Showing posts with label ITC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ITC. Show all posts

Monday, 19 September 2011

Opening Theme: DANGER MAN (1960-1962 and 1964-1968)

The British espionage series Danger Man, starring Patrick McGoohan as secret agent John Drake, ran as a half-hour series 1960-62. It was revived as a one-hour series 1964-68, and retitled Secret Agent when it aired in the U.S. The original "The Danger Man Theme" and "High Wire" themes were composed by Edwin Astley. The U.S. theme "Secret Agent Man" was composed by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri, and recorded by Johnny Rivers.

Danger Man Opening


Danger Man Theme - Edwin Astley Orchestra - 1965 45rpm


Secret Agent Man Intro Theme Song (Johnny Rivers)


Danger Man TV Preview


Buy Online:

Monday, 15 November 2010

DANGER MAN, RUMPOLE 60-percent off

Until Nov. 21, Amazon is running a big sale on select DVD box sets -- including 60-percent off the 18-disc Secret Agent AKA Danger Man: The Complete Collection (SLIMLINE) and the 14-disc Rumpole of the Bailey: Complete Series Megaset.

Details:

Secret Agent AKA Danger Man: The Complete Collection
It was 1965 when American audiences first welcomed handsome secret agent John Drake (Patrick McGoohan of The Prisoner) into their homes as CBS ran the unique spy series known as Secret Agent. Wielding brains and a moral outlook instead of weapons, Drake traveled to the corners of the globe on the trail of international criminals, corrupt politicians, and stolen secrets.

Now, all 86 episodes from John Drakes entire crime-solving career are available together on DVD. Each episode of this exciting spy thriller is presented in the original broadcast order, from the original season that aired only in the U.K. as Danger Man to the 47 episodes of Secret Agent that were seen internationally, including the two color episodes that provided a vivid finale to the long-running suspense thriller.

Rumpole of Bailey: Complete Series Megaset
All Rise! The Critically Acclaimed Legal Drama RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY holds court on DVD.

An immensely popular series broadcast on PBS from 1978 to 1992, RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY set a new bar for all courtroom dramas to come. Balancing suspense and satire as deftly as the scale of justice, Horace Rumpole tirelessly defends the downtrodden while undressing the upper classes. A timeless mixture of comedy and drama, RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY was one of televisions most celebrated courtroom dramas.

Flawlessly adapted by John Mortimer from his best-selling Edgar Award-winning novels, and starring the esteemed Leo McKern (A Man for All Seasons), this 14-disc DVD Megaset includes all 42 episodes from the seven seasons of RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY.

BONUS FEATURES: Feature-Length Bonus Movie Rumpole's Return; Mortimer's Musings--An Interview with John Mortimer; McKern's Memories with Actress Abigail McKern (Daughter of Leo McKern); Episode Introductions with John Mortimer; Spot the Barrister-Highlighting John Mortimer's Impromptu Appearances; Newspaper Evidence; John Mortimer Biography; John Mortimer Bibliography and Selected Credits; About the Old Bailey; Official Executioners of Newgate Prison

Saturday, 30 October 2010

20 Classic Spy-Fi Shows on DVD

Mission: Impossible
An assortment of classic television on DVD featuring spies, undercover agents, and other international crime fighters:

01 Mission: Impossible (171/35 episodes)
02 The Avengers (161 episodes)
03 Get Smart (138 episodes)
04 The Saint (118 episodes)
05 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (105 episodes)
06 The Wild Wild West (104 episodes)
07 The Six Million Dollar Man (100 episodes)
08 La Femme Nikita (96 episodes)
09 The Equalizer (88 episodes)
10 Danger Man AKA Secret Agent (86 episodes)
11 It Takes a Thief (66 episodes)
12 The Bionic Woman (58 episodes)
13 The Baron (30 episodes)
14 The Champions (30 episodes)
15 The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (29 episodes)
16 Department S (28 episodes)
17 The New Avengers (26 episodes)
18 The Invisible Man (26 episodes)
19 Jason King (26 episodes)
20 The Prisoner (17 episodes)


Tuesday, 31 August 2010

TV Themes: DEPARTMENT S (1969) / JASON KING (1971)

Celebrating the main titles and opening themes from mystery/crime TV shows ...

"When a case proves too baffling for the minds of Interpol, they turn to the talents of Department S." British spy-fi series Department S (ATV, 1969-70) featured a trio of operatives who solved mysteries too perplexing for normal law enforcement agencies. The series starred Peter Wyngarde, Joel Fabiani, Rosemary Nicols, with Dennis Alaba Peters.

The next season the Wyngarde character got his own spin-off, Jason King (ATV, 1971-72). In the new series, King -- a "dilettante dandy and author" -- left Dept. S to concentrate on his career writing adventure novels.

The Department S theme is credited to composer Edwin Astley (The Baron, The Saint). The Jason King theme is credited to Laurie Johnson (The Avengers, The Professionals).

Department S Intro


Jason King TV intro theme


More TV Main Titles:
Rock out with MANNIX!
Mystery TV Themes: MANNIX
Mystery TV Themes: THE BARON (1966)
Mystery TV Themes: THE SAINT
Opening Theme: THE PERSUADERS
TV Themes: THE AVENGERS w/ THE NEW AVENGERS
Opening Theme: THE PROFESSIONALS
Opening Theme: HAMISH MACBETH
Opening Theme: IT TAKES A THIEF
Mystery TV Themes: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE
TV Themes: CHECKMATE
Mystery TV Themes: GET SMART
Crime TV Themes: S.W.A.T.
Opening Theme: BARNABY JONES

Wednesday, 25 August 2010

Mystery TV Themes: THE BARON (1966)

Spotlighting the great opening themes from mystery/crime TV shows ...

British series The Baron (ATV/ABC, 1966-67) starred American Steve Forrest as John Mannering, an international art and antiques dealer tracking stolen treasures. Although inspired by the novels by John Creasey (written under the pen name Anthony Morton), the print version of the Mannering character -- a reformed jewel thief who was British and married -- became a straight-arrow bachelor from Texas who worked for British Intelligence.

The striking theme was created by British composer Edwin Astley (1922-1998), also credited with the themes for The Saint and the original British theme(s) for Danger Man.

The Baron Opening Theme from 1966


The Baron - Trailer


More Opening Titles:
Mystery TV Themes: THE SAINT
Opening Theme: THE PERSUADERS
TV Themes: THE AVENGERS w/ THE NEW AVENGERS
Opening Theme: THE PROFESSIONALS
Opening Theme: HAMISH MACBETH
Opening Theme: IT TAKES A THIEF
Mystery TV Themes: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE
TV Themes: CHECKMATE
Mystery TV Themes: GET SMART
Crime TV Themes: S.W.A.T.

Friday, 11 December 2009

Gene Barry (1919-2009)

Suave actor of stage, screen, and television Gene Barry died this week in California at the age of 90. Barry's TV credits included the western Bat Masterson (1958-61), the whodunit series Burke's Law and spin-off Amos Burke, Secret Agent (1963-66), crime drama The Name of the Game (1968-71), and the British series The Adventurer (1972). Read his obituary at the New York Times.

THE NAME OF THE GAME OPENING CREDITS


THE ADVENTURER OPENING CREDITS

Friday, 7 March 2008

Mystery TV Themes: THE SAINT

Spotlighting the great opening themes from mystery/crime TV shows ...

THE SAINT (1962-69)
Based on the popular character created in the 1920s by Leslie Charteris, this long-running British mystery thriller series starred Sir Roger Moore as Simon Templar. One of the few British shows to air on American network television, the initial black-and-white seasons did so well in syndication that NBC picked up the color episodes in 1966.

The theme was by Edwin Astley (1922-1998), a British composer who composed for many British television series of the '50s and '60s, including The Adventures of Robin Hood, Gideon's Way, The Baron, and The Champions. He also wrote the original theme for Danger Man -- but when the episodes aired in the U.S. as Secret Agent, Astley's theme was removed. His theme for The Saint was recorded again in 1997 by Orbital for the film starring Val Kilmer.

Astley has multiple connections to classic rock band The Who: His eldest daughter married the band's Pete Townshend; son Jon Astley produced and remastered The Who's reissues; and Astley's last work was a 1998 symphonic interpretation of Who music called Who's Serious: The Symphonic Music of the Who. The composer died in 1998 after several years of illness.

MAIN TITLES (b/w)


MAIN TITLES (color)


ORBITAL: The Saint Theme (Movie)


The Saint TV Series (Saint.org)
The Saint: The Roger Moore Years (therogermooreyears.50megs.com)
Roger Moore Official Site (roger-moore.com)
Moore, Roger (museum.tv)



More opening credits:
S.W.A.T.
SIMON & SIMON
STARSKY & HUTCH
T.J. HOOKER
ALIAS