I saw the original 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' broadcasts here in the UK. I even remember the shortlived 'The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.' with Stefanie Powers I have also watched and enjoyed some NCIS seasons, though not recently. I'm 'only' 64

I was sad to hear that David McCallum had passed away. I do remember him most as Illya Kuryakin. So much better than the version that appeared in the recent attempt at a film reboot.

On the non-Sport Trading Cards front, I still have some of the U.N.C.L.E. cards and promos that escaped from Strictly Ink back in 2009 or thereabouts.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kevin F,

David McCallum was also in two decent war movies. Mosquito Squadron; a rather ridiculous plot, but so nice to see flying Mosquito aircraft, none are left in airworthy condition in the UK now.
Oh, and he was in that little old film: The Great Escape.

I hadn't seen much of NCIS, so never saw him that. I do remember him popping up in a mini series in about 1998/99 called Coming Home(based on the book by Rosamunde Pilcher), where he played a rather 'hands on' dirty old man(to put it politely) and the young version of the main character he tried to 'feel up' was a very young Keira Knightley, one of her first few roles.

Many, many years ago, I heard of a new DVD set for a British TV series called "Sapphire and Steel" that starred David McCallum and Joanna Lumley. Since I knew and liked both those actors, and it was supposed to be a good sci-fi story, I bought it.

Well, I think I saw about one and a half episodes, couldn't figure out what I was watching, and put it in the bookcase. It's still there. That's about the only thing that I can recall him headlining after playing Illya. I believe "Sapphire and Steel" was a bit like "Doctor Who" in its premise, but I don't really know. Should I dust it off and try it again?

Ooos, too late, not in the bookcase. I think it may have been a VHS set. I dumped a bunch of unused and unwanted tapes awhile back, as I no longer have the VHS player hooked up. So much for that.

quote:

Originally posted by Raven:
Many, many years ago, I heard of a new DVD set for a British TV series called "Sapphire and Steel" that starred David McCallum and Joanna Lumley. Since I knew and liked both those actors, and it was supposed to be a good sci-fi story, I bought it.

Well, I think I saw about one and a half episodes, couldn't figure out what I was watching, and put it in the bookcase. It's still there. That's about the only thing that I can recall him headlining after playing Illya. I believe "Sapphire and Steel" was a bit like "Doctor Who" in its premise, but I don't really know. Should I dust it off and try it again?

'Sapphire and Steel' was a bit of an oddment. It was sort of sci-fi but not even remotely similar to 'Doctor Who'. I did see all of the episodes when they were originally transmitted here in the UK but never rewatched any of them and never considered picking up the DVD or VHS sets that came out. I don't think you have missed out by not seeing them. However, all 34 episodes are available to stream on ITVX so maybe if I get really, really bored I will give them a rewatch to see if they really were as bad as I remember

https://www.itv.com/watch/sapphire-and-steel/ENT1423

Sapphire and Steel is fantastic, i would urge anyone to watch it who likes out of the ordinary quirky stuff with tons of imagination in the storytelling.

If you want to see David in a real open mouthed role check out Dirty Weekend directed by Michael Winner.

It has just been reported that Michael Gambon has died aged 82, He of course starred in sevearal Harry Potter films as Dumbledore and a Christmas episode of Dr Who.

John -- it is appropriate to post a card with a death announcement.

Little kid wizards it ain't, but boy, was he great in "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover". He played the Thief and gave a masterclass in boorish villainy. Nice that he got such a marquee role in later life with Harry Potter. Rest in peace.

He was also great in "Longitude", a miniseries about the development of accurate mechanical clocks and how they were needed for navigation. (You'd think that a show with that for a subject would be as exciting as watching paint dry, but it was very good.)

quote:

Originally posted by chesspieceface:
Little kid wizards it ain't, but boy, was he great in "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover". He played the Thief and gave a masterclass in boorish villainy. Nice that he got such a marquee role in later life with Harry Potter. Rest in peace.

The thing I remember most about "Cook, Thief, Wife, Lover" is Helen Mirren's wardrobe, or lack there of. In the same scene her costume would suddenly change colors, or a sleeve would switch to the other side. The director was really pushing the "this is not just an X-rated film, this is art" button.

I didn't realize that Gambon was the mobster, but there are quite a few good British actors in that cast who did well. I wonder how shocking it would be to today's audiences. Fairly tame by now I would guess, but everyone thinks Mirren's a Grand Dame Queen type, so maybe they should catch her in her "Caligula" period.

It was indeed rated "X" upon release, although it should've been "R". This was around the time the NC-17 rating was established for non-pornographic movies that still pushed the envelope in some way, as this one did it in several ways. It was purposely very visceral.

Being film buffs from way back, we had to travel a good distance to see it at an arthouse cinema in Hermosa Beach, California, so I can actually say I saw it at the movies, as was no doubt hoped for by the director so as to deliver the full impact.

The director, Peter Greenaway, essentially creates moving paintings, accompanied by sublime Michael Nyman musical scores. "The Cook..." was pretty spectacular in those terms, but his masterpiece is "Drowning By Numbers". I also highly recommend "Prospero's Books" and for those who can stomach it, "Baby of Macon".

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Mullins:
John -- it is appropriate to post a card with a death announcement.

Bill
Apologies, I know that we have two blogs for obituaries being one for cards and one for text. With all the text comments previous to mine I thought I was in the text blog. I also did not have a image to hand either.

I will now go and stand in the corner for 15 minutes and contemplate my error.

regards

John

John -- as a Silver Card Talk Member, your sentence is suspended. Go and sin no more.

In other dead people news, Senator Dianne Feinstein, whose main role for the last couple of years has been to keep the president from being the most senile person in government, has died at age 90.

Her first card:



More recent:

True, but there was a time when she was a respected representative of her State and had good ideas that others have now taken to the extreme. Not to be political, but Feinstein was a political figure and her decline in the last several years has been painful to watch, whether you agreed with her or not. Much like RBG, she did not want to be replaced in her lifetime, and now she won't be.

I remember when this happened, and respected her for it.

And while Dems are catching heat for her and Biden's mental declines, Republicans have certainly kept some of their candidates in office for far too long. I was on an airplane flight with Strom Thurmond once, and his aide had to guide him around like a person in an old folks home.

Bill

Your suspension which I welcome alas was four hours too late as I promptly carried out my self imposed sentence.

regards

John

Bay Area broadcaster, writer, Buddhist meditation teacher, and stand-up comedian, Wes "Scoop Nisker passed away on July 31.

I read the piece, Bill. That was good. It shows that she was a centrist who didn't live out on the edge expecting the unrealistic.
However, her leadership in the wake of the Moscone and Milk assassinations should not be downplayed as the article seemed to do. We saw her become a real leader on local TV. She was a good mayor for San Francisco all those years and she was a good senator for all of us. Yes, she should've retired a term earlier but that's the system. Politicians speak briefly about how they think there should be term limits but then they forget about it when they get used to the free stamps and lunch.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Mullins:
I remember when this happened, and respected her for it.

And while Dems are catching heat for her and Biden's mental declines, Republicans have certainly kept some of their candidates in office for far too long. I was on an airplane flight with Strom Thurmond once, and his aide had to guide him around like a person in an old folks home.

Comic artist Keith Giffen died on Oct 10. He did artwork for several cards.