Showing posts with label spy-fi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spy-fi. Show all posts

Monday, 24 October 2011

Coming to DVD: Mission: Impossible - The '88 TV Season

Coming to DVD on November 29: Mission: Impossible: The '88 TV Season
Peter Graves reprises his role as Jim Phelps, the brilliant and charismatic leader of the Impossible Missions Force. Summoned out of retirement, Phelps organizes a new team of IMF agents in order to carry out dangerous and complex assignments. The revival of the classic, award-winning spy show that launched the blockbuster film franchise debuts on DVD with its first explosive season! 5 disc set -- released in time for the December theatrical debut of the Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol film -- includes all 19 first-season episodes introducing the new IMF team. Guest stars include: John de Lancie (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Parker Stevenson (The Hardy Boys), Maud Adams (Octopussy), Lynda Day George (Mission: Impossible).

Mystery TV Themes: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE

Buy Online:
Mission Impossible: The 88 TV Season
Mission: Impossible - Complete Series


Monday, 3 October 2011

IT TAKES A THIEF on DVD November 15

Coming to DVD this November: It Takes A Thief: The Complete Series

Alexander Mundy (Robert Wagner) is the world's greatest cat burglar...until the day he gets caught. But thievery skills are an asset in the world of espionage, so Mundy is pardoned when he agrees to use his wily ways to help steal for the U.S. Government. Stars six-time Golden Globe nominee Robert Wagner in his TV debut.

All three seasons of the hit ABC television show available for the first time ever in an 18-disc collectible box. The star-studded guest lineup includes the likes of Fred Astaire, Bette Davis, Peter Sellers, Raymond Burr, Susan Saint James, Bill Bixby, Ricardo Montalbon, Joseph Cotton, Roddy McDowall, Julie Newmar, and many more. Bonus features include: A retrospective featurette, a new Robert Wagner interview, the feature-length "Magnificent Thief" pilot, an interview with producer Glen A. Larson, collectible photo book, limited-edition reproduction of a 35mm film frame, an exclusive four-piece coaster set, and a collectible booklet with retrospective essay.

Buy Online: It Takes a Thief: The Complete Series

More links:
Opening Theme: IT TAKES A THIEF
Mystery TV Themes: HART TO HART

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, 14 September 2010

IT TAKES A THIEF coming to DVD?

UPDATE: 

The series comes out November. 

PREVIOUSLY:

TVShowsonDVD.com reports that the same folks who just put out the long-awaited 1970s show Ellery Queen on DVD have now set their sights on the classic 1960s series It Takes a Thief. A nifty hybrid of the "gentleman thief" and "spy-fi" genres -- think a cross between The Saint and Mission: Impossible -- the 1968-70 series It Takes a Thief starred Robert Wagner as Alexander Mundy, a professional thief released from prison in exchange for using his talents to serve the U.S. government.

Wagner, of course, had just recently played a similar character in 1963's Pink Panther -- as George Lytton, nephew of noted British playboy Sir Charles Lytton (played by David Niven), who led a secret life as a jewel thief called "The Phantom." In the film, the younger Lytton followed in his uncle's footsteps as both ladies' man and a thief. As such, when the new series rolled around Wagner was an ideal choice to play a debonair thief who stole hearts and treasures wherever he went.

Related link: Opening Theme: IT TAKES A THIEF

More opening titles of television series
Mystery TV Themes: HART TO HART
Mystery TV Themes: THE SAINT
Mystery TV Themes: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE
TV Themes: CHECKMATE
Opening Theme: THE PERSUADERS
TV Themes: DEPARTMENT S (1969) / JASON KING (1971)
Mystery TV Themes: THE BARON (1966)
TV Themes: THE AVENGERS w/ THE NEW AVENGERS
Opening Theme: THE PROFESSIONALS
Mystery TV Themes: GET SMART

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.

Thursday, 28 January 2010

Tuesday, 26 January 2010

It Takes a Thief: Guest-starring Bill Bixby

Another pair of episodes from the classic 1960s espionage series It Takes a Thief starring Robert Wagner, including one guest-starring Bill Bixby.

To Steal a Battleship Season 1 : Ep. 10 (50:50)
Al Mundy is assigned to recover NATO defense plans from a woman who is offering them for sale to the wrong people. Bixby guest stars as a competing thief from Al's past.


Locked in the Cradle of the Keep Season 1 : Ep. 13 (50:49)
Al Mundy searches in the dungeon of an old castle to find out why an agent was killed.


Related links:
It Takes a Thief: Guest-starring Susan Saint James
It Takes a Thief: Guest-starring Ricardo Montalban
It Takes a Thief: Guest-starring Joseph Cotten
It Takes a Thief: Guest-starring Fred Astaire
Watch IT TAKES A THIEF episodes free online!
Opening Theme: It Takes a Thief