Harry Cook celebrates his fiftieth birthday at the local pub with his mates, his family choose to stay home, allowing him to spark up an acquaintance with the new barmaid, Audrey.
It's a typical Play for Today, it's a pretty gritty story, a real Kitchen sink affair, thought provoking, worth remembering that back in 1973 people aged 50 were seen as a lot older compared to today.
It's moving, it's sad, I thought there may have been a little bit of humour, but there isn't.
Some really interesting scenes, that moment where Rene goes to get financial help, it's almost inhuman. Best moment for me where Rene and the family march into the pub and confront Harry, great scene.
I love the gritty, Northern characters, every single one of them adds something. The old lady in the pub was fun.
Really unusual to see Bill Maynard in such a serious role, he'd perhaps have been better known as a comedy actor around this time, he is excellent. A very fine supporting cast here, John Comer and James Hazeldine were both very good.
8/10.
