Budgie

This quirky little series, dating from the early 1970's, established former pop idol Adam Faith as a television talent of some repute, following on from some earlier movie roles which really were only intended to cash in on his popularity as a singing star.

In the early days of rock & roll; following on from the transition of Elvis Presley into a movie actor; no sooner had a good-looking young vocalist managed a couple of hit records, than he would be cast in some, usually forgettable, movie designed entirely around the public perception of his image. Mostly these films were of poor quality, and usually the hapless pop star would be revealed as being way out of his depth in this new aspect of his show business persona. A few singers turned into decent actors; such as Sinatra and Presley; although the choice of acting role was not always entirely to their credit; but most, such as Cliff Richard, Billy Fury, and The Beatles were obviously not intended by nature to be actors. Adam Faith was a different situation entirely. An indifferent vocal talent, but a man of definite intellect, he obviously was aware of his own vocal limitations and set out very deliberately to become an actor; as opposed to being a dodgy singer who occasionally also appeared in dodgy films.

With 'seventies-trendy' longer hair than his former pop star appearance, Faith, as Ronald (Budgie) Bird, is cast as a (very) small-time cockney crook, whose every 'fail-safe' money-making scheme invariably ends in disaster. Occasionally he pays the price for his dishonesty, and stupidity, by a short stretch behind bars; which is indeed where we first encounter this likeable dimwit at the very beginning of the series, in episode 1. Obviously the Soho area of London is Budgie's natural habitat, with its profusion of sex shops, strip clubs, and various dodgy dealings; which is where Budgie is immediately drawn to at every ill-advised opportunity.

Apart from Budgie himself there are three other main characters who make up the nucleus of his world. His sluttish, estranged, wife Jean; his long-suffering girlfriend Hazel Fletcher; and, most crucial of all, Charlie Endell; superbly portrayed, in an unforgettable characterisation, by Iain Cuthbertson. This amiable - but also slightly sinister- individual is everything that Budgie is not. He is successful and rich; through his chain of dirty book shops and sex clubs; and, although not given to random pointless violence, is actually entirely ruthless when provoked; or when the occasion demands; as Budgie himself is fully aware; sometimes to his cost. The interaction between these, the two principle characters, is really what drives the action throughout the entirety of the two series (seasons). This is evidenced by the two episodes in which Endell's character is not featured; which are significantly less watchable than the rest of the series. Cuthbertson is a real scene-stealer, and his rich and colourful staccato Scottish accent was much imitated at the time by schoolboys around the UK. Very possibly he was the actual star of the show, despite Faith's top billing; and there were even some plans to give the character of Charlie Endell his very own series. Although this never did come to pass, his appearance in 'Budgie' was unquestionably vital to the success of what was, in those early seventies, a very widely watched show indeed.

Of the others; unfaithful and feckless wife Jean, is well played, by Georgina Hale, with delightful eccentricity and a memorable squeaky voice. Although only appearing in a few episodes her character is nonetheless valuable to the series overall. She and Budgie can hardly be in the same room for two minutes without antagonising each other; and there is the very definite possibility that her sanity might be a bit iffy; with possibly a touch of sexual sadism/masochism in her unstable personality.

Far more attractive in every way is the only truly sympathetic character in the show; girlfriend Hazel; played by Lynn Dalby; who finds Budgie to be more trouble than he is worth (which isn't much), and yet, for reasons never made quite clear, appears unable to disentangle herself from him entirely. She is also the mother of his child, which obviously forms an ongoing common bond between the pair; but still the viewer is left with the feeling that she could do much better elsewhere. Budgie himself appears almost completely disinterested in his own son, to the extent that the boy is about three years of age before he even discovers what the kid's name is.

Worthy of an additional mention here is Charlie Endell's occasional hired heavy 'Laughing Spam Fritter' (East-end rogues usually did tend toward catchy nicknames), played by John Rhys-Davies, a good ten years before he found greater fame in the 'Indiana Jones' films. He does a welcome occasional turn, whenever Endell wants Budgie leaned on, and can't be bothered to do it himself. 'Laughing S' (as Charlie calls him) is apparently non-malicious in his actions, but simply acts rather efficiently on behalf of his paymaster without resort to conscience either way.

Despite everything, it appears that Budgie's only ongoing connection to anyone is with the (equally self-centred) Charlie Endell. Mostly this is a matter of mutual convenience. Budgie sees the very successful Endell as a possible route to his own financial betterment. Charlie's view of Budgie is more realistic, in that he occasionally employs Budgie to run errands or to be the fall guy for some dodgy deal which might attract unwelcome attention from the cops. When you get right down to it; Budgie is likeable with a thin surface charm, but is also selfish and pretty stupid. This is evidenced by some of the 'crimes' he commits; such as stealing a champion racing greyhound, without asking himself where he can possibly race the dog without drawing attention to the fact that it is very hot property indeed. Another example is stealing a light bulb from its fitting at a semi-deserted railway station, or pilfering a few pens from Charlie Endell's office. On yet another occasion he sinks sufficiently low as to swindle an elderly lady shopkeeper out of just four pounds. True; four pounds in 1971 was worth considerably more than it is now - but even so this is pretty shoddy low-life behaviour.

Although quite decorous by today's dubious standards; for its time this would have been a bit groundbreaking in its (moderately) frank attitudes to subjects like sex, single mothers (Hazel) and Charlie's porno empire. Also, somewhat breaking new ground for the time, was its portrayal of the cops as mostly bent and 'on the take' from rogues such as the prosperous Charlie Endell. Although a corrupt subsection of the London constabulary were perfectly well known (within limited circles) to be getting paid by Soho's porno kings for 'looking the other way', this was nevertheless a side of the police which was largely hidden from the awareness of most people at the time. The common misguided perception would be derived from amiable shows such as 'Dixon of Dock Green', in these years before programs such as 'The Sweeney' came to show an entirely different view of our British cops. But; taken overall; presumably the underlying good humour of Budgie's hapless antics, and Endell's dry, if slightly menacing, charisma, kept it all on the right side of a questionable sort of good taste. Indeed; in re-showings today; it is preceded by far more 'may not be suitable for children' type warnings than anyone ever bothered with at the time.

Faith's performance overall is good and very watchable. He is certainly well cast in playing Budgie Bird; although, to some extent, this set something of a pattern for his persona in future acting roles, such as in the 1974 film 'Stardust', or later on in 'Shady Tales'. Possibly this was the only character he was truly suited for; but if so, then 'Budgie' remains as his lasting memorial, and definitely worth watching again.