Now here's an odd little show, sort of like a very cheap 'The Avengers' scripted by Pinter (yes, I know 'like X scripted by Pinter' is something of a critical cliche, but in this case it happens to be true). It was so odd, in fact, that it only lasted for four episodes.
Cleverly written and inventively shot, the premise of the show is the interaction between the forces of good, evil and the undecided, embodied by secret service mandarin Kronk, Persian supervillainess Syrie Van Epp and slightly seedy, occasionally heroic private eye Scrotty.
Playing on the cliches of espionage and the conventions of drama, the show is rather slow, but full of kink and quirk and interest and has just been released on DVD after many years of undeserved obscurity. Here are the opening credits and a short clip from the first episode to further bait the hook.
Like you say, the shots are all very well framed - was it originally in colour?
ReplyDeleteI don't think so, it was made in 1966 and colour wasn't launched in the UK until '67. ITV didn't start showing shows in full colour until '69, although 'international' shows like The Avengers and the ITC stuff were made in it from the mid sixties. The top shot is a publicity photo.
ReplyDeleteNice.
ReplyDelete