Cream in My Coffee

After the success of Pennies from Heaven. Program controller Michael Grade enticed Dennis Potter from the BBC to London Weekend Television.

Cream in My Coffee was the first of three productions. This award winning television movie quickly became known for actor Martin Shaw bursting out in song.

Until then he was better known for the hit action show The Professionals. This allowed Shaw to demonstrate his serios thespian skills although Shaw was first to admit he was lip synching the songs.

Shaw had a small but pivotal role as crooner Jack Butcher.

The story is about an elderly married couple Bernard (Lionel Jeffries) and Jean (Peggy Ashcroft) who revisit the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne in 1980. Now slightly faded.

He is bitter, cantankerous and ill. She is put upon and trying to stay positive. Maybe rekindle some better memories.

In 1934 they visited as lovers for a dirty weekend type of stay. Pretending to be a married couple.

However even then cracks in their relationship were evident. Bernard had to suddenly leave after his father suddenly died and spent time consoling his domineering mother who detested Jean for being lower class.

This left attractive Jean at the mercy of nightclub singer Jack Butcher, who consoles her by plying her with booze.

The story is about why the relationship endured and it seems to be more about the guilt carried by Jean. Having had a fling with Jack and Dennis returning determined to marry her. Cutting off the strings with hi mother.

This was not full on Potter. I kept thinking he went to ITV with some unpolished work as he got a good payday. I expected more song and dance numbers.

I did watch bits of this back in 1980. Only watching it properly much later.

In 1980 the older irascible Bernard would had been an age away from as I was just a kid. Now he would only be a couple years older than me.

I know a lot of grouchy people like Bernard in real life. In a few years I would probably end up just like him!

I first saw this when I was seventeen and I have never forgotten it. Lionel Jeffries and Peggy Ashcroft are unforgettable as the old couple who cannot recapture the past. In flashback we see the past wasn't so glorious either: the young Bernard is patronising and class-conscious and Jean is silly and manipulative. Old age has rarely been presented with such honesty. It's a comfort-less film: if it wasn't for Potter's mischievous wit it would be hard viewing, but still compelling. I got a DVD of it, along with Blade On the Feather and Rain On the Roof and they all still hold up today, but I think this is probably the best of the three.