The Singapore Grip (TV series)
A colonial love story disrupted by the Japanese invasion of Singapore.
The Singapore Grip is an ITV six-part television drama series adapted from J.G. Farrell's 1978 Booker Prize-winning novel. It centers on a love affair set against the Japanese invasion of Singapore and stars Luke Treadaway, David Morrissey, and Elizabeth Tan. The series first aired on BBC First in Australia on 26 July 2020, followed by ITV in the UK on 13 September.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Drama
- Writer
- Christopher Hampton
- Director
- Tom Vaughan
- Starring
- Charles Dance
- Luke Treadaway
- Colm Meaney
- David Morrissey
- Elizabeth Tan
- Jane Horrocks
- Georgia Blizzard
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Series
- 1
- Episodes
- 6
Facts from the source article.
Synopsis
The story follows the Blackett family, who run a major trading company in colonial Singapore, and Matthew Webb, son of Walter Blackett's business partner. Walter wants Matthew to marry his daughter Joan, but Matthew becomes interested in a mysterious Chinese woman, Vera Chiang. A recurring joke involves Matthew seeking the meaning of "the Singapore Grip," receiving different explanations from various people.
Production
ITV commissioned the adaptation in February 2018. Mammoth Screen approached Christopher Hampton to write the screenplay; Hampton, who knew Farrell well before his death in 1979, agreed. Filming began in early 2019. The series was shot in and around Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia, as Singapore had become too developed to evoke the colonial era. Carcosa Seri Negara in Perdana Botanical Gardens served as the Blackett and Webb residences. A vintage plane from a military airbase museum was used for Matthew Webb's arrival, and an abandoned town near Kuala Lumpur airport for a firefighting scene. The Battle of Slim River and plantation scenes were also filmed near Kuala Lumpur. Other locations included the Royal Selangor Club, Wisma Ekran, Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Klang, and various sites in Penang such as Georgetown's Chinatown, City Hall, and Swettenham Pier.
Critical reception
The Guardian gave the series two stars, calling the satire "bite-free" and the humour "oddly pitched" between two poles. The Independent also awarded two stars, criticizing the tone for veering between black comedy and marriage farce. Anita Singh of The Daily Telegraph rated it three stars, finding it lacked the book's bite and resembled a cosy Jeeves and Wooster-style comedy; she noted the cosiness was deliberate but did not transfer well to screen. James Delingpole of The Spectator was more positive, praising the cast and lavish colonial setting. The advocacy group British East and South East Asians working in the Theatre and Screen industries criticized the series as "colonial history told through a white gaze," with Asian characters reduced to stereotypes. Screenwriter Christopher Hampton defended the books as "perhaps the most celebrated attack on colonialism by a British novelist in the 20th century."
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in The Singapore Grip (TV series)?
The Singapore Grip stars Charles Dance, Luke Treadaway, Colm Meaney, David Morrissey, Elizabeth Tan, Jane Horrocks and Georgia Blizzard.
When did The Singapore Grip (TV series) end?
The Singapore Grip last aired on 18 October 2020.
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