Bouquet of Barbed Wire
| Bouquet of Barbed Wire (1976) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Written by | Andrea Newman |
| Starring |
Frank Finlay Susan Penhaligon |
| Theme music composer | Dennis Farnon |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Rex Firkin |
| Producer(s) | Tony Wharmby |
| Production company(s) | London Weekend Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| First shown in | 1976 |
| Bouquet of Barbed Wire (2010) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Written by | Guy Andrews |
| Starring |
Trevor Eve Hermione Norris |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production company(s) | Mammoth Screen |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV, STV, UTV |
| First shown in | 2010 |
Bouquet of Barbed Wire was a British television series based on a 1969 novel by Andrea Newman of the same name. It was created by London Weekend Television for ITV in 1976, and another adaptation was released in 2010. The series was notorious for its treatment of family and sexual dynamics, focused on the relationship between father and daughter.
Prue Sorensen (Susan Penhaligon) is a university student who, after becoming pregnant, marries American actor Gavin (James Aubrey). Her father, Peter Manson (Frank Finlay), is a publisher who appears to have an unhealthy relationship with his daughter and becomes distressed over both his daughter's pregnancy and her marriage. The announcement of Prue's pregnancy creates tension between Peter and Gavin which Prue exploits for her own amusement. It is implied that Prue has engineered the marriage and pregnancy to provoke her father.
Prue and Gavin stay at her parents' house for the weekend, ostensibly to smooth over relations with Peter. However, this endeavor fails and Peter barely acknowledges Gavin's presence. Prue's mother, Cassie (Sheila Allen), is more accepting of Gavin, despite being aware that Prue is playing her father and her lover against each other. Prue suggests to Gavin that they invite Peter to accompany them on a summer holiday in Southern France, yet when Gavin approaches Peter about it, he declines.
A young woman named Sarah Francis (Deborah Grant) is hired as Peter's new office secretary. Soon it becomes apparent that Peter is attracted to Sarah, but he does not pursue her. During an argument with Cassie, Peter says he is struck by Sarah's ambitious drive, and contrasts it to what he perceives as reckless behavior by Prue. Sarah is an independent woman who is seeing two men, one of whom visits her flat against her landlord's rules. Drama ensues when Sarah's alcoholic father arrives at the apartment unannounced.
Cassie, fearful that the family is growing apart, suggests that she and Peter go on holiday to Scotland with their two young sons, showing them the places they visited on their honeymoon. Peter remains increasingly obsessed with Prue, and mistakenly believes her pregnancy has ruined her life. He grows resentful towards Cassie, whom he believes has sided against him with Prue. Meanwhile, Prue refuses to speak with Peter because of his treatment of Gavin. Later, Gavin hits Prue on purpose while she is sick due to her pregnancy, resulting in Prue's refusal to go to work. He later apologizes profusely for hitting her, claiming that he will never do it again.
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