Jack Holborn

Starring: Patrick Bach, Mattias Habich, Monte Markham
Directed by: n/a
Review: Dave Burbidge
Release date: 11th Feb 2008

Young Jack (Bach) is an orphan in a Bristol institution. When the boys are of age they are brought before the chief justice, Lord Sharringham (Habich) and he accepts bids from local businessmen looking for cheap labourers. Jack complains that his name is not Holborn - it is just where he was found, amd that he wants to be a ship's cabin boy. Despite the Justice's twin brother Captain Sharringham offering him a post it is ignored because he is too short and instead he is sent packing to the rope makers. Jack has fleeting memories of events surrounding Sharringham's ship, the Charming Molly and he tries to stowaway without success. At the rope makers he is treated badly by all, except the owner's husband and when Sharringham's ship is captured by the Royal Navy after trading with pirates he does stowaway succesfully wher ehe learns his first lessons in how the Cabin Boy is the first to be punished. With Sharringham at large, a treasure ship to be raided, and slave traders to be bargained with, young Jack is in the thick of things, especially when the twin brothers swap places, a pledge is to be honoured and mysteries revealed.

This is TV series from the UK from the early 80's. It features music which seems a pastiche of 'Raiders of the lost Ark' but of course has production budgets and values a thousandfold less. Basically it is a ripping yarn based on a novel by Leon Garfield in 1964. There are some shots set at sea, but for a seafaring yarn, this has most shot on land, probably due to the TV budget. Bach is passable, but it is Habich who steals the show with his dual roles. He is a loveable rogue, but nonetheless a rogue. There is an inept harbourmaster, a mysterious lady and a vengeful captain. As the fog thickens in the Bristol streets, treachery may yet have its reward.