In this 1950s-set comedy-drama, two musicians find their careers and lives complicated by gangsters and a charismatic female singer.
Ambitious Londoner Eddie Wallace (Jerome Flynn) and his more cautious pianist friend, Eric Trapp (Robson Green), are a musical duo trying to make their mark in the post-war club scene. Their act is transformed by the arrival of the spirited singer Dolly Nightingale (Julia Sawalha), whose presence creates a romantic rivalry between the two men. As their trio begins to find success, they attract the attention of the eccentric music publisher Ray Smiles (Warren Mitchell) and the intimidating club owner Maxie Morrell (Jim Carter). The friends are soon entangled in the city’s criminal underworld, forcing them to protect their careers and their lives.
Ain’t Misbehavin’ was constructed as a primetime vehicle for Robson Green and Jerome Flynn, capitalising on the phenomenal success the pair had achieved in Soldier Soldier and as recording artists. The series was a calculated piece of light entertainment, designed to harness their established on-screen chemistry. Writer Bob Larbey’s script provided a framework of gentle comedy and low-stakes gangster plotting, but the series’ primary function was to provide a platform for its stars’ musical performances. The nostalgic post war setting and good-natured tone made it a comfortable, if slight, piece of scheduling, perfectly tailored for the massive audience the two actors commanded at the height of their fame.
Broadcast: ITV – Anglia, 3 Episodes, 28 July – 11 August 1997
Written by: Bob Larbey
Director: Norman Stone
Executive Producer: Norman Stone
Producer: George Gallaccio
Main Cast: Jerome Flynn (Eddie Wallace), Robson Green (Eric Trapp), Warren Mitchell (Ray Smiles), Julia Sawalha (Dolly Nightingale), Jane Lapotaire (Clara Van Trapp), Jim Carter (Maxie Morrell), James Cosmo (Malky Fraser)
