The Smiths -- These Things Take Time (documentary)

This one is from 2002 and was originally broadcast in a limited area only.

A series of animated sequences depicting various key moments and memorable scenes in the band's history are included in the documentary. These include the first meeting of Morrissey and Marr, backstage scenes during the period when the singer’s pre-gig requirements included a tree of a specified height otherwise he would refuse to perform, and the infamous court case when the song-writing partnership of Morrissey and Marr was sued by drummer Mike Joyce.

After a number of aborted attempts to film Morrissey in interview, the shows producers have got around the quiffed ones refusal to participate, by producing a cartoon version of the man himself - inspired and obviously irritating to the great one, who is currently on tour in the UK, Europe and the US, and making a "comeback" - although its argued that he's never lost his status as 'mancunian genius'.

Producer David Nolan has assembled a cast of contributors close to the band to ensure that the programme is a million miles away from a shallow trip down memory lane and instead delves deep into their history to remind viewers just why The Smiths inspired a devotion never seen before or since.

Narrated by comedian Vic Reeves, These Things Take Time features incisive commentary from – amongst others - Joyce and Rourke, DJ John Peel, Sandie Shaw, early Smiths line up members Kevin Kennedy (now Curly Watts in Coronation Street) and original bass player Dale Hibbert. The programme also includes the views of Johnny Rogan, whose book Morrissey and Marr: A Severed Alliance famously incurred Morrissey’s wrath, plus intriguing memories from Morrissey’s old schoolteacher Aileen Power.

“He was a very sensitive boy,” she remembers.