An Englishman's Castle
Encyclopedia
An Englishman's Castle is a BBC
television serial first broadcast in 1978 which was written by Philip Mackie
. The story was set in an alternate history 1970s, in which Nazi Germany
has won World War II
and occupied England
. Peter Ingram (Kenneth More
) is a writer for a soap opera (which is also called An Englishman's Castle), which is set in London
during The Blitz
and subsequent Nazi occupation.
He is oblivious to Nazi rule, which is hidden behind a facade of seemingly normal English daily life. As is mentioned in historical references, the occupation was followed by several years of guerrilla warfare, which culminated in an amnesty which enabled the resisters to resume normal daily life in return for accepting the reality of German occupation - which they generally did, feeling that further resistance was futile.
The series takes place in the 1970s of this timeline, parallel to the time it was made. A kind of normality was restored, with few Germans to be seen in the streets, and German rule being maintained mainly through an extensive system of collaborators. When dissidents are detained it is done by polite, soft-spoken English police - but they are then delivered to horrible torture in Gestapo
chambers which are kept discreetly out of sight.
Ingram gradually becomes aware of the real state of things. First, he encounters his superiors' firm objection to the inclusion of the Jewish character in the series. Having such a character would violate the official policy of letting the extermination of the Jews remain a secret which nobody talks of openly. Then, Ingram discovers that the woman he is involved with is a hidden Jewish member of the Underground. Eventually, his loyalties are tested and he sides with the resistance. In the closing scenes of the final episode, an anti-Nazi revolution
/rebellion
breaks out. Ingram loads a gun and awaits his fate, which is undisclosed.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television serial first broadcast in 1978 which was written by Philip Mackie
Philip Mackie
Philip Mackie was a British film and television screenwriter. He was born in Salford in Lancashire, England...
. The story was set in an alternate history 1970s, in which Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
has won World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and occupied England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Peter Ingram (Kenneth More
Kenneth More
Kenneth Gilbert More CBE was a highly successful English film actor during the post-World War II era and starred in many feature films, often in the role of an archetypal carefree and happy-go-lucky middle-class gentleman.-Early life:Kenneth More was born in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, the...
) is a writer for a soap opera (which is also called An Englishman's Castle), which is set in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during The Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
and subsequent Nazi occupation.
He is oblivious to Nazi rule, which is hidden behind a facade of seemingly normal English daily life. As is mentioned in historical references, the occupation was followed by several years of guerrilla warfare, which culminated in an amnesty which enabled the resisters to resume normal daily life in return for accepting the reality of German occupation - which they generally did, feeling that further resistance was futile.
The series takes place in the 1970s of this timeline, parallel to the time it was made. A kind of normality was restored, with few Germans to be seen in the streets, and German rule being maintained mainly through an extensive system of collaborators. When dissidents are detained it is done by polite, soft-spoken English police - but they are then delivered to horrible torture in Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
chambers which are kept discreetly out of sight.
Ingram gradually becomes aware of the real state of things. First, he encounters his superiors' firm objection to the inclusion of the Jewish character in the series. Having such a character would violate the official policy of letting the extermination of the Jews remain a secret which nobody talks of openly. Then, Ingram discovers that the woman he is involved with is a hidden Jewish member of the Underground. Eventually, his loyalties are tested and he sides with the resistance. In the closing scenes of the final episode, an anti-Nazi revolution
Revolution
A revolution is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time.Aristotle described two types of political revolution:...
/rebellion
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
breaks out. Ingram loads a gun and awaits his fate, which is undisclosed.
Cast
- Kenneth MoreKenneth MoreKenneth Gilbert More CBE was a highly successful English film actor during the post-World War II era and starred in many feature films, often in the role of an archetypal carefree and happy-go-lucky middle-class gentleman.-Early life:Kenneth More was born in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, the...
--Peter Ingram - Isla BlairIsla BlairIsla Blair is an India-born actress of British descent. She made her first stage appearance in 1963 as Philia in the London debut of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and her first credited film appearance in the 1965 horror film Dr. Terror's House of Horrors.- Biography :Isla Blair...
--"Sally" - Anthony BateAnthony BateAnthony Bate is an English actor.He is possibly best known for his role as Oliver Lacon in the BBC television adaptations of the John le Carré novels Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People....
--Harmer - Kathleen ByronKathleen ByronKathleen Byron was a British actress of stage, screen and television.-Early life:Byron was born Kathleen Elizabeth Fell in West Ham – now in the London Borough of Newham...
--Mrs. Ingram - Noel DysonNoel DysonNoel Dyson was an English actress. Dyson appeared in a number of films but is best remembered as a versatile television actress who became a very familiar face to British viewers in a career spanning almost 50 years...
--"Mrs. Worth" - Rob EdwardsRob Edwards (actor)Rob Edwards is a British actor.His television credits include: Doctor Who , An Englishman's Castle, Secret Army, The Fourth Arm, By the Sword Divided, The Practice, Casualty, A Touch of Frost, Dangerfield, Midsomer Murders and Dalziel and Pascoe.He attended RGS...
--"Bert" - Fiona Gray--Susan
- Nigel HaversNigel HaversNigel Allan Havers is an English actor. He is probably best known for his BAFTA-nominated role as Lord Andrew Lindsay in the 1981 British film Chariots of Fire, and for his role as Dr. Tom Latimer in the British TV comedy series Don't Wait Up...
--Mark Ingram - Peter HughesPeter Hughes (actor)Peter Hughes is an English actor.Hughes has extensive film, television and theatre experience as a character actor. In the 1950s he was a stalwart of the Richmond Theatre repertory company with actress Anne Ridler...
--"Mr. Worth" - David MeyerDavid MeyerDavid Meyer is an English actor. He is the twin of Anthony Meyer who has often appeared alongside him in film.Meyer is best known for appearing as a henchman in the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy as a circus performer with a talent for knife throwing alongside his twin. In the film the twins were...
--Henry Ingram - David Roy Paul--Headwaiter
- Brian Peck--Jimmy
- Philip BondPhilip Bond (actor)Philip Bond is a British actor best known for playing Albert Frazer in 24 episodes of the 1970s BBC nautical drama The Onedin Line....
--Inspector - Anthony Stafford--"Frank"