I have half heard some of the episodes in the latest Paul Temple serial on Radio 4
Somewhat to my surprise I found myself listening with rapt attention to the previous one in this series of modern, but faithful, remakes
Of course there is the nostalgia factor for someone old enough to have heard the originals, & really care then whether Steve would escape the villains clutches
The thing that surprised me was a very real admiration for the writers technique
Of course, dialogue such as:
Oh look! There’s a drawer in the bottom of the wardrobe!
Oh yes! Open it!
is not exactly realistic. But how do you convey fast(ish) paced all-action drama on radio?
There may have been storytellers ever since humans came into existence, but they had facial expressions & gesture. Even just to direct the audiences’ attention. Look up at the stars! Look behind you!
The original Paul Temples came at a time when radio had been there for barely one human generation. They really did have to work out how to do it
And that clunky wardrobe: nostalgia comes in to play & I see exactly the kind of room they were in. No fitted bedrooms then. Just a big old fashioned dark wooden wardrobe with a mirror on the door & a big chest of a drawer underneath
The pictures really are better on radio
