Selected Spy Vibe Posts: 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 Interview, Fergus Fleming Interview, Avengers: Alan Hayes Interview, Jaz Wiseman Interview, Diana Rigg BFI Interview, Casino Royale Interview: Mike Richardson, Lost Diana Rigg Interview, Honor Blackman at 90, UNCLE School, Ian Fleming Memorial, Portmeirion Photos, Doctor Who Exhibit, Farewell Steed, Pussy Galore Returns, Diana Rigg birthday, Sherlock at 221B, Invisible Agent, Saint Interview: Ian Dickerson, Saint Doppelgänger, Fleming's Typewriter, Rare Fleming, Fleming's Music, Ian Fleming's Japan, Jim Wilson Corgi Interview, Fantomas Design, John Buss interview, Saint Volvo, Mod Tales Interview, Agente Secreto Comics, Danger Man Comics 2, Danger Man Comics, John Drake Comics, Der Mann Von UNCLE, Golden Margaret Nolan, Man From UNCLE Rocksteady, Pussy Galore Calypso, Cynthia Lennon R.I.P., Edward Mann Fashion, Leonard Nimoy Tribute, Shatner at 84, Bob Morane series, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Tokyo Beat 1964, Feraud Mod Fashion, Green Hornet Manga, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
STYLE IN ACTION
Showing posts with label mr. phelps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mr. phelps. Show all posts
September 17, 2016
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 50TH
Mission Impossible made its television debut on this day in 1966! Produced for CBS during the height of the Spy Boom, the program featured an interesting shift away from the standard formula. Instead of following the exploits of a single hero, or two buddies, MI focused on a team of operatives. Each episode began with the controller (Briggs in season one, followed by Phelps), who would visit a dead-drop location to learn about his assignment from an anonymous (self-destructing) recording and packet of photographs. One memorable location was a photo booth, where the instructions were hidden in a locked grill near the floor (see images below from Photo Booth). The screen would then cut to the controller's modern apartment, filmed from a high angle, where he would flip through his roster of spies to find the right talent needed for the mission. Another convention of the series was its dynamic credit intro (see example below); A lighted match! A burning fuse! And then key scenes of the episode- all to the sound of Lalo Schifrin's iconic theme. Mission Impossible is one of my few favorite US television series from the 1960s. Actor Martin Landau (Space 1999) did a brilliant job portraying his various cover identities. The show also followed the conventions of suspense and heist films, in that the facts around each case were laid out in detail and the viewer would then be on the edge of their seat, waiting to see if the IM force could succeed. In a world oversaturated with explosions and gun battles, the series offered a refreshing approach: the team's aim was to sabotage the enemy, and to get in and out undetected. One of the great qualities of MI was also its tendency to focus on eye contact and silent communication between the characters. These guys didn't need heavy armament- or even much dialog. Their professionalism and cool reserve under pressure made them the most unique spy characters from the era. In my favorite episode from season one, The Carriers, George Takei (Star Trek) was brought in to go undercover in a village set up to train enemy spies to infiltrate the west. Mission Impossible ran from 1966-1973 and was brought back for two seasons by ABC in 1988. Tom Cruise began his action film adaptations in 1996, in which he focused mostly on the adventures of his character, Ethan Hunt. But there has been nothing like the original. Happy 50th! Below: Examples of season one credits and various images from the early days of Mission Impossible. Enjoy!
March 15, 2010
GOODNIGHT MR. PHELPS
GOODNIGHT MR. PHELPS
Mission Impossible made its debut in 1966 and established iconic spy conventions that have not only endured, but have forever been linked to the show's leading character, James Phelps. Mr. Phelps, played by actor Peter Graves (1926-2010), took over from Mr. Briggs in the second season in 1967 through the program's run until 1973. Every episode began like a ritual, as viewers accompanied Phelps into some isolated location to find a drop box with orders from above. Maybe an abandoned factory or an instant photo booth? Each week was a variation on the theme and set us up to learn the plot- and the impossible mission- of the episode. Mr. Phelps received his orders via tape recording (I seem to recall an LP record as well), which began with the memorable, "Good morning, Mr. Phelps." After the briefing, and the self-destructing message, Phelps was filmed in his loft-like pad scanning through a portfolio of Impossible Mission Force operatives. Even for Spy Vibers who have not seen many episodes of the original Mission Impossible, I imagine that these conventions ring with familiarity. It was great storytelling, great spy TV, and its success was also a product of the choice to bring Peter Graves in as team leader. Graves brought a sense of fatherly authority to the chemistry of the cast. And with his light hair and tall stature, he added a needed visual contrast that worked for the screen. He will always be remembered for these qualities and for leading us on so many fantastic spy adventures. Goodnight, Mr. Phelps.
Mission Impossible made its debut in 1966 and established iconic spy conventions that have not only endured, but have forever been linked to the show's leading character, James Phelps. Mr. Phelps, played by actor Peter Graves (1926-2010), took over from Mr. Briggs in the second season in 1967 through the program's run until 1973. Every episode began like a ritual, as viewers accompanied Phelps into some isolated location to find a drop box with orders from above. Maybe an abandoned factory or an instant photo booth? Each week was a variation on the theme and set us up to learn the plot- and the impossible mission- of the episode. Mr. Phelps received his orders via tape recording (I seem to recall an LP record as well), which began with the memorable, "Good morning, Mr. Phelps." After the briefing, and the self-destructing message, Phelps was filmed in his loft-like pad scanning through a portfolio of Impossible Mission Force operatives. Even for Spy Vibers who have not seen many episodes of the original Mission Impossible, I imagine that these conventions ring with familiarity. It was great storytelling, great spy TV, and its success was also a product of the choice to bring Peter Graves in as team leader. Graves brought a sense of fatherly authority to the chemistry of the cast. And with his light hair and tall stature, he added a needed visual contrast that worked for the screen. He will always be remembered for these qualities and for leading us on so many fantastic spy adventures. Goodnight, Mr. Phelps.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)