Film

T. Dan Smith: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Utopia

1987 · 1h 25m · Documentary · Thriller

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Utopia.

An experimental mix of thriller and documentary exploring the scandal centred on the one-time Newcastle Council Leader, aka The Mouth of the Tyne, who was sentenced to six years imprisonment in 1974 for corruption. A dynamic and visionary politician, Smith collaborated closely as Amber unpicked the story of a leftwing group of ex-war resisters who took control of the city council in 1960, the socialist and civic ambitions and the betrayals; the claims of MI5 involvement, of ministerial cover-ups and the unseen role of the Privy Council. With Smith appearing as himself and filmmakers Murray Martin and Steve Trafford as two journalists, the film interrogates the interviews and archive footage, weaving them together with a fictional scandal unfolding on the streets around them…

T. Dan Smith

Self

Dennis Skinner

Self

Murray Martin

Self

Jack Johnson

Self

Ken Skethaway

Self

Dave Hill

Jack Cross

Art Davies

Councillor Alan Deal

Christopher Northey

Jeremy Maudsley-Long

Steve Trafford

Steve

Martin Murray

Murray

Ralph Nossek

Home Secretary

Harry Herring

Councillor Albert

Cilla Mason

Councillor Edith

Elizabeth Mansfield

Newscaster

Amber Styles

Cleaner

Kay Wight

Alan Deal's Wife

• Peter RobertsProducer
• Jane NeatrourProducer
• Lorna PowellProducer
• Sirkka-Liisa KonttinenProducer
• Steve TraffordProducer
• Dave EadingtonProducer
• Richard GrassickProducer
• Judith TomlinsonProducer
• Martin MurrayProducer
• Elaine DrainvilleProducer

Release date

January 1, 1987

Status

Released

Original language

English

Runtime

1h 25m

Genres

Documentary, Thriller