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The Missing Postman

  • TV Movie
  • 1997
  • 2h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
227
YOUR RATING
James Bolam in The Missing Postman (1997)
ComedyDrama

Clive Peacock is a postman in a small seaside town in Dorset. He's happy in his job and doesn't want it to change. But new technology is being introduced in his sorting office. Since he can'... Read allClive Peacock is a postman in a small seaside town in Dorset. He's happy in his job and doesn't want it to change. But new technology is being introduced in his sorting office. Since he can't drive, and since deliveries by bicycle are deemed to be "old fashioned", he is offered e... Read allClive Peacock is a postman in a small seaside town in Dorset. He's happy in his job and doesn't want it to change. But new technology is being introduced in his sorting office. Since he can't drive, and since deliveries by bicycle are deemed to be "old fashioned", he is offered early retirement. But he doesn't want to retire. On his last day, he collects the post from... Read all

  • Director
    • Alan Dossor
  • Writer
    • Mark Wallington
  • Stars
    • James Bolam
    • Alison Steadman
    • Jim Carter
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    227
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Alan Dossor
    • Writer
      • Mark Wallington
    • Stars
      • James Bolam
      • Alison Steadman
      • Jim Carter
    • 9User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos3

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top Cast51

    Edit
    James Bolam
    James Bolam
    • Clive Peacock
    Alison Steadman
    Alison Steadman
    • Christine Peacock
    Jim Carter
    Jim Carter
    • DS Lawrence Pitman
    Gwyneth Strong
    Gwyneth Strong
    • WPC Rachel McMahon
    Stephen Moore
    Stephen Moore
    • Ralph
    Barbara Dickson
    Barbara Dickson
    • Linda Taylor
    Larry Lamb
    Larry Lamb
    • Trevor Ramsay
    Dave Anderson
    • Roger Gourock
    Martin Ball
    • Simon Maughan
    Dominic Borrelli
    Dominic Borrelli
    • Derek
    Martine Brown
    • Harriet's Mum
    Tessa Burbridge
    • Stripper
    Gareth Corke
    • Mr Brewster
    Mark Cox
    • Scottish Policeman
    Nicky Croydon
    • Jeanie
    Robert Daws
    Robert Daws
    • Peter Robson
    Joanna Dickens
    • Kate Lemsford
    Colin Edwynn
    • Alfie
    • Director
      • Alan Dossor
    • Writer
      • Mark Wallington
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews9

    7.7227
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    10

    Featured reviews

    10trz1951

    Great

    I remember it well even though it's been more than 20 years. I'm watching library copy of "When the Boat Comes In" with James Bolam right now. Superb. Those were the days of superior British productions. The Englishers have acting in their blood.

    Why can't PBS re-run some of those classic shows instead of peats and repeats and re-repeats of its current programming?

    Masterpiece Theater isn't what it used to be, in my opinion. War and Peace, Upstairs, Downstairs, Duchess of Duke Street. I Claudius et al. A Golden era.
    8moaboa

    A Lovely British Production

    I saw this movie divided into a mini-series a couple of years ago and I absolutely loved it.

    The movie's about Clive, who has worked as a postman forever. When he is to be replaced by new technology, he suffers a bit of a black-out. Clive takes his post-bag containing letters for people living all over Britain and gets on his bike to personally deliver them. On his journey he meets people who in different ways affect his life...

    What I liked about this movie was that it was such a nice little story about one man's life. It wasn't any sort of hero-movie; like "will Clive be able to change the whole system and get rid of the machines", it was simply a portrait of one man and his life.
    8keithg1xfl

    Brilliant!

    I'm not normally a Fan of James Bolam, but he was made for this part, Its one of the best pieces of Drama I've seen for years.

    It's the story of a postman forced into retirement by automation, he tries working, in McDonalds, Metal detecting etc, but they are not for him so he decides to deliver his last bag of mail personally, to addresses all over the UK (and even slightly beyond) and the film is about his trials and tribulations on the way.James Bolam should have got an Oscar or whatever because he was brilliant, in fact the whole film was brilliant. Its the sort of story that everyone can associate with

    I just wish they would release it on DVD (or does anyone know something?)
    8mikeiskorn

    Wonderful.

    A beautifully heartfelt story with an all star UK cast. Funny to see Larry and Alison in that one scene together .. who knew years later! Anyway, speaking of the Missing Postman, the idea behind the story, a man not giving up and letting technology take over was done in a very sensitive way. James Bolam portrays his character soo realistic and the scene where he describes how his wife lost their baby was gut wrenching. If you like 90s UK tv shows, you will love this.
    aramis-112-804880

    For James Bolam fans

    James Bolam (looking very old) is a postman who loves his job, being forced into early retirement at fifty-two. His wife (Alison Steadman) doesn't pay him that much attention. His already-retired friend (Stephen Moore) extols the joys of wandering around with a metal detector and working at a hamburger joint to help make ends meet on a pension.

    On his last day, Bolam's postman takes off (with his uniform, and some mail) attracting the attention of the police and, finally, his wife. He also meets up with peculiar people. He also sees the joys and so forth that mail may actually bring (all I ever get is bills). But what will happen when the cops catch up with him?

    A curious piece, indeed. I still don't know what to make of it.

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    Drama

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Holliday Grainger's debut.

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • March 29, 1997 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 2h 34m(154 min)

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