Solo Performance

I thought I owned all the commercially available dvds/videos of Margaret Lockwood until I came across this episode originally shown on "The Human Jungle" TV series on BBC in 1964.Margaret would have been 48 at the time and this TV film seemed semi-autobiographical in part about an ageing actress too old to play the ingénue roles but too young for character parts.Her character, Jean Forrest, becomes depressed and suicidal, hence the need for psychiatry under Dr.Roger Corder (Herbert Lom).Margaret Lockwood actually died of cirrhosis in Kensington, London in 1990 and there is a road named after her at her home in Kingston-upon-Thames.Her character gets the press to smuggle in a bottle of spirits into her private hospital room,in return for an exclusive story.

James Villiers, (a distant ancestor/relation to Charles II), plays a young (24) ambitious theatre director trying to produce his first West-End play, but he has to cope with Jean's psychological problems first.Dr.Roger Corder has the brilliant notion of suggesting to James Villiers of casting Jean's ex-husband's wife (who bears a remarkable physical resemblance to her) in the lead role instead of Jean.This brings about the necessary mental equilibrium in Jean's mind after she comes to terms with her new readjusted self.

I rated this episode 7/10 and earmarked it in my Margaret Lockwood collection for seeing again.In someways she reminds me of my brunette wife - very independent and with an implacable will.

Margaret Lockwood plays ageing actress Jean Forrest who attempts to kill herself. Her new play is about to open in the west end.

Dr Corder is unsure if the attempt was genuine, a cry for help or just to grab some attention.

Jean Forrest is certainly needy, prone to temper tantrums and attention seeking.

Dr Corder has to resort to pull some wily old tricks such as suggesting to the director of the play to replace Jean with another actress.

I wonder if the character of Jean Forrest was based on Margaret Lockwood herself or Elizabeth Taylor.

Lockwood had a reputation of being boozy, it was hard to believe that her character had just turned 40 in this drama.

Still you get a sense of a buzz from the rest of the cast. They seem to be excited that Margaret Lockwood is appearing in the show.

Former stage beauty Jean Forrest attempts suicide, by jumping into The River Thames, she's pulled out, but reluctant to receive anyone's help, Doctor Corder attempts to win her trust.

Another very high quality episode, this second series is proving just as good, if not better than the first, every single storyline has managed to offer something a little different.

The story of life for an actress being incredibly tough once she reaches a certain age, well that has as much relevance now as it did back then, it holds up remarkably well.

What an inspired piece of casting Margaret Lockwood was, she played the troubled actress incredibly well, you really do get a sense of her anguish and despair, a quality performance.

James Villiers put in a good show, always so reliable as the stiff upper lipped, smart, wonderfully spoken Englishman.

Very good episode.

8/10.