Flambards

So glad the "Flambards" 1978 TV series from UK (previously aired on PBS) is available on DVD in 3-disc pack, containing all 13 episodes, 50 minutes each. Not to worry, it's quite easy to be hooked and wanted to, yes, spend time with William and Christina, endearingly portrayed by Alan Parnaby and Christine McKenna. I must say the wonderful music by David Fanshawe, applied to the various moods of the episodes is tuneful - the catchy whistling music, melodic tempo and poignant tones thoroughly enhanced the viewing delight of this series.

My favorite episodes are #7 (The Edge of the Cloud) and #8 (Flying High). You're definitely spending time - flying, too (cross the Channel) with the loving pair of William and Christina, along with the refreshing song being sung: 'I will sing you a song of Christina, Christina at Flambards'. The adaptation from K. M. Peyton's novels is very well done thanks to the efforts of the directors (Lawrence Gordon Clark, Peter Duffell, Michael Ferguson, Leonard Lewis) and writers (Alex Glasgow, William Humble, Alan Plater). The dialogs - the marvelous use of words precisely - are so satisfying to hear Parnaby and McKenna saying them. Sporadically accented are new world vocabulary: subservient, incorrigible, suffragette, emancipated. The two leads are so excellently paired that we're literally in their world sharing the flying adventures, quietly listening to their wooing exchanges. Watching the fantastic foursome interaction of Will and Christina, Dorothy and Sandy, is simply joyous.

It's not just descriptions of Essex, England, where Peyton lived, the horses she loved, the lives people led at Flambards, her references to aeronautical, aerodynamic terms and flying situations sure make one feel informed. If you like flying or the notion there of, Episodes 7 and 8 are definitely fun to watch. Fanshawe's music hauntingly matches the emotional levels of the drama - simply love the lilting piano piece during the "loop the loop".

The series is successful not without an effective cast: Steven Grives as Mark - the other Russell cousin to Christina (who's also in love with Christina but didn't know how to express it), he played Mark so well that he's repelling yet likable at times. Carol Leader as Dorothy, high-spirited and winning smiles, a true girlfriend to Christina and can sure handle Mark. Sebastian Abineri as Dick (Wright, who taught Christina how to ride horses and one of the three men who's in love with Christina at Flambards), Peter Settelen as Sandy at Elm Park, Edward Judd as the grumpy Uncle Russell, Anton Diffring as Mr. Dermot the alternate 'father' to Will, David Huscroft as Joe the mechanic to 'Emma', Frank Mills as Fowler and Rosalie Williams as Mary - the 'staples' at Flambards, Olive Pendleton as Aunt Grace, Gillian Davey as Violet Wright, and young Paul Ahmet as Tizzy.

Truly recommend "Flambards" - enjoy the drama, chemistry of characters, excitement of flying machine ventures, poetry of Peyton's words - a warm-hearted, engaging TV series assured.

I first saw these programmes in 79 when I was 11 years old, I absolutely loved it. I've recently bought the series on DVD, and couldn't wait to get some time to myself to watch each episode. I cant get it out of my head! The story, the music, it's all just wonderful. It's not long since I finished the whole series, and I've already started watching them all again. The locations and costumes were spot on for that period. Looking out now for Alan Parnabys more recent work, he was so good as William Russell I've fallen in love with him all over again! Would love to know more about the actors, where they're from, where they are now, their ages etc. There have been many TV series and films that I've seen over the years, but nothing has got to me quite like Flambards!!

This series is absolutely incredible. For several summers after it came out in '78, PBS would run the entire 13 part series. My sister and I watched it religiously. Then, inexplicably, it seemed to drop off the face of the earth. We were so excited when, years later, A&E ran it, albeit with commercial interruptions and cutting. Even more excited when another local PBS channel aired the complete version of the series. We both have them on tape now and have watched them again, and again... and again. I have read the books by KM Peyton, and although they are very good, this is one instance where the film version surpassed the books. The performances were fantastic. Christine McKenna as the freespirited orphan Christina, Steven Grives is excellent as the naughty, arrogant (but lovable) Mark, and Alan Parnaby as the shy, intelligent William. We watch the characters grow from sheltered teenagers to adults with difficult choices to make. Based on three books, one can almost see the "break" within the series, the first part being Christina's arrival at Flambards, her introduction to horseback riding, her adjustment to living with the crumbly, wheelchair bound Uncle Russell, and the two brothers. Secondly, she falls in love with William and runs off to London with him so that he may pursue his dream of designing airplanes. There they live a relatively carefree existence until World War I approaches and William decides to join the Royal Flying Corps. These characters are so endearing, so lovable; the entire series is beautifully filmed, music and costuming are great, and the "flying machines" are spectacular. What is most astonishing to me is that very few people I've talked to have ever heard of this series, and it is so seldom shown anymore that I doubt if many people will be introduced to it any time soon. Yet, I have actually gotten people ADDICTED to it by watching my videos; in college I would come home from class to find my roommates completely engrossed and watching it for the second, or third time. I do wish that this series would get the recognition it deserves. I believe now that it is available as a video boxed set, which is at least a start, but I believe that PBS should revive this, and other great series from the 70's.

my mom suggested that i might like this show, it had horses and was set in england. i was about 14 or so. and i loved it. but we moved to a place where our PBS reception was terrible (no cable). but every time it came on, i would try to watch it thru the bad reception. it was a happy day for me when i found it for sale.

i find the ending so poignant...mark's thoughts about finally growing up and dick's conversation with christina about inheriting the earth. so much that was lost during WWI, and the hope for the future.

a wonderful coming of age and growing up into adulthood story.

"Flambards" gets virtually everything right; characters that we truly care about, great acting, wonderful music, and a story with twists and turns, skillfully told. But what is does better than anything is truly conjure up the spirit of Edwardian England.

The period around 1910 was one of the great watersheds in history; airplanes, cars, and gramophones heralded a new age, only to have World War One stop everything in its tracks. "Flambards" captures all of this perfectly; the resentment of the old guard, the thrill of the new possibilities (especially for women), and the despair of the war years. Of all of the things about this series, the mood and atmosphere are the best.

As an aside, speaking as an airplane buff, the airplanes are incredible. They are painstakingly accurate reproductions of real types, and it's wonderful to get a chance to actually see in the air types that you've only read about in books.

This is a virtually perfect mini-series, quite possibly the best of its kind ever made. It's that good.