It had been a while. 1933. Black jazz musician Chiwetel Ejiofor is injured and needs to get out of the country, seeks help from journalist Matthew Goode - but why? We flash back to 1931 to find out. Like in a William Boyd, you can't help but feel something sinister is going on underneath. Despite this being TV for adults, it's actually a simple murder story, with jazz and Power trappings, commentary on the powerful ruling class who can get away with anything they like - ah, how things have changed! - the rise of Fascism, the draconian immigration laws, the early music journalists. And, though nicely quite underplayed - racism. The scenes of on-the-run Ejiofor - a black man in DJ in middle class bowling green 30s England - he sticks out like a sore thumb.
Great cast also comprises: Angel Coulby and Wunmi Mosaku (the singers, who are actually singing - Wunmi's voice in particular is incredible), Janet Montgomery, Anthony Head, Joanna Vanderham, John Goodman, Tom Hughes, Jenna (then Jenna-Louise) Coleman, Mel Smith, Caroline Quentin - and that glamorous older Lady - was she familiar? - it's only Jacqueline Bisset!
Lovely photography from Ashely Rowe (Starter for Ten, Calendar Girls), edited by Chris Wyatt (Living, Supernova, Ammonite, The Falling, '71), production design Grant Montgomery (Sanditon, Tolkein, The Limehouse Golem, Peaky Blinders, Death Comes to Pemberley, Worried About the Boy) finding a number of existing locations - the ballroom's in Birmingham, music Adrian Johnston, who also wrote the lyrics. and who has scored most of Poliakoff's work since Shooting the Past in 1999.
Not as many collaborations as I thought: Summer of Rockets also shot by Rowe, Close to the Enemy featured Rowe, Wyatt and Johnston.
Good interview with Poliakoff here.
His trademark long shot down a corridor after Coulby has been assaulted is definitely noticeable.
It was inspired by research for The Lost Prince when Poliakoff read that the Duke of Windsor hung around with the Duke Ellington Band.
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