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Private Notes
By the time of the partial collapse of the 23-storey Ronan Point tower block due to a natural gas explosion in 1968, local authorities were waking up to the scale of the deficencies and the cost of making safe the 750,000 flats built during the ten year boom. It then emerged that up to 6 million people were living in poorly constructed or dangerous system-built housing erected in the 1920s, 1930s and 1950s and beyond.
Ironically, many of the proposed expensive remedial systems were found to be similarly untried, untested and unfit for purpose, and in some cases offered by the same construction industry chiefs previously vending the very inadequate building systems that now needed remedying.
Fans of Adam Curtis's work should note that, as an early Curtis production, this solid investigative documentary lacks the narrative thread and unique voice that characterises his later work, but favourite themes are present, such as the collusion of the powerful and opportune, and the inability to learn from past lessons.
Narrator Kenneth Williams A special tribute to one of television's best-loved characters, Master Sergeant Ernest G. Bilko , featuring some classic moments from the series.
Phil Silvers , star of the show, remembers the making of Bilko and the personalities involved. 'Regulars' and 'recruits' appear include Col John 'Melonhead' Hall PFC Duane Doberman
Alan Alda and Bing Crosby.
BBC 2 looks back at its ill-fated launch night in 1964, through the memories of some of the main players in the Story, as recounted by Ludovic Kennedy.
Fly on the wall Documentary made in 1984 by the BBC's Paul Anderson
In 1949, at the height of the Cold War, the British and American Governments decided to fight back at the growing Soviet Empire with a secret plan of subversion. MI6 and the CIA would try to bring down the smallest and most vulnerable of the new Soviet-controlled regimes - Albania. In this film, for the first time, many of the agents involved tell their extraordinary story. It includes moonlit landings on deserted beaches, poison capsules, mysterious deaths in New York hotel rooms, and the crack bodyguard of King Zog. For some of the spies it was exhilarating fun and part of a great game. For the Albanians involved it was to mean death, for in the midst of the operation was a traitor.
