'Mackenzie'

[Domino]

Does anyone on this forum recall an 11 part BBC TV series shown in 1980 called 'Mackenzie'? It starred Jack Galloway as Robert Mackenzie, a ruthlessly ambitious Glasgow builder who was both amoral and immoral. It was written by Andrea Newman, who had enjoyed some considerable success with 'A Bouquet of Barbed Wire' and 'Another Bouquet' on ITV. I watched 'Mackenzie' but am now a little hazy on the details of the plot. At the start he marries Marie, so he can get a foothold on her father's building business. When she is pregnant he has an affair with Ruth Isaacs (played by Lynda Bellingham). I seem to remember that there is at least one topless scene. He stays with the wife, but goes on to have several more affairs. In the later episodes he meets his son's live-in girlfriend, Lisa (played by Tracey Ullman in her first TV role) and promptly has an affair with her, being unaware that she is his daughter resulting from his affair with Ruth.
This series was never repeated, or has ever been released on VHS or DVD.
Although not a great series, there seem to be several people who fondly remember it.
The reason I remember it, and why it would be of interest to you, is that when Robert and Ruth have their affair (in 1953 - Coronation year) Ruth wears a long metallic gold raincoat with hood. When Robert and Lisa have their affair (about 1970), there are a couple of scenes where Lisa is wearing a blue semi-transparent plastic mac. As I recall, I don't think she had it done up. She still looked desirable, though.
I did not have a VCR in 1980. Perhaps we should create a clamour to have this series released on DVD.

Domino

[rainwear-experience]

Hi Dom

I remember the programme and the episode you're talking about, I also have a vague memory of hearing Substitute by The Who playing during that ep

Ahhh those were the days

Ray

[merv]

a little bit of detective work suggests it was this series http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165043/ and a delve into forums finds someone who did have the series on videotape, whether they still have is anybodys guess, perhaps someone would like to ask him http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/looki ... enzie.html

[regenhoedje]

Moved

[Domino]

Merv. That is the same series. Unfortunately, IMDb tells me not much more than I already knew. I had seen the Britmovie entry, but it doesn't reveal whether he ever did a deal or not.
And that was back in 2009, so I wouldn't hold out much hope.

Domino

[slicker-lover]

Mackenzie was released on vhs, and is available on British torrent sites.

[WealdenMac]

Thanks, as ever, to Domino for making (for me at least) a timely post. In the light of her many recent appearances on baking programmes, I had been racking my brains trying to remember in which series back in the day the estimable Miss Lynda Bellingham had appeared and been described by one critic as exhibiting "breasts like rising dough" My Penguin TV (Television) Companion describes the 12 episodes of "Mackenzie" as having "..at the time stretched existing boundaries of censorship with their sexual content." So I think I now have the answer.

I am ashamed to say that, unusually for me, I don't actually recall Miss Bellingham wearing a mackintosh, but she has throughout her career had the face, figure and demeanour to do more than justice to a proper mackintosh.

[Domino]

Hi, WealdenMac.
I have a copy of the Penguin TV Companion (not sure what edition but it has a pic of Ricky Tomlinson on the front). It doesn't mention "Mackenzie' in that - not even under the entry for Lynda Bellingham. I also have 'British Television' (Oxford University Press). That doesn't mention it either. According to IMDb there were only 11 episodes, and as it details them all, I tend to trust this. She certainly gets around when you consider the many and varied things she has been in since 1971. I had actually forgotten that in her early days she was blonde, and even in 'Mackenzie' I'm sure that her hair was fairer than she presents it today. Andrea Newman was, of course, noted for her daring storylines.
Hi, slicker-lover.
I still don't think this ever received an official VHS release. Someone obtained a VHS copy which apparently was sourced from a showing in Israel! Alas, I no longer have a working VHS recorder. I don't really trust torrent sites, and in any case would really only be interested in the mac scenes. Thanks for the info, however.

Domino

[WealdenMac]

Hi, Domino

I have the third edition of the TV Companion (2006) with a picture of John Cleese on the front. There is a full entry on "Mackenzie" which states that there were 12 episodes. The editor, Jeff Evans, awards the series only a two star rating (one for each b----t?) and no release on DVD etc. is indicated. The cast list does, however, include Sheila Ruskin whom I also recall to have been rather "hot" in those days.

[slicker-lover]

the first episode is double the size of the others; perhaps it was shown in 2 parts for the initial broadcast, and combined for replays.