The Roads to Freedom (TV serial)

The Roads to Freedom is a 13-part drama British serial broadcast on BBC2 in 1970.

The Roads to Freedom
GenreDrama
Based onThe Roads to Freedom
by Jean-Paul Sartre
Written byDavid Turner
Directed byJames Cellan Jones
StarringMichael Bryant
Daniel Massey
Rosemary Leach
Georgia Brown
Alison Fiske
Opening themeLa Route est Dur
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes13
Production
Running time45 minutes
Release
Original networkBBC2
Original release22 September (1970-09-22) –
27 December 1970 (1970-12-27)

Based on the trilogy of novels by Jean-Paul Sartre, The Roads to Freedom was adapted for television by David Turner and directed by James Cellan Jones. The serial was repeated in 1972 and again in 1977.[1]

Script

David Turner spent fifteen months on the script.[2] While Sartre's trilogy is divided into three more or less equal parts - The Age of Reason, The Reprieve and Iron in the Soul – Turner's adaptation was divided as The Age of Reason (6 episodes), The Reprieve (3 episodes) and The Defeated (4 episodes), thereby placing greater emphasis on the protagonists' pre-war lives in Paris.

Controversy

Reception was mixed. The series drew several comments over its nude scenes and frank sexual references, including a comic yet highly sympathetic portrayal of a homosexual man. Some doubted if Sartre could or should be adapted for television.[3][4][5]

Cast

Episodes
No. Episode Broadcast Notes
1 15 June 1938 – Evening. Paris, 1938: a city famous for its ' characters,' a city between the Spanish Civil War and the rise of Hitler. A city where Mathieu lives - and Marcelle exists. 4 October 1970
2 16 June 1938 – Afternoon. Mathieu is trying to arrange an abortion for his mistress Marcelle, and needs money quickly. He takes Ivich to an art exhibition and kisses her for the first time. 11 October 1970
3 16 June 1938 – Evening. Mathieu has not been able to borrow the money he needs. He has arranged to meet Ivich and Boris to hear Lola sing. Daniel visits Marcelle. 18 October 1970
4 17 June 1938 – Morning. Ivich and Mathieu have deliberately cut their hands, thereby achieving a bond. They have arranged to meet at ten o'clock, but before then Mathieu has to give Brunet an answer. 25 October 1970
5 17 June 1938 - Afternoon Ivich has rejected Mathieu and Boris has left Lola. Daniel has told Marcelle that Mathieu still loves her; however, Mathieu is still trying to borrow the money for an abortion 1 November 1970
6 17 June 1938 – Evening. Ivich has failed her examinations and Mathieu has failed to persuade her to stay in Paris. He has also just stolen money for an abortion and given it to Marcelle. 8 November 1970
7 25 September 1938 – Morning. Daniel has proposed to Marcelle and told Mathieu who, because of Daniel's homosexuality, has tried to dissuade Marcelle - but failed. Meanwhile, European events move towards a crisis, and towards Munich. 15 November 1970
8 26 September 1938 – Evening. Marcelle and Daniel are married and Lola and Boris reconciled. Mathieu has been staying with Jacques and Odette while Chamberlain and Daladier meet Hitler. Mathieu has been called up. 22 November 1970
9 28 September 1938 - Morning. Hitler has made a provocative speech against Czechoslovakia and mobilisation continues. Ivich has returned to Paris and gone to Mathieu's flat to find him leaving to report for army duty. 29 November 1970
10 15 June 1940 - Morning. Mathieu has been mobilised and Europe is at war. The unit Mathieu is serving with has been demoralised as the German advance across France nears Paris. 6 December 1970
11 15 June 1940 – Morning. The Germans have occupied Paris but the expected armistice has still not been signed. Mathieu's unit is waiting in a village to surrender but Pinette hopes that they will fight. 13 December 1970
12 16 June 1940 – Afternoon. Mathieu's unit has been deserted by the officers, and the men are getting drunk awaiting capture. After initially hesitating Mathieu decides to join them to prove a kinship he does not feel. 20 December 1970
13 17 June 1940 – Night. A crack French regiment has taken over the village and plans to make a last stand there. Mathieu and Pinette are the only members of their demoralised unit who want to join them. 27 December 1970

Theme Music

The show's theme song, La Route est Dure, was sung by Georgia Brown, who also played the part of Lola.

Awards and nominations

The Roads to Freedom was nominated for five BAFTAs (Best Writer, Best Drama Production, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Design). In 1971 David Turner won the Writers Guild award for 'Best British Television Dramatization: Jean Paul Sartre's Roads To Freedom (BBC)'.[7]

Legacy

The serial has never received a home media release in any format, although all episodes are retained in the BBC's archives.[8] In 2011, considerable interest was generated by a screening of episodes 7,8 and 9 as part of a BFI season dedicated to director James Cellan Jones. The following year a "rare and complete screening" took place at the BFI South Bank, with all thirteen 45-minute episodes being shown on the 12 & 13 May.[9]

References
  1. BBC genome, BBC2 schedules 1970 & 1977
  2. The Stage, 5 March 1970
  3. ”Start of Sartre serial was not even a near triumph”, Patrick Campbell, The Stage, 8 October 1970.
  4. James Presto. The Stage, 18 February 1971
  5. 'No sign of the permissive revolution”, Allan Prior, The Stage, 12 August 1971
  6. Limelight, The Stage, 12 October 1972
  7. ”Television Today”, The Stage, 18 February 1971
  8. Monk, Claire (2015). "Pageantry and Populism, Democratization and Dissent: The Forgotten 1970s". In James Leggott; Julie Anne Taddeo (eds.). Upstairs and Downstairs: British Costume Drama from The Forsyte Saga to Downton Abbey. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 7–8.
  9. BFI Screening, 2012
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