This trilogy of ITV plays about the titular black marketeer was set in the North of England during World War II and aired in July 1968 on Friday nights at 9.00 pm.
Christine Hargreaves was excellent as Marie, the sister-in-law of the wayward eternal spiv Laurence Frederick Pilbeam (aka “Darkie”), while Rhoda Lewis – as his sister Laura, the spinster turned tart – did her utmost to bring the written hyperbole of her part down to something more recognisable and sympathetic.
The author was Tony Warren, creator of Coronation Street, who seemed hellbent on bringing a laugh or a tear to each line of dialogue and festooned every statement with heavy-handed references to the period – as if he were afraid we might forget for one second that The War of Darkie Pilbeam was set during WWII.
Laurence Frederick “Darkie” Pilbeam
Trevor Bannister Vera Dobson
Sheila Raynor
Marie Pilbeam
Christine Hargreaves
Laura Pilbeam/Boston
Rhoda Lewis Colin Pilbeam
Terry Gilligan
Tommy Dobson
George Waring
Nell Perrott
Gabrielle Daye
Jeanette Perrott
Caroline Dowdeswell
Louise Perrott
Maggie Don
Ned Boston Alan Browning
Ted Pilbeam
John Collin Bent Harry
Roy Barraclough
Episodes
Phase I – September 1939 | Phase II – June 1942 | Phase III – August 1945
Video
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Christine Hargreaves was excellent as Marie, the sister-in-law of the wayward eternal spiv Laurence Frederick Pilbeam (aka “Darkie”), while Rhoda Lewis – as his sister Laura, the spinster turned tart – did her utmost to bring the written hyperbole of her part down to something more recognisable and sympathetic.
Laurence Frederick “Darkie” Pilbeam
Colin Pilbeam
