|
Blade on the Feather (ITV, tx. 19/10/1980) is a companion piece of sorts to
Dennis Potter's spy drama Traitor (BBC, tx. 14/10/1971). Both use the
obliquities of the espionage genre to ruminate on such themes as the nature of
loyalty, patriotism, betrayal and concepts of 'family' and honour.
Originally conceived as a cinema film, it was eventually made for ITV
following renewed interest in the Cambridge spy ring after the exposure of
Anthony Blunt as the 'fourth man' in 1979. While Julian Mitchell's Another
Country (d. Marek Kanievska, 1984), a fictionalised portrait of Guy Burgess's
experiences at Eton, took its title from the hymn 'I vow to thee my country',
and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (BBC, 1979) from a nursery rhyme, Potter's spy
drama takes its unusual title from an Eton boating song. The opening titles
interweave through an animated sequence depicting macabre images of death and
decay occasionally twinned with illustrations of traditional British university
life.
The story begins ominously in typical Potter fashion with a clap of thunder
sounding the arrival of a stranger (Tom Conti), who before long gives the father
(Donald Pleasence) the kiss of life, seduces the daughter (Phoebe Nicholls) and
then steps into the shower with the wife (Kika Markham).
Blade on the Feather functions best as a powerful distillation of many of
Potter's favourite themes and ideas. The upper-class traitor who arranges the
murder of a man who knows his secret is taken from Traitor (BBC, 14/10/1971), as
is the assassination scene set during a car ambush. The forceful defence of
England, married to a critique of the British class system, also recalls
Traitor, as well as Message for Posterity (BBC, 1967 and 1994), while the
mysterious stranger who ravishes and destroys a family of three looks back to
Brimstone and Treacle (BBC, 1976). The discovery of Kika Markham's naked
strangled body is almost exactly like the same actress's demise in Double Dare
(BBC, 6/4/1976), while Conti's story about eating fast food is taken from Joe's
Ark (BBC, 14/2/1974).
The production is beautifully realised, thanks mostly to Richard Loncraine's
stylised direction, Jon Costelloe's taut editing and Peter Hannan's sumptuous
location cinematography on the Isle of Wight. The final sting in the tale is
perhaps a bit unconvincing, but it provides additional layers to the theme of
betrayal. Conti and Denholm Elliot shine throughout, while Pleasence is superb in his final scenes of quivering cowardice.
Sergio Angelini
|
1. Young stranger (3:07)
