MJ Thomas Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I remember The Singing Detective being too
> off-the-wall for my (then?) unsophisticated
> tastes. I suspect I allowed that to put me off
> watching subsequent Potter plays.

My first taste of Potter was "The Singing Detective"
starring Michael Gambon. I was flabbergasted at how
great tv could be after that. I mean, I had no idea!
Then I knew I had to get every Potter show I possibly
could. First, a friend sent me "Lipstick on Your
Collar," equally great. Then I got "Pennies from
Heaven" from MovieHunter.com., just marvelous. Now
I have the 1979 "Blue Remembered Hills," quite a study
in the way children play out their fears and abuses; and
I have th 1976 production of "Brimstone and Treacle," which
the director of BBC at the time refused to air because he
found it so disturbing... but it's so powerful and brave,
really making one think.

> Thirty-eight years have passed since I first and
> last saw The Prisoner series in its entirety.
> Thinking about that, it would be interesting to
> see what my reaction to the series would be if I
> were to watch it again through my now much older
> (and hopefully wiser) eyes.

Get it and let me know.

> BTW, I caught an episode of The Avengers only last
> week (something about a nutcase with a laser beam)
> on one of the BBC's digital channels.
> Well, would you believe, when Diana Rigg appeared
> on the screen, my glasses did not steam up!
> So, perhaps the time is now right for me to try
> Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, etc.

I do live Rigg and MacNee in "The AVengers." I have
the series and greatly enjoyed watching it again not
too long ago.

You'll have to watch both parts of Alec Guinness'
portrayal of Smiley. They're truly outstanding.

Recently, I watched a British tv production in which
an actor reminded of Guinness. Now, who was that?
Let me go look. Was it Peter Egan as Magnus Pym in
"A Perfect Spy"? I think it was.

Sue