Oliver's Travels (1996)

British stage and screen legends Alan Bates (Gosford Park, Women in Love) and Sinéad Cusack (Stealing Beauty) star in an irresistible blend of romantic comedy and mystery. He is a professor obsessed with word games who is forced into early retirement; she is a policewoman suspended from the force for voicing suspicions about a superior officer. They team up to find a missing person and wind up discovering much more. Traveling through some of Britain’s most glorious countryside from South Wales to the Orkney Islands, they uncover a web of nefarious activity, dodge an aerial attack, and exchange some of the wittiest banter since Hepburn and Tracy.

Written by Alan Plater (The Barchester Chronicles, The Last of the Blonde Bombshells) and also featuring Bill Paterson, Mollie Sugden, and Miles Anderson, this story proves once again that with mystery and love—getting there is more than half the fun.

Idean Inspiration for "Episode Parties"

My wife and I love traveling in England and Scotland. So, when I chanced upon Oliver's Travels at a local bookstore I purchased it based solely on the cover description. It has since become one of our viewing favorites and inspired us to host a series of "Episode Parties" with friends. Each party was themed to match the accompanying episode, with classic Jazz music, British food and great micro brewed English style ales. Everyone had a great time and loved viewing each episode, which prompted spirited discussion about the music, plot, actors, travel, English culture and "funny thing(s) about sex". Highly recommended! March 5, 2008

The Horse That Sits On Eggs

C. Cook, who submitted a review above, laments not knowing the joke in Oliver's Travels relating to "The Horse That Sits On Eggs." I refer anyone interested to the equally fantastic BOOK, Oliver's Travels, by Alan Plater (Warner Books 1994) p. 143. But in the meantime:

Once upon a time there was a farmer who had a horse. His neighbor admired the horse and offered him 10 pounds for it. The farmer thought this was good value so he accepted the offer. However, before they shook hands on the deal, he said to the neighbor: "I should warn you, this is a fine horse, but he has one serious weakness. He likes to sit on eggs." The neighbor said yes, he would keep him away from eggs. So the deal was struck. The neighbor paid the money and took the horse away.

A week later the farmer heard loud cries coming from the river. He went down to the river and there was his neighbor, on the horse, in the middle of the river. "He won't move,' said the neighbor, "we've been here all morning." "I'm very sorry, " said the farmer. "I should warned you. I told you that he likes to sit on eggs, but I forgot to tell you that he also likes to sit on fish." February 18, 2008

Pure entertainment and enthusiastically recommended

Superbly combining romance, mystery, humor and wit against an impressive series of landscapes and countrysides from South Wales to the Orkney Islands, "Oliver's Travels" is the story of a redundant (British for downsized) professor of Comparative Religions (who has studies so many religions that he has ended up agnostic) and a policewoman who because of the professor has gotten herself suspended from the police force because of raising questions about the role of a superior office in a local murder. These two unlikely companions set out on a quest to find 'Arisotle', a legendary master of the art of creating crossword puzzles. Along the way they meet a memorable cast of characters, are the targets of a helicopter attack, and ultimate uncover a cabal of influential criminals whose identities would scandalize all of England. Written by Alan Plater, and starring Alan Bates and Sinead Cusack, this skillfully written script is absolutely riveting from beginning to end, the production values are flawless, and the ending is a complete but completely satisfying surprise. With a total running time of 245 minutes, and featuring a stereo soundtrack, the DVD format allows for the addition of cast filmographies and a scene index. "Oliver's Travel's" is a pure entertainment and enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library collections.
February 6, 2008

Delightful Romantic Comedy/Mystery

I shall be brief. I agree with the other reviewers here who have given this lighthearted series 5 stars. The main characters, Oliver, a redundant Professor of Comparative Religions, and Diane, a policewoman forced to take a leave of absence after asking sticky questions about her Superintendent's possible shady financial dealings (the late Alan Bates and Sinead Cusack play Oliver and Diane), are a perfectly matched couple who exchange witty banter as they travel through the scenic British landscape in search of a "missing" crossword puzzle compiler named Aristotle. Along the way they are shadowed by a sinister man, chased by villains in a helicopter, ultimately find love, and, yes, solve the puzzle. This is a refreshingly mature adult romantic comedy/mystery. Their scenic quest through Wales, England, and Scotland is beautifully filmed. I highly recommend it. January 30, 2008

Oliver's Travels

Great mystery with entertaining characters; gets you hooked and you want to take the trip with Oliver and Diane. The scenery is wonderful and the connections from one end of the island to the other are great. Kids would be bored, but adults will enjoy. Requires thought and longer concentration, it is not in short snippets. October 25, 2007

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