I rewatched this the other night and - despite knowing its troubled history at the scriptwriting stage - it struck me again what a meticulously produced piece of escapist TV this episode is.
Every time I watch this I seem to find something new to admire. It's often the smaller "incidental" things too which are never over-emphasised in John Krish's direction - for example, the wry smile that Lucas briefly gives when he adjusts his tie before alighting at the fake Norborough (presumably because he had put the same tie to a somewhat more dramatic use in the episode's teaser!).
And what a superb work of design the deserted station at night proves to be too. Even in Lucas' POV shot of the deserted platform, there's the lovely touch of the inclusion of a signal light in the "distance" beyond the platform, turning from red to green. It's a small detail in itself, but it adds so much to the general atmosphere of the scene.
So many other things of note, including the brief exchange between Steed and the female passenger in the carriage regarding the distance she’ll have to cover to reach the dining car. And hats off again to some creative design work and inspired direction - people really do seem to be swaying slightly and steadying themselves in carriages that tremble and lurch as they speed through the night. I was never a stickler for "reality" in these programmes, but I had to admire the way they brought it off here.
Incidentally, it's been interesting to watch the episode whilst taking the time to compare it with the original script (which I gather is still available via one of the threads on this site?). Makes for fascinating reading regarding the various changes.
And before I go, it only just struck me today just why James Hayter's ticket collector seemed so damned familiar – the penny dropped and I recalled I was listening to the voice of Mr Kipling, the man who makes exceedingly good cakes! I've been in Australia for several years now, but those adverts are clearly imprinted on my psyche
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