I loved watchin the show. It was so ideal setting. The only trouble that I have with the show was just how they over done the eating part. They are for every stuffing their face. They could not even have a bath without having food there and just getting in as much as they can. Couldn't they just stuffed their face before they had their bath?
shareHahaha. I don't know, I think there are a lot of families like that, sadly. It's all part of the characters I guess. :)
Last movie seen: Diarios de motocicleta (2004) ********
The reason for all the food was that the books were written by H.E. Bates shortly after the end of WW2 when Britain was still subject to quite severe food rationing. Bates wrote in very comprehensive detail food scenes giving loving descriptions of all the food that the general public could only dream about but to which the Larkin family had seemingly unlimited access.
Food was therefor an integral part of the original books and of course could not be left out of the TV series even though the reason for it, severe rationing, had long since passed.
Cheers
Dale409
Well said, Dale409 - at least someone knows their history. Also Pop Larkin had been involved in the rural black market during the War, and always knew how to get stuff and how to hang onto it (what my dad used to call 'country cunning'!).
What's interesting in the books are that the landed gentry and retired military (i.e. those who used to be rich) are the hungry ones in poverty, and the Larkins are dripping in food and possessions (such the car Pop bought from a Duke!). The 50s PM MacMillan said "you've never had it so good" - the Larkins are a perfect example of this (or should that be 'perfick'?!).
I just watched a re-run on TV. This was really THE feel good series wasn't it. I think that theme music had a big part in it too. You can't hear that without thinking about beautiful summer days and great food and drink.
I must admit I never read the books, so thanks for the updates Jaycey and Dale409
Oh and I can't go without saying how absolutely stunning Catherine Zeta-Jones was. She's still beautiful, but at 21-24 as she was when the show was made she was absolutely perfick : )
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The books were published well after rationing had ended. But even so, the food the Larkins ate was lavish for the era. Food was more expensive in the 50s than it is now, so some of the things the Larkins eat are quite luxurious for the era, lots of poultry, fresh pineapple, etc.
shareLOL that is my favourite aspect of it - the cup doth never run empty! Frankly I would not wish to eat a giant ham joint in the bath either but the excesses are really what make it so family-orientated for sure. I wish more families dined like this al fresco all around the picnic table. They were pretty self-sufficient and probably slaughtered a great deal of their own farm stock (Pop often traded in geese and turkeys etc).
I have not really questioned the era I just accept it for what it is and love this series so much which is why I just bought all 6 discs
Has anyone seen my wife? - Columbo
It is the same in the books on which the series is based - Ma is always cooking enormous delicious meals for the family and friends. And they eat a lot inbetween as well, crisps, ice creams etc. But nobody ever gets fat except Ma.
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