The Owl Service (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Owl Service |
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| Genre | Fantasy, Legend |
| Written by | Alan Garner |
| Starring | Gillian Hills Michael Holden Francis Wallis Edwin Richfield Dorothy Edwards Raymond Llewellyn |
| Theme music composer | Trad |
| Opening theme | "Ton Alarch" |
| Ending theme | "Ton Alarch" |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Peter Plummer |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | c. 25 minutes per episode |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV (Granada Television) |
| Original release | 21 December 1969 – 8 February 1970 |
The Owl Service is an exciting eight-part TV series. It's based on the fantasy novel by Alan Garner. The show was made in 1969 and aired during the winter of 1969–1970.
This series was very special for its time. It was the first full-scripted color show made by Granada Television. Also, it was filmed almost entirely outside, in real places. Back then, most TV dramas were filmed inside studios. The show used cool editing tricks, like jump cuts. These made viewers feel a bit confused, which helped show that two different time periods were mixing. Alan Garner himself wrote the scripts, and Peter Plummer produced and directed it. The way it was directed was quite new and different, especially for a children's show.
Making the Series: Behind the Scenes
After the novel became very popular, many companies wanted to turn it into a TV show. The book had won important awards like the Carnegie Medal. In 1968, Granada Television won the rights. They asked Alan Garner to write the TV scripts himself.
The director, Peter Plummer, decided to film in the real places mentioned in the book. However, one main location, Bryn Hall, couldn't be used. So, scenes for Bryn Hall were filmed at Poulton Hall near Liverpool. The rest of the filming happened around the village of Dinas Mawddwy in Wales. The village described in the book is actually Llanymawddwy. But Dinas Mawddwy was chosen because it was bigger and had better facilities for filming.
Filming started on April 11 and finished on June 20, 1969. A few studio scenes were also filmed. These were completed by July 3, 1969.
A special stone called Llech Ronw (The Stone of Gronw) was made for the series. A local stone carver named Edward Rowlands created it. He followed a design that made it look like an old monument. After filming, the stone was left by the River Dovey. Rowlands added his name to it so people wouldn't think it was a real ancient artifact.
The show's theme music was a traditional folk song called "Tôn Alarch." It was played on the harp by Jean Bell. The opening credits showed a hand shadow of an owl flying. It also featured pictures of the valley and a flickering candle, along with sound effects.
Meet the Cast
The three main characters were Gwyn, Roger, and Alison. They were played by Michael Holden, Francis Wallis, and Gillian Hills. In the book, the characters were fifteen. But for the TV show, they were made a bit older, around seventeen. The actors themselves were young adults during filming. Gillian Hills and Francis Wallis were in their early twenties, and Michael Holden was nineteen.
Older characters were played by well-known actors. Edwin Richfield played Clive, Dorothy Edwards played Nancy, and Raymond Llewellyn played Huw. The character of Margaret was never seen on screen. She was often mentioned but never appeared.
Both the writer, Alan Garner, and the producer, Peter Plummer, appeared in the show. Garner played a villager. Plummer appeared in a photo as the character Bertram, who had passed away. Many actors later said the show had a lasting impact on them. Michael Holden felt like they were "personally living the whole thing." Gillian Hills said, "it was all so real, it was frightening."
Episode Guide
For a full story summary, you can check out the novel's article: The Owl Service.
Episode One: A Mysterious Discovery
Alison, her mother Margaret, her new stepfather Clive, and his son Roger are on holiday in Wales. They are staying at a manor house that used to belong to Alison's uncle Bertram. Alison quickly becomes friends with Gwyn, the cook's son. Together, they find a set of old dinner plates with a flower pattern. Alison traces the pattern and folds the paper into shapes that look like owls. Gwyn's mother, Nancy, gets very angry and demands the plates be returned. That night, Alison seems to be taken over by something strange. When Roger checks on her, she scratches his face.
- Original air date: Sunday, December 21, 1969
Episode Two: The Ancient Legend
Huw, the gardener, who seems a bit confused, tells Gwyn about an old legend. He hints that the three teenagers might be repeating the story. Alison starts acting very strangely. She seems to be becoming like the female character from the myth. In the billiard room, Clive is shocked to see the wooden wall panels crumble away. They reveal a picture of a woman made of flowers.
- Air date: December 28, 1969
Episode Three: Hidden Secrets
Alison has hidden the plates in a small hut in the forest. She becomes obsessed with tracing the pattern. Gwyn joins her in the hut, and they spend the night there. In the morning, Huw talks to Gwyn. He says he was also one of three people caught in the legend before. Huw also claims he is the lord of the valley.
- Air date: January 4, 1970
Episode Four: Growing Tensions
Roger is worried by some photos he took in the valley. They seem to show a ghost. Nancy complains that she should own the house, not Margaret. Meanwhile, Margaret has told Alison not to see Gwyn. But Alison meets him while out walking. They don't know that Margaret is watching them through binoculars.
- Air date: January 11, 1970
Episode Five: Forbidden Meetings
Alison and Gwyn grow closer as they walk up the mountain. Roger stays home, feeling sad, and tells Clive he wants to leave. Alison and Gwyn promise to meet every day, hidden from their parents. But when Alison returns to the house, she is told she cannot see him. A few days later, Roger, Alison, and Clive find a locked door in the stables. They wonder what is inside. Alison then realizes she is in her and Gwyn's secret meeting spot. When Gwyn appears, she is forced to ignore him.
- Air date: January 18, 1970
Episode Six: Anger and Secrets
Gwyn is very angry about how Alison has treated him. His mother also upsets him more. Alison and Roger try to connect and talk. She tells him some things Gwyn shared with her on the mountain. Later, Gwyn confronts Alison and makes her talk about what is happening between them. Roger shows up and teases Gwyn, saying he knows his secrets. Gwyn gets furious and storms off. He decides to leave the valley and everyone behind.
- Air date: January 25, 1970
Episode Seven: A Shocking Truth
Gwyn has spent the night on a mountain. Huw finds him there. Huw explains that the legend was acted out by him, Bertram, and Nancy before. Now, it is happening again with Gwyn, Roger, and Alison. He says it can only end in sadness. Gwyn isn't interested until Huw reveals a big secret: he is Gwyn's father. Back at the house, Roger decides to find out what is in the stable. He tries to force the door open.
- Air date: February 1, 1970
Episode Eight: The Legend's End
Roger opens the stable door and finds a table full of paper owls. These are the same kind Alison had been making, but Nancy put these ones there. At the house, Gwyn has returned. Nancy tells him they are leaving. Struggling through heavy rain with their bags, Gwyn tells her he is staying. Nancy leaves him behind. Alison has completely fallen under the spell of the legend and collapses. Huw takes her inside as scratches and feathers appear all over her. In a panic, Roger tries to help, but Gwyn refuses. Finally, Roger manages to help Alison break free. He realizes the pattern on the plates was of flowers, not owls.
- Air date: February 8, 1970
More Information
- "Filming The Owl Service-A Children's Diary" by Ellen, Adam and Katharine Garner, 1970 William Collins and Co Ltd.
- "Timescreen" Issue 10, Winter 1987
- "I've Seen a Ghost", by Richard Davis, 1979 Hutchinson Junior Books Ltd.
