Troy Smith Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 I was looking for something to half gawp at when having dinner, and, because you can, sometimes watch things I liked as child.... Anyway, looking at Archive.org, in the Gerry Anderson section I ran across this All the other items I knew, even I'd not seen them, but this was totally new... So, I watch a bit. OK, it's a live actions thing... hang it got puppets...and Stanley Unwin??????? What???? I'm sure many of you will know this, but if not, it's really really odd. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_Service " The Secret Service is a 1969 British science fiction television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company, Century 21, for ITC Entertainment. It follows the exploits of Father Stanley Unwin, a puppet character voiced by (and modelled on) the comedian of the same name. Outwardly an eccentric Christian vicar, Unwin is secretly an agent of BISHOP, a division of British Intelligence countering criminal and terrorist threats. Assisted by fellow agent Matthew Harding, Unwin's missions involve frequent use of the Minimiser, a device capable of shrinking people and objects to facilitate covert operations. In hostile situations, the Father spouts a form of gibberish (based on the real Unwin's nonsense language, "Unwinese") to distract the enemy. The Secret Service was the last Anderson series to be made using a form of electronic marionette puppetry called "Supermarionation". This technique was combined with scale model effects sequences and – uniquely for an Anderson puppet series – extensive footage of live actors in long shot. The move towards non-puppet live action was influenced by Gerry Anderson, who wanted to increase the realism of Supermarionation. Filming began in August 1968 and ended with the completion of the thirteenth episode in January 1969 after Lew Grade, Century 21's owner and financial backer, responded negatively to a test screening and cancelled the rest of the production, believing that the inclusion of Unwinese had made it impossible to sell the series to the American market. The series was transmitted on three of the ITV network's regional franchises and has not been repeated since 1975. Critical response has been mixed, with verdicts ranging from the Andersons' "forgotten gem" to their "one flop". Commentators have questioned the wisdom of hiring Unwin, arguing that his gibberish had too little comic value to sustain viewer interest. However, the series has been praised for the writing of its supporting characters. The Secret Service was Gerry Anderson's final puppet series until Terrahawks in the 1980s." they are all here... https://archive.org/details/thesecretservice_gerryanderson_201910/01+-+A+Case+for+the+Bishop.mp4 I watched part of the first one... it's both familiar and really odd at the same time. Anyway, I hope this amuses a few of you, I'll @lasermonkey purely for the Stanley Unwin aspect, suspecting he maybe a Small Faces fan. cheers T 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamS Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 All I can say is that I want some of what Gerry was on when he thought it up. Still better than Terrahawkes though. Graham 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Monty Posted March 5, 2022 Share Posted March 5, 2022 No more bonkers than Joe 90. Only in the 60s could you have a tv show featuring a 9 year old secret agent who works for World Intelligence Network (AKA the CIA) and whose controller presents him with a badge, a radio and a gun. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamS Posted March 6, 2022 Share Posted March 6, 2022 9 hours ago, Uncle Monty said: No more bonkers than Joe 90. Only in the 60s could you have a tv show featuring a 9 year old secret agent who works for World Intelligence Network (AKA the CIA) and whose controller presents him with a badge, a radio and a gun. WHAT? You mean Joe 90 is not a documentary? I’m gutted. 😭😭😭 Graham ( who, being the same age and with a passing resemblance, dearly wanted to be Joe 90) 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted March 6, 2022 Share Posted March 6, 2022 You thought those two were odd? Try this one on for size. The Investigator.... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamS Posted March 6, 2022 Share Posted March 6, 2022 12 minutes ago, Pete in Lincs said: You thought those two were odd? Try this one on for size. The Investigator.... Now that was rubbish! Graham 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Monty Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 Aaah The Investigator... I read an interview with Gerry Anderson in which he said he would rather just forget about that... @GrahamS as Joe 90? I always self-identified as more of a Troy Tempest... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Lambess Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 There is an episode of secret service that ends with Father Unwin waking up from a nightmare and then inviting Matthew to go for a walk round Hampstead Heath with him ....! (Well it was the late 60s I guess) maybe it didn't have today's reputation back then ... Theres also a Bristol Britannia in one episode ... 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aku Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 Were any of you at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham at the weekend for "Stand By For Action! Gerry Anderson in Concert" show???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarkas Posted April 23, 2022 Share Posted April 23, 2022 On 4/22/2022 at 10:13 AM, Aku said: Were any of you at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham at the weekend for "Stand By For Action! Gerry Anderson in Concert" show???? Oh, yes... Great concert; the music varied from spot-on to a bit off due to a lack of some of the odd instruments Barry Gray used at times, but it was all done with love and enthusiasm. Great night out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinnerboy Posted April 23, 2022 Share Posted April 23, 2022 Oh follyoppololy joyous goodely episodlly oney translated:- I quite enjoyed episode 1,ta for the heads up 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aku Posted April 23, 2022 Share Posted April 23, 2022 I wish they had included this version though 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonD Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 This series never made it to TV when I was a lad, though I did have a couple of paperbacks so I knew the premise. Recently I managed to find a cheap DVD. The stories were quite enjoyable in a quirky sort of way, though it looked odd to see the puppets suddenly moving like normal humans (when the live-action kicked in). But oh dear God, the theme music? One of Barry Gray's rare failures. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kallisti Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 It was definitely strange and a very bad idea, as much as I loved Stanley Unwin's verbal gymnastication verbioles, the mix of live action and puppets stretched your suspension of disbelief beyond breaking point at that is where you loose the audience. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now