Ain't Misbehavin' is a British three-part television comedy-drama serial by Norman Stone and Bob Larbey, that starred Jerome Flynn, Robson Green, Julia Sawalha, Warren Mitchell and Jim Carter. Three episodes were produced by Clapp Trapp Productions for Anglia Television, and were broadcast on the ITV network from 28 July to 11 August 1997.
Plot Set in London during the Second World War at the height of the Blitz in 1940, the story follows the misadventures of Eddie Wallis (Jerome Flynn) and Eric Trapp (Robson Green). Wallis finds himself back in civilian life, after being medically discharged from the RAF, following injuries sustained when he crashed landed a Blenheim bomber. Eddie tries to make a living as a saxophonist on the big band circuit and soon joins the Ray Smiles Big Band, where meets double-bass player Eric Trapp, a womanising and egocentric spiv who dabbles in black markeetering and will do anything to avoid conscription. He also runs a private detective agency, and is soon commissioned by local gang boss Maxie Morrell (Jim Carter) to investigate the nefarious dealings of his rival Malky Fraser (James Cosmo) and uncover an underworld scheme involving the pilfering of the country's wartime survival supplies from a MoD depot. Meanwhile, Eddie desperately tries to win the affection of upper-crust Red Cross nurse Dolly Nightingale (Julia Sawalha), while he encounters setbacks along the way.
Cast Jerome Flynn as Eddie Wallis Robson Green as Eric Trapp Julia Sawalha as Dolly Nightingale Warren Mitchell as Ray Smiles Jim Carter as Maxie Morrell James Cosmo as Malky Fraser Roy Donachie as Billy the Book Graham Stark as Spadger Jane Lapotaire as Clara Van Trapp Tom Beard as Roger Horace-Brown Campbell Morrison as Flight Sgt. Fullerton Heidi Monsen as Mavis Johnson Joe Caffrey as Corporal Jennings Danny Dyer as Young Ronnie Terry Mortimer as Chas June Brown as Mrs Jilkes Trevor Fox as Albert Peter Cellier as George Nightingale George Melly as Bing Williams Barbara Durkin as Rita Annette Badland as Anna Trevor Martin as Group Captain John D. Collins as Medical Officer
Background After appearing together in five series of Soldier Soldier, actors Robson Green and Jerome Flynn signed a recording contract, working together as pop duo Robson & Jerome, subsequently releasing three successful singles all of which went to No.1 in the UK singles charts. The music video for their cover of Unchained Melody was produced in the style of the film Brief Encounter (1945) and was directed by Norman Stone. Upon seeing the results, Stone was inspired after seeing Green and Robson in trench coats and trilbies, he approached the actors about the possibility of doing a series set in the 1940s. Subsequently they teamed up with Stone and his business partner Pete Bigg and together set up Clapp Trapp Productions, they pitched their ideas for the series to ITV, who immediately jumped at the idea and commissioned the series.
Episodes
Home media The series was initially released on VHS by BMG Video in 1997. It was subsequently released on DVD as part of the Robson Green: A Trilogy boxset by John Williams Productions on 28 May 2007.
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