Underplayed Gems

Laurence Olivier Presents (1976)

Laurence Olivier Presents poster
Genre
drama television series
Country
England
Length
2 seasons, 6 episodes
Rating
7.0 of 10 from 1 voters
The 3D catalogue: film cases on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalogue in 3D

The film shelves have a room of their own that you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real films from the same catalogue when you tell them what you feel like watching. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this series is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

This British anthology series adapts stage plays for television. Each episode presents a different story with famous actors including Laurence Olivier.

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What happens

Laurence Olivier Presents is a British television anthology series made by Granada Television which ran from 1976 to 1978. Olivier said "I have stood out stiffly and coldly and pompously about TV for too long". The plays, with the exception of Hindle Wakes, all starred Laurence Olivier. Some of the plays were based on productions staged at the National Theatre during the period when Olivier was Artistic Director. In addition to distinguished English actors, the casts assembled for these productions included several Hollywood stars, such as Natalie Wood, Robert Wagner, Joanne Woodward and Maureen Stapleton. The individual plays adapted for television were: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams Starring Natalie Wood as Margaret, Robert Wagner as Brick, Maureen Stapleton as Big Mama Pollitt, Mary Peach as Mae, Jack Hedley as Gooper and Olivier as Big Daddy Pollitt The Collection by Harold Pinter Starring Alan Bates as James, Malcolm McDowell as Bill, Helen Mirren as Stella and Olivier as Harry Hindle Wakes by Stanley Houghton Starring Donald Pleasence as Nat Jeffcote, Rosemary Leach as Mrs. Jeffcote, Jack Hedley as Chris Hawthorn, Pat Heywood as Mrs. Hawthorn and Roy Dotrice as Sir Timothy Farrar Come Back, Little Sheba by William Inge Starring Joanne Woodward as Lola, Carrie Fisher as Marie, Patience Collier as Mrs Coffman, Nicholas Campbell as Turk and Olivier as Doc Daphne Laureola by James Bridie Starring Joan Plowright as Lady Pitts, Arthur Lowe as Gooch, Grégoire Aslan as George, Clive Arrindell as Ernst, Bryan Marshall as Vincent and Olivier as Sir Joseph Saturday, Sunday, Monday by Eduardo De Filippo. Starring Joan Plowright as Rosa, Frank Finlay as Peppino, Edward Woodward as Luigi and Olivier as Antonio (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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