The recent release of this DVD has finally for the first time, brought this iconic series in to the digital age.
Made by Euston Films (The same stable as The Sweeney and many other well known shows) for ITV, this release is the whole first series of the drama broadcast in the late 80s and in the backdrop context of the height of Thatcherism, as well as a boom in the Square Mile.
The show centres around the diverse and sometimes quirky characters of the (stock market) dealing room of a fictional city insitution, Shane Longman. Many of the actors have subsequently gone on to appear in other noteable TV and film productions and 'Capital City' was in many cases their first big break; Douglas Hodge (Vanity Fair & The Uninvited) being renegade trader Declan, Jason Issacs as Chas Ewell (Blackhawk Down) and John Bowe playing Leonard Anson (Poldark & Coronation Street). The drama not only centres around the day-to-day dealing and trading undertaken by a city merchant bank's high pressure financial work, but also on the staff's lives away from the bank and personal problems created by working in such a stressful environment. The series deals with issues like abortion, alcoholism, post-natal depression and work pressures against the back drop of the dealing room floor.
The series was shot in authentic locations (the dealing room used, was actually the Reuters back-up dealing room in the City Of London), as well as other sites across the capital and enhanced by atmospheric music from Colin Towns.
If you know the difference between 'debt for equity swaps' from your 'commercial paper', then this is the series for you providing an enjoyable, fast paced drama with a financial edge.