British TV series or programme
The Brack Report
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Cover of "The Brack Report" novel
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Genre
| Drama
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Screenplay by
| Christopher Penfold
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Starring
| |
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Composer
| Christopher Gunning
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Country of origin
| United Kingdom
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Original language
| English
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No.
of series
| 1
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No.
of episodes
| 10
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Running time
| 60 minutes
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Production company
| Thames Television
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Network
| ITV
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Release
| 6 April
(
1982-04-06
)
?
8 June 1982
(
1982-06-08
)
|
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The Brack Report
is a British television drama series created by
Christopher Penfold
for
Thames Television
looking at
concerns about nuclear power
, and exploring some
alternative energy sources
. It was broadcast over 10 weeks on
ITV
from 6 April 1982 to 8 June 1982 which overlapped with the
Falklands War
.
[1]
It stars
Donald Sumpter
,
Patricia Garwood
and
Jenny Seagrove
.
Plot
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After an earthquake causes some damage to a nuclear power station, one of the chief nuclear physicists, Paul Brack, starts to investigate the safety procedures and policies of the station. He is dismayed to discover that there is a lack of real safety processes at the station, and quits his job in disgust. His disillusionment puts a strain on his relationship with his wife, Pat, a fellow researcher and academic.
Through a mutual friend, Brack meets and begins to work for energy consultant Harold Harlan, with hopes that Harlan can highlight the issue of nuclear safety, and explore alternative energy sources. Unfortunately Harlan has his own plans for how he can use Brack.
Cast
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Episodes
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Production
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Writing
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The show's creator, Christopher Penfold, was previously a writer on
Space: 1999
(a show where a nuclear accident on the Moon causes it to be knocked out of orbit), and he developed The Brack Report as a means of exploring and dramatizing some of the challenges of nuclear power, as well as looking at some of the alternative ways of generating energy.
[1]
Music
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The theme tune was composed by
Christopher Gunning
, who had been composing music for film and TV for twelve years when he completed this piece.
[2]
Other notable work by Gunning includes the themes for
Rogue Male
(1976),
The Day of the Triffids
(1981),
Porterhouse Blue
(1987),
Under Suspicion
(1991),
Lighthouse Hill
(2004), and
La Vie en rose
(2007).
Filming
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Filming of the series took over a year to complete.
[3]
Geoffrey Beevers
, who played Dr. Scheer in Episodes 4 and 7, had to be excused from filming on 17 December 1980 to shoot scenes for the
Doctor Who
serial "
The Keeper of Traken
" which had been delayed due to an electricians strike.
[4]
Some exterior scenes for Episode 7 were filmed in
Tynemouth
, including at
Tynemouth Castle and Priory
. Some exterior scenes for Episode 9 were filmed at the
Rance Tidal Power Station
in Brittany, France. Some interior scenes were filmed at
Pinewood Studios
.
[5]
Broadcast
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Reception
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Creator Christopher Penfold commented that the transmission of the series (6 April to 8 June 1982) "
got absolutely swamped by the
Falklands War
" (2 April to 14 June 1982), and that the show "
would have created a much bigger public stir
" had it not been for that war.
[1]
Episode One was referred to the
Broadcasting Complaints Commission
by the
Central Electricity Generating Board
.
[10]
The
UK Atomic Energy Authority
also expressed their concerns over the series.
[11]
A contemporary review by
Lucy Hughes-Hallett
, writing in
The Times
, noted that the weighty subject-matter made for a ponderous narrative: "
artistically…not a great success
" but allowed that it was "
an…intelligent attempt to tackle a difficult subject
".
[12]
Another contemporary review by Chris Dunkley of the
Financial Times
noted that the show was being broadcast in the same slot that had been previously occupied by drama series
Muck and Brass
(starring
Mel Smith
), and he felt those shows were evidence that
ITV
have a "
sane and admirable new policy of creating modern drama series dealing with contemporary themes
".
[13]
In other media
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Books
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A 192-page novelization of "The Brack Report", written by Patrick Winter, was released on 15 March 1982 by Arrow Books publishers.
[14]
See also
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- The Day After Tomorrow
, a 1975 television drama set in a future where environmental damage on threatens the survival of humanity.
- The China Syndrome
, a 1979 American drama film concerning safety coverups at a nuclear power plant.
- The Chain Reaction
, a 1980 Australian thriller film about an engineer who tries to warm the public about possible nuclear waste
- Dark Circle
, a 1982 American documentary on the connections between the nuclear weapons and the nuclear power industries.
- Silkwood
, a 1983 American biographical film of nuclear whistleblower and labour union activist
Karen Silkwood
.
- The Day After
, a 1983 American television film exploring a potential nuclear exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union.
- Threads
, a 1984 drama television film about nuclear war and its effects on the city of Sheffield in Northern England.
References
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External links
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