70 Up

The final update on this mammoth social experiment.

My apologies for the ITV trailer in part 1 and the slightly glitchy part 2.

Nothing major really.

It was shown over the last week so I wanted to get it posted for any Luxor Dreamers

who have been following the series here and may be eager for 'conclusion'.

I only cried three times :)

regards

Titus

link

63 Up (2019)

My current age. Shit! :)

Those I disliked as children grew on me a lot.

Some I liked as kids I found less appealing as adults.

Lynn has been consistent throughout and did more for society

than most of us ever will with little recognition or financial reward.

Worth a million Elon Musks.

The first film in the series, Seven Up! (1964), was directed by Paul Almond

and was commissioned by Granada Television as part of the World in Action series.

From 7 Plus Seven until 63 Up the films were directed by Michael Apted

who had been a researcher on Seven Up! and was involved

in finding the original children along with Gordon McDougall.

Michael Apted died in 2021 aged 79.

In a way the series documented his own life as much as the participants.

The final episode (70 Up) is due to air later this year.

(directed by Asif Kapadia)

regards

Titus

link

56 Up (2012)

Spoiler: Peter returns to the series!

I noticed the guitar behind him on the 28 Up episode.

I like creative types and it struck me how

that influences my opinion of the people on the show.

John's pretty good on the piano.

regards

Titus

link

49 Up (2005)

Hands up if you've become a little more sympathetic

towards 'Tory-boy' John. :)

Worth bearing in mind, understandably, not all of them are completely candid.

Some may choose not to mention painful or embarrassing experiences.

That can fool you into confusing their caution with virtue

while condemning the more heart-on-my-sleeve revelations of others.

regards

Titus

link

42 Up (1998)

You may have noted how Symon and Paul (from the Children's Home)

both struggle with confidence issues.

The amazing Bruce has a similar handicap, no doubt, inherited

from that Draconian boarding school he attended in the first episode.

Interesting how the two extremes can produce not dissimilar results.

regards

Titus

link

35 Up (1991).

The time of life when some are on their second marriage

while others remain "on the shelf".

I noticed divorce runs throughout the series

regardless of social status or wealth.

My parents never split up but they didn't really get on with each other.

I sometimes wonder if it would have been better if they'd divorced.

regards

Titus

link

28 Up (1984)

This seems to be the age of trying to convince yourself you are happy.

Neil and Peter remain my touchstones.

I certainly knew 'clever' guys like Neil who kinda "fucked up"

...or did they?

This was Peter's last appearance as the reaction

to his comments about the education system caused him problems.

Freedom of speech comes at a price.

Nobody liked Nick's wife at the time.

Nick is probably one of the most likeable subjects

and by this point viewers were emotionally invested in his well-being.

Good to see Paul making progress:

The series became a mixture of things:

Documentary, social study, history, soap opera and reality TV.

For a section of the UK population Neil had been anointed as a Messiah.

It had certainly become "The Neil Show".

I had a crush on Suzy until Rupert the Bear stuck his bloody tartan scarf in :)

regards

Titus

link

21 Up (1977)

You don't really know what you want aged 21.

You're an adult, but still new to the concept.

It was a good age for me. I still lived at home.

Formal education was over and I'd started to compose/play music.

Work was shit but I was financially comfortable.

I had a recording studio, instruments, a decent Hi-Fi and 1000s of LPs.

Where did it all go wrong? :)

regards

Titus

link

7 plus Seven (1970)

The second edition of the series.

Our guinea pigs are now fourteen.

Horrible age for me.

I hated school and didn't feel I 'fitted in'.

Maybe everyone else felt a bit like that?

The part where the dog kills the rabbit always sticks in my mind.

It seems like a metaphor for the entire project.

They say it's a dog eat dog world.

It isn't, it's a dog eat rabbit world.

Life can be brutal.

The series increasingly features flashbacks to previous episodes

which makes it look like US TV but you have to remember:

It was seven years between episodes.

A recap was understandably necessary.

Teenage stroppiness has kicked in (remember that?)

regards

Titus

link

Seven Up! (1964)

The Up series of documentary films follows the lives

of a selection of English children from diverse backgrounds

beginning in 1964 when they were seven years old.

Every seven years the film makers would return to update on their 'progress'.

I suppose the original concept was an attempt to observe

how the 'haves' and the 'have nots' differ in terms of advantages and opportunities.

It certainly does that but it achieved much more.

The outcomes are never guaranteed.

Is the pursuit of happiness all it's cracked up to be?

Which of them most closely matches your own background?

Who is your favourite?

I think I probably identify with Neil and Peter mostly

but I was also au fait with those "rough boys" :)

I thought some British readers might like to revisit the program

and those of you who are unfamiliar may find it interesting.

I'm not sure what other nationalities will think but I suspect it has universal appeal.

I'd be interested to hear how non Brits relate to these children.

I don't believe there's ever been anything quite like it as it's such a huge undertaking.

file under: 'compelling'.

Worth remembering: at age seven, none of them are 'guilty' of anything.

regards

Titus

link