A most unusual children's programme from 1968 with a soundtrack that includes such groups as The Nice (from their album "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack"), Cream, Moody Blues, Pink Floyd, ...to name but a few... to provide incidental music to this rather surreal romp around some of London's better known landmarks. I was particularly intrigued to see these landmarks prior to their surface washing and still grimed by industrial London's fallout; just as I remember as a child.
Shot on location using 16mm film by the company that was eventually to become Euston Films, responsible for such ground breaking film series as "The Sweeney", Van Der Valk and Minder, this is more in the French "La Nouvelle Vague" (not to be confused with the group) mode than traditional English children's television and is a real treat to watch, if only for the Swinging Sixties feel that it generates. A young Candy Glendenning (full Christian name: "Candace" who remains best known for her later work in horror films of the 1970s such as The Flesh and Blood Show, Tower of Evil and Satan's Slave) has more costume changes than Widow Twanky on speed but, considering her age at the time, carries it all off with a good deal of aplomb.
The wonderful Murray Melvin turns in a camper than camp performance as the villain of the piece and whilst the storyline does not really hold together it does deal with some strong themes for a children's series (drug smuggling, stalking) and does, at least, have a climax that tries to explain the adventure which develops over six full episodes.
It is probably because of the 16mm format that it was not "wiped" as so many series from the other British TV channel of the time (the BBC) were and it is a great shame that more of our British television series were not filmed in this way as the BBC would never have been able to wipe them as they so shamefully did to so many of our Nation's great TV dramas and sitcom's.
The child actors are good and very stylish for the period and their homes are to die for and even today would be mouthwateringly expensive. I saw this when I was a London schoolboy, in black and white, of course, and it's a joy to see the series in full colour as it really does add another dimension. Enjoy!
