Talking Pictures TV

[Martoto]

Couldn't they have got someone better than Mike Read to host that footage detectives show? He's an embarrassment.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

I find the weekly newsletter sent out tells me most of what I wish to watch.

Dead Ringer is an interesting tale about horse racing, most notable for the appearance of the late great Peter Vaughan (Grouty from Porridge).

Music for Murder is very different and is something of a murder mystery with a number of suspects.

I haven't watched Stagecoach West but a relative did as she is a fan of MASH and said she enjoyed it.

I found Interpol Calling quite entertaining when it was first shown on the channel and it is only 30 minutes so it never outlast its welcome.

Out of those two No Hiding Place episodes last week, "Music for Murder" edged it for me (despite Lockhart and his two assistants not first appearing until something like over 10 minutes into the episode). Very different from the other episodes I've seen (mainly set in one location with the odd bits of on-location scenes), partly because it was from a later series/season (the detective sergeant character who assisted Lockhart in the earlier series/seasons was gone by this point).

I watched last week an episode of Stagecoach West called "The Unwanted" (shown on Talking Pictures TV last week). On the whole, I quite liked it, and it wasn't all shot on studio sets (some on-location scenes). I'm surprised it's had a physical media DVD release (I'll have to double-check on here where I read an explanation about who the Four Star shows are with).

Fast forward to yesterday (Sunday) and the latest edition of The Footage Detectives (the third series is the longest so far). For me, this edition got better as it went on. My favourite part was the new segment Letters to the Projectionist (that film Serena looks good. I checked it out and Renown released it on DVD as a double-feature with Impact).

[OceanBlue]

Sampled the Cellar Club last weekend (recorded from last Friday night the introduction to film I Bury the Living (followed by the film itself). Watched over the past few nights the British film Danger by My Side, have got The Firechasers to watch (the cast includes Chad Everett) and am thinking of recording next week film The Dunwich Horror (with it's Caroline Munro/Cellar Club introduction).

[OceanBlue]

Would like to add that I only just realised that I'd accidently posted my previous post in this thread in the wrong thread (in the Forces TV thread, which I've since deleted and re-posted here). Had a senior moment.

[cutback73]

This week's newsletter has announced that from 20 March at 6pm, they will be showing, from the first episode...

"the famous Simon Templar"
*cue halo and music*

Although the colour episodes of The Saint are constantly rerun on ITV4, the monochrome episodes have not shown on British TV in years.

I think this is the last of the monochrome series from ITC to appear on the channel?

After the broadcast of Robin Hood, the surprisingly good Captain Drake, and The Champions last year, I have been hoping for this to appear.

*raises left eyebrow*

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

This week's newsletter has announced that from 20 March at 6pm, they will be showing, from the first episode...

"the famous Simon Templar"
*cue halo and music*

Although the colour episodes of The Saint are constantly rerun on ITV4, the monochrome episodes have not shown on British TV in years.

I think this is the last of the monochrome series from ITC to appear on the channel?

After the broadcast of Robin Hood, the surprisingly good Captain Drake, and The Champions last year, I have been hoping for this to appear.

*raises left eyebrow*

I'll be checking this out, as I saw very little of repeats of The Saint a long time ago (can't remember if it was on a BBC or ITV channel). On and off, there has been discussion in the UK & Ireland sub-forum about the chances of Network doing a complete series Blu-ray release of both the black and white and colour series of The Saint, because of how many episodes there were in total.

[OceanBlue]

Checked Talking Pictures TV's website earlier, and they've put the listings up for Monday 7th to Sunday 13th March. New editions of The Footage Detectives continue through to Sunday 13th March.

As to yesterday's new edition of The Footage Detectives, very much enjoyed it (especially the Larry the Lamb segment).

[OceanBlue]

Watched this past weekend, two of the films shown as part of the Cellar Club last Friday night, Scream and Scream Again and The Dunwich Horror. Don't think I'll be watching either again (thought I Bury the Living was better, although it was good seeing Lloyd Bochner on screen again (in The Dunwich Horror), and I recognised Ed Begley from Hang 'Em High and an episode of The Invaders.

Yesterday afternoon's new edition of The Footage Detectives was up to the same high standards of recent editions. Especially enjoyed the Gay Emma interview.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

This week's newsletter has announced that from 20 March at 6pm, they will be showing, from the first episode...

"the famous Simon Templar"
*cue halo and music*

Although the colour episodes of The Saint are constantly rerun on ITV4, the monochrome episodes have not shown on British TV in years.

I think this is the last of the monochrome series from ITC to appear on the channel?

After the broadcast of Robin Hood, the surprisingly good Captain Drake, and The Champions last year, I have been hoping for this to appear.

*raises left eyebrow*

Checked Talking Pictures TV's listings schedule section on their website, for the newly added schedules. The first two episodes from the first black and white series/season of The Saint are being shown on the last two Sundays in March (following on from what you posted last week Cutback):

Sunday 20th March at 6 pm - 7 pm: episode "The Talented Husband" (Series 1, Episode 1)
Sunday 27th March at 6 pm - 7 pm: episode "The Latin Touch" (Series 1, Episode 2).

Both episodes follow the latest new edition of The Footage Detectives.

*****

I think I've seen The Champions in the listings. That might be getting a re-run soon. Will need to double-check.

[OceanBlue]

Something else I've spotted in the listings (is this a new series starting?) for the last two Sundays in March:

The Heritage Chart Show with Mike Read (starting at 11.55 pm on Sunday 20th March, and starting at 11.50 pm on Sunday 27th March).

[OceanBlue]

Checked earlier, the Sky TV listings for Talking Pictures TV next Monday to Wednesday, and yes, The Champions is indeed being shown from the beginning next week (starting at 11.05 pm). Have set the first episode to record.

Considering there was only one series of it, and from the clips I've seen it was shot on film, you'd think this was a shoe-in for a Blu-ray release by Network. And something I've been curious about for a long time, why did a few ITC series only last one series?

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Checked earlier, the Sky TV listings for Talking Pictures TV next Monday to Wednesday, and yes, The Champions is indeed being shown from the beginning next week (starting at 11.05 pm). Have set the first episode to record.

Considering there was only one series of it, and from the clips I've seen it was shot on film, you'd think this was a shoe-in for a Blu-ray release by Network. And something I've been curious about for a long time, why did a few ITC series only last one series?

Have checked Sky's TV listings, and The Champions starts next Tuesday night (at the time specified in the above, quoted post). I know the series has been repeated previously on ITV4.

[cutback73]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Checked earlier, the Sky TV listings for Talking Pictures TV next Monday to Wednesday, and yes, The Champions is indeed being shown from the beginning next week (starting at 11.05 pm). Have set the first episode to record.

Considering there was only one series of it, and from the clips I've seen it was shot on film, you'd think this was a shoe-in for a Blu-ray release by Network. And something I've been curious about for a long time, why did a few ITC series only last one series?

From what I've read elsewhere, I think Network were supposed to be continuing with their partial release blu rays in multiple volumes (similar to the Man In A Suitcase release) as that seemed to be the only way they were profitable, unless ITV paid towards remastering. Basically volume 1 proceeds paid for the work on volume 2 etc. However, even that method seems to have ground to a halt. Although I think the Covid situation caused this primarily as it's not seemingly the sort of thing you can do at home.

As for shows only having one series - that I know with more certainty. Basically, shows only got renewed if they were successful overseas (especially the US). That's because they were given high budgets (for the time) targeting overseas sales and were usually sold in advance helping to finance production costs. That's also why they were in colour early, as soon as the US networks moved to colour in 1966/67. Even if a show was popular in the UK (such as Randall and Hopkirk) if it didnt do well in the US, and the US didnt order a second series, it didnt get made as the finance model then didnt work out.

I saw a few episodes of The Champions on their last run on TPTV and they seemed to be reasonable quality broadcasts. Presumably the HD remasters that were done for the DVD release.

As for The Saint, I have the full series on dvd, but only got part way through. So I have a good excuse to pick it back up now (other than not enough time to watch it due to other tv and dvds to get through!).

I wonder if the Heritage Chart Show is going to be like Top of the Pops but for a particular week in history each week. And why is it on so late - seems a little odd to me?

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

From what I've read elsewhere, I think Network were supposed to be continuing with their partial release blu rays in multiple volumes (similar to the Man In A Suitcase release) as that seemed to be the only way they were profitable, unless ITV paid towards remastering. Basically volume 1 proceeds paid for the work on volume 2 etc. However, even that method seems to have ground to a halt. Although I think the Covid situation caused this primarily as it's not seemingly the sort of thing you can do at home.

As for shows only having one series - that I know with more certainty. Basically, shows only got renewed if they were successful overseas (especially the US). That's because they were given high budgets (for the time) targeting overseas sales and were usually sold in advance helping to finance production costs. That's also why they were in colour early, as soon as the US networks moved to colour in 1966/67. Even if a show was popular in the UK (such as Randall and Hopkirk) if it didnt do well in the US, and the US didnt order a second series, it didnt get made as the finance model then didnt work out.

I saw a few episodes of The Champions on their last run on TPTV and they seemed to be reasonable quality broadcasts. Presumably the HD remasters that were done for the DVD release.

As for The Saint, I have the full series on dvd, but only got part way through. So I have a good excuse to pick it back up now (other than not enough time to watch it due to other tv and dvds to get through!).

I wonder if the Heritage Chart Show is going to be like Top of the Pops but for a particular week in history each week. And why is it on so late - seems a little odd to me?

Had in my head this was the first time TPTV had shown The Champions (I stand corrected ). But it's the first time they've shown any episodes of The Saint (both from the black and white, and colour series)?

This is a vague memory from a few weeks ago, but I remember seeing on Facebook a post about the series Public Eye. Apparently there was some Christmas episode, but I can't recall if this was included in Network's DVD set of the surviving episodes.

Many thanks for your thorough explanation about why some ITC shows only lasted one series/season. That makes a lot of sense. Like with the Warner Archive Collection, I'm hoping that in the second half of this year, Network will be prolific with their physical media releases of older TV series.

When I used to still listen to radio, occasionly I would listen to a late Sunday afternoon/early evening show (it was on in a two-hour timeslot) presented by David Jensen, where each hour was about a specific chart in a certain decade. You could well be right and The Heritage Show will be something like Top of the Pops.

[cutback73]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Had in my head this was the first time TPTV had shown The Champions (I stand corrected ). But it's the first time they've shown any episodes of The Saint (both from the black and white, and colour series)?

This is a vague memory from a few weeks ago, but I remember seeing on Facebook a post about the series Public Eye. Apparently there was some Christmas episode, but I can't recall if this was included in Network's DVD set of the surviving episodes.

Many thanks for your thorough explanation about why some ITC shows only lasted one series/season. That makes a lot of sense. Like with the Warner Archive Collection, I'm hoping that in the second half of this year, Network will be prolific with their physical media releases of older TV series.

When I used to still listen to radio, occasionly I would listen to a late Sunday afternoon/early evening show (it was on in a two-hour timeslot) presented by David Jensen, where each hour was about a specific chart in a certain decade. You could well be right and The Heritage Show will be something like Top of the Pops.

The Champions was shown once before, last year, in the 9pm slot on Sunday. Before they started the run of Secret Army.

And yes they've never shown The Saint before, black and white or colour. Because ITV4 only show the colour episodes, the black and white episodes haven't been shown on any British tv for many years (not sure how long precisely).

Arguably, in terms of their target market, they now have their strongest Sunday night prime time line up, with Footage Detectives then The Saint then Secret Army.

Public Eye is one of their shows that is repeated annually approx. And seems to be popular when shown. It's a reasonable show, clearly dated but many times entertaining. Alfred Burke's character is not your usual hero lead, more of a realist. And not much one for female company. Almost the opposite of The Saint in some ways. But the portrayal is very good, even in a poor episode, he makes it interesting to watch.

[OceanBlue]

Enjoyed yesterday afternoon's new edition of The Footage Detectives.

Lets hope the Nettlefold Studios building can be kept. And it's a shame they haven't yet found any of the missing footage from those three No Hiding Place episodes. Has a book been written about the Rediffusion shows?

[OceanBlue]

Watched the first episode of The Champions last night (called "The Beginning"). One of the guest stars I recognised from Diamonds Are Forever (Joseph Furst, who played Dr. Karl Metz in Diamonds). The story kept my interest and it was a very good start to the series.

I do hope this ITC series gets the Blu-ray treatment from Network. Like with how they released Man in a Suitcase, they could put five episodes in each volume, followed by a final volume with an option to purchase either a standard or limited edition with some or or all of the extras ported over from the Complete Series Collector's Edition DVD set.

[OceanBlue]

Didn't know about this until earlier today, when reading some of the 'i' newspaper. As Talking Pictures TV show many horror films (including I'm sure some Hammer horror films as part of the Cellar Club on Friday nights), thought it was fitting to post about it in this thread. The Obituary section in the 'i' newspaper today was about actress Veronica Carlson, who passed away recently.

[OceanBlue]

Another very good, entertaining edition of The Footage Detectives yesterday. I forgot to post about one of the recent segments on the show, the interesting look at a film processing laboratory. There was one bit during yesterday's edition which had me in stitches, but I've forgot what it was about.

Have set up to record The Heritage Chart Show and The Saint for next Sunday.

[OceanBlue]

Cutback, when Talking Pictures TV previously showed/repeated The Champions, was the episode "Desert Journey" included with the other episodes? I ask, because yesterday I checked the Wikipedia section for the show, and today the IMDb section, and on both they mention that the aforementioned episode hasn't been included in repeat runs of The Champions (however, the front cover artwork for Network's Complete Series: Collector's Edition DVD release states all thirty episodes are included).

Meanwhile, watched last night the second episode, "The Invisible Man". It wasn't quite what I expected it to be (I expected literally something like an 'invisible man' (I haven't seen it but in an edition of Discovering: Film about Claude Rains, The Invisible Man was featured, and I was expecting something like that (instead it had something to do with a device surgically implanted into a person's ear, messing with their mind). Guest stars included Peter Wyngarde (I didn't recognise him at first), who would go on to star in the TV series Department S and Jason King, the film Flash Gordon and an episode of Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense, and an actor who I recognised from (can't remember their name) a casino scene in an early Bond film (possibly On Her Majesty's Secret Service (I do remember them smoking a cigar).