JOHN BARRY: 1933-2011

Film composer, John Barry, passed away yesterday at the age of 77. Spy Vibers around the world mourn his loss and celebrate his extraordinary contributions to the arts. Barry is best remembered for establishing the sound of the James Bond movies. Barry scored the first seven films in the series and 12 overall. He also composed the scores to many notable films, including Enigma, Chaplin, Dances With Wolves, Out of Africa, Hammett, Petulia, The Quiller Memorandum, The Wrong Box, Born Free, Knack... and How to Get it, The Ipcress File, Seance on a Sunday Afternoon, and Zulu. Director Federico Fellini is said to have confessed that Barry's music for Goldfinger (1964) was his favorite soundtrack. John Bary was married four times, including a marriage to Jane Birkin 1965-1968, seen below at the height of Bondmania in 1965. Barry is survived by four children, five grandchildren, and his wife, Laurie Barry.


My favorite John Barry score is On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969). Not only did it include the heart-felt "We Have All the Time in the World" with vocals sung by Louis Armstrong, the theme itself is a kind of cinematic masterpiece that captures the vulnerability and persistence-under-fire that surrounds the Bond character in the film. What is your favorite James Bond music?

Additional information at Film Score Monthly here, and The Gaurdian here. Tribute at Double O Section here.

THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR BLU-RAY

In addition to the original Manchurian Candidate, Best Buy has announced that they will also release The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) on Blu-ray on February 1st. This classic heist film stars Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway and boasts stylish art direction by Robert Boyle (North By Northwest). Soundtrack by Michael Legrand (Never Say Never Again, Ice Station Zebra, Who Are You Polly Maggoo?, Code Name Jaguar, Agent 38-24-36, Band of Outsiders). More on Thomas Crown in the future. Stop in to Best Buy and check out their complete line of exclusive releases.

ORSON WELLES: THE STRANGER ON BLU-RAY

In the months following the end of WWII, Orson Welles was hired to direct a film called The Stranger (1946). The story focuses on a War Crimes Commission investigator, Mr. Wilson (Edward G. Robinson), who is a Nazi hunter on the trail of Franz Kindler, mastermind of the Holocaust. Clues lead him to a small university town in the United States, where the last man who can identify Kindler turns up murdered! As the investigation continues, the shadow of suspicion begins to fall on professor Charles Rankin (Orson Welles).


The Stranger may not be remembered as one of Welles' top-shelf projects, but it's always been one of my favorites. It's also interesting as a reflection of its era. The film includes concentration camp footage, the first ever to be seen in a feature picture, and the story itself reveals a world trying to unravel and respond to the horrors of the war. Although many of Welles' sequences were cut by the studio, something that plagued his career as a creator, the final cut of the film remains a classic thriller. Readers might be interested to know that Welles, on principle, never liked to see real misery exploited for entertainment. But in this case, he felt that using the film to spread the truth about the Holocaust was an important opportunity not to be shied away from. The Stranger will be released in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack on February 15th by Film Chest and Virgil Films & Entertainment (formerly Arts Alliance America). The print is said to be digitally restored from 35mm film assets, and fans are hoping that the movie will finally find the restoration it deserves after years on the public domain market. The Blu-ray is available for pre-order at $11.99 on Amazon here.


Orson Welles truly earned his reputation as a narrative genius. Spy Vibers would especially enjoy his work as an actor (and story contributor) in Carol Reed's The Third Man and his appearance in Casino Royale (1967). His must-see thrillers include The Lady From Shanghai, Touch of Evil, and Mr. Arkadin. Other classics include The Trial, Citizen Kane, The Magnificent Ambersons, and F is For Fake. There is much to explore in Orson Welles, including his prolific adaptations of Shakespeare. For more on Welles, see the inspiring and illuminating This is Orson Welles by Peter Bogdanovich.

THE 10TH VICTIM STILL

Your humble Spy Vibe host missed out on a very rare photo still from his fave film, The 10th Victim (1965), last night on eBay. Verdammt. I've collected materials from the film over many years and it's very rare to see an item surface that hasn't been circulating. That part of the story is quite nice, especially in this age of image proliferation on the Internet. Wish me luck that it'll turn up again, or that perhaps the buyer who outbid me will contribute the image to a book I'm writing.

JAMES BOND VOLCANO ERUPTS

The volcano in Japan that served as the location of Blofeld's secret lair in You Only Live Twice has erupted. Was a bald man wearing a Nehru jacket seen fleeing the scene? See details here.

LONDON UNDERGROUND

The Criterion Collection released Eclipse Series 25:: Basil Dearden's London Underground this week, which includes some films that will appeal to Spy Vibers. The League of Gentlemen (1960) is a classic heist film in the spirit of Rififi and sports an all-star cast (and cool imagery-see below). Another film in the set is the rare All Night Long (1962), which stars Patrick McGoohan (Danger Man/Secret Agent, The Prisoner) as a Jazz drummer. Check out his chops below! The film also includes "jazz legends Dave Brubeck, Charles Mingus, Johnny Dankworth, and Tubby Hayes, whose many performances provide some stunning aural and visual interludes (Brubeck fans will swoon over close-ups of the pianist’s fingers tickling the ivories)." More info on the Criterion website here.

DESIGN SALE FOR PADS & LAIRS

The sale at Design Within Reach is slowly winding down. If you haven't yet, check out the many pieces that would put the "gerrr" in swinger for any pad or secret lair project. A dash of Our Man Flint or Matt Helm? Maybe a stylish recliner or a Saarinen? Info here.

SECRET AGENT: YESTERDAY'S ENEMIES

One of my favorite episodes of Secret Agent/Danger Man with Patrick McGoohan. Like many, the story plays out like a solid film. Secrets are being passed through a government man who thinks he's being controlled by a British network. Drake goes to investigate and discovers much more than he bargained for. Yesterday's Enemies is filled with cold war intrigue and the level of dastardly doings that one can imagine drove Drake to retirement. Did McGoohan retire just the show, or did Drake become The Prisoner? Check out this episode if you're looking for a good place to jump into the world of John Drake. Here is a sample clip.

DEAL ALERT: SECRET AGENT

From the clues posted by Amazon this morning, it appears that the Secret Agent/Danger Man DVD set will be their lightning sale today starting at 6pm (pacific). Lightning sales only last an hour, or until all supplies are claimed, so move quickly if you want to add this must-see series to your library at a discounted price. For more information about the history of the series, see the DVD megaset review on our fellow C.O.B.R.A.S. site, Double O Section here.

MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE BLU-RAY

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) is one of the most powerful cold war films ever produced. Although many movies and spy-style shows of the period reflected a then-current fear and fascination with brainwashing, none could hold a candle to this classic. The character development and meaty performances by Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey brought a palatable weight that continues to hold up for modern viewers. Although real brainwashing is said to be quite different, this tragic movie plays on the familiar device of the evil manipulation of an individual to become a weapon against their own circle under the power of hypnotic suggestion. I recommend the film highly, though Spy Vibers should be prepared for its dark message. It would sit rather well with the John le Carre films if anyone is interested in having a chilly cold war marathon. The film will be released on Blu-ray through a Best Buy exclusive deal on May 3rd. Blu-ray news link here.

MAN IN A SUITCASE CLIP

Coming to region #1 DVD this Tuesday, here is a clip from Man in a Suitcase. The fab soundtrack is available from Network here.

MAN IN A SUITCASE

Upcoming spy DVD: Man in a Suitcase will be released on the 25th in a region #1 set from Acorn Media. From Amazon:


Bearing one of the miniskirt era's groovier theme songs, Britain's Man in a Suitcase presents a scenario similar to ITC's Danger Man (Secret Agent Man in the United Sates). After American intelligence gives him the boot for facilitating a high-profile defection, "Mac" McGill (Richard Bradford, The Untouchables) remains in London as a freelance detective. In the Charles Crichton-directed opener, "Brainwash," a band of political exiles pressures him to lie in order to get back what they've lost. When McGill refuses to play along, they torture him using the sort of mind-control methods featured in The Manchurian Candidate. (Best known for The Lavender Hill Mob, Crichton also directed "Day of Execution.")

A silver-haired chain smoker, McGill escapes by virtue of his fists and his smarts. Though he carries a gun, he prefers to use a well-placed karate chop. While Bradford's Method mumble adds to McGill's veneer of insouciant cool, his beach attire--tube socks!--is another matter. During the first season, the PI keeps an eye on an informer (George Sewell) in "The Sitting Pigeon," searches for the boss (John Barrie) who can clear his name in "Man from the Dead," and looks out for an old college buddy (a lanky young Donald Sutherland) in "Day of Execution." If he has time for a few girlfriends, a long-term commitment is out of the question.

Created by Richard Harris and Dennis Spooner (The Avengers), Man in a Suitcase ran for one 30-episode season. Other notable participants include actor Peter Vaughn and Room at the Top cinematographer Freddie Francis. McGill may be less sympathetic than Patrick McGoohan's John Drake, but the combination of visceral action and subtle humor makes for an enjoyable addition to the small-screen spy genre. This boxed set includes the first 15 episodes in the series plus four photo galleries, one for each disc. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

TRANSITION WITH MARISA

Marisa Mell invites Spy Vibers to transition now to the weekend. Red-hot pantsuit or space gear is optional, but encouraged.

GOLDEN GIRL

Happy Friday to all Spy Vibers! A classic image for you today of Shirley Eaton painted in gold paint (Goldfinger). The image was featured on the cover of Life magazine in November 1964. If you've ever wanted a signed photo of Shirley, or other Bond folk, check out the official website Bond Stars. See Life's best Bond girls here.

JAMES BOND W JONATHAN ROSS

Jonathan Ross chats with James Bond insiders about the 007 films in this documentary. Guests include Desmond Llewelyn, Hugh Hefner, Paul McCartney, and all of the Bond actors.

THE MONKEES: SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COOL

One of best episodes of The Monkees, The Spy Who Came in From the Cool (1966), is a surreal send-up of spy boom conventions. The band is recruited to bait some foreign agents with microfilm and capture their confession of espionage on tape. In typical mid-60s fashion, the plot quickly explodes into a madcap, disco dance scene- complete with karate-chop dance moves. Didn't we see that on Get Smart a while back here on Spy Vibe? In fact, The Monkees do parody Maxwell Smart in the episode. I enjoy this particular clip for the obligatory gadget-training sequence. If you view The Monkees (1966-68) with the right context, thinking about youth culture, improvisation, surreal humor, pop culture, and catchy tunes written by some of the best songwriters of the era, it's really quite a fun show to re-visit.


Perhaps even more interesting is their feature film, Head (1968), which was recently released on Blu-ray and DVD by the Criterion Collection. Reflective of the later 1960s, the band, the film's producers, and Jack Nicholson, pushed toward satire of fame and entertainment and, now free from TV constraints, anti-war commentary. The serious tones of the film, which started with a leap from a bridge into a watery abyss, shocked the teenybopper viewers expecting to see more of the mainstream hi-jinx from the TV show. The film was essentially the band's grand finale as screen idols. The times were changing and there was no going back to playing lovable moptops for the masses. I think that happened to another band around the same time! The guys all went on to other projects, including a few reunions. It's not Spy Vibe in style, but I do recommend Davey Jones' recent recording of the song Your Personal Penguin by illustrator, Sandra Boynton. It's wonderful! The Monkees were originally launched by Don Kirschner. Kirscnher passed away on January 17th at the age of 76. For a very in-depth interview with the band members and producers of Head, see issue #19 of the fabulous Shindig! magazine.

MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. PROMO & CLYDE ALLISON

Spy Vibe and Bish's Beat had a covert C.O.B.R.A.S. meeting the other day in San Francisco. It was a spy-filled fun afternoon looking at collections of pulp novels and paperback books. I picked up an early paperback edition of Ian Fleming's Moonraker (one of my fave Bond books). We also compared notes and discovered that the first spy show to fire our imagination was The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Bish even had the soundtrack as the ring-tone on his phone!


I was pretty young during the broadcast of the final seasons of U.N.C.L.E., but do remember being completely fascinated by, of course, the style of the title sequence: the music, the logo image of the globe/map with spy-guy. Inspiring graphics and score! That combination of elements symbolized the show for me for years while I collected U.N.C.L.E. records, books, comics, and cards. I may have fallen in love with the stories and panache of The Avengers and James Bond as a kid, but the U.N.C.L.E. guys were actually the first secret agents I ever saw. In honor of our C.O.B.R.A.S. summit, here is an original promo for The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

And speaking of paperback treasures, Bish posted today about the sexy exploits of agent 0008 and the e-book editions of two Clyde Allison novels. Allison's books are famous among collectors for their lurid cover art (and contents). I admit that I recently tracked down Gamefinger on Kindle and found it to be a pretty fun ride (I did go in with low expectations). Bish discovered that The Desdamona Affair is also available on Kindle. Each novel is listed at $1.00. Check them out if you are in the mood for a men's adventure magazine-style spy romp. Bish's Beat link here.

HONEY WEST BOOK

Spy Vibe recently posted a feature about Honey West and the passing of Anne Francis. For those interested in learning more about the TV show, check out the behind-the-scenes Honey West book by John Fredriksen- available in both print and kindle editions. Amazon link here.

FUTURAMA II

As Gerry and Sylvia Anderson were working with designers like Mike Trim to create the futuristic worlds of Fireball XL5 (1962-1963) and Stingray (1964-1965), designers at major corporations like GM were also trying to envision a world born of the space age. Part of the 1964/65 World's Fair exhibit included Futurama II, which featured these Gerry Anderson-like, FAB architectural models. Shades of Barbarella, Logan's Run, Danger Diabolik, and CQ. That undersea hotel looks like a vacation getaway for James Bond villains. Maybe a baddie convention? I should write that. Thanks to the blog Jhalal Drut for putting these images on my radar.

DOO WOP BOOK

I found a great book in the clearance section of Barnes & Noble today that I think Spy Vibers will enjoy. Doo Wop: The Music, The Times, The Era is a beautifully illustrated coffee table book by radio legend, "Cousin Brucie" Morrow. Published by Sterling, the experience is much like a Chronicle book, with a great focus on color, vintage images, and informative information digested for readers looking to explore bits of 1950s-1960s pop culture. A quick glance shows sections on many music trends and bands, fashion, film, comics, TV, etc. It's a very cool and entertaining book! Try to grab a copy while they are on sale.