…would have been 80 last Sunday.
His plays and films for television were transformative and innovative in the methods of their telling.
In Pennies from Heaven actors mime the words to popular songs.
In The Singing Detective the action spins into multiple layers from the mind of the central character lying in a bed suffering from psoriatic arthritis–a condition that plagued Dennis Potter himself.
In 1978 I was cast as John in Blue Remembered Hills, a film about group of children in the West Country during the Second World War, whose fathers are off at war and who terrorise first a squirrel—then one of their own, whom they christen Donald Duck.
The trick here was that we ADULT actors were to play the seven-year-olds.
Potter’s view of the children’s interaction was dark and the ending is cataclysmic.
Our gang consisted of Colin Welland, John Bird, Michael Elphick, Helen Mirren and Janine Duvitski (whose daughter, Ruby Bentall, touched hearts recently as Verity in Poldark).
Poor persecuted Donald Duck was played by Colin Jeavons.
Before filming started, we spent time observing children–mostly outside school playgrounds–trying to remember ourselves as seven-year-olds.
I learned how quickly children can change mood–be distracted–shift focus.
It was valuable.
Nobody questioned what we were doing, peering through the mesh fence of a school playground—but they might have felt it odd to see a group of grown-ups showing such an unusual interest in children at play.
We couldn’t do it now without going through hoops.
After a week’s research and rehearsal, we assembled for the read through with Dennis Potter in attendance.
We were nervous about this first essay at being seven-year-olds–especially doing it in front of THE AUTHOR.
In rehearsal, we thought our research was paying off—and at least vocally we were finding our “inner” seven-year-olds.
The physical stuff we HOPED would follow from finding the voices.
As the reading ended, seven eager, animated faces turned towards Potter’s end of the table.
“Well, you’ve got it all to do!” was his only comment.
He was right–though a little on the nose–brutal even!
As developing seven-year-olds we got over it quickly and moved down to Mere in Somerset, standing in the Forest of Dean–where Potter grew up and still lived.
On location we looked a strange crew in our boy’s shorts and girl’s dresses.
Michael Elphick and I would saunter down to the local pub after the unit lunch to have a half pint of Guinness, perhaps subconsciously stocking up with a bit of Dutch courage for the no-holds-barred fight we were scripted to have.
Helen and Janine played at being mums wheeling an old pram around taunting the boys.
Colin Jevons skulked in the barn–lonely and miserable, missing his dad.
In a retrospective review for The Guardian in 2008, critic Peter Bradshaw enthused about the film and singled out Colin Jeavons performance.
Ten years after it was first shown, Meredith and I were getting married and our bridesmaid was to be seven-year-old Cait–Meredith’s niece.
Poor Cait wasn’t keen to wear the bridesmaid’s get-up and she had no playmates to keep her entertained.
So to distract her we put on the video of Blue Remembered Hills–all those seven-year-olds, just her age, albeit no Disney film!
It worked–in fact on the morning of the wedding we came downstairs at seven to start making breakfast for visiting family from the States and there was Cait sitting quietly on the floor in front of the television rewatching the film.,
We clearly convinced Cait–but did we ever convince Mr Potter?
Robin Ellis 
Very nice story very nicely told.
Thanks, Bob.
Hi Robin,
I have very fond memories of Blue Remembered Hills. It was one of the best things on TV when I was a child. In fact, now I’m a ‘woman of a certain age’ I think it’s one of the best things I’ve ever seen on TV.
The fact that you were all adults made the story much more powerful: poor Donald Duck!
Love the blog,
Mary
Sent from Samsung Mobile
Thanks Mary–nice that you remember seeing it as a child.
Hello Robin,
Thank you for that wonderful observation on ‘Blue Remembered Hills’ I so enjoyed the play- yet more brilliant writing from Mr Potter. And what a collection of wonderful British actors!! I hadn’t thought of it for some years but your observations brought the production rushing back to me. The expectation of something shocking would happen was so real and made it ‘crackle’
What’s more- it made me think of my brothers- in their grey flannel shorts and knee socks!! A great production. I do hope Mr Potter appreciated such a brilliant ‘ensemble’
Best wishes,
Fran Shaw
Glad it brought back memories, Fran.
Robin I remember watching this, I was fascinated how grown men and women could play at being children I thought it was so clever,and enjoyed the play very much, this to me was real acting with depth
Thanks Elaine–it was out of left field!
How interesting . . . I wasn’t aware of this production, even though I had tried to keep informed about your film biography since POLDARK I. It’s much easier with the internet, naturally, but I’ve honestly never noticed mention of this film before . . . thanks for posting it!
Oh the wonder of youtube…I watched not all but some. How fascinating the fantasy world of youth, and then the harsh reality of…well, reality. Well done. I can not understand how you, Mr. Robin Ellis, did not act in film more. You are marvelous! Very enjoyable to watch…convincing as an actor. Completely played the part of a 7 year-old without a doubt! Many thanks for this blog…I would have never known. On that note, it is hard to believe this was made for TV…..? Some scenes are hard to watch. But now, I want to see the rest.
Thanks, Anne–too kind!
I got a DVD of Blue Remembered Hills and watched it about a year or so ago.. All the performances were memorable, as was the story itself, at once surreal, disturbing, entertaining and thought-provoking. I can’t exactly say it was enjoyable, but it did leave quite an impression and I would watch it again, if only to find whatever I missed below the surface. I can’t imagine how it felt to the cast.
I recall watching this at the time and thinking how clever it was to cast adults as children. I enjoyed it but i found it rather creepy at the same time. No offence to you all though as the acting was amazing. Havent wanted to see it since though if im honest.
Love hearing stories about your past tv roles though, your blog is on my blogroll so i never miss a post.
Gill
Thanks, Jill.
Thank you for posting this. We mustn’t forget Dennis and his work.
Sent from my iPad 🙂
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Robin, lovely article on Dennis. I thought you filmed in the Forest of Dean but if so why did you stay in Mere?
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It was filmed around Mere, standing in for the Forest of Dean, Betsy.
I never heard of this film, but it sounds fascinating!! I just took a look at your IMDb acting credits list and don’t see it listed there at all (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0255065/#actor). What other gems are missing from the list?
My Wiki entry has it–along with other things, Cindy.
It’s there…listed under “Play for Today,” 1979. Maybe Robin could tell us about “Bright Eyes” or “The Waterfall,” sometime??? 🙂
Oh, to be in the same ROOM with Helen Mirren, not to mention the same film! You lucky lucky man!
I must absolutely see this! I am so curious! I have so far watched “Sense and Sensibility”, “The Good Soldier” and “She Loves You”. I would like to see more of your dramatic acting – Shakespeare – but do not know where to find it. We know that you are more than just Captain Poldark!!!! Bravo Robin!
Hi, Robin,
Happy to see you discussing this movie! I liked it in a “Lord of the Flies” kind of way– memorable, heart-breaking, and disturbing all at once…and LOVED how you were all able to “become” those children.
I always wondered a few things, however, and hoping you can explain. (SPOILER ALERT!) First off, I never quite figured out why Mr. Potter chose to have adults portray the children–was it for a more shocking effect when the savagery appeared? Creative & unique, that’s for sure!!
And then, the squirrel scene looked VERY real (animal lover that I am)–was it a prop or road-kill, or just edited really well? Even the fire looked very dangerous–was he in an enclosed set, with glass or something protecting him? I cringed & had to look away at times!
Anyway, you looked every part the schoolboy! Wanted to hug you all, then take a belt to you all, depending on the scene, haha!!
Hope you can tell us!
Cheers & hugs,
Dianne & Gene
Peter Bradshaw in his review goes into why he wanted adults to play them. The squirrel was a prop as far as I remember. The special effects dept of the beeb were/are very adept at making it look real–they burned down Trenwith in the first series of Poldark!
Oh yes, I was so thrilled to see that Trerice was still standing, on our visit to Cornwall in the 90s, because that fire looked so convincing to me back on our TVs when I was a teenager!
I will have to look for this DVD. I loved you in She Loves Me, by the way!
On another note, I had a middle Eastern recipe with red cabbage the other day, and the slightly wilted cabbage had a lovely tangy sweetness to it. Do you think that happened with cooking, or a vinaigrette being added. My plain old US palate couldn’t deconstruct it, so I thought Id ask, just in case you’d ever done something like that?
I guess the vinaigrette did the flavoring, Nancy. What was in it?
That’s a good point! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Hi Robin, was interested to read your blog as earlier this week my granddaughter (age 16) came to borrow Grandad’s sleeveless pullover for a play she was doing for GCSE,English/drama exams. Yes, Blue Remembered Hills is on the school syllabus, these days . How surprised she was when I told her I remembered being broadcast all those years ago!
Great story, Marie–will you be able to see the production?
Unfortunately no,Robin. The school has a wonderful purpose built little theatre but the emphasis is on little. So it is two tickets per pupil ( and Mum and Dad gets those.)
Wow, this sounds amazing! I’ve never heard of it and I can’t wait to see it now! Thank you for sharing this.
I absolutely loved Blue Remembered Hills.
A piece of Dennis Potter at his best and the cast was just superb. Colin Jeavons was so good and Colin Welland ….well, what a lovely actor he was. Its something I watch every year or so, a great piece of British drama with great British actors. Nice to read your article xxx
Hello Robin,
Just taken delivery of the dvd of ‘Blue Remembered Hills’ – so that’s the garden neglected again!!
Regards,
Fran Shaw
Hi Robin
Finally up and running once more with my home internet rather than relying on my work one (brenda.wilkinson@leeds.gov.uk) I was just browsing and saw your recent blog about Blue Remembered Hills
It was so innovative and unusual But so moving too
I loved this I think was about 19 when it was shown on TV
I and my late darling husband loved Dennis Potter’s work
I remember a very poignant and courageous interview he gave just before he died ( Melvin Bragg I think )
Dennis was constantly sipping morphine from a hip flask and talking about his experiences and feelings in the face of almost imminent death He said the Blossom had never been so beautiful or “blossomy” or the sky so blue and that everything was in sharp focus, my husband taped this interview and played it when he too was very ill
I cannot tell you the comfort those words of Dennis gave to my Barry
Time moves on yet all lovely memories are suspended
I am straight off to Amazon to get a copy of Blue Remembered Hills
thank you yet again for reminding me
Salute Dennis Potter
Thanks for this moving comment, Brenda.
Hi Robin
Its a while since I sent a note life has been busy And I tend to retire to a dark room for Wimbledon fortnight
I must not be interrupted at any cost Well it depends whats on offer !
I just wanted to add a rider to the above comments re Blue Remembered Hills
I seem to recall you mentioning you have satellite tv at your home so
I was wondering if you might be interested in a programme that was screened on BBC 2 on Saturday evening 18th July at 9pm UK time
It was a programme about Melvyn Bragg and entitled something along the lines of ” From Wigton to Westminster” Wigton being Melvyn’s home town in Cumbria
And to my delight and sadness part of the programme focused on The South Bank show And the interview with Dennis Potter
It was so moving to see again
I recommend it if you have catch up
Or maybe you had a quiet Saturday evening in abnd caught the programme
Of course I thought of my lovely Barry and was a little sad but I also thought I must tell Robin !
This is turning into quite a missive
I also would recommend , any of Melvyn Braggs novekls if you have not read themm Especially his four autobiographyical ones Starting with a Soldiers return and ending with Remeber Me
He is a superb novelist ,better even than a braodcaster and an interesting public speaker
I saw him at Ilkley Literary Fesval two years ago
I’m off now or this will qualify as a novel
Hope you are having a good summer We had “Le Tour” here in Yorkshire last year, The Grand Depart, the cyclists passed about half a mile from my home on their way to Haworth It was a carnival atmosphere
All best wishes to you and yours
Regards
Brenda W
Thanks for this, Brenda. Melvyn has been a force for years.
Sorry about the typing errors
I was rushing
Hope it makes sense