WILD WILD WEST MOVIES

New release: The Wild Wild West TV movies have just been released on DVD as a double feature by Paramount. Produced ten years after the original series ended The Wild Wild West Revisited (1979) and More Wild Wild West (1980) were in that short list of nostalgia projects to capture some of the 1960s spy magic- or at least to appeal to fans by bringing back actors to reprise their popular characters. The common premise dealt with spies coming out of retirement to foil arch enemies from their past. It doesn't sound like much, and they weren't, but it sure was great to see those familiar faces again. The Wild Wild West movies did not appear on the series box set, so this standalone DVD release might be just what the doctor ordered. Although Robert Conrad and Ross Martin were on hand, sadly Michael Dunn passed away in 1973, leaving Paul Williams to be cast as "Dr. Loveless, Jr" in the first title. It's likely Richard (Jaws) Kiel was busy making the James Bond film Moonraker with Roger Moore and couldn't return as "Voltaire". Other titles riding this wave at the time were (not including later re-makes of 1960s theatrical releases) Return of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (1983), Get Smart The Nude Bomb (1980), Get Smart, Again! (1989), and I Spy Returns (1994). Made in the late Cold War with different sensibilities and style, none of the projects really matched the originals. But these TV movies could be a fun ride down memory lane, and in some cases, true fans did their best to add authenticity (nod to Robert Short and U.N.C.L.E.). More info at Amazon. The bigger news for WWW fans is the new release of a 4 CD set featuring music from the series! Curated by Jon Burlingame, it's definitely something to check out. More info at Screen Archives Entertainment. In other news, my episodes of the Cocktail Nation radio show from Australia are now live: Episode #1(Danger Man) and Episode #2 (The 10th Victim), Epsiode #3 (On Her Majesty's Secret Service) Episode #4 (Roger Moore/The Saint), Episode #5 (The Avengers). Enjoy!

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Spy Vibe Radio 4, 1960s Pop Models, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Fahrenheit 451 50th, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview:Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review, David McCallum novel, Andre Courreges R.I.P., Who's Talking on Spy Vibe, UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art.