Ready When You Are, Mr. McGill
- Episode aired Jan 11, 1976
A film extra has won a chance for the big break in his career. He has two crucial lines in a television film, but nothing goes according to plan.A film extra has won a chance for the big break in his career. He has two crucial lines in a television film, but nothing goes according to plan.A film extra has won a chance for the big break in his career. He has two crucial lines in a television film, but nothing goes according to plan.
Storyline
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- Quotes
[Phil Parish rebukes Joe McGill because he has fluffed his lines yet again]
Phil Parish - Director: You had *two* lines to do, Mr McGill. Two! And you couldn't.
Joe McGill: It was the thirteenth take.
Phil Parish - Director: Do you know why you couldn't, Mr McGill? Because you're no bloody good. And *that's* why you're an extra. A stupid, lousy extra!
Joe McGill: You don't know that I'm stupid - no good at anything. You've only really met me today. I might be very good, for all you know.
Phil Parish - Director: Mr MrGill, you had *one* important thing to do - and you couldn't.
Joe McGill: That's not real life, lad. That's pretend. We're *all* pretending. *You're* pretending, the whole damn-fool play's pretending.
[pause]
Phil Parish - Director: Real life is how well you pretend, isn't it, sir?
[Joe McGill looks sheepish and crestfallen]
- ConnectionsFeatured in TV Heaven: TV Heaven 1976 (1992)
Writer Jack Rosenthal and Director Mike Newell brought this wonderful film to our screens back in 1976 as part of ITV's series of single dramas.We follow the day in the life of a quiet,middle aged Television extra, Joe McGill, from the time he gets up on the day of the shoot(He's reading his one line of dialogue prior to his alarm clock ringing) to the time he gets home from a disastrous days filming to inform his Wife he's had a wonderful time!We also meet the cold,tired and miserable TV crew as they leave Granada Studios in Manchester for the suburban location that will act as a Village street in 1940. The fictitious drama they're shooting involves a British Soldier and his relationship with the suspicious School Mistress.Is she a German spy?We're never told,but the threads are there which is all we need to know.Apart from the cold and wet, it's obvious the Crew are reaching their wits end.They're bored with the production and seem totally uninterested with what appears to be a dreary wartime drama.The last thing they need is Mr. McGill.He has one line to say to the British Soldier, but every time they try to do a take something goes wrong. Tempers eventually explode in a remarkable and shocking way. Ultimately, this comedy slowly edges towards a darker finale exploring peoples fragile relationships in the work place, leaving them wondering what the whole point of their reason-detre actually is.Great performances all round,a wonderfully observed insight from Rosenthal and tight direction from Mike Newell(who later went on to direct Four Weddings and a Funeral).
- ajrfx
- Mar 15, 2000
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