'Ice Station Zebra' - The forgotten 'Drake'
Panopticon
Zebra' (1968)...
No, it's not really a 'Dangerman' related narrative, but 'Drake watchers' would
undoubtedly recognize
the character of 'David Jones' (...ha ha...), played by McGoohan, as being
'Drake'...*
There is a lovely little scene when Rock Hudson (Cmdr. James Ferraday) comments
on Jones's nom de
plume/cover story...Any Dangerman/Prisoner fan at this point MUST be smiling a
knowing smile!!!
LOL [I will dig out the DVD and post up exactly quotes and they are excellent!]
The best scene by far, which completely gives away the character as 'being'
Drake/No. 6 is a supurb
piece of McGoohan arrogance (I mean this in a affectionate way!) when another
character, the Marine
Captain I think, comments about his M16 shooting straight at the North Pole...
A rampant McGoohan points out that, 'actually', a bullet's velosity and path
deviates significantly in
sub-zero tempratures! (So there, ya boo!)
:)
Priceless!
*I realize that it is just 'Drake' because McGoohan is playing it, of
course...BUT, 'is' McGoohan playing
'Drake', or is McGoohan playing McGoohan??? Mmmmmmmmm...?
;)
Oh...PS...It's a good movie too
David Mackenzie
>Many fans of the 'Drake' character sometimes completly forget about 'Ice Station
>Zebra' (1968)...
>
>No, it's not really a 'Dangerman' related narrative, but 'Drake watchers' would
>undoubtedly recognize
>the character of 'David Jones' (...ha ha...), played by McGoohan, as being
>'Drake'...*
The "In The Village" magazine once published a short story that
hypothesised where Number 6's body went to during "Do Not Forsake Me".
Turns out it was the mission as seen in "Zebra" !
Of course, that's why we don't see McGoohan in Forsake - he was
filming Zebra.
Just don't strike a match at the North Pole - the icebergs might catch
fire ;-)
--
David ( @priz.co.uk ). <http://www.priz.co.uk/ipdb/>
Build the Village: <http://www.priz.co.uk/build/>
Please don't feed the trolls.
Rick Davy
"Panopticon" <s.b...@hull.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:cd06t...@drn.newsguy.com...
>
> *I realize that it is just 'Drake' because McGoohan is playing it, of
> course...BUT, 'is' McGoohan playing
> 'Drake', or is McGoohan playing McGoohan??? Mmmmmmmmm...?
>
Well, as i've said a few times during the past (during your "sabbatical"
from the group) that McGoohan is *always* playing McGoohan as, IMHO, he is
not able to act any other way. I don't believe he is a very good actor but
as a person has a very good "presence" and, thus, he can look good on screen
when playing characters who are similar to himself in terms of intensity.
One similar actor is Roger Moore - let's be honest, he's only playing
himself too.
I would say 90% of the roles McGoohan has taken on are all quite similar.
Rick
Panopticon
>
>Of course, that's why we don't see McGoohan in Forsake - he was
>filming Zebra.
>
That's interesting - I didn't know that!
I was trying to work out the Zebra shooting date in relation to the series, and
this answers my un-asked
question! LOL
...So was it a weather balloon they tied the film canister to at the end or a
Rover!?!
;)
P/B
David Mackenzie
>In article <trb7f0dv1flmkccud...@4ax.com>, David Mackenzie says...
>>
>>Of course, that's why we don't see McGoohan in Forsake - he was
>>filming Zebra.
>>
>
>That's interesting - I didn't know that!
>
>I was trying to work out the Zebra shooting date in relation to the series, and
>this answers my un-asked
>question! LOL
Towards the end of the series things were fairly hectic. Then the lead
star suddenly buggers off to make a film. The rest of the crew had to
bodge together an episode that didn't feature him - hence the
convenient mind-swap scenario.
Some people don't like Forsake as it features no McGoohan or
Portmeirion, but I quite like it.
International Man of Misery
From: David Mackenzie m...@privacy.net
Date: Tue, Jul 13, 2004 12:06 pm
Message-id: <3jj7f0tpurb5s9pn2...@4ax.com>
On 13 Jul 2004 03:26:23 -0700, Panopticon <s.b...@hull.ac.uk> wrote:
>In article <trb7f0dv1flmkccud...@4ax.com>, David Mackenzie
says...
>>
>>Of course, that's why we don't see McGoohan in Forsake - he was
>>filming Zebra.
>>
>
>That's interesting - I didn't know that!
>
>I was trying to work out the Zebra shooting date in relation to the series,
and
>this answers my un-asked
>question! LOL
Towards the end of the series things were fairly hectic. Then the lead
star suddenly buggers off to make a film. The rest of the crew had to
bodge together an episode that didn't feature him - hence the
convenient mind-swap scenario.
Some people don't like Forsake as it features no McGoohan or
Portmeirion, but I quite like it.
>>
I would be a very nice episode if it wasn't for the fact it's one of the worst
made episodes of anything I've ever had the misfortune to see -the stuntmen in
disguise, the back projection -well, you get the picture. Could have been a
nice episode....especially with the Lotus Cortina:O)
redcat
From: "International Man of Misery" <masterof...@aol.comNOSPAM>
Subject: Re: 'Ice Station Zebra' - The forgotten 'Drake'
>Towards the end of the series things were fairly hectic. Then the lead
>star suddenly buggers off to make a film. The rest of the crew had to
>bodge together an episode that didn't feature him - hence the
>convenient mind-swap scenario.
One of the reasons given for Patrick McGoohan accepting the Ice Station
Zebra role in the middle of working on The Prisoner is that he needed more
money to support The Prisoner.
I thought that it would be Lew Grade's company putting up the funding.
But perhaps there was a more complex financing structure.
It does seem odd, doesn't it, that he (Patrick McGoohan) would spread
himself so thin, especially with the further stories about him working
'round the clock as it was on The Prisoner.
redcat
Panopticon
Misery says...
>
>
>I would be a very nice episode if it wasn't for the fact it's one of the worst
>made episodes of anything I've ever had the misfortune to see -the stuntmen in
>disguise, the back projection -well, you get the picture. Could have been a
>nice episode....especially with the Lotus Cortina:O)
>
>
I would have to say that these very things are exactly why it IS a great
episode...If
these 'affects' are good enough for Quentin Tarantino* I don't see why they
shouldn't be good enough
for anyone else! (Irony)...
If one starts to critisise episodes of 'The Prisoner' and it's peers for having
a 'poor production value'
then one risks
completely dismissing one of the most vital and influencial stylistic movements
in British TV history as a
whole.
From it's incestuous use of back-lot locations, to shoddy sets, to re-hashed
stock footage to recycled
properties, the 60s British TV adventure genre showed an audatious disregard for
'production values'
that inspired a whole generation of experimental film-makers.
Along with the genius of 'The Wednesday Night Play', this cutting edge vision of
production ethics and
intelligent narrative is as influential to the British film movement as was the
'new wave' to the French...
With the greatest respect, I see remarks about how episodes like this are
[perhaps] 'shoddy'
[paraphrase] to be like those who
comment on how the drawing skills of piccasso are 'poor'...You seem to be
confusing style with
content.
...If we applied your reference point of 'quality' to shows like Rudolph
Cartier's '1984' [1956], or Peter
Sasdy's 'Doom Watch' [1972] or even Kubrick's 'A Clockwork Orange' [1971] they
would, in your terms,
of little merit! And yet they are deemed works of complete genius DESPITE "the
stuntmen in disguise,
the back projection", etc, etc!
- Rant Over -
;)
No disrespect meant, and please don't take my 'zealous' soup-boxing
personally...I 'go off on one'
every now and then!
Pax! LOL
P/B
* Much of these same 'affects' were utilised in 'Pulp Fiction' - and those with
'avant garde' tastes
applauded their originality, as a play on kitch. Many of the technicians at ITC
were playing with these
motifs 30 years earlier! And as such can take more credit as they were at least
being innovative and
original!
Frankymole
read if you haven't seen the film, I'm glad I read it first). The
character is NOT John Drake. Though I can see the fun game you're
having with the film, clearly MacLean was an original novelist and not
a derivative writer (as some accuse Markstein and McGoohan of being),
also the copyright lawyers would have had a field day (and they
didn't). Sure, Drake is the same "type" of spy as MacLean's David
Jones, maybe, but Drake is a pretty derivative generic "secret agent"
character.
Oh, by the way, my middle name is Alistair, guess who my mum named
me after? She was a fan...
--
Frankymole
~~~~~~~~
The alt.tv.prisoner FAQ can be found at:
http://www.web-sighted.co.uk/franks/faq.html
Information about Six of One, the disgraced Prisoner Appreciation
Society, can be found at:
http://www.sixofone-info.co.uk/
International Man of Misery
Date: Tue, Jul 13, 2004 1:55 pm
Message-id: <cd0pk...@drn.newsguy.com>
- Rant Over -
;)
Pax! LOL
P/B
Come off it:-) The film makers of thirty years ago certainly wouldn't have made
the shows the way they did for aesthetic or stylistic reasons - it would have
come down to budgetary limitations and technical issues, and thus would only
set a trend amongst those who wished to pay homage to their, erm pioneering
style!- I can't really comment on Tarantino (though I suspect your comments
were tongue-in-cheek), as I haven't actually watched much of his stuff. But
what I have seen (much the same way that I view Lynch for that matter), I note
is just a stylistically accomplished rehash of other people's work - very much
the same way in which DJ's believe they are musicians (the conceit of it!!!)! I
don't think these poor series actually inspire so much as engender "Oh my gawd,
I could do better than that!" in anyone creative, though for their day they
were fine. The Prisoner was IMO never meant to be an ITC 'filler' and such,
that particular episode cannot be excused for being poorly executed, as a side
by side viewing with any other episode (barring Girl) would testify. Any
production in which the design or values (or lack of) are noticable to the
detriment of the story have failed IMO!
PS As I actually welcome the poor standards of Dr Who, the amateur feel of The
Wicker Man, etc etc, then you'll put my comments down to disappointment that
this particular episode was not worthy to carry the title 'Prisoner", not
ranting:-)
PCD
"Rick Davy" <Rdav...@NOSPAMbtopenworld.com> wrote in message
news:cd0eki$9cj$2...@titan.btinternet.com...
Yes, a lot of great actors are careful not to stray too far away from their
basic performance. To be honest I don't think we'd feel we'd had value for
money if they were totally immersed in the part and unrecognizeable!
Alastair Sim is a great favourite of ours and he always played his roles
with exactly the same character and set of expressions even when he was
playing the headmistress in "St Trinian's". Is typecasting always a bad
thing? It's regarded as such by actors early in their careers when they are
eager to get as much work as possible and to "narrow their range" would be
an obstacle to this, but it has it's benefits too and all to the audience.
Take Tom Baker; who else does he play other than Tom Baker? Would you want
him to be different? We wouldn't. Brian Blessed? Well, 'nuff said.
Des.
PCD
Yes; the enjoyment of those episodes depends to a great extent on the
willingness of the viewers to allow the "suspension of disbelief" which
allows it to work. Once this is accepted the programme can indeed be as
rough as a b---'s a--- in terms of props, backgrounds and stand-ins etc and
the magic still works. Today's audiences may not have learned that their own
goodwill is so important and may just shout "rubbish" at them.
Some of the special effects casting and performances in Truffaut's movies
are rather unconvincing but it still doesn't make them any less enjoyable.
Des.
Frankymole
> In article <trb7f0dv1flmkccud...@4ax.com>, David
Mackenzie says...
> >
> >Of course, that's why we don't see McGoohan in Forsake - he was
> >filming Zebra.
> >
>
> That's interesting - I didn't know that!
>
> I was trying to work out the Zebra shooting date in relation to the
series, and
> this answers my un-asked
> question! LOL
Though you will get a different answer from Tony Sloman (who worked
closely with McGoohan on the Prisoner, and is something of a film
expert having been a head of the BFI).... IIRC he reckoned that
McGoohan wa sonly absent for a short while for talks about the film,
the actual filming being AFTER Forsake was completed, and that PMG was
around for a lot of the Forsake filming and all of the
post-production.
Frankymole
"Rick Davy" <Rdav...@NOSPAMbtopenworld.com> wrote in message
news:cd0eki$9cj$2...@titan.btinternet.com...
>
similar.
Isn't this true of all actors? I can't reconcile the persona of Brand
with that of the retentive Military Academy commander in "By Dawn's
Early Light", however much I try. Now Patrick Cargill (who we saw in
the synchro-watch the other night, and all agreed was a superb actor
in portraying the emotional breakdown of Number Two) has seemd pretty
much the same in everything I've seen him in, so has Donald Sinden,
his MHR compatriot, as to Mary Morris... Leo McKern always the jovial
Rumpole sort... yes, you could say any actor is "themselves"...
Frankymole
"David Mackenzie" <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:3jj7f0tpurb5s9pn2...@4ax.com...
> Some people don't like Forsake as it features no McGoohan or
> Portmeirion, but I quite like it.
It does feature SOME McGoohan. Also he did a lot of the editing and
reshooting on it, so he's there behind the camera as it were.
Frankymole
> I would be a very nice episode if it wasn't for the fact it's one of
the worst
> made episodes of anything I've ever had the misfortune to see -the
stuntmen in
> disguise, the back projection -well, you get the picture. Could have
been a
> nice episode....especially with the Lotus Cortina:O)
Pretty much of the same standard as most ITC fare! And better than
some epsidoes of, say, "The Baron" or "The Protectors". It also has a
more convincing mind-swap gizmo than even ABPC's "The Avengers"!
Frankymole
Forgive IMOM though, he doesn't rate the film-making standards of The
Prisoner (even though, as Jon Blum puts it, "That opening episode is
shot and edited in a way that still looks modern more than 35 years
on. The more Sixties TV I've seen, the clearer it is how exceptional
this show was -- it's budgeted at a level that makes "The Avengers"
look cheap, and written and directed with absolute conviction and no
hesitation about doing whatever the hell they want.")
The Prisoner is the best, technically, that any 1960s TV or film can
offer.
Frankymole
"PCD" <pcd451tr...@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:2lich3F...@uni-berlin.de...
> allows it to work. Once this is accepted the programme can indeed
be as
> rough as a b---'s a--- in terms of props, backgrounds and stand-ins
etc and
I thought a baby's arse was the prverbial "smooth as..."?
Frankymole
Frankymole
> The Prisoner was IMO never meant to be an ITC 'filler' and such,
that
> particular episode cannot be excused for being poorly executed, as a
> side by side viewing with any other episode (barring Girl) would
> testify. Any production in which the design or values (or lack of)
> are noticable to the detriment of the story have failed IMO!
Yet non-fans find Girl and Forsake two of the more inventive,
intriguing episodes and lsit them on recent forum posts as their
favourite! It's a funny old world. Perhaps you're looking at it with
too much of a technical "eye", as what detracts for you clearly
doesn't for the mainstream audience.
Panopticon
Misery says...
>
>I can't really comment on Tarantino (though I suspect your comments
>were tongue-in-cheek),
Well....A bit...But not as much as you might think...LOL
But really...In saying that the contemporary technicians didn't have the
'foresight' or creativity to
understand that thier work, at times' was itself 'tongue in cheek' or
stylistically symbolic doesn't do they
justice I think.
As I said, British TV of the time had a very good grasp of both the minimalistic
- from the theatre
tradition - and of the surreal. They also also had a very good idea what was
'kitch' (my god man, this
was 1960s Britain...If they didn't know kitch, who did! LOL)...
The Avengers is a very good case in point.
Yes, I agree with you that budgetary restrictions had their part to play, but as
I continually say about TV
shows of this period 'neccessity is the mother of invension'. Which is why we
are still talking about
them...Thier innovation and invention withstood the test of time.
P/B
Panopticon
>
>"International Man of Misery" <masterof...@aol.comNOSPAM> wrote
>> I would be a very nice episode if it wasn't for the fact it's one of
>the worst
>> made episodes of anything I've ever had the misfortune to see -the
>stuntmen in
>> disguise, the back projection -well, you get the picture. Could have
>been a
>> nice episode....especially with the Lotus Cortina:O)
>
>Pretty much of the same standard as most ITC fare! And better than
>some epsidoes of, say, "The Baron" or "The Protectors". It also has a
>more convincing mind-swap gizmo than even ABPC's "The Avengers"!
>
>--
>Frankymole
>~~~~~~~~
Do you remember that stock footage of the car going over the cliff and bursting
into flames that ITC
had....It featured in practically ALL of their shows at one time or
another...(At Lew Grade's behest, it is
rumoured, as he didn't want to waste money pushing more than one car over a
cliff!).
There was also that stock shot of Rome, with the traffic going round the
Coliseum...That 'starred' in
more ITC stuff than Peter Wyngarde! LOL
{I noticed it even turned up in some low budget British movies of the time, like
'Hot Millions', for
example, with Peter Ustinov!!!}
.....And any time anyone took a plane somewhere exotic, they wheeled out that
sequence of the BOAC
TriStar taking off and landing! LMAO!
And people wonder why they are so great!
:)
Panopticon
Have to agree with Franky there...
Isn't it 'as rough as a dog's arse'...Or if your 'Upt North' (as I am) 'As rough
as a badgers scrotum'....
Either way I don't know how they know!
LOL
;)
DJP
"Frankymole" <Frank@Ask for it on the group.com> wrote in message
news:cd0vhq$k3m$1...@news5.svr.pol.co.uk...
PCD.
DJP
"Frankymole" <Frank@Ask for it on the group.com> wrote in message
news:cd0vhq$k3m$1...@news5.svr.pol.co.uk...
>
"As irregular as the gluteal region of an ursine plantigrade".
(for short).
P&CD.
DJP
Frankly, who gives a damn if it's the same car, or the wrong car, etc?
Also the use of stock footage (like the exterior shots of Bray studios which
were always being cast as "the Andaran Embassy" etc) gives a show the
potential to be enjoyed on more levels than one. It's like building in a
series of puzzles. In those days, S.America was a plane landing, a tropical
suit, afew potted palms and some louvre doors. Oh yes; and a bad accent.
Des.
Jill Mills
Gentlemen, I suggest you try changing a few nappies... ;-)
Jill
International Man of Misery
Date: Tue, Jul 13, 2004 3:29 pm
Message-id: <cd0v4t$79o$1...@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk>
What "affects" did Tarantino use that were typical ITC standards?
Forgive IMOM though, he doesn't rate the film-making standards of The
Prisoner (even though, as Jon Blum puts it, "That opening episode is
shot and edited in a way that still looks modern more than 35 years
on. The more Sixties TV I've seen, the clearer it is how exceptional
this show was -- it's budgeted at a level that makes "The Avengers"
look cheap, and written and directed with absolute conviction and no
hesitation about doing whatever the hell they want.")
The Prisoner is the best, technically, that any 1960s TV or film can
offer.
>>
Whoa Frank - where does a dislike of particular episodes equate to a dislike of
an entire series?Oh, I remember:-) Ok, so those rifle mic's irritate (when one
hears how good studio sound can be), and I don't think The Prisoner matched up
to say The Avengers in terms of visual quality, or editing - but then, they
didn't have PMcG leaning over their shoulder with his barking mad ideas:-)
"an airhorn for every occasion"
"a flask of tea for *nearly* every occasion"
Panopticon
So if I quote the wrong person, sorry.
In article <20040713133916...@mb-m23.aol.com>, International Man of
Misery says...
>
>What "affects" did Tarantino use that were typical ITC standards?
>
I don't think you can directly attibute specific 'ITC' methods to Tarantino
(did I say that?) - but you can
see traditional 60s TV techniques (from both side of the pond) used extensively
in 'Pulp Fiction'
(deliberately so, as that is the nature of the theme) and laterly in 'Kill
Bill'.
Whether this be by means of graphic techniques - mask transitions, iris fade,
etc - backdrop/back
projection, parallelisim, and the use of stock footage...All mimic the studio
'production line' of 60s TV,
and the 'B' movie lots.
And even narrative format is heavily stylistic and based on the tempo and
structure of 60s shows and
movies. Tarantino is a big fan of faux-noir, though his specific speciality is
the 70s movies -
particularly 'Blacksploitation' moves (which, however, inturn mimiced the 50 and
60s 'pulp' and noir
movie and TV series genres.)
However. my original point was this - that what people might see as 'low
production values' became a
percieved stylistic motif, a 'querkiness' that became synonimous with a period.
But it also was not
'sloppiness' for it's own sake - it was the loose charactisation, or technical
shorthand, that can be
equated with the lazy scrawl of an experienced artist as they work to a higher
concept than the
elementary technique.
The goal was an 'overall' visualisation - a much more 'artistic' approach to
production. Detail became
less important than the 'message'...And as such 'suspension of belief' was at
heart the motor which
drove the vehicle, a technique - or more correctly, a phenomenon - that is more
critically contextual.
[The lucky co-incidence was that this 'shorthand' also suited budgety and
scheduling restrictions.]
This is exactly exemplified by the ground-breaking series 'Doom Watch' -
critically applauded for it's
gritty mix of science fiction and science fact. Were one not to have this
'suspension of belief' or the
series seen out of it's context the 'whole' visualization falls to pieces...
In short, the series does not 'travel well' (...To watch it now - like early Dr.
Who - would have a modern
audiance in fits of hesteria!)
;)
P/B
International Man of Misery
Date: Tue, Jul 13, 2004 6:48 pm
Message-id: <cd1ap...@drn.newsguy.com>
;)
P/B
>>
i am sorry P/B -you are but the next to fall victim of my
chevrons......infamous throughout the www and capable of sending a shiver down
the news reader of the most hardened Priz NewsGrouper:-)
Pet
In a magazine from Chile they said flat out Number 6 was David Jones.
I have a translation here:
http://petserrano.com/ipw-web/portal/cms/article21.html
I think you may need to be a member to read it. Once they move off the
front page it's members only if I recall how I set it up several
months ago. It keeps the robots out. If not, then I did something
wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.
But it's completely free and you can lie about your email address. ;-)
Pet
Frankymole
> This is exactly exemplified by the ground-breaking series 'Doom
Watch' -
> critically applauded for it's
> gritty mix of science fiction and science fact. Were one not to have
this
> 'suspension of belief' or the
> series seen out of it's context the 'whole' visualization falls to
pieces...
I always liked the plastic rat stapled to Robert Powell's leg!
Anyone rate the 90s remake (single tv movie)? I thought it was great!
Frankymole
"Pet" <p...@petserrano.com> wrote in message
news:409ccde5.04071...@posting.google.com...
> Drake doesn't carry a gun, though.
>
> In a magazine from Chile they said flat out Number 6 was David
Jones.
It must be true then! (not!)
Luckily, the David Jones character is (c) 1960 Alistair MacLean and
John Drake is (c)1960 Ralph Smart, so there's no reason why an actor
in a movie 7 years later can make them the same character. End of
discussion!
Pet
But he proves he can do differently every time he's on SNL. (The only
time, other than when I remember the Simpsons might be on, that I turn
on the antenna.)
His, "You say tomato, and I say tomato..."* cracks me up every time I
think of it.
*(For those who haven't seen CW on SNL, it's the only time he gets to
tap dance so he always opens with a musical number. In the above song,
he pronounced "tomato" the same. He also did perfect impressions of
Kevin Spacey and Al Pacino during it.)
Pet
John W. Kennedy
> "Rick Davy" <Rdav...@NOSPAMbtopenworld.com> wrote in message
> news:cd0eki$9cj$2...@titan.btinternet.com...
>
>>I would say 90% of the roles McGoohan has taken on are all quite
>
> similar.
>
> Isn't this true of all actors?
No.
"Dottie Moore" in "Jumpers", currently being played by Essie Davis, was
originally played by Diana Rigg.
Compare Olivier in "Henry V", "Richard III", "The Entertainer", "The
Betsy", and "The Jazz Singer" (1980).
Compare Mira Furlan in "Babylon 5", "When Father Was Away On Business",
and "Dear Video".
Compare Peter Jurasik in "Babylon 5" and "Hill Street Blues".
Compare Andreas Katsulas in "Babylon 5" and "The Fugitive" (the movie).
Compare any actress in "Medea" and almost any other role.
Some actors have the knack. Other's don't. Some /need/ different
characters; get too close to their own natural selves and they lose a
certain tension that is the source of their power.
David Mackenzie
the group.com> wrote:
>
>"Rick Davy" <Rdav...@NOSPAMbtopenworld.com> wrote in message
>news:cd0eki$9cj$2...@titan.btinternet.com...
>>
>> I would say 90% of the roles McGoohan has taken on are all quite
>similar.
>
>Isn't this true of all actors?
There are some exceptional actors, though, that convincingly play very
different characters.
Compare Ronnie Barker in Porrige and Open All Hours - wisecracking con
vs. muddled old shopkeeper.
John Thaw in the Sweeney and Inspector Morse - two very different
kinds of cop.
The above two are exceptions, but most actors probably play a
derivative of themselves.
>Now Patrick Cargill (who we saw in
>the synchro-watch
Isn't a "synchro-watch" what Number 6 used to help him escape in
"Arrival" ?
> the other night, and all agreed was a superb actor
>in portraying the emotional breakdown of Number Two) has seemd pretty
>much the same in everything I've seen him in.
"Hammer" is a comic episode and Cargill expertly manages to convey
"comic intensity". His performance easily overshadows McGoohan's, and
that helps make that episode one of the best.
--
David ( @priz.co.uk ). <http://www.priz.co.uk/ipdb/>
Build the Village: <http://www.priz.co.uk/build/>
Please don't feed the trolls.
Jill Mills
> Isn't a "synchro-watch" what Number 6 used to help him escape in
> "Arrival" ?
Nothing gets past you, David. ;-)
Jill
Brian Watson
"Jill Mills" <mills...@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:2lih16F...@uni-berlin.de...
> > >I thought a baby's arse was the prverbial "smooth as..."?
> > >
> > >Frankymole
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Have to agree with Franky there...
> >
> > Isn't it 'as rough as a dog's arse'...Or if your 'Upt North' (as I am)
'As
> rough
> > as a badgers scrotum'....
> >
> > Either way I don't know how they know!
> >
> > LOL
> >
> > ;)
> >
>
> Gentlemen, I suggest you try changing a few nappies... ;-)
I have, MANY times.
I am therefore qualified to say that, when you are wrist-deep in poo and
then the little sod pees just as you get the clean nappy on, the last thing
on your mind is how smooth or rough the bum is.
}:-\
--
Brian
Jill Mills
"Brian Watson" <ne...@spheroid.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:cd3973$4nc$1$8300...@news.demon.co.uk...
Oh how true!
(You only changed the one, then?) ;-)
At one stage I had three children under two, all in nappies at the same
time.
I can fold terry towelling, (any shape, any size), in my sleep, and
frequently did so.
A talent I sincerely hope never to use again. :-)
Jill
International Man of Misery
Date: Wed, Jul 14, 2004 8:16 am
Message-id: <2lk8g0F...@uni-berlin.de>
Jill
>>
I thought it was a *Day Rover pass, myself!:-)
(*A cheap ticket for public transport in some parts of the UK)
Steve Dix
Badger
--
http://www.stevedix.de/sinistrals http://www.cdbaby.com/sinistrals
http://www.snorty.net/ http://www.stevedix.de/blog
UKMG/(B)R[6x-]!M!S(J)(F) E9?1A4?2B2M1K1 GAS+ C= P= G= B+ R+/= M+ S++(--) r-(--)
Steve Dix
<mills...@virgin.net> wrote:
>Oh how true!
>
>(You only changed the one, then?) ;-)
>
>At one stage I had three children under two, all in nappies at the same
>time.
>
>I can fold terry towelling, (any shape, any size), in my sleep, and
>frequently did so.
>
>A talent I sincerely hope never to use again. :-)
>
>Jill
>
no-one uses terry towelling nappies any more : they use pampers.
Steve Dix
>Do you remember that stock footage of the car going over the cliff and bursting
>into flames that ITC
>had....It featured in practically ALL of their shows at one time or
>another...(At Lew Grade's behest, it is
>rumoured, as he didn't want to waste money pushing more than one car over a
>cliff!).
>
>There was also that stock shot of Rome, with the traffic going round the
>Coliseum...That 'starred' in
>more ITC stuff than Peter Wyngarde! LOL
That's nothing. One of the editors (who worked on ITC stuff
generally) admitted that when they couldn't get any stock footage of
France, they just went out and filmed Borehamwood high st. and flipped
the film over so the cars were on the wrong side of the road!
Steve Dix
<pcd451tr...@btinternet.com> wrote:
>
>Yes, a lot of great actors are careful not to stray too far away from their
>basic performance. To be honest I don't think we'd feel we'd had value for
>money if they were totally immersed in the part and unrecognizeable!
>Alastair Sim is a great favourite of ours and he always played his roles
>with exactly the same character and set of expressions even when he was
>playing the headmistress in "St Trinian's". Is typecasting always a bad
>thing? It's regarded as such by actors early in their careers when they are
>eager to get as much work as possible and to "narrow their range" would be
>an obstacle to this, but it has it's benefits too and all to the audience.
>Take Tom Baker; who else does he play other than Tom Baker? Would you want
>him to be different? We wouldn't. Brian Blessed? Well, 'nuff said.
>
>Des.
>
But then you can argue that Michael Caine essentially plays himself,
but look at the variety of roles he's taken on : including some that a
lot of actors just wouldn't play.
Steve Dix
He did an excellent "Noo Yoik" reading of the 3 little pigs on a UK
show in the 80's.
Steve Dix
Nothing gets past Rover without a syncro-watch.
;->
Jill Mills
"Steve Dix" <st...@stevedix.de> wrote in message
news:u4saf0dq37l8hue2i...@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 13:54:49 +0100, "Jill Mills"
> <mills...@virgin.net> wrote:
>
>
> >Oh how true!
> >
> >(You only changed the one, then?) ;-)
> >
> >At one stage I had three children under two, all in nappies at the same
> >time.
> >
> >I can fold terry towelling, (any shape, any size), in my sleep, and
> >frequently did so.
> >
> >A talent I sincerely hope never to use again. :-)
> >
> >Jill
> >
>
> no-one uses terry towelling nappies any more : they use pampers.
>
>
> --
Well, it was all a very long time ago...
(I shan't frighten you, young Steve, by telling you how many disposable
nappies you'd need to buy*every day* for three babies... )
;-)
Jill
Steve Dix
<mills...@virgin.net> wrote:
>> no-one uses terry towelling nappies any more : they use pampers.
>>
>>
>> --
>
>Well, it was all a very long time ago...
>
>(I shan't frighten you, young Steve, by telling you how many disposable
>nappies you'd need to buy*every day* for three babies... )
>;-)
>
>Jill
>
I can imagine : I remember when my sister was in nappies.
..and my niece.
redcat
"David Mackenzie" <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:ff08f098bsd93vlur...@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 16:18:29 +0100, "Frankymole" <Frank@Ask for it on
> the group.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >"Rick Davy" <Rdav...@NOSPAMbtopenworld.com> wrote in message
> >news:cd0eki$9cj$2...@titan.btinternet.com...
> >>
> Isn't a "synchro-watch" what Number 6 used to help him escape in
> "Arrival" ?
No, that's an Electro Pass.
redhat
Nigel Kitcher
"redcat" <redcat@ix DOT netcom.com> wrote in message
news:vWQIc.7297$kK....@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>
> I thought that it would be Lew Grade's company putting up the funding.
>
> But perhaps there was a more complex financing structure.
Wouldnt have thought it was any more complex than "Everyman Films" being
contracted by Lew Grade to produce n-episodes. Being the businessman he was
I wouldnt have thought he would allow any flexibility in the payment
otherwise surely Rover MK I would have been reworked before going for the
cheap option.
I remember the story about Orson Wells' contract for "Citizen Kane"
specifically stating that he was to deliver a "black and white motion
picture" which is only one roll was ever colourised.
> It does seem odd, doesn't it, that he (Patrick McGoohan) would spread
> himself so thin, especially with the further stories about him working
> 'round the clock as it was on The Prisoner.
>
Not really - Everyman Films was a startup company and Patricks baby ("no not
that old dinosaur" (c) Liverpool Group) and was formed to film "The
Prisoner". He would have to prove himself with "The Prisoner" if Everyman
was going to go anywhere hence the write/produce/direct stance (IMHO).
Frankymole
> "Hammer" is a comic episode and Cargill expertly manages to convey
> "comic intensity". His performance easily overshadows McGoohan's,
and
> that helps make that episode one of the best.
"Hammer" a comic episode??? It starts with a suicide of a wife
distressed by blackmail phots of her hubby, features a truly vicious
fight ending in defenestration (plus swordsticks almsot being stuck in
eyes) and ends with a full-blown mental breakdown.... oh hilarity!
David Mackenzie
the group.com> wrote:
>David Mackenzie wrote:
>> "Hammer" is a comic episode and Cargill expertly manages to convey
>> "comic intensity". His performance easily overshadows McGoohan's,
>and
>> that helps make that episode one of the best.
>
>"Hammer" a comic episode??? It starts with a suicide of a wife
>distressed by blackmail phots of her hubby, features a truly vicious
>fight ending in defenestration (plus swordsticks almsot being stuck in
>eyes) and ends with a full-blown mental breakdown.... oh hilarity!
It has more comedy moments that any other episode (except, perhaps,
"Girl"):
- The Supervisor's sacking.
- The Butler's sacking.
- The laser beam in the flagpole.
- "Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake"
- "And a what?" / "A cuckoo clock, Sir"
- "But that's what he said. He came up to me" / "And asked if you'd
SLEPT WELL?"
- Victor Maddern's interrogation.
- Cargill's trip over the step in the computer room.
- The flying brylcreem.
- "DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!"
- The Supervisor reading the personal messages!?!??
- And a Kosho match, to boot!
I find it hilarious. But it only works due to Cargill's "comic
insanity" performance.
Frankymole
I think those are there as *balances* to the very dark stuff (Hilary
Dwyer's character's suicide after seeing the photos of her husband and
Maryka, for instance) which is darker than any other epsiode too.
Hammer certainly has a wider range than any other episode, but let's
see both ends of it! (as the Duchess said to the sailor...)
Pet
> "Pet" <p...@petserrano.com> wrote in message
> news:409ccde5.04071...@posting.google.com...
> > Drake doesn't carry a gun, though.
> >
> > In a magazine from Chile they said flat out Number 6 was David
> Jones.
>
>
> It must be true then! (not!)
>
They also said McGoohan is accustomed to transatlantic travel because
he moved to Ireland whe he was ten. ;-)
Besides, going on personality alone, it would be fun to watch David
Jones berate someone at a bar, but I'd rather be sitting in a booth
with the more sociable Drake and a few friends while he's doing it.
I wonder what Number 6 would be doing while all that is going on?
Pet
Steve Dix
>Besides, going on personality alone, it would be fun to watch David
>Jones berate someone at a bar,
You could see that every week when I was a member of the Birmingham
Group.
;->
Frankymole
"Pet" <p...@petserrano.com> wrote in message
news:409ccde5.04071...@posting.google.com...
> "Frankymole" <Frank@Ask for it on the group.com> wrote in message
news:<cd1sgs$a7a$1...@news7.svr.pol.co.uk>...
> > "Pet" <p...@petserrano.com> wrote in message
> > news:409ccde5.04071...@posting.google.com...
> > > Drake doesn't carry a gun, though.
> > >
> > > In a magazine from Chile they said flat out Number 6 was David
> > Jones.
> >
> >
> > It must be true then! (not!)
> >
>
> They also said McGoohan is accustomed to transatlantic travel
because
> he moved to Ireland whe he was ten. ;-)
>
> Besides, going on personality alone, it would be fun to watch David
> Jones berate someone at a bar, but I'd rather be sitting in a booth
> with the more sociable Drake and a few friends while he's doing it.
>
> I wonder what Number 6 would be doing while all that is going on?
He'd be imprisoned 1700 miles away in an isolated community without
alcohol, I suspect.
Pet
> >
> > They also said McGoohan is accustomed to transatlantic travel
> because
> > he moved to Ireland whe he was ten. ;-)
> >
> > Besides, going on personality alone, it would be fun to watch David
> > Jones berate someone at a bar, but I'd rather be sitting in a booth
> > with the more sociable Drake and a few friends while he's doing it.
> >
> > I wonder what Number 6 would be doing while all that is going on?
>
> He'd be imprisoned 1700 miles away in an isolated community without
> alcohol, I suspect.
>
> --
> Frankymole
> ~~~~~~~~
> The alt.tv.prisoner FAQ can be found at:
> http://www.web-sighted.co.uk/franks/faq.html
>
> Information about Six of One, the disgraced Prisoner Appreciation
> Society, can be found at:
> http://www.sixofone-info.co.uk/
Muttering "Looks the same... tastes the same..."