Tony Warren should be knighted because no other British writer has accomplished so much since William Shakespeare. His creation of the beloved British series, Coronation Street, is the story for this film with casting, writing, and fighting behind the scenes to get this series in production. It wasn't easy but Tony Warren believed in this visionary realistic portrait of Northern British life with Northern British actors and not London actors who were well-trained in the theater. His characters such as Annie Walker, Ena Sharples, Elsie Tanner, and Ken Barlow are legendary British television figures. Ken Barlow is still the longest running male character since December 1960 with the original actor in the role. Pat Phoenix's Elsie Tanner was a stunning beauty past her prime but nevertheless but one of the most beautiful vixens on television. But the heart of soul of the street belong to battle axe Ena Sharples (played by the wonderful, difficult Violet Carson). When they had to recast, Tony Warren described her as a nightmare but when she arrived at Granada for her audition. She was nevertheless made for the role as Ena Sharples. Lynda Baron does a superb job as does Celia Imrie for bringing Doris Speed to life and Jessie Wallace who does a fantastic job in bringing Elsie Tanner to life. The story is enchanting how Tony's vision came to be. The street's not the same as it once was in the beginning but still it's an enduring part of British and world television. I only wished that they aired Coronation Street in America as well.
Review of The Road to Coronation Street
