- Dr. Finlay's Casebook (TV & radio)
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Doctor Finlay's Casebook Format Comedy/Drama Created by A. J. Cronin Starring Bill Simpson
Andrew Cruickshank
Barbara MullenCountry of origin United Kingdom Language(s) English No. of episodes 191 Production Running time 50 min. Broadcast Original channel BBC Original run 16 August 1962 – 3 January 1971 Dr. Finlay's Casebook is a television series that was broadcast on the BBC from 1962 until 1971[1]. Based on A. J. Cronin's novella entitled Country Doctor, the storylines centred on a general medical practice in the fictional Scottish town of Tannochbrae during the late 1920s. Cronin was the primary writer for the show between 1962 and 1964.
Contents
Characters
The main characters were Dr. Finlay, the junior partner in the practice, played by Bill Simpson, Dr. Cameron, the craggy senior partner, played by Andrew Cruickshank, Janet, their unflappable housekeeper and receptionist at Arden House, played by Barbara Mullen. Other recurrent characters included Dr. Snoddie, Finlay's crusty detractor and Janet's admirer, played by Eric Woodburn, and gossipy Mistress Niven (the district nurse), played by Effie Morrison.
Cast
- Bill Simpson as Dr. Alan Finlay
- Andrew Cruickshank as Dr. Angus Cameron
- Barbara Mullen as Janet MacPherson
- Eric Woodburn as Dr. Snoddie
- Effie Morrison as Mistress Niven
- Neil Wilson as Sgt. Gilbey
- David Macmillan as Constable Dickie
- Molly Urquhart as Matron
- Robert James as Mr. Gibson
- Delia Paton as Sister
- Bryden Murdoch as Galbraith
- Marigold Sharman as Mrs. Rae
- James Copeland as 'Hooky' Buchanan
- Helena Gloag as Mrs. Ballantyne
- Leonard Maguire as Lewis Gilbride
- Calum Mill as Andrew McGregor
Filming location
Although it is widely documented that the original series was filmed in the town of Callander in Perthshire, the very first six episodes were filmed in Tannoch Drive, Milngavie, where the fictional Arden House was situated on the right-hand side as one approaches Tannoch Loch. It was the ducks on that loch that formed part of the opening sequence of the programme. The preceding shot is of the Red Bridge over the River Teith. In one of those first episodes, Dr. Finlay (Bill Simpson) crashed his old Bullnose Morris into the wall of Arden House—and that was not in the script. Another episode, filmed at night along Mugdock Road[citation needed], found the local policeman, somewhat inebriated, on his bicycle in a scene with Dr. Snoddie. Only exterior scenes were filmed on location, the interiors being shot in various BBC studios in London.
Radio
From 1970 until 1978, episodes from Dr. Finlay's Casebook were broadcast on BBC Radio 4 with some of the same actors from the television programme. Twenty episodes were broadcast on BBC 7 in the autumn of 2003 and have been repeated annually since. In 2001 and 2002, BBC Radio 4 broadcast a version of the original Cronin stories using the titles, The Adventures of a Black Bag and Doctor Finlay - Further Adventures of a Black Bag ; these have been rebroadcast by BBC 7. The adaptations are set in Levenford, the original setting chosen by Cronin, rather than Tannochbrae. The role of Dr. Finlay was played by John Gordon Sinclair. Dr. Cameron was played by Brian Pettifer, and Janet was played initially by Katy Murphy, and then by Celia Imrie. David Tennant was a frequent guest actor.
Music
The programme's famous theme tune was Trevor Duncan's march from A Little Suite. The other two movements from the Suite were often used as background music. The characters from the series are also featured in a song entitled Dr. Finlay by Andy Stewart, which scored a minor Top 50 hit in 1965.
Controversy
Cronin received copies of the scripts, and he wrote a blunt letter to the series' script editor in 1964, expressing his dissatisfaction with the progression of the show. Word leaked to the media, and in June 1964, stories appeared in the national press suggesting that the author wanted the series to end. One newspaper even accused the author of "maliciously doing millions out of legitimate enjoyment." The outcry from the viewing public was immediate, and sackfuls of mail were dispatched to Cronin's home in Switzerland. He issued a statement on 7 June to refute the charges made against him:
I have had hundreds of letters from viewers saying how sorry they were that the series was ending and that they were sorry that I was to blame. I don't like to disappoint anybody, but just lately the series has got out of line. The scripts have been getting ragged and introduced extraneous characters. If you overrun a programme, you end up with a soap opera. What annoys me is that the BBC have placed the whole onus of the row on me. I have written telling them it is a matter of improving scripts. I have no intention of stopping the series.By the following year, the series was in every sense a cult, even a national institution. A Bill Simpson Fan Club was set up, Andy Stewart's Dr Finlay was in the Hit Parade for five weeks, and Andrew Cruikshank was invited as a guest of honour at the British Medical Association's annual dinner to speak on medical matters as if he was a real GP.[2]
See also
References
External links
- BBC Scotland - Dr. Finlay's Casebook at bbc.co.uk (clip)
- Dr Finlay's Casebook episodes
- British Film Institute Screen Online
- Background to Dr. Finlay's Casebook - television & radio
- BBC Radio 4: Dr Finlay
- Doctor Finlay: The Further Adventures of a Black Bag - BBC Radio 7
- Dr. Finlay's Casebook at the Internet Movie Database
- Dr. Finlay's Casebook at TV.com
- National Library of Scotland
- Article about Cronin and the NHS
Works by A. J. Cronin Novels Hatter's Castle • Three Loves • Grand Canary • The Stars Look Down • The Citadel • The Keys of the Kingdom • The Green Years • Shannon's Way • The Spanish Gardener • Beyond This Place • A Thing of Beauty/Crusader's Tomb • The Northern Light • The Native Doctor/An Apple in Eden • The Judas Tree • A Song of Sixpence • A Pocketful of Rye • The Minstrel Boy/Desmonde • Lady with Carnations • Gracie LindsaySelected Short Stories
& Story CollectionsKaleidoscope in "K" • Country Doctor • Vigil in the Night • The Valorous Years • Adventures of a Black Bag • The Innkeeper's Wife • Further Adventures of a Black Bag • Doctor Finlay of TannochbraePlay Autobiography UK/US Film Adaptations Television Adaptations Escape From Fear • Beyond This Place • Nicholas • The Citadel (1960 American) • The Citadel (1960 British) • Dr. Finlay's Casebook • The Ordeal of Dr. Shannon • Memorandum van een dokter • La Cittadella (1964) • Novi asistent • O Jardineiro Espanhol • E le stelle stanno a guardare • The Stars Look Down • Les Années d'illusion • The Citadel (1983) • Doctor Finlay • La Cittadella (2003)Categories:- BBC television dramas
- BBC television programmes
- BBC radio programmes
- 1960s British television series
- 1970s British television series
- 1962 in British television
- 1962 television series debuts
- Lost BBC episodes
- Medical television series
- Period television series
- Television programmes based on works by A. J. Cronin
- Radio series about health care
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