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.
CBS is currently transferring a number of classic TV shows to Hi-def. Among the titles is the spy classic, The Wild Wild West (1965-1969)! The series is a favorite among Spy Vibers for its ambitious set designs, thrilling action, and use of 007-style gadgetry. Fans also celebrate the excellent cast and guest stars, which often included Michael Dunn and Richard (Jaws) Kiel. Tv Shows on DVD has clarified the press-release going around the web to state that CBS is likely planning Hi-def transfers for streaming content. Spy Vibe is hoping we see a Blu-ray release in the future. More news as it arrives. Vintage Gold Key comic back-cover image below.
Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: SE Asian 007, Cumberbatch as Ian Fleming, Fleming Jamaica Book, Bond Japanese Editions, Fleming Chinese Edition, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50th, Ian Fleming: Mt. Demon Hell Japan, Collecting Fleming, Live and Let Die 60th, new poster announced, 007 Audio Books Update, Appropriating Bond Exhibit, Fleming Letters Mystery, The Goldfinger Variations, Double 007 Book Designs, Double 007 designs II, rare Ian Fleming edition, Book Design Dopplegangers, Turkish Bond design, Ian Fleming Letters, Erno Goldfinger, Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, Jon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, Spy Vibe's Ian Fleming image archive.
Recent Spy Vibe posts: Cold War Archie, New Avengers Comic, Ipcress File Blu-ray, Honor Blackman Tour, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, UNCLE Gun, The Saint books return, Spy exhibit at the Pacific Science Center, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton, DC Fontana Prisoner Video, Edward Gorey's 1960s, Ipcress File cinematography, 007 SOLO cover designs, Gloria Steinem and Denny O'Neil on MOD Wonder Woman, Win Scott Eckert interview, Siegel and Shuster's SPY, David McCallum: Son of Batman, Wonderwall comes to Blu-ray, Kevin Dart talks Ringo & Powerpuff Girls, Fu Manchu history panel, Mod Tales Interview, Atomic Art, Shane Glines Batman.
Deal Alert: The Wild Wild West: The Complete Series. Board the train with James West and Artemus Gordon in this fan-favorite spy series from the 1960s. Blending 007-style gadgets and action with western conventions, The Wild Wild West fired my imagination with ambitious, sometimes surreal, stories, cool soundtrack music, high production values, and a reoccurring cast that included the great Michael Dunn (Dr. Loveless) and Richard "Jaws" Kiel. The series box set contains a host of special feature documentaries and two reunion movies. Amazon is currently listing the set as a Cyber Monday deal for only $29.99 (down from $99.99). Details here. Thanks to my sister site Double O Section for putting this on our radar.
Recent Spy Vibe posts: The Goldfinger Variations, Mod Tales Interview, Kraftwerk returns to US, Beatles BBC on Fresh Air, Steranko S.H.I.E.L.D. Artist Editions, David Tennant's Ian Fleming audio books, Atomic Art, Modern Architecture LP, Julius Shulman, The Prisoner and Captain Scarlet, HMV returns to Oxford st w Beatles promo, Diego Fortunato and Verner Panton, Saturday Morning Cartoons, Assassination Bureau on DVD, new Young Bond series, new Beatles BBC album, new Hercule Poirot novel, Early Beatles image archive, Julie Newmar, Erno Goldfinger, Hitchcock tribute.
Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: Erno Goldfinger, Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, Jon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, Spy Vibe's Ian Fleming image archive.
