Before I order yet another dvd compilation, was the Dick Turpin series from the 70s/80s as good as I remember? Starred Richard O'Sullivan (whatever happened to him?)
I just about remember this series, but don't recall it inspiring me to dress up as a highwayman and I always dressed up as favourite characters from film and TV when I was tiny.
I've been watching re-runs of 'I, Claudius' recently and am surprised how stagey and hammy it looks compared with modern TV drama. Was Dick Turpin the same, I wonder?
As for Richard O' Sullivan himself, he is living in a nursing home for actors after suffering a stroke in 2003.
In my opinion NOTHING ever turns out as good as you remember it. My childhood memories of "The singing Ringing Tree" was spoilt by watching it again years later. However, that's me - I can be a bit too fussy at times, and as said, if it's cheap enough, do it.
As Xanthippe says, 1970's TV looks different by comparison to today's TV.
However, Dick Turpin ( as far as I remember ) was shot on film, whereas I, Claudius was studio-bound ( again, from what I remember ), so the approach to the directing was often very different.
Sometimes those old series do stand the test of time.
Catweazle ( shot on film )stands up very well I think.
I think your appreaciation will be in relation to how much you loved the show when you originally saw it.