The 77/78 TV series: Little mistakes and special moments

[Jack400]

Just to say there’s nothing significant to the logos on the girls’ jackets. They were shop-bought by Rita our costume designer (as were all the clothes on both series) without any input from the actors. They were just random designs that were already on the jackets

Thanks, Gary. I could not see any resemblance to star signs hence my confusion. (Though it doesn't take much).

[number 6]

There was a brief period in the mid to late 70's where elaborate zodiac symbols appeared on jackets/t-shirts, etc. This is the reason I suggested what logo could've been on Jen's coat. Obviously I was wrong!

[daanton]

Just to say there’s nothing significant to the logos on the girls’ jackets. They were shop-bought by Rita our costume designer (as were all the clothes on both series) [...]

Including Jennifer's/Anne's later light-blue jacket (with no logo at all) worn in Series II, am I right?

[petejt]

Michele was an Aries

Aries? I thought she was Leo?

In Five are Together Again with Mr. Wooh and Tinker Hayling, George asks Mr. Wooh "What day was August 9th, 1965?" He says it was a Thursday, and his assistant adds that it was raining.

George replies "That's right! I know that because I was born then."

I always thought that since it was a more 'recent' date (and the age matches up with that of Michele during the filming), that it was actually Michele's birthdate?

[number 6]

No, Michele wasn't a Leo. She was born on April 4th 1964, making her an Aries.

[number 6]

Just watched the 'Billycock Hill' episode for the first time in a few years, and just picked up on a mistake I spotted ages ago, but forgot to post. It's when the Five are introduced to Mr Gringle, who is out catching Butterflies. After the meeting, Mr Gringle turns away then spots a Butterfly on brambles and exclaims in delight 'A Brown Argus'! Being an expert, he really shouldn't have had any trouble identifying it as a 'Peacock' Butterfly! Tut, tut... Experts, eh! Apologises if this has been posted before!

[Anita Bensoussane]

Well spotted, Number 6! Maybe the image of the butterfly wasn't very clear originally (before the recording was sharpened up for the DVD release), so they thought they could get away with it!

[Boatbuilder]

You also have to remember, the programme was made before the days when most people never even had a video tape recorder, so nobody was likely to pause/rewind to study those sort of things, and even if they did, video tape pause screens were extremely poor quality with noise bars covering a lot of the screen that would have probably made it difficult to make out too much detail. The first Betamax machines only reached the USA in 1975 and VHS in late 1977 so it was probably later than that in the UK. I know I got my first one (VHS) in the late '70's.

Also, I guess they had to use whatever butterfly was around on the day and there probably wasn't a Brown Argus to be seen.

[Courtenay]

Yeah, but they could still have changed the script to fit. I'm an absolute novice with British butterflies and even I know that's a Peacock!!

[pete9012S]

Just watched the 'Billycock Hill' episode for the first time in a few years, and just picked up on a mistake I spotted ages ago,..

After the meeting Mr Gringle turns away then spots a Butterfly on brambles and exclaims in delight 'A Brown Argus'! Being an expert, he really shouldn't have had any trouble identifying it as a 'Peacock' Butterfly!

Thank you number6 - I just had to check out the The Brown Angus.
You are quite correct, although beautiful, it is rather different.

[number 6]

Both stunning butterflies, Pete! Thanks for posting the Brown Argus pic. I don't think the 'Peacock' butterfly seen in the episode was actually real. I can remember reading somewhere that it was a realistic looking one made of paper! Maybe Gary Russell mentioned it?

[Boatbuilder]

Well if it was paper, number 6, why couldn't they have made one of the correct butterfly?

[Wolfgang]

I'm no lepidopterologist, but as far as I know not all butterflies do create their colourful appearance by using "true" colours but using sunlight reflecting effects. The blue gleam of the left upper wing of the Brown Argus seems to indicate that this is the case here. In all probability a faked one wouldn't have had the gleam. As Peacocks are quite common and beautiful, I suppose it was easier and cheaper to get an artificial one of that (if it's true that they used an artificial one).

[number 6]

Well if it was paper, number 6, why couldn't they have made one of the correct butterfly?

It beats me! You made a good point, though. Maybe the paper butterfly (if it was paper!) was sourced from the Southern TV prop dept and that was the only example of a butterfly they had at the time, so that is what they used. As its been pointed out, those in charge probably didn't think the young audience would notice, especially as the butterfly is only seen briefly!

[pete9012S]

If memory serves me correctly, there was a false butterfly collector in the original book and a false butterfly in the 1970's tv adaptation!

Anyone know how the 'butterfly' got its name?