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This Happy Breed (Classic Radio Theatre)
- Narrated by: John Moffatt, Rosemary Leach
- Length: 1 hr and 26 mins
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This Happy Breed (Classic Radio Theatre)
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Summary
John Moffatt and Rosemary Leach star in this BBC Radio 4 production of Noël Coward’s patriotic play about the ups and downs of a working-class family between 1919 and 1939.
This Happy Breed opens in 1919, when the Gibbons family have just moved to their smart new home in the suburbs of South London. Against a background of social change and national upheaval spanning twenty years, the family celebrate their own triumphs and deal with their personal traumas.
Coward’s moving and humourous production, showing what life was like for a typical suburban family between the wars, was a huge hit and was adapted into a famous 1944 film starring John Mills and Celia Johnson. Among the distinguished cast in this 1989 BBC Radio 4 production are John Moffatt, Rosemary Leach, Anna Cropper and Doris Hare.
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What listeners say about This Happy Breed (Classic Radio Theatre)
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lorraine Skinner
- 15-01-23
This Happy Breed
In some ways better than the film. Having loved the film, I wondered if this would be inferior, just a version to listen to while doing other things.
I was wrong! It absorbed from the get-go. Taking nothing from the audio, having watched the film so many times, I was remembering the film as each scenario played out. Some scenes are longer in the film and some in the audio, but really, there is no competition.
John Moffatt certainly held his own in comparison with Robert Newton as Frank Gibbons, as does Rosemary Leach with Celia Johnson in the role of Ethel.
My favourite line of Frank’s - ‘ Mother didn’t pass on, pass over or pass out; Mother died’ - , will always make me chuckle.
Do buy this wonderful audio; you won’t regret it.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Thamesis
- 02-02-22
A most wonderful adaptation
This is a most wonderful adaptation of a beautifully sensitive and perceptive play. Noel,Coward had the ability to write dialogue - especially for woman - like few others. This is a splendidly touching play, played to perfection by the cast.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- The hon Paul Randolph - Welsby
- 05-02-21
As only Coward could observe it
A nostajgia for a Britain long gone?,
As a child of the fifties much of this play rings true and as much a ' memory ' as though lived through. The people of this story were parents and grand parents of my generation and the turbulence of the first half of the 20th century was still fresh in their minds.
In this grab it now regardless of consequence age of entitlement such a world recreated here is actually to be envied. There was an innocence and naivety then which is entirely gone.
It actually made me want to weep.
Adenda:
Today I recieved a gift of monies from the people of Praze an Beeble collected at the Village Stores to help pay the vetinary fees of my injured Dachshund whom along with his brother is a popular personality hereabouts.
The spirit of yesterday lives in the hearts of my neighbours - God Bless them.
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mgn
- 10-11-16
Wonderful
Brought back happy memories of seeing this as a black and white film. Excellent. Highly recommend.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Max Europe
- 05-12-21
Noel
Excellent
Beautiful acting
Terrific pacing
Sound effects perfect
Noel Coward at his unique best
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Judith Andrews
- 08-07-21
try this play, you won't regret it
loved it! brilliant acting made this play a joy to listen to, really highly recommended
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michael A
- 04-03-20
Between the Wars.
an first class feel good story from the master of an typical English family after the war and the start of another.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lynda Miller
- 28-01-19
Wonderful nostalgia
Takes you back to a time when everything seemed simpler. Wonderful family saga of times between the wars
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Kipundo
- 05-10-17
Brilliant
A pleasure to listen to. One of Cowards Best works. Buy it you will not regret it.
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2 people found this helpful