Last night I settled down to watch the episode of Foyle's War which I had taped on Sunday. There are so few good series on TV with the high quality of acting and production values so when they do come along they need to be cherished. This programme is such an one.
Not quite sure how long it has been going, probably three or four years, but because each series is no longer than six episodes and time and care is taken, it feels as if it has been round for longer than that. I have seen many of the episodes more than once and each time it is a pleasure to see them again as they are cast from strength from the magnificent pool of British actors who may not be Hollywood superstars, but are the goods, the real thing.
Last night's episode centered around the apparent suicide of a young, troubled map maker who had struggles with his conscience as he knew that the maps he was helping produce were going to the RAF bombers who were strafing German cities in the last year of the war in order to bring Hitler to admit defeat and surrender. Not a story that galloped along, no need to, but gradually unfolded and so well acted that I forgot it was acting, the players inhabit their characters with such total commitment.
Michael Kitchen - difficult to explain really what is so magical about him. At first sight, he is a fairly short undistinguished, balding, middle aged actor with very little allure, and yet once you start to watch him, it is difficult to leave off. Every quiet sentence, every raised eyebrow, every little twitch or move met of his eye, totally fascinating. He also has a beguiling speaking voice. In last night's episode, he was joined in a few scenes by another Michael, Michael Jayston who I remember first seeing in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy over thirty years ago, another actor with a beautiful speaking voice.
This series has raised the issue time and time again of the importance and attitude towards crime during the War, that there were bigger things to fight for and domestic offenses, even murder, were somehow obliterated in the greater need. Chief Inspector Foyle thought otherwise so often clashed with authority which is, of course, a standard ploy for all good detectives on the television. I well remember in an early episode how a murderer was exposed who Foyle was forced to let go back to the US as he was an extremely important person involved in intelligence work, and as this man headed for his plane Foyle stopped him.
"You are a murderer and the war is on. The war will end one day and things will change, but you will still be a murderer and I will come and find you"
I have paraphrased, but I remember well how he delivered these lines and it was compelling stuff.
Only two more episodes to go and then that is the end. Apparently, the producer of the series was told rather abruptly that there will be no more and he is at a loss to know why. Seems a shame but we can look forward to the complete Foyle on DVD in the future and I shall have great pleasure in buying these to savour for a long time to come. As with the Tinker Tailor series this kind of acting does not date.
