Review by granty-95171

Filmed in 1969 in Bolton, Lancashire, this was one of the last of those Northern kitchen sink dramas that charted the ups & downs of working class life in a fast changing society.

James Mason plays Rafe Crompton, an old school, Bible quoting patriarch who finds his authority being challenged by the more liberal attitudes of his children, as his family becomes embroiled in such issues as teenage pregnancy and 'living in sin' in the permissive 60s. Crompton acts like a benevolent dictator, but deep down he's just an old softy who's being over- protective towards his family. Hannah Gordon, Susan George (who was dating footballer George Best at the time), and Rodney Bewes (during the hiatus in The Likely Lads) are the rebellious offspring, and Diana Coupland is 'mother', who manages to bridge the generation gap with warmth and understanding. Honourable mentions to Frank Windsor and Adrienne Posta, who seemed to pop up everywhere during the late 60s/early 70s.

For me, Spring And Port Wine works well as both a gritty drama and an interesting snapshot of a time when pre decimal currency was in its final days as Britain prepared to enter the Common Market.