East of Ipswich *** (1986, John Nettleton, Pat Heywood, Edward Rawle-Hicks) – Classic Movie Review 12,586

Pat Heywood, John Nettleton and Edward Rawle-Hicks in the 1987 BBC film East of Ipswich.

The 1986 BBC TV Screen Two rite of passage movie East of Ipswich is a diverting, amusing acted nostalgic comedy, written by Michael Palin, and set in the 1950s. It stars the marvellous Pat Heywood and John Nettleton.

Director Tristram Powell’s 1986 BBC TV Screen Two rite of passage movie East of Ipswich is a mild but diverting enough, amusing acted nostalgic comedy, written by Michael Palin, and set in the 1950s. It is based on Palin’s memories of dreary holidays in English coastal towns in the 1950s, with the story mirroring his first meeting with his wife.

The marvellous Pat Heywood plays Mrs Burrill, who settles down to a boring Suffolk holiday with her stuffy husband Mr Burrill (excellent John Nettleton) and shy 17-year-old son Richard (Edward Rawle-Hicks). Teenager Julia (Oona Kirsc), holidaying with her parents in a nearby guesthouse, catches Richard’s eye, but her Dutch foreign exchange student friend Anna (Pippa Hinchley) plans trouble.

Also in the cast are Graham Crowden, June Ellis, Allan Cuthbertson, Joan Sanderson, Janine Duvitski, Phyllida Hewat and Timothy Bateson.

It is produced by Innes Lloyd with music by George Fenton. It first aired on 1 February 1987.

It is filmed in and around the town of Southwold, Suffolk, UK.

It runs 75 minutes.

John Nettleton married actress Deirdre Doone in 1954. They had three daughters. He died on 12 July 2023, aged 94.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,586

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