Babs

DavidKlyne
DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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edited May 2017 in Entertainment #1

I wonder if anyone else watched this programme about the early life and career of Barbara Windsor? I thought it was cleverly done with some excellent performances from the actors portraying her at various stages in her career. More to her than than just the Carry On films.

David

Comments

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited May 2017 #2

    No I didn't watch it, because I cannot stand the woman.

    No reflection on the quality of the production or the actors involved.

    But really, this is someone who has only ever played two known parts - the dizzy blonde who was willing to take her clothes off in cheap films and many years later, a raucous bar maid in a soap opera full of rubbish actors, which will employ anyone with a London accent.

    The BBC describe her as 'the nation's favourite'. Which nation? Albania?

  • triky auto
    triky auto Forum Participant Posts: 8,690
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    edited May 2017 #3

    wink ,, Well said IanH.surprised.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383
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    edited May 2017 #4

    I watched it but from what I remember from reports years ago, I think  it glossed over some of the more seedier bits of her life. Either that or the press reports at the time were greatly exaggerated.

    peedee

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5

    Peedee

    At least your watched itwink It matters not to me whether someone is generally liked but more a case of how the programme was produced. As I said previously I thought it was clever in how it was done and the the three actors playing the role from childhood to late adult did really well. 

    David

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited May 2017 #6

    I'm afraid we watched about twenty minutes, and then gave up on it. Whilst the actors may have been good, t I thought the presentation was muddled, because of the changes from childhood to a young(ish) woman, then an older woman, and even Barbara Windsor playing herself, and then back again.  Or even the characters looking 'in on themselves' as someone of a different generation.  Just too confusing for me, I'm afraid, so I lost interest and turned over.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited May 2017 #7

    David - I don't have to 'like' the subject matter to be interested in their lives.

    I have read about 20 books about Lance Armstrong and at least 10 books about Steve Jobs. I doubt that I would have liked either of them if I'd been lucky enough to meet them. But their achievements were massive and their lives were fascinating.

    Not so with this bit-part actress, I'm afraid.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #8

    Ian

    You are of course entitled to your view but what we are discussing here is the programme not really Barbara Windsor as such. Personally I am fairly neutral on her as a person but I thought the way it was tackled as an entertainment was interesting with some good performances. Others clearly have alternative opinions.

    David

  • Morris Traveller
    Morris Traveller Forum Participant Posts: 56
    edited May 2017 #9

    There are dramatisations of aspects of the lives of 'real' people which are fascinating, whether or not one admired the person featured. Not particularly liking Cilla Black, none the less we did enjoy the TV series where Sheridan Smith portrayed Cilla, brilliantly.

    Having seen the National Theatre play "Cleo , Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick" with Samantha Spiro as Barbara Windsor, we were interested to see how this TV play would pan out.  The "how it's done"  can have more interest than the "who is featured". But we were disappointed as the story line was, to us, confused and lacked clarity. This was not good drama.

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
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    edited May 2017 #10

    We did watch the programme but found it disappointing.For me Barbara Windsor has never been anything special but thats just my opinion.

    v9