Powerful stuff. The standard of acting was so much better in those days.

Absolutely brilliant. I am so grateful that I grew up with television of this standard. I was 14 when this aired and would have watched it then. In those days TV progs could change your life. I would be utterly absorbed in a programme. Intent upon it. Then go up to bed and feel nourished by its quality and substance - truly food for thought. God we were so lucky.We have gone backwards.

The forever brilliant Peter Barkworth ❤️ one of the joys of tv back then was seeing him on screen. Masterful actor enjoy all his work have watched many times

Peter Barkworth was always an excellent actor, with terrific timing, and he was my favourite......he is very much missed these days.....quality acting!! I could watch this play over and over again!! Patricia Pennefather,

Great seeing a fellow Child Actor Joshua Le Touzel (David) and his older sister Sylvestra Le Touzel(Paula) in this, as I remember them well from our time together at he Famous Barbara Speake Stage School, where we trained, and got to work on so many TV/Film & Stage Productions over the years, and Dear Peter Barkworth, a lovely man, I remember with much affection, as a child, as he was a family friend of my Mum so we used to chat on the phone often, so many of us from Barbara Speakes worked on BBC Productions , throughout the 1960's/70's and beyond, But so many of the early Drama Series have been lost, re-recorded over or scrapped by the BBC, so seeing this gem from the past was Wonderful, especially with the Studio ident board at the start, and time count clock, I remember those well, and fun times working at the old BBC TVC Studios at White City, on so many Productions like, Headmaster,1976, Fathers And Families 1977, Grange Hill, 1977, All Creatures Great & Small, 1978, To A Manor Born 1978 Little & Large Shows 1979, To Serve Them All My Days 1980, Dr Who 1989 , To name just a few, very happy times indeed, and working with so many Big Stars in the industry, was a true privilege, Stuart Fanning: thanks for this and the Segue I, loved seeing both of them.♥

Excellent writing, directing and acting. thanks for posting it. It reminds us that, although technical quality of TV production has improved immensely over the years, the writing and acting back then was superb. what an intelligent actor Peter Barkworth was. I believe he went on to teach acting. I had the privilege of meeting him ,briefly. He had a very natural charm R I P

I can relate to this kind of Christmas gathering , as the child I was back in the 60's and 70's. Peter Barkworths character here reminds me a bit of my dad . And the young boy , me . Very good acting and script... 👌 🇬🇧🆓❓

Amazing how quickly people aged back then, Barkworth's character is put at 43 in this. If you saw someone looking like him in the street today you would assume they were 60+.

What a great joy to watch such excellent acting, brilliant story, and hugely relatable, even I. 2021! Thank you for this great entertainment. Patricia Pennefather

I really enjoyed this. I had only seen Peter Barkworth previously in an episode of Shadows of Fear so I knew I was in for a treat with this play. Great performances all round, you can feel the simmering tensions of intrigue, class differences, family conflicts.

I am really enjoying this episode and i just realised it features the same family who appeared in The Country House Hotel episode! These types of lovely plays redmind me of Abigail's party and the 1989 tv series, A bit of a do! Good fun to watch albeit featuring very deep plots which i like! Incidentally Judi Bowker who plays the role of Emma, starred in Black Beauty back in 1973. The lad who played the role of Simon, was always on tv when i was about 12 or 13 and i used to have a real big crush on him! He looked just like my late beloved hubby, Tony when i first met him. I preferred this type of look on a lad when i was a teenager. Kind regards from The UK. xxxxx

Richard's speech was perfect at the end. I like to think he did go on to "Make things", and that his eldest son and his daughter stood by him.

I grew up in 70s London but this was a world away from my upbringing. But found it fascinating and enjoyable to watch.

I am a little young to have seen this era of broadcasting, but I’m having a wonderful time discovering gems like this. Peter Barkworth is one of my favourite actors. He is superb in the series Manhunt.

Peter Barkworth was a great actor

Excellent play, delighted to see it again after 45 years. I remembered it because I was in stockbroking (only a clerk) and was made redundant in the 1974 bear market. Though I think the sequel was tame by comparison.

Just found really excellent drama so enjoyable pure class thank you very much .

Thank you for sharing the inner child may always cry about it but you as a grown man can protect and share just as you have been doing. Be your own hero now. Aw I’m sorry that you were treated so disgracefully. I hug the little boy in you.

Thank you Stuart Fannng!!! Excellent Choice!!!!

Amazing!Especially in 2023 AD

As a Buñuel admirer, I do keep entertained about the bourgeoisie's decadence in all its hypocritical facets. Splendid cast. Superb TV program by far.

An absolutely excellent , professional production!!!! Seemless continuity at the party, which is almost impossible to create!!!

death of a salesman -- excuse me, stockbrocker.

Ha ha ...just watched the 'Country Party' made 3 years after this one . At least I know where the future lays for them both ...🤔

nothing wrong with being a chutney person🍅

Very good play!

Excellent episode!

Thank you Stuart Fanning.

struth....thats a 70's expletive...imagine having to go as low as inviting the gardener and his wife to your xmas party !

"I'm very sad to tell you that Sarah isn't a nymphomaniac."

Poor Richard rejected by his youngest snobbish son for becoming redundant. Send him to the nearest state comprehensive, where he might just develop some understanding of life.

many thanks for posting.

Wow. Excellent Xmas viewing

Excellent. Thank you.

Fabulous ! Thank you

Legend.

Everyone looked 10 years older

Judi Bowker about as delightful a sprite as can be found on film!

43! He looks 63.

You can find Emma/ Judi Bowker in the Adventures of Black Beauty on YT.

Really enjoyed this thank you

Arrrggghh why the timer??

So delightful. Drama at its best

Ah, the days of velvet jackets, cravats and voluminous dresses! Not sure what's worse, that or the drainpipe trousers, shrunken jackets, tan leather clown shoes and no dresses, to speak of, prevailing today. The false sincerity and status sniping is still very much in vogue though!

I gave it a like for the theme tune.

A good one.

wretched excess I believe is the phrase. This is brutal.

Do yourself a favor and search for The Country Party where there is a whole update - I watched it first. A fascinating story. I wish somebody would make this story into a film.

Another I really admired, is how Myles Hoyle played Gerald. And what a set of pipes! Evidently, he hasn't been on film in many years. Working on stage, perhaps?

40 minutes i and I am enjoying the oarty!!!

Why would a mature adult take to heart a naive comment from a v young, innocent & confused child? Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he could have given him some hope for a wonderful future together. Excellent play on all counts. Ty.

18:45 - “It’s important for everyone to their place, everyone should keep it.” Look who’s talking.

I’d have said to that little fella “ if I wasn’t any good at my job , we wouldn’t be here in this huge house with its grounds & you would be at the local comprehensive school because if things depended entirely on current merit like pop music sales where would half the population be ?

Good Play Rotten Party

knee-deep in chutney

Watched the second one first, wrong way round, watch the other one first.

wish I could find the party music.

Indeed!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Wow an old interesting play, so let’s stick a distracting annoying clock on it!!!

70s middle class angst! Difficult to feel sypathy for the poor rich ... Love the twenty something's playing teenagers but Barkworth was a great actor!!

No fuss TV, it's all reality & black lives matter saturate the airways tv now. And adverts that I think I'm living in Africa.

What's with the countdown timer right on the screen???

Enjoyed the play 50:12 50:13

No vulgar language or awful sex scene..

54:35

Amazing how many women seem to leave their husbands when the money starts running out …….they don’t stand by their man…….the stand by a certain lifestyle ……..

That girl is 17 going on 40.

15p ,,,,,,,,,,,,

Disaster!

Fascinating to have a glimpse into the world of the upper classes.

Poor Mr Jones - that was appalling how that chap treated hm. As Richard said, fools are revealed.

Jane is beautiful. Not sure what Richard is thinking.

I loved Simon as Catweazle's mate.