The Knowledge (1979)
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- čas přidán 7. 12. 2016
- The Knowledge is the process all London black taxi drivers must go through in order to hold the coveted Green Badge.
This film takes a light-hearted look at the process in the 70's.
Credit: Thames Publications
Director: Bob Brooks
Euston Films
Can’t believe I was a knowledge boy in 1974. Retired 2018, !!!
Congratulations! You must have a book in you after all those years of being a cabbie, unless you've already written it!
@@citizen1163 a good book for you is it’s “Tales from the Ranks and Beyond
“by Roger Lewis
Ooh, how long did it take to pass?
13 months in total.!!!
@@Paul-fq9pj Thanks for the tip.!!!
I am only six and a half minutes in and the amount of actors I recognise is unbelievable. Can't believe I have never seen this before.
@Newsbender Hahaha! Yes. Mick Ford. Frank Gallagher was the original Archer.
@@lennywebb6740 Archer - my favourite character in Scum
neither can I 🙂
First time I have seen this since it was first aired. Stands the test of time. Great.
Great scripts, actors and directors always do.
Great film. A real who's who of UK acting talent. Nigel Hawthorn, Michael Elphick, Gary Holton, Nicholas Ball and many more. Great rewatch.
This film is about the many sides to being British i recognize everyone of these characters it's one of the great British films shame it's been "hiding" in a cupboard somewhere.
One of the funniest dramas ever made! Watch out for Gary Holton who went on to star in Auf Wiedersehen Pet and tragically died during the second series. The casting and script is second to none - just like Auf Wiedersehen Pet!
Wow. Written by Jack Rosenthal(husband of Maureen Lipman) and starring Nigel Hawthrone. I remember watching this on repeat on Channel 4 in the 1990s. A great little one-off TV drama.
WOW
I loved the movie. 1st time watching this today on YT.
Didn't watch this back in 1979 coz I was a young lad.
Nice to see the old London I grew up in and nice to see no parking restrictions and no CCTV cameras.
As far I can recall most Londoners lived in the centre of London (Inner London) and then, eventually, most Londoners moved out for various reasons stemming from affordability to noise pollution and what have you.
Anyway, back then, the Knowledge to be a Black Cab driver was a great thing for earning very good money.
Now a days, the Knowledge is a dying thing coz mini cabbing/Uber has taken over with Smart phones having built in SatNav.
Amazing performance from Nigel Hawthorne . Incredibly funny script for the introductory meeting .
Remember watching when it first came out, quality. Nigel Hawthorne brilliant as usual, loved when he asked Michael Elphick if he was a removal man or a kleptomaniac when he moved the chair forward.
😂😂😂
I faced the dreaded Mr Findley. Drove a cab 30 years. Happy days be lucky. 22402 1975.
The wonderful Nigel Hawthorn. What a trip down memory lane this was.
Together with Michael Elphick, Maureen Lipman, and a brief visit from Nadeem Sawalha as the Arab. A really great fun film.
Don't forget Lesley Joseph
@@RobertLocksley385
Lesley Joseph of Birds of a Feather
Poor old Nadeem, he was always given jobs as an Arab guy. That's how it was back in the 70s and 80s and I guess he needed the money for his family.
He is Jordanian I believe.
Wow. Loved this movie back in the day. I was a cabbie in Melbourne where we learned on the job. Took me years. Can't imagine having to do this. So good to see it again. There isn't much to thank YT for, but this deserves it. Thank you CZcams.
Edit: In Melbourne we at least had a thing called the Melway, which is without doubt the greatest street directory on the planet. Beats the old A to Z hands down.
Great stuff 👍💯🇬🇧 all our old friends, 🙏💯 bless them, as a SOUTH LONDONER 🇬🇧 great location's, memories 💓🇬🇧🗣️💯🙏😇💪👁️☠️👁️🎬🧐
Jack Rosenthal was a complete genius. Loved it.
He had a talent for quirky characters, for sure!
The History of the Hackney Carriage: The horse drawn carriage service first began in central London in 1636, a maximum of fifty was set. Today a 'Knowledge Boy' has to know 25,000 streets, within the 6 mile radius of Charing Cross Station, to be awarded his green badge.
Plus the 150,000 points of interest and the routes between them - in both directions as the one way systems make it different each way.
I’ve retired now and I worked out that I drove 1.3 million miles in my 37 years driving various makes of taxi. FX4s, FX4Rs, FX4Ss, TX1,2,3 and 4 also Metrocab and Vito. I loved every single day and night of it.
@@ruadhagainagaidheal9398 you bring whole new meaning to the term 'the knowledge', you must have met some interesting people, those that were sociable enough to chat.
What’s the blue badge?
Blue badge is a tourist guide badge, it has nothing to do with the knowledge although some cabbies did it as was extra income i suppose, I'm presuming you took a test on the history of london and it's buildings, london cabbies had a green badge which gave the right to ply for hire in the whole of the Met police area and a yellow badge which is a suburban badge and was specific to a suburb area@@robmckay5700
I'm 60 yrs now I do remember watching this so luved it excellent
Mick Ford's first appearance (Test) had me in stitches. Seriously though, I now know why London's official Hackney carriages cost a fortune. Full respect to those learned men and women who've put in all that hard work as required by the Knowledge.
Ahh but can they speak English?
@@alan1340 well not nowadays so much
Do you still need to do the Knowledge for a black cab in London today what with SatNavs etc?
Nigel Hawthorn “The Vampire”🧛🏻 ..... the man is a legend! 😆😆😆😆😆
Every one of the actors in this film have appeared in Minder and the Professionals. Great film.
Made by the same people - Euston Films - who made Minder.
The people want progress but none of them want to change. You try your best to move on in life and the moment you put your right foot first, then the questions come. Really good film about relationships, as well as cabbing.
A wonderful film - a real slice of London life. I've watched it many times. The story, writing and acting are the finest.
Thanks for posting. Watched this film in my teens. Never forgot the scene at 24.54. Hidden Classic.
Brilliant stuff. Also from the writer Jack roshenthal is a film called. “The Chain” a similar ish film about 7 different house moves in London. Starting with a flat in Hackney and ending in Knightsbridge. Well worth watching. Tons of actors you know, and Nigel hawthorn plays a great character in this one too. Well worth looking for. It’s actually on CZcams ( just checked 😉)
Saw it once in 1980...still great!
Nigel Humphries and Mick Ford being in the 1979 film 'Scum' where Mick Ford played the part of Archer.
I remember watching this decades ago and couldn't find it anywhere, so thanks for posting it. One of Nigel Hawthorne's most masterly performances.
Another classic from 79. Mick Ford was also in Scum with Ray Winstone. What with Ray also being in That Summer and Quadrophenia they both had a cracking year.
Thank you for upload. A great British gem I remember from my childhood.
Grew up in Barnsbury and went to school just round the corner...Copenhagen Street and School...some of the BEST years of my life!!!
I was across the road in Amwell St. I remember the cafe they all used; corner of Penton and White Lion st. It had a sign that said.. "All the water in this establishment has been passed by the Management". As a child I thought it was hilarious. Ironically I live in Gibson sq now
@@rockingmods Trying to buy a house in Thornhill Sq. But at 2mill, it's not easy...l really don't want to live anywhere else in London but Barnsbury; it's STILL the best!...Home is where the heart is...
@@Kenistyless Yep.
@@rockingmods you're So lucky; l'm jealous...
I worked in the area for 19 years and must have walked round every street and square in that part of London in my lunch hour. I particularly liked Myddleton Square and the church of St Mark. There's a novel called 'Riceyman Steps' by Arnold Bennet set around there which is very good.
I used to work near the cafe where this was filmed and used to see the actors filming in Smithfield Market.
I was across the road in Amwell St. I remember the cafe they all used; corner of Penton and White Lion st. It had a sign that said.. "All the water in this establishment has been passed by the Management". As a child I thought it was hilarious. Ironically I live in Gibson sq now
A delight, thanks for posting. Thames TV did some very good dramas.
They've turned this into a west end theatre show now. Charing X theatre
A masterpiece. Loved every single minute of it.
Wow, thanks for posting this. This is a real gem.
brilliant watched this because my boyfriend recommended it to me as hes an ex london cab driver and said it was so true to life
When I first saw this, would have never dreamt of sat nav
Thank you for this one, haven't seen it in yonks. A really great film.
A gem of an upload, thank you!
Just had our honeymoon in London and were fascinated by the taxi and uber drivers. I (a Dubliner) told my wife (a New Yorker) about seeing The Knowledge decades ago and SHE wanted to see it. The dialogue is hard to make out and the subtitles are unintelligible but it's still a fantastic look at Londeon in the Seventies, a goodhearted and entertaining TV movie. Glad it was posted here - cheers.
Only offical London Black Taxis have to endure 3/4 years on the Knowledge.. Uber drivers haven’t a clue where they’re going.
Thank you so much for posting this I was kid when this was first shown ❤️
Loved it.. Cheers and God bless. Thank you. 🙏🙏🙏
Excellent upload Thanks :}
Lovely to watch this again, it's as good as I remembered it. Thank you for uploading.
A few good memories popped up
in this gem of a film!
I managed to get this on DVD a few
years ago. How it landed on my list
to watch I've no idea but i was
surprised and happy to see it and
watched it straight away!
Thank you for uploading 💖
🛵👍💞👏🚦💖🚦👏💞👍🛵
🚦..Remembering..Jimmies,🚦
🛵.....a.fellow.'Knowledge'.....🛵
🚦.............successor.............🚦
🛵👍💞👏🚦💖🚦👏💞👍🛵
Can’t believe I’ve never saw this. Thanks for the upload
I remember seeing this on Australian telly as a kid.
I remember when this was on telly a huge hit thanks for posting . I was 14 then wow
Gold! Nuff said.
Amazing film!!
I remember this being on ITV in I think 1981 and then reshown on Channel 4 in 1985 or so-not too sure about that though. Great film, so thank you there then so too!
Surely the Satnav has put paid to the knowledge!
I never heard of the knowledge even although I lived in London for a time. I was told oal abaht i’ by Brian Conley when he was a young act in Jersey. His dad was a black cabbie. I found the story unforgettable!
A knowledge boy would leave a driver with a satnav well behind, road closures, different lanes, unprecedented events etc these add more time on to any driver, but a knowledge boy will be impacted least, look a Uber drivers, they're not usually the brightest, and they have to go exactly by what their satnav says, even when it's not always right.
I'm surprised they've not included pub recommendations in the knowledge - that's what I go for whenever I visit London and take a taxi - a good pub
Not the best of pints in London, no head on their lager, what's that all about?
As I remember , there were some pubs included in the Knowledge, The Anchor , Bankside; The Grenadier in Knightsbridge; and The Sherlock Holmes off Northumberland Ave come to mind. Most of them come with experience though. No point in asking about what goes on inside them as I never drink and drive ;)
I was never asked about pubs whilst on the "Knowledge" in 1973. Without being snooty I can't even remember the last time I went to one as I don't like alcohol, i'm not teetotal I just don't like the stuff. The only pubs I can think of off the top of my head are, The Sherlock Holmes as mentioned elsewhere just off Northumberland Ave near Trafalgar Square, the Spaniards Inn Hampstead near Whitestone Pond, The Flask at the top of Highgate West Hill and the The Churchill Arms in Kensington Church Street as it's usually smothered in foliage. That's it, either way I wouldn't know a good pub from a bad one.
.
I know Londons' streets really well from cycling around it for many years.
But do you have 'The Knowledge' ???
A gem
Jack Rosenthal is a genius. This, the Evacuees, Ptang Yang Kipperbang (had a huge crush on Abigail Cruttenden by the way) etc.
Ptang Yang Kipperbang was considered extremely 'racy' when I was at school!
Geat film. Noticed Ang and Laurence from Abigail's in there too.
In room 12, I thought I saw Paul Eddington, but dismissed it saying, "what would an actor of that calibre/magnitude be doing in something like this?"
And then in walked Nigel Hawthorne.
This is a Jack Rosenthal play.....any actor would be proud to do it
they all had to start somewhere. So why not in this? Remember Eddington did The Good Life which was stupid.
@@PetroicaRodinogaster264 They do all have to start somewhere, true, but Eddington started decades before this tripe.
@@illaveyoubutler3588 Wake up. Anyone who promotes and glorifies infidelity is simply state sponosored scum.
@@krell2130 Take your medication weirdo!
Never forgot that final speech by Nigel Hawthorne - before he was Sir Humphrey, he was 'The Vampire'.
Great film of a bygone era - certainly Very realistic and brings back memories of the carriage office in penton street . Sadly now governed by tfl who don’t seem to have London’s finest taxi drivers best interests .
euston films classic
Imagine going for your appearance and finding Sir Humphrey Appleby is your examiner!
You see them all over London on scooters with a clipboard the windshield Doing the Knowledge !
THE CYCLIST WAS PHOEBE,S DAD ERIC IN GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART
I did it and to this day don't know how. In my 30th year now. The maddest job I've ever done. Had a few funny apearences . All in all glad I passed it.
Great British movie. This should have cult status
🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿has
Our dad loved it!...Chips up nose if I remember from decades back...
It does, took 40 years to find this gem!
@@darganx It is on a Network DVD box set called ‘Jack Rosenthal at ITV’....Full of likewise gems
When I was on the knowledge one of my mates, an ex copper called George, had the temperament test where they wind you up to see how you react to stress. Poor George came back to the knowledge school in tears. We all told him that the “ wind up” was normal and we all got it, but George took it badly. We didn’t see him after that , we learnt later that he took a shotgun to Epping forest and shot himself. The knowledge can be like that.
Hang on! what? How does that work? They send a "customer" who tries to drive you mad? Poor bloke! A "temperament check" I have only been to London a few times but I always thought that the Black cab guys don't take any crap from anyone and will just chuck you out of there cab?
Retired now but did the knowledge in 81....thanks to uber,the game is well and truly finished. Sad,but joe public gets the service they wished for Sad times.
With the uber's loss in the courts recently things may well change, there are other PHV apps out there but they play by the rules uber (small "u" by the way) most certainly has not and do not. They also base themselves abroad so pay no corporation tax and VAT therefore they contribute nothing into the UK's economy. I don't feel that "the games dead" but it certainly isn't what it was that's for sure.
People don't expect plumbers, electricians, roofers & builders plus others who have studied and trained to learn their trade with NVQ's etc, etc to offer their services for nunpence. But they expect to get into our very expensive purpose built taxis with proper wheelchair accessibility with all the studying we did (there is a massive value to that) and offer the same prices as someone who does no studying, no training and offer their services in an ordinary cheap-ish car. Basically you get what you pay for and when the general public are involved in accidents very often caused by their PHV driver (see many pictures of that on the web) that's their problem end of.
I passed out in '73 and because of the pandemic I have not worked since the last week of March 2020 but I will be going back when things improve later this year. I believe that when I originally passed out I may well have been the youngest on the road at that point. Anyway enjoy your retirement, but at 69 i'm not ready for that yet.
I take a normal cab when in London, and don't need the drive into the ground. Just like @licensedtaximan4271 says, it's double whammy. Not taxes and no knowledge.
How's Londen with the current 20mph, and all those road narrowing. I've just so much respect you can do it for a living, and not get completely mad!
Excellent film,great entertainment
Mrs Weller is Dame Maureen Lipman now!
And not forgetting Lesley Joseph of Birds of a feather
Yes, and it wouldn't have mattered how tired l was.....
Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view !"
Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam."
Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!"
Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..."
Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!"
Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky."
Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction."
Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment?
I think Lesley Joseph from Birds of a Feather is in this too
Yes, do you think she had a nose job?
David Ryall (Titanic) cycling by the church message board 🤣
If you could learn The Knowledge, you could learn anything!
I was a cabbie for eight years, four in Portsmouth UK and four in Sydney Aus.
Not once did I get any aggro. I had plenty of potential but it was always sorted out, mostly over money.
I found plenty of fares would get physical given the slightest excuse so the knack was never to give ‘‘em any.
Brilliant stuff. Nigel Hawthorne in top form as the bureaucratic martinet and CEO of Misery Inc.
They don't make 'em like this anymore.
1:25 absolutely classic! I go down t’main road, and then i what?
God, London was grim in the 70's........still is..
QUESTION: in these high=tech days of satnavs, etc. do London cabbies still have to prove their knowledge?
Take a black cab then take an Uber, you’ll see
You do if you want a Hackney Badge.
Blair
I preferred the old London. Why ? no parking restrictions, no congestion charge/ULEZ, just great to drive to London and park any where you like.
Gone them days.
@@spidyman8853 HI Spidy Man, I recall London in the 60's..walking down carnaby Street and Petticoat Lane..... The summer of 67 was incredible ..
Now we commit to memory “Hey Siri,”
Love this film. A real British gem 💎 It's probably not important but if Ted Margolis learned the first 180 runs after only 56 days, then he would have finished the book in under 6 months, no? Do the runs become longer and harder as you progress?
That London is gone. Most of the buildings and infrastructure is still there but the civilisation that built it is mostly gone. Sad, very sad.
Just seeing this film makes me nervous.
Bear left roundabout...
Dad used to make me test his him on runs, I think I knew the knowledge when I was 12 lol
Did you take the knowledge later?
I knew a bloke who passed the knowledge but he was never able to get a drive (a taxi to use).
@@LandersWorkshop no mate, lot of mates from school did but I didn’t
1:45
"What's the Knowledge, then"
"It's a form of euthanasia"
I. Love. This. Movie. If I ever get to the UK, the highlight of the trip would be to afford a day in a Black Cab watching a Master of the Trade.
I wouldn't, mate. They'll take you four miles to get 300 yards.
Nigel Hawthorne ever playing the "Agony Aunt" (more often causing agony)
They're lucky they're not living in U2 land. Where the streets have no name.
Nadia and Julia Sawalha s daddy how lovely x
Poor guy, he was always typed cast and given the Arab man job throughout 70s and 80s
Would be even more interesting if they had gotten Ozzy Osbourne to sing the ending credit song instead of Mick Ford, not knocking Ford.
Gary Holton at it again lol!
God everyone were sarcastic in the 70's
And the 80's. A whole generation of us grew up with sh*t social skills because in our formative years we aspired to be Trisha Yates out of Grange Hill.
@@Gerry_Davies
Especially with the TUT sounds that comes out of her gob LOL
@@spidyman8853skool caancill...
Mr Burgess:"Don't you have the knowledge to do? Don't you have somebody to kill?"
Laurence from Abigails Party. In the opening scene.
Oh and Ange at the reception desk.
Vics inhaler. The good old days
I remember the little knowledge hut opposite pentonville prison on Cally road
Love the movie, but wondering now that there's GPS, how has the system changed? Can a current London cabbie please advise? Thanks!
George Chen Still the same system in principle, however the methods have changed slightly. 3 - 4 years of study in total. Exams are the same format.
Working and doing the Knowledge is bloody hard.
He did go in to politics. He was called sir Humphrey.
Great film. If only they knew then that in 40 years time , tfl corrupted with Uber will take over with sat navs and No knowledge comedian prius drivers! Respect to all london black cabbies.......you are the real london taxi!
One problem in London is the number of streets with the same name. My first trip to London I was to attend a New Year's Eve party in a pub on King Street. I was staying in the West End, and the cabbie asked me which King Street. There are ten or so King streets in London, plus all those named for specific kings. But I was lucky when the cabbie tried the one nearest my hotel, and it was hosting a most enjoyable party.
Beautiful days and memories of when I did it in 1985 , with Mr Shern , Chalcott ,Lipec and Mr Miller.I respected the PCO with ex traffic cops for ur examiners .
I have no words to describe the pile of wankers that run the show now .So bloody sad.
Another British tv good cast comedy
wow! haven't seen it for donkey's.