Tockinit not horrible nor great

Bea Swanson This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Orla Zuniga It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

craig_j_stephen In the 1970s programmes based in Liverpool centred largely around the comedy The Liver Birds. But by the 1980s there was the groundbreaking series about unemployment The Boys from the Blackstuff, One Summer and the semi-social realist Brookside soap opera. Like previous reviewers I too watched this in my teenage years (I was 14 when it aired) and seeing this on DVD reminds me what an excellent series it was, albeit with some flaws. While One Summer doesn't dwell on the social inequalities in Liverpool at the time - under the Conservative government it was hit hard and was the only region to actually have a swing to Labour in a Tory landslide in the election of May that year (1983) - it does touch on working-class deprivation without delving into the complexities of the issue. Billy and Icky are two 15 year-olds about to leave school with no qualifications and little job prospects. Billy's home is a dysfunctional one and he is a petty thief being eyed up by the police. Both are part of a gang that get involved in various scraps, some with knives. The second-in-command of this group is Rabbit, played by Ian Hart (then called Ian Davies) who would become a nemesis for the pair. Leaving Liverpool on train in their school uniforms for north Wales, Billy and Icky become involved in a series of adventures in which they struggle to leave behind their social background and upbringing and attempt to blend in with a rural community. It also shows, somewhat uniquely for the time perhaps, two 15-year-olds doing exactly what boys of that age do, muck about and deal with teen angst. I've just watched all five 50-minute episodes of the series as well as the interviews with lead actors David Morrissey (Billy), Spencer Leigh (Icky) and Hart. Alas, James Hazeldine, who played the slightly hippy Kidder and director Gordon Flemyng had died by the time this section was filmed. Flemyng is described by Morrissey and Leigh as an amiable but tough Glaswegian who got the best out of the cast. It's also revealed, by producer Keith Richardson, that the casting procedure was a lengthy one, going round the area's drama schools and secondary schools. Neither Morrissey nor Leigh had any formal acting experience although Davies/Hart had appeared in Play For Today. It's an excellent exploration of youth but does contrive some unfortunate incidents the duo get involved in, has a grim ending and the romance between Billy and Jo is as lame as any Hollywood blockbuster can get. Those aside, I found this a fantastic series to watch, with the spectacles' rose tints thoroughly faded with age.

Paul One Summer has to be one of thee best dramas i've ever seen. Back in 1983 (when i was 14) i was completely hooked to the storyline during the 6 week summer holidays and the transition period between middle school and high school. I've only just watched the series again on DVD and ooh... the memories came flooding back. The acting between the 3 main characters is still as convincing as ever, with Icky still doing a laughable, comedic performance despite 25 years that have passed.Back then.. i had a crush on Jo and seeing her again with her curvaceous figure (market scene and swim scene with Billy) still rekindled the feelings i had before i became 'one of the boys' ;), though i didn't know she was 10 years older than me, until now (not that it matters).The ending to the story is still as upsetting as ever, with Ickys death, Kidders beating and Billys arrest. Finally.. Alan Parkers theme song to the series well and truly compliments the atmosphere of the whole drama. I definitely recommend "One Summer" to anyone who hasn't seen it, though it may be 25 years old, it still holds the intensity that beats most dramas of this era.

Jane I totally agree with the other user comments about One Summer. It made a huge impact to all my peers growing up as we did - in Liverpool - hours of discussion followed the next day at school.What was even more unusual at the time, was a drama on TV that had young scousers in it!(TV was a very different place in the early 80's you see - dominated by 'proper' accents and everything).I found it very powerful - and you just knew that David Morrisey was going to go far. A memorable performance by both the main leads, and I was interested to find out that Ian Hart was in it too! Brilliant stuff by Willy Russell.If only UK TV produced this quality now instead of reality TV rubbish...Just wish I could see it again...

Simoso All my friends are of the same opinion. It affected us all as 14 year olds and at a desperate time in Thatcherite England I think this play gave us all hope and taught us simple but important lessons. I recall John Sim saying something similar in an interview when promoting State od Play. He also said that it made him want to be an actor and David Morrisey (his co-star in SofP) inspired him to go do it. I remember that the clothes were cool for the time and we all wanted Icky's Tacchini tracksuit top.It is difficult to tell youngsters how bad things were int he early 80's in this country. We all thought we were going to get blown up any minute and nobody had any money.