This Happy Breed (Classic Radio Theatre) cover art

This Happy Breed (Classic Radio Theatre)

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This Happy Breed (Classic Radio Theatre)

By: Noel Coward
Narrated by: John Moffatt, Rosemary Leach
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About this listen

John Moffatt and Rosemary Leach star in this BBC Radio 4 production of Noël Coward’s patriotic play about the ups and downs of a working-class family between 1919 and 1939.

This Happy Breed opens in 1919, when the Gibbons family have just moved to their smart new home in the suburbs of South London. Against a background of social change and national upheaval spanning twenty years, the family celebrate their own triumphs and deal with their personal traumas.

Coward’s moving and humourous production, showing what life was like for a typical suburban family between the wars, was a huge hit and was adapted into a famous 1944 film starring John Mills and Celia Johnson. Among the distinguished cast in this 1989 BBC Radio 4 production are John Moffatt, Rosemary Leach, Anna Cropper and Doris Hare.

©2011 AudioGO Ltd (P)2011 AudioGO Ltd Drama & Plays Entertainment & Performing Arts Family Life Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Funny

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All stars
Most relevant  
In some ways better than the film. Having loved the film, I wondered if this would be inferior, just a version to listen to while doing other things.
I was wrong! It absorbed from the get-go. Taking nothing from the audio, having watched the film so many times, I was remembering the film as each scenario played out. Some scenes are longer in the film and some in the audio, but really, there is no competition.
John Moffatt certainly held his own in comparison with Robert Newton as Frank Gibbons, as does Rosemary Leach with Celia Johnson in the role of Ethel.
My favourite line of Frank’s - ‘ Mother didn’t pass on, pass over or pass out; Mother died’ - , will always make me chuckle.
Do buy this wonderful audio; you won’t regret it.

This Happy Breed

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This is a most wonderful adaptation of a beautifully sensitive and perceptive play. Noel,Coward had the ability to write dialogue - especially for woman - like few others. This is a splendidly touching play, played to perfection by the cast.

A most wonderful adaptation

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A nostajgia for a Britain long gone?,
As a child of the fifties much of this play rings true and as much a ' memory ' as though lived through. The people of this story were parents and grand parents of my generation and the turbulence of the first half of the 20th century was still fresh in their minds.

In this grab it now regardless of consequence age of entitlement such a world recreated here is actually to be envied. There was an innocence and naivety then which is entirely gone.

It actually made me want to weep.

Adenda:
Today I recieved a gift of monies from the people of Praze an Beeble collected at the Village Stores to help pay the vetinary fees of my injured Dachshund whom along with his brother is a popular personality hereabouts.

The spirit of yesterday lives in the hearts of my neighbours - God Bless them.

As only Coward could observe it

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Brought back happy memories of seeing this as a black and white film. Excellent. Highly recommend.

Wonderful

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loved it! brilliant acting made this play a joy to listen to, really highly recommended

try this play, you won't regret it

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Excellent
Beautiful acting
Terrific pacing
Sound effects perfect
Noel Coward at his unique best

Noel

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an first class feel good story from the master of an typical English family after the war and the start of another.

Between the Wars.

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Takes you back to a time when everything seemed simpler. Wonderful family saga of times between the wars

Wonderful nostalgia

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A pleasure to listen to. One of Cowards Best works. Buy it you will not regret it.

Brilliant

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