Micro Men

Micro Men, working title Syntax Era[2] is a one-off BBC drama television programme set in the late 1970s and the early-mid 1980s, about the rise of the British home computer market. It focuses on the rivalry between Sir Clive Sinclair (played by Alexander Armstrong), who developed the ZX Spectrum, and Chris Curry (played by Martin Freeman), the man behind the BBC Micro.[3]

"Syntax Era" redirects here. For the hip hop song, see T.I.M.E. (The Inner Mind's Eye).

Micro Men
Micro Men title card.
GenreDocumentary drama
Created byAndrea Cornwell
Written byTony Saint
Directed bySaul Metzstein
StarringAlexander Armstrong
Martin Freeman
Theme music composerVangelis
Opening theme"Pulstar" by Vangelis
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original language(s)English
Production
Executive producer(s)Elinor Day
Jamie Laurenson
Producer(s)Andrea Cornwell
CinematographyHubert Taczanowski
Editor(s)Ian Davies
Running time84 mins
Release
Original networkBBC Four
Original release8 October 2009[1]
External links
Website

Plot

The drama is centred on two of the leading players and their respective companies in the home computer market of the late 1970s and early 1980s focusing on the race to win a grant from the BBC to become the provider of a home computer for the BBC's programming for schools.[4] Certain parts of the drama are based on historical fact while others are dramatisation and a version of events at the time.

The main characters are ZX Spectrum creator Clive Sinclair and BBC Micro creators Chris Curry, Sophie Wilson, Steve Furber and Hermann Hauser. (The real-life Wilson also makes a brief cameo as a barmaid.)

Cast

Cameo

Production

Development

The programme was created by independent production company Darlow Smithson and was written by Tony Saint, directed by Saul Metzstein and produced by Andrea Cornwell.[5] It was produced as a BBC Drama, shot in the UK, with some scenes shot in and around the colleges of Cambridge on 15 July 2009. Computers were supplied by The Centre for Computing History, then in Haverhill.[6] They also supplied other technical props, including the Sinclair C5, and Jason Fitzpatrick, director of the museum, played the part of David Johnson-Davies.[7]

The programme's working title was Syntax Era.[8] The titles use green 'computer' lettering similar to the real 1980s monitors to which BBC Microcomputers would have typically been connected.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack is notable for its use of early 1980s electronica, which was considered futuristic-sounding at the time:

Release

It was first shown on BBC Four on 8 October 2009.

Reaction

When asked about the programme in an interview for The Independent Clive Sinclair himself replied "It was a travesty of the truth. It just had no bearing on the truth. It was terrible."[9]

See also

References
  1. Teeman, Tim (9 October 2009). "Last Night's TV". The Times. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  2. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1459467/releaseinfo#akas
  3. Sam Wollaston (9 October 2009). "Micro Men". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  4. Arnott, Jack (8 October 2009). "Micro Men preview". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  5. Lyle, Peter (7 October 2009). "Micro Men: Sir Clive Sinclair and the heyday of British computing". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  6. "Museum-piece computers programmed into TV show". Haverhill Weekly News. Cambridge Newspapers. 7 October 2009. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  7. "Syntax Era / Micro Men Trailer". Centre for Computing History. Centre for Computing History. 21 August 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  8. "British Comedy Guide: Micro Men". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  9. "Sir Clive Sinclair: Down but never out, the eternal optimist is back". The Independent. 10 January 2010.
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