Jack Rosenthal at ITV

Star Review

A legend among TV writers, Jack Rosenthal scripted many of his best works for ITV. His warm, gentle style added a dash of humour to many early Coronation Street episodes, and his well-observed characterisations and finely-tuned ear for dialogue infused his writing. His wife, Maureen Lipman, starred in many of his best works, including The Knowledge, a witty comedy revolving around a group of taxi drivers. But his two greatest achievements for ITV were Ready When You Are, Mr. McGill, a poignant comedy set around the filming of a TV drama Another Sunday and Sweet F.A. about a referee unpopular with all the football players.

MovieMail on 9th June 2006

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Film Description

One of Britain's greatest dramatists, the award-winning playwright Jack Rosenthal created some of the most critically-acclaimed and popular single plays of the last forty years. Instantly recognisable by their warmth and humour, Rosenthal's scripts were always popular with the viewing public and were invariably big ratings winners. Alongside single plays he also honed his craft on a diverse range of television shows - from Coronation Street (for which he was one of the key writers in the 1960s) to highly-acclaimed comedy and drama shows such as The Dustbinmen, London's Burning and The Lovers (all of which he also created). The contents of this set showcase the diversity and charm of Rosenthal's work, with many of these shows not seen since their original transmission.

Features Another Sunday and Sweet F.A., in which two amateur football teams clash in a local needle match; Ready When You Are, Mr. McGill - a day in the life of film extra Joe McGill; The Lovers, Coronation Street (16 October 1961); Spaghetti Two-Step; Your Name's Not God, It's Edgar; Mrs. Thursday - You Don't Have to Book for Buckingham Palace, in which a cockney charlady becomes the main beneficiary to a retired tycoon's estate; Village Hall - Mr. Ellis versus the People; About Face - Bag Lady - A moving monologue from a female vagrant who lives on London's streets; Village Hall - There'll Almost Always be an England; Pardon the Expression - The First Day and The Headmistress; The Dustbinmen - A skiving bin gang are on high alert when their new Inspector takes an interest;London's Burning: Blue Watch are set off-balance when a female firefighter joins the team; Bootsie and Snudge - Being Nice to Bootsie; Moving Story: Asif's first day on the job as a furniture man is one of enlightenment and discovery; The Knowledge, in which four men attempt to acquire "The Knowledge" and qualify as a London taxi drivers.

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DVD Extras

• 5 discs

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