Talking of Redcap, while I’m about it, I thought I’d post this review of the second series on DVD that I wrote for Action TV when that was still being published. (Yes, that is Diana Rigg – the show was made by ABC, which also made The Avengers).
But first, here’s a whole episode, Crime Passionel, which I’ll discuss later.
It’s funny, isn’t it, the difference a year or two can make in terms of style. Consider, for example, the title sequence of a previous Lost Gem, Mission: Impossible, starring Peter Graves, which first aired in 1966.
Slick, glossy, exciting – and in color! Now let’s go back just one year to 1965 to have a look at Court Martial, also starring Peter Graves and Bradford Dillman. Set during World War 2 and detailing the investigations of a Judge Advocate General’s office (yes, those guys who were in JAG), it originally started life as a two-part 1963 episode of NBC’s Kraft Suspense Theatre that also starred Graves and Dillman. Made by ITC, it ran for one season of 26 episodes, airing first in the UK on ITV and then in the US on ABC and even won a BAFTA for best dramatic series.
And here’s the title sequence.
Interesting, huh. All stock footage, black and white, sharp cuts, etc. But it’s very much of a type – consider the title sequence of the similarly themed and quite good John Thaw show Red Cap, which looked at investigations by the UK military police and aired from 1964-66.
Do you see how similar they are? Fashion, huh? Yes, it even applies to TV title sequences.
It’s not going to be made now, but the US SyFy channel went as far as shooting a two-hour pilot for a prequel series to Battlestar Galactica, called Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome. Set during the first war with the Cylons – so after the tedium of Caprica but before the majesty of the first series – this had the potential to be the best of both worlds: no stupid mysticism, lots of space fights, plenty of interesting characters, including Adama and Tigh, and homeworlds to go back to. But SyFy in their wisdom haven’t picked it up. More Alphas and Warehouse 13 for everyone, I guess.
But they made a trailer all the same and you can watch it below. Now, there’s the possibility the pilot could be picked up as a digital series – would you watch it?
Doctor Who
Film
UK TV
US TV
US TV pilots
The very first sketch of the very first episode.
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