Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > "Play for Today" Hard Labour (1973)
Prev | 61 of 309 Episodes | Next

"Play for Today" Hard Labour (1973)


Photos (see all 3 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   87 votes
Director:
Mike Leigh
Writer:
Mike Leigh (deviser)
Contact:
View company contact information for Hard Labour on IMDbPro.
Original Air Date:
12 March 1973 (Season 3, Episode 20)
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Plot:
A quiet and put-upon house cleaner breaks her silence. full summary | add synopsis
User Comments:
Shockingly bleak brilliance from Mike Leigh more

Cast

 (Episode Cast) (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)
Liz Smith ... Mrs. Thornley
Clifford Kershaw ... Jim Thornley
Polly Hemingway ... Ann

Bernard Hill ... Edward
Alison Steadman ... Veronica
Vanessa Harris ... Mrs. Stone
Cyril Varley ... Mr. Stone
Linda Beckett ... Julie

Ben Kingsley ... Naseem
Alan Erasmus ... Barry
Rowena Parr ... June
June Whitaker ... Mrs. Rigby
Paula Tilbrook ... Mrs. Thornley's friend
Keith Washington ... Mr. Shaw
Louis Raynes ... Tallyman
Alan Gerrard ... Greengrocer
Diana Flacks ... Mrs. Rubens
Patrick Durkin ... Frank
Ian East ... Dick
Dennis Barry ... Old Man
Sonny Farrar ... Publican
Surya Kumari ... Sikh Lady
Irene Gawre ... Sister (as Irene Gawne)
Hal Jeayes ... Priest
Create a character page for: ?

Episode Crew
Directed by
Mike Leigh 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Mike Leigh  deviser

Produced by
Tony Garnett .... producer
 
Cinematography by
Tony Pierce-Roberts (photography)
 
Film Editing by
Christopher Rowlands 
 
Production Design by
Paul Munting 
 
Costume Design by
Sally Nieper 
 
Sound Department
Richard Manton .... sound (as Dick Manton)
Dave Baumber .... dubbing mixer (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Roy Baker .... production team
Roger Bamford .... production team
Irene East .... production team
Spike Hughes .... production team
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
70 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful:-
Shockingly bleak brilliance from Mike Leigh, 31 August 1999
10/10
Author: simon-118 from London

A classic BBC Play For Today from the days when televsion still provided a forum for this sort of comment, one that directly screamed at its audience in defiance. Hard Labour is chiefly noticeable for an excellent cast and several superbly staged scenes. Clifford Kershaw turns in a very different performance to his usual lonely old man role. Two of the finest scenes are the love scene and the clocking on at work. The "Love scene" is really anything but, as Jim returns drunk and unbearably loudly undresses while his wife sleeps. Then he forcefully has sex with her. Leigh's brilliance comes in keeping the camera away from the events, lingering almost asleep on the pillow so we feel powerless to stop the horrible events. Another fine scene is where Jim arrives to his nightshift and talks to his supervisor, a scene that goes through numerous subtle psychological changes. Also of note is Louis Raynes fine turn as the tallyman and one of the plays more klikeable characters in the form of Ben Kingsley. One excellent feature of this play is that it could be set anytime in the last 100 years. It is 1973 but for a long time early on could be almost Victorian so horrendous are the lifestyles. Producer Tony Garnett commented in the Radio Times before broadcast "If you are not shocked by this play, you have already been brainwashed." Bring back Play For Today!!

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for "Play for Today" (1970)

Related Links

Main series Episode guide Full cast and crew
Company credits External reviews IMDb TV section
IMDb Drama section IMDb UK section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.