Wobbly sets, dodgy camerawork, the glare of the studio lights on actors’ heads . . . Yes, we’d be lying if we said that drama in the 1970s enjoyed the kind of great production values we are used to these days. But while they are often slower of pace and arguably more theatrical in tone, their brilliant acting and scriptwriting kept the nation absorbed, amused and occasionally horrified. Some of it was influential drama that certainly merits a rewatch today. Here are some of our favourites, but what are yours? Leave your suggestions in the comments below . . .
Elizabeth R (1971, iPlayer)
For many, Glenda Jackson’s greatest screen performance. This six-part drama covered the life of Elizabeth I from youth to old age. Jackson won two Emmys for her work and gave the Queen a formidable authority and intellectual heft. The complex storytelling assumed a reasonable degree of knowledge of Tudor history and the adaptation was groundbreaking for its lavish (for the time) production values, bold flashback scenes and moments of brooding humour.
Upstairs, Downstairs (1971-75, ITVX)
Created by the actresses Eileen Atkins and Jean Marsh (who also played Rose, the head house parlourmaid), the saga set in the Belgravia, home of the Bellamy family in the first years of the 20th century, set the template for Julian Fellowes’s Gosford Park and Downton Abbey in its parallel use of stories involving characters above and below stairs. Sipping tea in the drawing room were Richard and Lady Marjorie Bellamy, while the serving mob were ruled by the butler Mr Hudson (Gordon Jackson) and Mrs Bridges the cook (Angela Baddeley); the pair later developed a tendresse in the manner of Downton’s Carson and Mrs Hughes. Awash with stories of love and scandalous footmen and one tragic suicide, the plotting never lost sight of bigger national stories such as the sinking of the Titanic and the First World War.
Poldark (1975-77, Prime Video)
This may lack the sweeping camera shots and rippling muscles of Aidan Turner in full scything mode, but 1970s audiences were justifiably gripped by the first (hugely accomplished) TV rendition of Winston Graham’s period Cornish novels, told over two long series. Robin Ellis played our hero, Ross Poldark (Ellis was cast in a small recurring role in the modern adaption), with Jill Townsend giving us a dazzlingly imperious Elizabeth and Angharad Rees an unforgettable Demelza, the humble miner’s daughter who captures the heart of the main man.
I, Claudius (1976, iPlayer)
Robert Graves’s books I, Claudius and Claudius the God were brought thrillingly to life in this drama, which defied the stiff studio setting to vividly portray the violence and depravity of ancient Rome. Key to the success of this 13-parter was the superb cast, with Derek Jacobi brilliant as the stammering narrator Claudius who is thrust reluctantly on to the imperial throne. Siân Phillips also delivers a stupendously loathsome turn as the scheming, murderous Livia, and Brian Blessed is on frequently hilarious form as Augustus. This requires a tough stomach too — especially in scenes involving John Hurt’s Caligula.
Advertisement
Jesus of Nazareth (1977, Prime Video)
“Ecce Homo,” Pontius Pilate said. Behold the man. And that man was Robert Powell, whose clear blue eyes and profoundly soulful expression made for a truly mesmerising son of God in Franco Zeffirelli’s Anglo/Italian masterpiece. Yes it has its cheesy moments, but it is also a clear and moving portrait of the Gospel story, from Christ’s birth to his crucifixion and resurrection. Aided by a cracking ensemble (an honourable mention to Ian McShane’s Judas and Anne Bancroft’s Mary Magdalene), this has moments where it is, even for non-believers, the greatest story ever told.
Love TV? Discover the best shows on Netflix, the best Prime Video TV shows, the best Disney+ shows, the best Apple TV+ shows, the best shows on BBC iPlayer, the best shows on Sky and Now, the best shows on ITVX, the best shows on Channel 4 streaming, the best shows on Paramount+ and our favourite hidden gem TV shows. Don’t forget to check our critics’ choices of what to watch this week, the best shows of 2024 so far, and browse our comprehensive TV guide.
