Dennis Potter at London Weekend Television [DVD]

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Six television plays by the controversial and award-winning writer Dennis Potter. In 'Blade On the Feather' (1980), a reclusive writer who lives on a secluded estate is visited by a young man who cls to be an admirer of his work. As the two men get to know each other, it becomes clear that the purpose of the young man's visit is to uncover a dark secret in the writer's past. In 'Rain On the Roof' (1980), a dysfunctional couple is slowly being torn apart by adultery and jealousy. When Janet (Cheryl Campbell) starts flirting with the simple-minded Billy (Ewan Stewart), while giving him a reading lesson as a form of revenge against her philandering husband, Billy begins to take out his own resentments and frustrations against John (Malcolm Stoddard). In 'Cream in My Coffee' (1980), an elderly couple explore the memories of their relationship after they visit the hotel where they first met. In 'Shaggy Dog' (1968), no-nonsense businessman Wilkie (John Neville) is interviewed for a position with a top-of-the-line hotel chain corporation. During the interview, Wilkie attempts to complete a shaggy-dog story. However, his frustrations lead to a total breakdown, and he suddenly snaps and pulls a on the interviewers. In 'Moonlight On the Highway' (1969), a troubled young man, David Peters (Ian Holm), rejects the rock music of the day and immerses himself in the tunes of 1930s crooner Al ly, who was killed during the London blitz. He collects ly memorabilia, publishes the ly fan-club newsletter, and finds pleasure in lip-synching ly records - but his obsession with ly s certain darker events in his past. Finally, in the semi-autobiographical 'Lay Down Your Arms' (1970), set at the time of the 1956 Suez Crisis and the Russian invasion of Hungary, Private Bob Hawk (Nikolas Simmonds) reports to the London Intelligence Office, where the strength of Soviet troops is under scrutiny.