The Knowledge (film)

The Knowledge is a 1979 British comedy-drama television film about a group of men and a woman doing "The Knowledge", the training required to become a London taxi driver. It was directed by Bob Brooks with an ensemble cast including Nigel Hawthorne, Mick Ford, Jonathan Lynn and Maureen Lipman.

The Knowledge
Directed byBob Brooks
Screenplay byJack Rosenthal
Based onBob Brooks (idea)
Produced byVerity Lambert (executive producer)
Christopher Neame (producer)
StarringNigel Hawthorne
Mick Ford
Kim Taylforth
Jonathan Lynn
David Ryall
Michael Elphick
Maureen Lipman
CinematographyDavid McDonald
Edited byBen Rayner
Music byJeff Wayne
Production
company
Distributed byThames Television
Release date
  • 27 December 1979 (1979-12-27)
Running time
89 min
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Four out of work Londoners apply to do "The Knowledge" to become London taxi drivers. They have to contend with learning approximately 15,842 streets and 468 set routes as well as Mr Burgess, a notoriously sadistic examiner from the Public Carriage Office.

Cast

Production

In 1978 Jack Rosenthal received a telephone call from Bob Brooks, an American who had lived in London for many years, wanting to make a film about something "exclusive to London". After some discussion they decided on "The Knowledge", the training and testing required to become a driver of a hackney carriage. They initially pitched the idea to Euston Films as a feature-length drama before settling on the concept of a comedy drama.[1] Executive producer Verity Lambert agreed to commission a 90-minute television film, despite reservations that Rosenthal and Brooks would struggle working together.[2] Rosenthal researched the story by accompanying taxi drivers around London to collect their stories about doing The Knowledge.[3] Lambert later recalled "Jack Rosenthal and Bob Brooks had this good idea – it was Bob's idea and Jack wrote it."[4]

It was the first production by Euston Films to make use of Steadicam.[4]

In his autobiography, Rosenthal describes Nigel Hawthorne as "such a lovely actor" who "gives a superlative, unforgettable comic performance as Mr Burgess, based on a real-life, notoriously sadistic examiner".[2]

Reception

The Knowledge was nominated for a BAFTA in the category Television, Best Single Play in 1980.[5]

When shown in 1995 on Channel Four during a Thames Television tribute, film historian Geoff Phillips described it as "certainly the best TV play Britain has ever produced".[3]

In 2000 it was voted #83 in the BFI TV 100.

A theatrical adaptation of the film, directed by Maureen Lipman, was staged at the Charing Cross Theatre in London, running from 4 September through 11 November 2017. The cast included Steven Pacey as Mr Burgess.[6]

References
  1. Christopher Neame (2004). A Take on British TV Drama: Stories from the Golden Years. Scarecrow Press. p. 23. ISBN 0810850125.
  2. Jack Rosenthal (2006). By Jack Rosenthal: An Autobiography in Six Acts. Robson. p. 242. ISBN 1861059604.
  3. Sue Vice (2010). Jack Rosenthal. Manchester University Press. p. 186. ISBN 9781847797063.
  4. Manuel Alvarado and John Stewart (1985). Made for Television: Euston Films Limited. BFI Publishing. p. 98. ISBN 0423013106.
  5. "Television in 1980". British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
  6. "The Knowledge at Charing Cross Theatre". Charing Cross Theatre. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
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