Villain
Director
Nine Elms, 1970, looking for the loot...
Posts: 1,280
Online Status:
|
Post by Villain on Jun 17, 2015 11:27:48 GMT
|
|
The Saint
Moderator
Swinging London - 1967
Posts: 5,408
Online Status:
|
Post by The Saint on Jun 17, 2015 14:03:43 GMT
Fantastic thread Villain, thanks for posting that material, very interesting stuff The article refers to a possible four year deal, but how many series were actually made? The Saint
|
|
|
Post by Gene Hunt on Jun 17, 2015 16:05:24 GMT
Great post Villain. Lovely photos. Thanks for posting these and I certainly look forward to the next instalment
Gene.
|
|
Villain
Director
Nine Elms, 1970, looking for the loot...
Posts: 1,280
Online Status:
|
Post by Villain on Jun 17, 2015 18:09:50 GMT
Thanks for the comments gents... when the first series had come to the end of its run Lew Grade gave the go ahead for a second batch of episodes to be commissioned, but almost at that very moment Roger Moore got the call from Cubby Brocoli to became the next James Bond, so sadly that was it for 'The Persuaders'. Up until that point the idea was floating around that the second series would be set in the USA to cash in on the first run's success but alas it didn't happen. Even so, what we're left with is a classic early '70s TV show which largely still stands up as a piece of quality television, made on a vast budget (the most expensive at the time) with glamourous locations, high production values (35mm film instead of 16mm) and top casting all round. Incedentally, alongside 'The Persuaders' series 'Jason King' was also being shot but on a much lower overall budget, as most of ITC's funds went into making 'The Persuaders' a real success. 'JK' was shot on 16mm and although some of it was shot in glamourous European locations the bulk of it was shot in England using back projection and 'stock footage' to pad the episodes out. The European footage was shot in a quick two week session where Peter Wingarde was followed round by a skeleton crew arriving at hotels, getting off trams, looking at the scenery, camping it up for all he was worth and generally looking very bored. Some of these short establishing shots were used in more than one episode, such was the tight budget at the time! Both series were in post production at the same time and were braodcast alongside each other in the Autumn / Winter of 1971 / 72. It was a great period for British TV it has to be said... happy days!
|
|
Vienna
Verified
Curled up on Miss Jones' lap
Posts: 3,167
Online Status:
|
Post by Vienna on Jun 17, 2015 18:11:02 GMT
Great thread and fantastic photos there, Villain, from a very popular and successful series Thanks for posting them Vienna
|
|
Villain
Director
Nine Elms, 1970, looking for the loot...
Posts: 1,280
Online Status:
|
Post by Villain on Jun 17, 2015 18:22:24 GMT
A couple of quick ones before I knock off for the night (3am start tomorrow!)... Rodge and Tone about to start filming part of the care chase in 'Overture', Autumn 1970... nice and sunny here, probably raining cats and dogs back in dear old Blighty...
|
|
|
Post by Ronnie Kray on Jun 20, 2015 18:11:28 GMT
Brilliant! another great bit of work Villian.Roger Moore is coming to Cambridge in October and I've got my ticket.Should be a interesting night.
|
|
|
Post by Tyne Tees Colour on Jun 22, 2015 8:24:17 GMT
Great pictures & memorabilia, Villain
I understand that 'The Persuaders' was intended to run for several seasons - IIRC I once read that there was to be 120 episodes up to 1976. Tony Curtis moved to the UK on the strength of this.
But by the time that the show began to air in 1971-72, Roger Moore must have been in negotiation for the Bond films, as 'Live & Let Die' was being filmed from June 1972.
|
|
Stan
Cameraman
Posts: 432
Online Status:
|
Post by Stan on Jun 25, 2015 19:44:26 GMT
Villain - thanks for starting such an excellent thread.
Love the memorabilia on this superb series - please feel free to keep adding!
Cheers,
Stan
|
|
|
Post by Tyne Tees Colour on Jul 1, 2015 9:37:11 GMT
Tony Curtis didn't fare too well when the series was suddenly discontinued. It evidently contributed to his alcoholism at that time. He had moved to the UK on the premise of the series being long-running. As such he abandoned opportunities to work in USA films or TV. He did get back on track later in the decade. I think that 'The Persuaders' would have continued as a success throughout a five-season run. It could have proved beyond doubt what many ITC fans think, that it was actually better than 'The Saint'. I compare these shows to the England football team of the era. 'The Saint' period squad of 1966, all polite with neat suits & hairstyles, was the one that won the World Cup. 'The Persuaders' period 1970 squad, which was largely the same players, with a few notable additions, let their hair down and wore fashions. They were slightly better, but didn't bring home the trophy.
|
|