Stand by for action! Fans of Gerry Anderson's classic sci-fi adventure shows will soon get to spend their holidays in Slough at a Thunderbirds-thened hotel! Aficionados will remember the area was stepped in Anderson projects as they had studios there. From the press release: "A new Thunderbirds themed hotel is coming to Slough. The new Moxy Hotel is set to open on the former library site in 2021. The 152-bedroom hotel will feature ‘subtle Thunderbirds themed graphics’ in a nod to the 1960s science fiction series which was filmed on Slough Trading Estate. Anderson Entertainment were originally approached by the hotel’s management team in 2018, and were able to help bring a deal together between Moxy and ITV Studios. The floor level signage will be numbered according to the Thunderbirds vehicles and there will be Lady Penelope pop-art on the walls. More info here.
Recent release: One of the books that crossed my radar early in the school year was this interesting look at the style around the Concord. Supersonic: The Design and Lifestyle of Concorde by Lawrence Azzerad was released in September by Prestel. From the release: "When the first commercial Concordes zoomed off the runways in Paris and London in the late 1960s, crossing the Atlantic in just under three hours, they established a new standard for luxury flight. Powered by 38,000 pounds of thrust and easily recognizable with its delta wing and drooping nose, the Concorde jet embodied the pinnacle of aviation technology and industrial design. It quickly became the preferred mode of transatlantic flight for superstars and business moguls alike. Opening with a lively history of the jet and how it changed travel, the book focuses on the look and feel of the Concorde. Photos of the jet's evolving interiors show how the original, starkly designed cabin gave way to luxury seats and interiors designed by the likes of Sir Terence Conran and Andrée Putman. Filled with fascinating historical and technical background, and drawn from the author's personal collection of more than one thousand Concorde-related objects, this elegant book offers rarely seen historical photography and firsthand contributions from the people who helped create the Concorde experience from take-off to landing and beyond." More info here.
New release: Pre-orders have been listed for a new CD edition of the soundtrack to Un Detective. Limited to only 300 units, so act fast if you hope to add this to your library. From Screen Archives Entertainment: "Quartet Records and GDM present a new CD release of Fred Bongusto’s coolest detective classic! Helmed by Romolo Guerrieri, Un Detective (aka Detective Belli, aka Tracce di rosetto e di droga per un detective, aka Macchie di belletto) is based on Ludovico Dentice’s novel Make-Up Stains. The film stars Franco Nero as Detective Belli, a brutish, cynical cop who has the looks and the wardrobe of a Raymond Chandler character, but a total disregard for doing the right thing. The cast is rounded out by Adolfo Celi and Florinda Bolkan. Fred Bongusto’s score is built around the song “The World of the Blues,” performed by Shirley Harmer. Most of the tracks offer expertly edited collections of shorter cues based on this musical idea, but there’s also a love theme for Belli’s complicated relationship with his employee’s wife and an underutilized investigation motive for organ and piano. The score was orchestrated and conducted by Robby Poitevin. The CD by Quartet Records offers the same musical content as the old and rare Japanese CD released by Avanz in the mid-nineties, but the track order has been reorganized for a smoother listening experience. Remastered by Claudio Fuiano, the CD includes an 8-page booklet featuring liner notes by Gergely Hubai discussing the film, the composer and the score. This CD is a limited edition of 300 units." More info here.
