"A Very British Coup" (1988) - left-wing political thriller

[Tummler]

I recommend this prescient television mini-series to any DUers who like such fare.

Courtesy of Amazon.com, here's the description from the DVD publisher:

The taut, powerful, all-too-plausible story about a democracy attacked from within. When plain-spoken, charismatic former steelworker Harry Perkins becomes prime minister in a landslide Labour Party victory, his socialist agenda horrifies the entrenched ruling class and the right-wing media. As Perkins presses ahead with plans to close down U.S. military bases, break up newspaper monopolies and dismantle British nuclear weapons, the establishment and its American allies conspire in a brutal back-room struggle to regain control. Starring Ray McAnally (A Perfect Spy, My Left Foot), this PBS Masterpiece Theatre miniseries won an International Emmy Award, three top British television awards and the Banff Television Festival grand prize.

Perkins, the socialist PM, is a third-generation steelworker. He's smart, honest, and a true man of the people. So, of course, the landslide election of his government causes outrage among the establishment, and they immediately set forth to destroy him through any means at their disposal. His enemies include a vile Murdoch-like media baron, the British military and intelligence communities, the upper ranks of the BBC, a Lieberman-like "moderate" within his own party, and a right-wing U.S. administration. I'd like to say "you won't believe what they throw at this guy," but if you're a regular DUer, you probably will.

More info at IMDb:
http://imdb.com/title/tt0094576/

The TV mini-series is based on a 1982 novel by Chris Mullin -- the British socialist, not the sharpshooting NBA star. Mullin has since become a Labour MP and a minister in the Blair government.

[autorank]

1. Excellent Reference: I saw this and it's great. Just perfect.

[ClassWarrior]

2. This movie is brilliant.

I have the Masterpiece Theatre airing on an old, rickety videotape.

NGU.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. One of my favorite Masterpiece Theatre films ever!

Can you imagine a U.S. television series positing the possibility of a socialist U.S. president? Or even a true populist?

Can you imagine a U.S. television series like House of Cards, in which the man at the top is evil and willing to murder to grab the Prime Minister's position?

Can you imagine comedies like Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, which make fun of politics in general?

I love the Brits.

[WoodrowFan]

6. or Richard III

set in a neo-fascist US like the one starring Ian McKellen set in a pseudo-1930s Britain?? I can see Dubya as Richard.

[JHB]

4. Sounds like the plot against FDR exposed by Smedley Butler...

...adapted for a British audience.

[WoodrowFan]

5. very memoriable

I saw it when it first aired and it stuck with me. VERY well done.

If I remember right there's a scene where he's walking the streets at night and a South Asian man working at a newspaper kiosk tells him "I don't think you're commie scum.".

[Tummler]

7. You remember right

Late in the story, with his government seriously threatened by all the illegitimate right-wing machinations, Harry Perkins pays a visit to Patel, the friendly newsvendor across the street from Harry's prior residence. Patel still believes in Harry despite the "lies" peddled in the right-wing tabloids. He even apologizes for selling the tabloids: "I sell cigarettes too, but I don't smoke."

For anyone who hasn't seen the show, I don't know if "A Very British Coup" is widely available for rental. The DVD is available for $18 shipped from DeepDiscountDVD:
http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=ATL008617

The only significant DVD extra is an old radio interview with Chris Mullin.

[WoodrowFan]

8. Netflix has it.

it's in my queue now.