Talking Heads (Complete)

Synopsis

Twelve short monologues written by Alan Bennett. 1) A CHIP IN THE SUGAR (dir. Stuart Burge): Alan Bennett as a middle-aged man who lives with his mother, and finds her taking up with an old flame; 2) A CREAM CRACKER UNDER THE SETTEE (dir. Stuart Burge): Thora Hird as an independent old lady who has a fall that decides her future; 3) A LADY OF LETTERS (dir. Giles Foster): Patricia Routledge as a woman who believes in keeping people on their toes, and gets hold of the wrong end of the stick; 4) SOLDIERING ON (dir. Tristram Powell): Stephanie Cole as a stockbroker’s widow who finds life stripping her of most of her assets; 5) BED AMONG THE LENTILS (dir. Alan Bennett): Maggie Smith as a vicar’s wife who finds a vision of God at the local off-licence; 6: HER BIG CHANCE (dir. Giles Foster): Julie Walters as a bit-part actress who lands a role in a video drama set on a yacht, a programme aimed at West German viewers; 7) MISS FOZZARD FINDS HER FEET (dir. Patrick Garland): Patricia Routledge as an elderly woman who finds a new interest with her chiropodist; 8) THE HAND OF GOD (dir. Stuart Burge): Eileen Atkins as Celia, an antiques dealer who becomes excited over her ill neighbours possessions; 9) PLAYING SANDWICHES (dir. Udayan Prasad): David Haig as Wilfred, who cleans in public parks and befriends a child; 10) THE OUTSIDE DOG (dir. Gavin Millar): Julie Walters, who keeps her house very tidy; 11) NIGHTS IN THE GARDENS OF SPAIN (dir. Tristram Powell): Penelope Wilton helps in her neighbour’s garden when he gets in trouble with the police; 12) WAITING FOR THE TELEGRAM (dir. Stuart Burge): Thora Hird as an old woman waiting for her second telegram from the monarch.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of production

1988

Notes

Broadcast on BBC1 in 1988.

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Bennett, Alan; performances; television drama; monologues

Credits

Director

Alan Bennett; Giles Foster; Stuart Burge; Tristram Powell

Producer

Innes Lloyd

Writer

Alan Bennett

Cast

Alan Bennett
Julie Walters
Maggie Smith
Patricia Routledge
Stephanie Cole
Thora Hird

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£24.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

428 minutes

Year

2008

Sections

Title

Chip in the sugar, A

Title

Cream cracker under the settee, A

Title

Lady of letters, A

Title

Soldiering on

Title

Bed among the lentils

Title

Her big chance

Production Company

Name

BBC Television

Distributor

Name

2 Entertain Video

Email

DVDenquiryline@bbc.com

Web

http://www.2entertainvideo.co.uk/ External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7612 3000

Fax

020 7612 3003

Address

BBC Worldwide
33 Foley Street
London
W1W 7TL

Notes

Specialises in distributing archival film and television titles, predominantly licensed from the BBC (the principal shareholder is BBC Worldwide). Sale on DVD through retail outlets. As of 2016 2Entertain is being gradually wound down and its output reduced. If something is not available via them it is advisable to try the BBC Store at https://store.bbc.com/

 

Available from retail outlets