7.8 /10 1 Votes
6.8/10 TV First episode date 17 October 1980 Number of episodes 13 | 8.7/10 IMDb Genre Drama Country of origin United Kingdom Final episode date 16 January 1981 Number of seasons 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Directed by Ronald WilsonPeter JefferiesTerence Dudley Starring John DuttineFrank MiddlemassAlan MacNaughtonPatricia Lawrence Cast Similar The Duchess of Duke Stre, When the Boat Comes In, The Devil's Crown, The Mallens, Take Three Girls | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To Serve Them All My Days is a British television drama series, adapted by Andrew Davies from R. F. Delderfield's 1972 novel To Serve Them All My Days. It was first broadcast by the BBC over 13 episodes in 1980 and 1981, and in 1982 by PBS in the United States as part of their Masterpiece Theatre anthology series.
Contents
Plot
As in the novel, the protagonist is David Powlett-Jones (John Duttine), a coal miner's son from South Wales, who has risen from the ranks and been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in World War I. In 1918, after being injured and shell-shocked, he is hired to teach modern history at Bamfylde School, a fictional public school in North Devon, in the southwest of England, where he wins the respect and acclaim of colleagues and pupils. He serves under headmaster Algy Herries (Frank Middlemass), forms a friendship with Ian Howarth (Alan MacNaughton) and marries Beth (Belinda Lang). He engages in a long bitter rivalry with the jingoistic science master Carter (Neil Stacy) but the two of them later become friends. Powlett-Jones is eventually appointed headmaster.
Production
The series was filmed over 11 months in 1980, with Devon and Dorset locations including Milton Abbey School in Dorset.
Cast
Reception
Writing for The New York Times, John J. O'Connor described the production as "a richly textured tapestry crammed with the social details that were the speciality of Mr. Delderfield", with "a steady flow of insightful and touching moments". He praised the performances of the cast and that of Duttine in particular.
The adaptation was nominated in the Best Drama Series category at the 1981 British Academy Television Awards and in the Outstanding Limited Series category at the 1983 Primetime Emmy Awards.
DVD release
All episodes of To Serve Them All My Days are available on DVD in the UK and the US.