain over the others and it's just superb to watch such a great cast working together.

This was a 6-part series shown on BBC TV in the 1980's.I recalled having enjoyed watching it back then and it was a nostalgia trip to buy it in DVD format. I was not disappointed.The various characters were all wonderfully acted, especially those of Blott and Lady Maude. For anyone unfamiliar with this series, then they are in for surprises, laughs and amazement at the antics in the plot.There were a couple of characters whose casting I wasn't fully in tune with, but the majority were superbly cast and gloriously over-acted in perfect keeping with the outrageous plot.By today's standards of action, sex and credibility, it was a gentle romp but nevertheless a jewel of a series for which I give the BBC full credit for its screenplay of Tom Sharpe's novel.If criticism could be laid, it was the absencen of "gorge-like" scenery when frequent reference was made to "The Gorge" but that's just being picky.I've been deliberately vague as to plot and detail so not to spoil anything for a prospective viewer. All I'll say is that it was a thoroughly enjoyable series that I shall enjoy over and over again and I rate its cost as one of the best DVD purchases I've made.

The 1985 film (which was broadcast as six episodes of 53 minutes each) was filmed mainly in South Shropshire. Handyman Hall was filmed at Stanage Park, near Heartsease, Powys. Ludlow stood in for the fictitious town of Worford, and Deddington near Banbury became the village of Guildstead Carbonell, where several mock buildings were demolished in the market place for the film. Ludlow's Butter Cross, in the busy and constricted town centre, was used as the courtroom. The Lodge, where Blott lives, was built on land at Blaise Castle Estate near Bristol.The original broadcast was between 6 February 1985 and 13 March 1985.I did see the Original Broadcast in 1985 { when I was 32 } and I am in my third viewing of the DVD and I am surprised that someone Claims this version has been edited { although they do admit they were only two when it was first broadcast which may explain their confusion } because as far as I can see it is the Uncut Original.Its easy to do the Maths - on the DVD each episode { with credits run for 54 minuets } so the total DVD Box set runs for 324 minuets if it had been censored { edited call it what you will } it would have been shorter so where are the mystery edits that don't remove any space ?It is true there is no extras but that is true of lots of the BBC Content a few years ago.Geraldine James - David Suchet and George Cole are all on fine form and its just as enjoyable today as it was back in 1985.

Utterly fabulous rendition of Tom Sharpe's book. Geraldine James is wonderful as the very forthright Lady Maud, determined to have a child to carry the family name in her ancestral home - but George Cole, as husband Sir Giles, is equally determined that this will never happen, simply by refusing to bed her.Trying his best to get a motorway put through the 'wretched place' for the compensation money, he has to play everyone against each other to save his own face.Up steps Simon Cadell (the weedy entertainments manager from Hi-De-Hi), as the man from the ministry - the ministry desperate to give him any job away from them, particularly after his idea to speed up the underground by having conveyor belt platforms, that way the tubes need never stop as people can 'just' jump on to the train as it passes!And amidst all the fuss and scuffles is Blott, the odd little gardener and odd-job man from somewhere in Europe (clearly his pre-Poirot performance). Calm in a crisis, full of ideas - some of them towards Lady Maud - of how to save Handyman Hall from the bulldozers.Buy this, and save the family name from falling into disuse!!