Capital City (TV series)

Last updated

Capital City
GenreDrama
Starring William Armstrong
John Bowe
Denys Hawthorne
Dorian Healy
Douglas Hodge
Jason Isaacs
Joanna Kanska
Richard LeParmentier
Trevyn McDowell
Anna Nygh
Joanna Phillips-Lane
Rolf Saxon
Emily Bolton
Saira Todd
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes23
Production
Running time50 minutes
Production company Euston Films for Thames
Original release
Network ITV
Release26 September 1989 (1989-09-26) 
20 December 1990 (1990-12-20)

Capital City is a television series which focused on the professional and personal lives of a group of investment bankers working in the dealing room at Shane Longman, a fictional international bank based in the City of London. The 23-episode series was produced by Euston Films, a wholly owned subsidiary of Thames Television, for the ITV network.

Contents

Thames Television spent an estimated £500,000 to run newspaper and billboard advertisements to promote the series' launch which at the time was believed to be the largest advertising spend for a programme in the history of ITV. Full-page advertisements were taken in six national newspapers including The Financial Times , The Times and The Independent . The ads promoted the Shane Longman "brand", rather than "Capital City", and featured images of cast members in character. [1]

Thames Television stated that the press and poster ads were considered necessary to raise the profile of the series amongst members of the public who had a specialised or more professional interest, however a number of City bankers described the series as "fairly inaccurate", "confusing for the ordinary viewer", and lacking solid research. [1] One television critic stated: "All of this would have been quite novel and exciting three years ago, but the world has turned, the market has crashed and we have all seen enough of other people's Porsches to last a lifetime... City hustlers do not look very heroic any more, just extravagantly paid." [2]

Still, it could be argued that most of the characters in "Capital City" – perhaps with the exception of the reckless and predatory Jimmy Destry, power-hungry Lee Wolf and the duplicitous Sylvia Roux Teng – portray City bankers in a generally positive manner. The primary characters come across as likeable and – in contrast to the Gordon Gekko "greed is good" stereotype often associated with their industry – as possessing a moral and/or social conscience; in one episode, the entire dealing room threatens to go on strike in protest against handling a bond issue on behalf of a company which dumps toxic waste in poor African countries and demand that Shane Longman introduce policies which enable them to avoid dealing with clients whom they regard as unethical. [3]

Capital City is very much a product of the late 1980s, on the cusp of the digital revolution. The dealing room computers used what appeared to be a DOS operating system; mobile phones were the size of bricks; the primary methods of long-distance "instant" communication were still the land line telephone, fax and telex; and smoking – banned in England, within most public buildings, in 2007 – was still allowed in the workplace as well as inside restaurants, bars and other public places. At the same time, the series dealt with several mature storylines including alcoholism, depression, mental illness, sexual assault, drug use, homosexuality, physical assault, gambling addiction, prostitution, promiscuity, shoplifting, fraud, bribery, corruption and abortion.

Cast

The main cast (in alphabetical order as shown in the series credits) included:

Recurring support and guest cast included Mark Burns as Peter Longman, grandson of the bank's founder, the eponymous Shane Longman, and 30 per cent shareholder; Louise Lombard who appeared as Louise, a 17-year-old runaway who is befriended by Chas [7] and is later assaulted by Jimmy; [8] Faith Brook as Katherine Talbot, Hudson's mother; Charlotte Cornwell as Petra Allunson; Julia Ormond as Allison; Ben Daniels as Colin de Selincourt; and Pia Henderson, as Yolande, with whom Sirkka has a brief relationship.

Characters

Episodes

Series 1 (1989)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateDuration
11"Second Quarter Figures" Paul Seed Andrew Maclear26 September 1989 (1989-09-26)50 minutes
It's Monday morning on the trading floor of Shane Longman, a London-based international bank. The market has been erratic, nobody is getting it right and with the US trade figure due, the dealers are under pressure to improve on last month's performance. Several members of the board are critical of the 'maverick' image of the trading floor. Heads may roll. Meanwhile, Hudson's mentally unwell wife abandons him and their infant son, and Chas Ewell befriends Louise, a 17-year-old runaway. [7]
22"Insider Trading"Sarah HellingsAndrew Maclear3 October 1989 (1989-10-03)50 minutes
A serious problem looms at Shane Longman. Leonard Ansen, the Senior Director of Banking Activities, and Wendy's closest ally on the top floor, is in trouble with the DTI. He is suspected of insider trading and is forced to inform the board of his situation. Lee Wolf, the Director of Corporate Finance, and Ralph Goldring, the Director of Finance, demand Leonard's resignation; however, when CEO James Farrell and major shareholder Peter Longman put their support behind Leonard, it is Ralph Goldring who is forced out.
33"Thanksgiving" Paul Seed Andrew Maclear10 October 1989 (1989-10-10)50 minutes
It's Friday evening. The market is winding down. Sirkka is flying to Copenhagen for the weekend to see her boyfriend, Sven, and is about to leave when she hears that Aristotle has dropped out of an important deal she has set up. She must find another player fast as the deal has to be in place by Monday morning. Sirkka confronts Aristotle in a nearby bar and ends up with a black eye.
44"Max in Trouble"Mike VardyMatthew Bardsley17 October 1989 (1989-10-17)50 minutes
Declan is having a dinner party for Max, Michelle and Sophie – an art dealer who likes Max and whom Max, for his part, seems to like as well until he discovers she used to use drugs and, he feels, might start using again. Max, though, seems far more interested in a potential deal, making a killing in some bonds by selling now while the price is high and buying back once the price has fallen. Jimmy and Chas fall out after Jimmy sexually assaults Louise, a 17-year-old runaway, following a night of partying. [8]
55"Pension Fund"Sarah HellingsAndrew Maclear24 October 1989 (1989-10-24)50 minutes
Leonard has spent a year wooing back a major client, the Municipal Pension Fund, and he assigns the job of advising them to Declan, the bank's senior dealer. Unforeseen problems threaten the deal that Declan is setting up for the bank thanks to Jimmy, a junior dealer.
66"Newspaper Story"Mike VardyCharles Jennings31 October 1989 (1989-10-31)50 minutes
Jimmy Destry meets journalist Sarah Douglas at a private party, Not realising her profession, he divulges potentially damaging information about his colleagues and the departure of Ralph Goldring, Shane Longman's former Finance Director. The article is later published in the London Evening Post and includes unfavourable references to team members including a "Scandinavian cow", which Sirkka believes is her. It is later revealed that Max and Sarah were once lovers.
77"Rainforest" Paul Seed Andrew Maclear7 November 1989 (1989-11-07)50 minutes
Hudson Talbot, Shane Longman's capital markets originator, is woken in the middle of the night by his colleague, Max Lubin, the Bank's Director of Swaps. Hudson is persuaded, reluctantly, to discuss what sounds like another of Max's unorthodox but possibly brilliant schemes.
88"Takeover"Sarah HellingsAndrew Maclear14 November 1989 (1989-11-14)50 minutes
A dawn raid has occurred and Friedmans, a rival bank, has acquired 15 per cent of Shane Longman's shares. A takeover is threatened and the dealers' jobs are suddenly at stake. Chief Executive James Farrell tries to contact Peter Longman, the bank's major shareholder, only to discover that he is fishing somewhere off the north-west coast of Tahiti and cannot be reached. But a young accountant doing an audit at Shane lets slip to Chas and Declan that things at the rival bank are not what they seem.
99"Japanese Fund"Mike VardyAndrew Maclear21 November 1989 (1989-11-21)50 minutes
Peter Longman is in ebullient spirits. As Shane Longman's major shareholder, he has secured a deal with Tokyo-based Ikeda Bank to set up a joint venture. The signing of the agreement between the two banks is to be widely covered by the City press. Leonard Ansen is not so enthusiastic and believes Longman has rushed into the deal too quickly without considering the long-term implications of the tie-up. Ikeda executives give some indication of their desire to eventually take over Shane Longman but walk away from the deal after being less than impressed by what they perceived as a lack of discipline in the dealing room.
1010"Max in Space"Robert WalkerMatthew Bardsley28 November 1989 (1989-11-28)50 minutes
Max and Hudson have completed a deal with the Pan Mediterranean Fund, an EEC entity which offers finance to the poorer areas of Europe. Jerome Heron is a difficult character but his deputy, Monique Danvier, is far more likeable.
1111"Twelve Degrees Capricorn"Sarah HellingsAndrew Maclear5 December 1989 (1989-12-05)50 minutes
Eyebrows are raised when Max employs astrology to predict major deals. Thrill-seeking Sirkka enters dangerous territory when she becomes a high-class prostitute and discovers that risk isn't confined to the dealing room floor. [12]
1212"Max in Poland"Mike VardyAndrew Maclear12 December 1989 (1989-12-12)50 minutes
Whilst finalising an awkward deal in Warsaw, Max becomes very taken by Maxine, who works in an art gallery. Meanwhile, Sirkka hits rock bottom when she collapses with alcoholic poisoning and is rushed to hospital.
1313"Hard Drugs and Snails" Paul Seed Andrew Maclear19 December 1989 (1989-12-19)50 minutes
Wendy is promoted to become the new Head of Derivatives and is replaced as Chief Trader on the floor by the hard-boiled Sylvia Roux Teng. Sirkka gets a wake-up call and decides to join Alcoholics Anonymous. Jimmy Destry is sacked for malpractice after Declan discovers his off-market trades. [4]

Series 2 (1990)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateDuration
141"Toxic Waste Syndrome"Mike VardyAndrew Maclear18 October 1990 (1990-10-18)50 minutes
Sirkka investigates a corporate client's background and her passionate reaction brings her into serious conflict with her colleagues and the Bank's executives. [5]
152"Swami's in Town"Clive FleuryAndrew Maclear25 October 1990 (1990-10-25)50 minutes
Michelle and her new assistant, Hilary, are puzzled by a client who balks at making a profit, and Max is surprised to find that Sylvia – the new Head Trader – believes that his job is not essential to the Bank.
163"The Gnome From Zurich" Diarmuid Lawrence Andrew Maclear1 November 1990 (1990-11-01)50 minutes
The beautiful Claudine – an old friend of Declan's – persuades him into a deal he soon regrets. Michelle is unsympathetic as he gets into more and more difficulty, but the Bank softball match gives her the chance to help him out.
174"Shoes on the Wrong Foot"Mike VardyAndrew Maclear8 November 1990 (1990-11-08)50 minutes
Lee Wolf travels to Prague to complete a multi-million dollar deal but his acquiescence in a colleague's questionable arrangements gets him into difficulty. [14]
185"Ethical Investments"Clive FleuryTom Greenwood15 November 1990 (1990-11-15)50 minutes
Hilary's job is threatened when Sylvia tries to convince the Bank's executives that they need staff cuts. The deal which might save her looks like it's going wrong. Sirkka faces a personal trauma on her own.
196"Headhunting"Diarmuid LawrenceAndrew Maclear22 November 1990 (1990-11-22)50 minutes
Declan and Michelle are having a difficult time. Declan wonders whether things would be better if they did not work together. As it happens, he is approached by another bank but he is unsure why.
207"Strange Attractions"Mike VardyRichard O'Keefe29 November 1990 (1990-11-29)50 minutes
Hudson unwillingly introduces his friend, Danny, to the trading floor. Danny is an expert in chaos theory, and starts giving good advice. Sylvia is impressed and thinks Danny should be part of the team. Michelle and Hilary get involved with a deal for an attractive tycoon. For Michelle, it's just business, but Hilary hopes it might be more.
218"Strange Fruits"Clive FleuryAndrew Maclear6 December 1990 (1990-12-06)50 minutes
Hudson is embroiled in a difficult issue. The childminder has left and Hudson's mother – visiting from the United States – is standing in and looking after his son. Inevitably there's friction. Sirkka finds that she has to look closely at her relationship with her friend, Yolande.
229"A Wolf in Wolf's Clothing"Diarmuid LawrenceAndrew Maclear13 December 1990 (1990-12-13)50 minutes
Contrary to the image he projects at the Bank, Lee Wolf is a gambler and an unlucky one. His debts put his job and his personal life in jeopardy. He has to pull off something big to survive. While things get worse for Wolf, however, they get better for Declan and Michelle, who have a big decision to make.
2310"The Wedding"Mike VardyAndrew Maclear20 December 1990 (1990-12-20)50 minutes
Sylvia saddles Hilary and Chas with an unsaleable issue and won't accept that the problem has been caused by her. Hilary's attempts to sort things out are complicated by the fact that everyone at the Bank is off to the wedding of the year.

Production credits

Series trivia

Series quotes

Broadcast information

Capital City was originally broadcast on Thames Television between 26 September 1989 and 20 December 1990; many other ITV regions also carried the programme, though participation and broadcast dates have varied. Despite its short run in the UK, the series was rebroadcast on UKTV Gold.

The series was also transmitted in Australia by ABC Television, in the United States on selected public television stations, and in Canada on CBC Television, as well as on networks in Switzerland, Germany and Poland.[ citation needed ]

Availability

The complete series of 23 episodes have been released on DVD.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Destry Rides Again</i> 1939 film

Destry Rides Again is a 1939 American Western comedy film directed by George Marshall and starring Marlene Dietrich and James Stewart. The supporting cast includes Mischa Auer, Charles Winninger, Brian Donlevy, Allen Jenkins, Irene Hervey, Billy Gilbert, Bill Cody Jr., Lillian Yarbo, and Una Merkel.

<i>Byker Grove</i> British childrens television series (1989–2006)

Byker Grove is a British teen drama and coming of age television series which aired between 1989 and 2006 as part of CBBC on BBC One.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew McCarthy</span> American actor (born 1962)

Andrew Thomas McCarthy is an American actor, travel writer, and television director. He is most known as a member of the Brat Pack, with roles in 1980s films such as St. Elmo's Fire, Pretty in Pink, Mannequin, and Weekend at Bernie's. He is ranked No. 40 on VH1's 100 Greatest Teen Stars of all-time list. As a director, he is known for his work on Orange Is the New Black.

<i>The Sweeney</i> British television crime drama series (1975–1978)

The Sweeney is a 1970s British television police drama focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, a branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London. It stars John Thaw as Detective Inspector Jack Regan and Dennis Waterman as his partner, Detective Sergeant George Carter. It was produced by the Thames Television subsidiary Euston Films for broadcast on the ITV network in the UK between 2 January 1975 and 28 December 1978.

<i>Quatermass</i> (TV serial) 1979 British TV science fiction series

Quatermass is a 1979 British television science fiction serial. Produced by Euston Films for Thames Television, it was broadcast on the ITV network in October and November 1979. Like its three predecessors, Quatermass was written by Nigel Kneale. It is the fourth and, to date, final television serial to feature the character of Professor Bernard Quatermass, this time played by John Mills.

Elizabeth Weir (<i>Stargate</i>) Character from the television series Stargate Atlantis

Dr. Elizabeth Weir is a fictional character in the Canadian-American Sci-Fi Channel television series Stargate Atlantis, a military science fiction show about a military team exploring another galaxy via a network of alien transportation devices. Elizabeth Weir is introduced as a recurring character in the Stargate SG-1 season seven two-parter, Lost City. She does not hold any military rank since she is a civilian. Weir is the leader of the Atlantis expedition in Stargate Atlantis until the last episode of season three, titled "First Strike".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Marshall (director)</span> American actor, screenwriter, and film director (1891–1975)

George E. Marshall was an American actor, screenwriter, producer, film and television director, active through the first six decades of film history.

<i>Brotherhood</i> (American TV series) American TV series or program

Brotherhood is an American crime drama television series created by Blake Masters about the intertwining lives of the Irish-American Caffee brothers from Providence, Rhode Island: Tommy is a local politician and Michael is a gangster involved with New England's Irish Mob. The show also features their mother Rose, cousin Colin Carr, childhood friend and Rhode Island state detective Declan Giggs, Irish mob boss Freddie Cork, Tommy's wife Eileen, and Michael's criminal partner Pete McGonagle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Declan de Barra</span> Irish writer and musician

Declan de Barra is an Irish musician, animator and screenwriter, best known for his work in American television. In addition, de Barra's animations have featured in various international film festivals.

South African born Trevyn McDowell is a former actress and a property developer, who has starred in films, television programmes, theatre and radio, predominantly in her adopted homeland of England.

<i>The Listener</i> (TV series) Canadian fantasy drama television series

The Listener is a Canadian fantasy drama television series created by Michael Amo. The series stars Craig Olejnik as Toby Logan, a paramedic with telepathic powers who finds himself consulting with law enforcement to make a change in the world by helping others while listening to the thoughts of victims and criminals, and seeing images that they saw.

<i>Dealers</i> (film) 1989 British film

Dealers is a 1989 British film directed by Colin Bucksey. It stars Paul McGann and Rebecca De Mornay.

<i>Million Dollar Traders</i> British TV series or programme

Million Dollar Traders is a 2009 British reality television series devised by hedge fund manager Lex van Dam, which attempted to recreate the famous Turtle Traders experiment devised by Richard Dennis in the 1980s.

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> season 9 Season of television series

The ninth season of Degrassi: The Next Generation premiered in Canada on October 4, 2009, concluded on July 16, 2010, and consists of twenty-three episodes. Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian serial teen drama television series. Although only one school year passed in the story timeline since season six, season nine is set in the spring semester in which the years it aired. Writers have been able to use a semi-floating timeline, so that the issues depicted are modern for their viewers. This season continues to depict the lives of a group of high school freshmen, juniors and seniors, and graduates as they deal with some of the challenges and issues that young adults face such as drug abuse, sexting, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual identity, homosexuality, crime, sex, and relationships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert King (writer)</span> American film and television writer and producer (born 1959)

Robert King is an American film and television writer and producer. He is married to Michelle King, who is also his writing partner. The couple created the legal drama series The Good Wife (2009–16), which earned them a Writers Guild of America Award; its spin-off The Good Fight (2017–2022); the comedy-drama BrainDead (2016); the supernatural drama Evil (2019–present); and the police drama Elsbeth (2024–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Goddard</span> English film director

Jim Goddard was an English film and TV director who was born in Battersea, London. He directed episodes of many UK TV series such as Public Eye, Callan, Special Branch, The Sweeney, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, The Bell and Holby City. He may be best known outside England for the TV series Kennedy starring Martin Sheen or directing the film Shanghai Surprise as a vehicle for newlyweds Sean Penn and Madonna.

The eighteenth series of the British medical drama television series Holby City commenced airing in the United Kingdom on 13 October 2015, and concluded on 4 October 2016. The series consists of 52 episodes. Oliver Kent continues his position as the show's executive producer, while Simon Harper serves as the series producer. Sixteen cast members reprised their roles from the previous series, while several recurring characters, and numerous guest stars feature in the series. Four actors depart during the series and two cast members reprise their roles after taking breaks in the previous series. Jemma Redgrave appeared in the series between February and September 2016 as general surgeon Bernie Wolfe. Jason Robertson joined the semi-regular cast in February 2016 as Jason Haynes, and two new cast members joined the serial in summer 2016: Marc Elliott as registrar Isaac Mayfield and Lucinda Dryzek as F1 doctor Jasmine Burrows.

<i>Wolf Creek</i> (TV series) Australian TV series or program

Wolf Creek is an Australian horror television series which screens on Stan. The series is a spin-off of the movies Wolf Creek and Wolf Creek 2. John Jarratt, who portrayed Mick Taylor in the films, reprises his role for the show.

The nineteenth series of the British medical drama television series Holby City commenced airing in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 11 October 2016 and concluded airing in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 December 2017. The series consists of 64 episodes; an increase from the previous series.

The thirty-fourth series of the British medical drama television series Casualty began airing on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 17 August 2019, one week after the end of the previous series. The series consists of 43 episodes. Lucy Raffety continues her role as series producer, while Simon Harper continues his role as the show's executive producer; this is Raffety's final series as producer, and she was replaced by Loretta Preece. Production on the series was postponed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which also resulted in multiple transmission breaks. A single episode was also pulled due to comparisons between its content and the pandemic; the episode was broadcast as the final episode of the series at a later date. The theme of the series is reflecting how the National Health Service (NHS) is "under pressure", with elements focusing on "the hierarchy of pressure on the doctors". The series is also promoted through multiple trailers.

References

  1. 1 2 Cochrane, Hugh. 'A great gamble as the full-page ads run on', in "The Glasgow Herald", Glasgow: 4 October 1989
  2. 1 2 3 Stead, Deborah. 'To start with...; On the Telly, a tale of swaps', in "The New York Times", New York: 3 December 1989
  3. 'Ethical Investments', Director: Clive Fleury; Writer: Tom Greenwood. "Capital City", Euston Films, 'episode 18, series 2. Original air date: 15 November 1990
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 'Hard Drugs and Snails', Director: Paul Seed; Writer: Andrew Maclear. "Capital City", Euston Films, episode 13, series 2. Original air date: 19 December 1989
  5. 1 2 3 'Toxic Waste Syndrome', Director: Mike Vardy; Writer: Andrew Maclear. "Capital City", Euston Films, episode 14, series 2. Original air date: 18 October 1990
  6. 1 2 'Swami's in Town', Director: Clive Fleury; Writer: Andrew Maclear. "Capital City", Euston Films, episode 15, series 2. Original air date: 25 October 1990
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 'Second Quarter Figures', Director: Paul Seed; Writer: Andrew Maclear. "Capital City", Euston Films, episode 1, series 1. Original air date: 26 September 1989
  8. 1 2 3 'Max in Trouble', Director: Mike Vardy; Writer: Matthew Bardsley. "Capital City", Euston Films, episode 4, series 1. Original air date: 17 October 1989
  9. 'Headhunting', Director: Diarmuid Lawrence; Writer: Andrew Maclear. "Capital City", Euston Films, episode 19, series 2. Original air date: 22 November 1990
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 'The Wedding', Director: Mike Vardy; Writer: Andrew Maclear. "Capital City", Euston Films, 'episode 23, series 2. Original air date: 20 December 1990
  11. 'Strange Fruits', Director: Clive Fleury; Writer: Andrew Maclear. "Capital City", Euston Films, 'episode 21, series 2. Original air date: 6 December 1990
  12. 1 2 'Twelve Degrees Capricorn', Director: Sarah Hellings; Writer: Andrew Maclear. "Capital City", Euston Films, episode 11, series 1. Original air date: 5 December 1989
  13. 1 2 'A Wolf in Wolf's Clothing', Director: Diarmuid Lawrence; Writer: Andrew Maclear. "Capital City", Euston Films, episode 22, series 2. Original air date: 13 December 1990
  14. 'Shoes on the Wrong Foot', Director: Mike Vardy; Writer: Andrew Maclear. "Capital City", Euston Films, 'episode 17, series 2. Original air date: 8 November 1990