One Foot in the Grave considered Les Dawson for the role, until Wilson changed his mind. The programmes invariably deal with Meldrew's battle against the problems he creates for himself. Set in a typical suburb in southern England, Victor takes involuntary early retirement. His various efforts to keep himself busy, while encountering various misfortunes and misunderstandings are the themes of the sitcom. Indoor scenes were filmed at BBC Television Centre with most exterior scenes filmed on Tresillian Way in Walkford on the Dorset/Hampshire border. Despite its traditional production, the series subverts its domestic sitcom setting with elements of black humour and surrealism. The series was
One Foot in Heaven "They Died with Their Boots On". Raymond Massey was Hartzell Spence's choice to play his father while his mother preferred Fredric March. The studio's decision to cast March was made independently of the family's wishes. The Reverend Norman Vincent Peale was hired as technical advisor on the film. The film which Spence goes to see with Hartzell is William S. Hart's 1917 Western "The Silent Man". At the Hollywood premiere of the film, Hart was a guest of honor. In an uncredited role, Gig Young made one of his earlier on-screen performances as a dog groomer seeking a license. One