The Prisoner (1967) – Many Happy Returns, and Dance of the Dead

Number Six (Patrick McGoohan) gets quite the birthday present in this episode written by Anthony Skene and directed by McGoohan (who apparently also had his hand in the script for this episode). It first aired on 12 November, 1967. When Six wakes up, the Village is deserted, there’s no power, no water, and no people….

The Prisoner (1967) – The Schizoid Man, and The General

Number Six (Patrick McGoohan) suffers a bit of an identity crisis this week in The Schizoid Man. Written by Terence Feely, this episode had an original airdate of 27 October, 1967. There’s yet another new Number Two (Anton Rodgers), and he’s got quite the plan concocted to finally break Number Six… He changes his number,…

The Prisoner (1967) – A. B. and C., and Free For All

Anthony Skene pens A. B. and C. which sees Number Six (Patrick McGoohan) dealing with a new assault, this time on his mind, as a new Number Two (Colin Gordon) uses dream manipulation to attempt to sift the truth of Six’s resignation. First airing on 13 October, 1967, it sees Six being drugged at night,…

The Prisoner (1967) – Arrival, and The Chimes of Big Ben

The Prisoner is a series I had long heard about, but, for some reason known only to some deep, dark corner of my psyche, I had never watched. Everything I heard about it suggested I would enjoy it, that it would be right up my alley. But I never dug in and screened it… ……

Son of Godzilla (1967) – Jun Fukuda

It was gonna happen sooner or later. There was going to be a classic Godzilla film that just didn’t ring my bell like the rest of the series, and as of this moment, it’s Son of Godzilla. While I enjoy all the monster fighting sequences, and even some of the goofy science outpost plot, the…

In the Heat of the Night (1967) – Norman Jewison

In the Heat of the Night shouldn’t be as timely and relevant as it still is. You’d think we could have moved beyond such levels of racism and prejudice, and yet, sections of society seem worse than ever before, and it seems to be both hidden and overt. Featuring powerhouse performances by Sidney Poitier and…

Mission: Impossible (1967/1968) – The Photographer, and The Spy

I explore more of Paramount Pictures’ fantastic blu-ray edition of Mission: Impossible – The Complete Series this week with another pair of well-crafted episodes featuring some familiar looking guest stars. Anthony Zerbe plays the titular photographer of the episode’s title, in this story penned by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter. It first aired on…

Mission: Impossible (1967) – The Astrologer, and Echo of Yesterday

The IMF team takes on more Eastern Bloc baddies in the first episode of Mission: Impossible up this week. Written by James Griffith, this episode first debuted on 3 December, 1967. Phelps (Peter Graves) organises his team, Willy (Peter Lupus), Barney (Greg Morris), Rollin (Martin Landau) and Cinnamon (Barbara Bain) as they prepare to go…

Mission: Impossible (1967) – The Council: Part 1, and Part 2

This week’s IMF assignment is a two-parter that takes its time with its storytelling, and sets things up nicely for some great payoffs as I explore more of Mission: Impossible – The Complete Series on blu-ray, now available from Paramount Pictures. Written by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, part one debuted on 19 November,…

Mission: Impossible (1967) – Operation ‘Heart,’ and The Money Machine

Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) and his IMF team attempt to flush out a villain intent on assassinating a head of state, Rurich (Pernell Roberts) so that his country’s Western flavoured government will fall and give way to a rule under his name. To take him down, Phelps, Rollin (Martin Landau), Cinnamon (Barbara Bain), Barney (Greg…