These posters are from my own personal collection, and will be added to periodically

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By Thomas Bowington and Tina Wyngarde-Hopkins

Double-Bill: ‘Wyngarde! A celebration’ and ‘Queen Bette’. The G. Bod (formally Gay Body), Sydney, Australia – September 2018

Lot’s of laughs… but for all the wrong reasons!

Clearly written with almost indecent haste by Peter Mountford (Artistic Director of the G. Bod Theatre), and actor, Garth Holcombe, the play ‘Wyngarde! A Celebration’ was brought to the Sydney stage within weeks of Peter’s passing.

Although both writers professed to be “great admirers” of Peter they would, nonetheless, employ every grubby tabloid prevarication to promote this production, prompting one antipodean Wyngarde fan to exclaim that it had “made me ashamed to be Australian!” 

Like all good fairy stories, the play opened with the following line: “It’s lovely to see you – here’s to a pleasant evening and a few surprises. There we are. Are you comfortable? Now where shall we begin…?”

“Peter Wyngarde was best known for playing the character Jason King,” the promotional blurb informs us, “a bestselling novelist turned. sleuth, in two television series: Department S and Jason King, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but was an accomplished theatre actor until his fall from grace: 2 arrests and convictions for gross indecency in public toilets in 1975″. N.B. (This contentious conviction was quashed by the UK Government in July 2023).

In actual fact, Peter was NOT arrested twice. The myth of an earlier conviction (or caution, depending on which fake news ‘site, online forum or piece of unsubstantiated Internet gossip you choose to read), has been identified to have been the cruel machination of a contributor to Wikipedia’s Peter Wyngarde ‘Biography’ back in 2012 (see here for the full story). However in their haste to strike while the iron was still hot, the authors of the play decided to base their story on information posted on an online encyclopedia to which any Tom, Dick or Harriet can contribute to – regardless of their being ill-equipped to do so – rather than reach out to those of us who actually knew the man.

But then, presenting a truthful and accurate representation of Peter’s life wan’t the purpose of this play. The true motivation was to create a character that would uphold the image they’d created of Peter in their own minds, based on decades-old tabloid stories and subsequent years of inane tittle-tattle. What we ended up with was a case of 2 + 2 = 95 in the writer’s minds, which was presented to an exploitable audience, and reviewed by journalists that had no idea who Peter Wyngarde was.

The publicity bumph went on… ‘Much of Wyngarde’s life is disputed: his name, his birth date, his sexuality. We know that as a teenager he was a Japanese Prisoner of War (alongside JG Ballard) and that he studied at RADA, before dropping out. We know that at the height of his fame the most popular boy’s name in the UK became Jason (after his character). We know that he was mugged by thousands of female admirers at Sydney Airport. We know that Mike Myers has credited him as the inspiration for Austin Powers. He may have been born Cyril Goldbert. He may have had a relationship with Alan Bates. He may have had the nickname Petunia Winegum.” Again, all gleaned from the oracle itself, Wikipedia.

The adult-rated drama opened at the G. Bod (formally the Gay Body) in September of 2018, where the audience saw former Home and Away star, Garth Holbrook, swagger on stage in a series of ill-fitting suits that made his character look more like Harold Steptoe than Jason King!

In his review of the play blogger Kevin Jackson, who was plainly oblivious to Peter’s extensive and lauded theatre career, sought to describe his as a “moderate talent” and a “second-tier actor”, whilst in the same breath gushing unreservedly about Holbrook’s performance.

Meanwhile, Suzy Wong, another blogger for ‘the Sydney main stage and independent scenes’, suggested that, “Wyngarde! A Celebration’ was a “re-framing of the personality, an insistence that we look at old narratives with new eyes, to form a history that makes sense in terms of how we experience the world today. As though a private audience with Wyngarde himself, in which his inhibitions are shed, and we witness him able to be his true self at last.” Really?!

Quite what these “inhibitions” were, Ms Wong chose not to impart to her readership, nevertheless, she appeared indubitably satisfied that what she’d witnessed was an authentic representation of Peter’s private life, in spite of the authors having no privileged knowledge about their subject beyond the same old tabloid tittle-tattle and speculation. A “private audience with Wyngarde” it most certainly was not!

In the wake of Peter’s passing, Messrs Holcombe and Mountford had evidently written with impunity: believing the specious press reports asserting that Peter had no partner or kin. Certainly scant consideration was afforded to those of us left to see our loved one parodied in this way. Similarly, the producers would decline to make even a brief courtesy call to Peter’s agent, Thomas Bowington, prior to opening night, so by the time we learned what was going on it was already too late.

Above: Garth Holcome as… a-hem… Peter Wyngarde (Photo by Richard Hedger)

While we were to write to both Garth Holbrook and Peter Mountford via the G.Bod Theatre, neither of them had the good grace to respond – perhaps because they knew they had no justification for staging this production. We did, however, receive an email from some nameless person at the theatre:

Dear Tina and Thomas, I am sincerely sorry for any hurt that you have been caused by our show. This was certainly not our intention. We are huge fans of Peter’s work, and received really wonderful feedback from our Australian audience, many of whom have been fans of Peter for many years, some of whom even saw him on stage here in the 1970s. This was very much a celebration of Peter’s work as an accomplished actor, and tried to debunk the awful rumours about him along the way. I like to think we were truly respectful to his memory, and those of our audience who weren’t aware of him, or simply too young, were fascinated by his career and told us that they now wanted to look up his work and see the real Peter in action. Again, we are truly sorry for any offence caused. I hope that this response goes some way to making it quite clear that this is A Celebration of Peter the actor, and nothing else. Best regards to you and your family. G.bod Theatre

We responded as follows…

Dear Sir or Madam, Thank you for taking the time to contact us, which is greatly appreciated. With regard to the play: Firstly, the wording that accompanied your listing on the Fringe website (and others) appeared as if it’d been cut and pasted directly from a tabloid newspaper. There are a myriad of words that could’ve been used to describe Peter and his work without having to rely on the gutter press. As it turned out, several Sydney residents who are also members of his Official Appreciation Society (which we run), had been put off going to see the production based on that introduction alone – fearing that it would be just another piss-take. Indeed, one of our most devoted members said later that the play had made her feel ashamed to be Australian! Perhaps if you’d sought out either one or both of us first (we can be easily found online) and explained what the play was about, then we might have been able to work with you in some way. But what’s done is done. Hopefully when the absolute truth about the man is revealed with the publication of the biography, ‘Peter Wyngarde: A Life Amongst Strangers’, many of these vicious rumours will finally be scotched. With Regards, Thomas Bowington and Tina Wyngarde-Hopkins

Offending Publicity Blurb

‘G.bod Productions throws two icons onto the stage for this Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras season: the lesser known Peter Wyngarde (Garth Holcome) and the idolised Bette Davis (Jeanette Cronin) in monologues devised by the actors with the director Peter Mountford. The very different styles of the monologues rather cleverly showcase the acting styles of each: Wyngarde believed an actor should make the character fit the actor; Davis believed the actor should “rise up into the character”. Wyngarde did not believe in acting lessons, Davis was passionate about refining her craft. Both bear an uncanny resemblance to the their source material.

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What follows is Kate Stratford’s review – Theatre Now: 24th February, 2019

“One could not be part of Western Culture without knowing who Bette Davies was. Most of us have a favourite quote of hers (I’d love to kiss ya but I just washed my hair). But one might easily not know who Peter Wyngarde was. Mike Myers famously based his Austin Powers on him. An actor and style icon of the 70’s, he is best remembered as Jason King, a suave novelist turned sleuth. Holcombe gives us a Wyngarde whose brash, cool hipness is a façade for the lonely, traumatised man within(?!). Purporting to be a ladies man (he was hospitalised after a mob female fan attack in Australia) he hid his homosexuality as many were forced to do at the time; charges of gross indecency telling their own story. Holcombe gives us a Wyngarde whose brash, cool hipness is a façade for the lonely, traumatised man within(?!). Purporting to be a ladies man (he was hospitalised after a mob female fan attack in Australia) he hid his homosexuality as many were forced to do at the time; charges of gross indecency telling their own story.

Here are two very different but equally compelling performances; insightful glimpses into “what made ‘em tick”. There is an intelligence in the material chosen (how do you encapsulate a life in an hour?) and the choices made reflect thoughtful, well-researched discussion between actor and director. Now, if we can just get the tech cues right ….”

(?): I knew Peter for a few months short of 30 years, and never felt for a single moment that he was in the least bit “traumatised.” In fact he was a very positive and forward-thinking man who exuded confidence. Tina Wyngarde-Hopkins

Above: The REAL Peter Wyngarde and what he’d have probably thought of this play

Theatre Review

‘Peter Wyngarde gained mainstream popularity in 1969 as Jason King, a novelist turned sleuth, in the UK television series Department S. A flamboyant actor, known for his horseshoe moustache and bronzed skin, he is one of innumerable twentieth century celebrities who had never come out of the closet, yet remains an integral part of British gay culture. His 1975 arrest for gross indecency in a public toilet forms part of his mystique, but as was typical of the times, his queerness was kept obscured, refused acknowledgement by wider society. The public would only allow a sex symbol who could not threaten their heteronormativity, and Wyngarde acquiesced.

Garth Holcombe and Peter Mountford’s Wyngarde! A Celebration is a re-framing of the personality, an insistence that we look at old narratives with new eyes, to form a history that makes sense in terms of how we experience the world today. As though a private audience with Wyngarde himself, in which his inhibitions are shed, and we witness him able to be his true self at last. Holcombe has the right charisma for the role, but is occasionally hesitant. The cocky debonair masculinity of a bygone era is portrayed alongside a camp sensibility, to make a statement about the evolution of gay identities, and to form a reminder of a community’s legacy of struggle.

Above: Garth Holcome – more Leonard Rossiter a la Rigsby than Peter Wyngarde (Photo by Richard Hedger)

For all the bravado that Wyngarde enjoys putting on display, there is a loneliness that pervades. There is an unmistakable pride in his long career in stage and film, but we sense something unfulfilled. Wyngarde! A Celebration can feel too gentle in its approach. We want a bawdy tell-all, but it gives us instead, something with more integrity than we are perhaps accustom to, in this age of ubiquitous intrusion and humiliation. It is our nature to seek authenticity, but it appears that revealing everything often serves to distract from the truth. Many things are left unsaid in Wyngarde’s story, and that is perhaps his very essence, and the most accurate representation of the man we have come looking for.’

Some Points

Peter was already an established, mainstream television star in the UK 15 years prior to accepting the role of Jason King in Department S. You have to be in the closet before you can come out of it! Peter remains an “integral part of British gay culture”. It’s the tabloids continue to repeat the same old blarney every time his name is mentioned, prompting indolent bloggers, online gossips and playwrights to produce this kind of rubbish. “…his queerness was kept obscured”. This is quite a grandiose statement, given that no one connected with this production had ever met Peter or come within a 1,000-mile radius of him – including the author of this ‘review’! Forming a “history”. Whose history? Garth Holcome and Peter Mountford’s? Certainly not Peter’s! A “…private audience with Wyngarde himself, in which his inhibitions are shed”, and, “…we witness him able to be his true self at last”. That would be the play’s author’s idea of his “true self”, certainly not the true self those who knew him saw. “…there is a loneliness that pervades”. Peter was never, ever lonely. “Integrity”? That’s hardly a word we would use to describe this nonsense!

Do you want to know if Peter Wyngarde had any genuine “inhibitions”, or how “traumatised” this supposed “second-tier actor” really was? Then look out for the biography, Peter Wyngarde – A Life Amongst Strangers.

Read about the REAL Peter Wyngarde in his own words…

These posters are from my own personal collection which will be added to periodically

Above and below: Poster under the America title, ‘Beyond Soho’

LOBBY CARDS AND MINI POSTERS

1956 Alexander The Great

1960 The Siege Of Sidney Street

German mini lobby posters for ‘The Siege of Sidney Street’

Above: A full set of lobby cards with the Irish film title, ‘The Siege of Hell Street’.

1961 The Innocents

1962 Night of the Eagle/Burn, Witch, Burn

Above: Full set of American cards

Above and Below: ‘Night of the Eagle/Burn, Witch, Burn’ card from Mexico

Italian mini lobby posters

1980 Flash Gordon

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The Story

Franz Xaver Oberholzer (Felix Dvorak), is Tyrolean innkeeper and family man from the Tyrolian Stubai Valley, who wins a dream holiday on the passenger liner, SS Calypso – the destination being the Arabian country of Ölscheichtum.

Above: Cover of German promotional brochure and, Below: Inside

As it is, Mrs Oberholzer doesn’t trust her womanising husband, and so she their son, also named Franz Xaver (Alfons Haider) – otherwise known as ‘Franzel’ – to keep an eye on his father. But it turns out that it’s Franz Jnr. who ends up falling in love with Brabara ‘Babsi’  Ziebitz (Petra Drechsler), the daughter of a Falconer.

When finally the ship arrives in Ölscheichtum, the trio happen upon a series of characters, including a gang of murderous crooks, resulting in their stumbling from one mishap to next.

Inevitably, they end up at the palace of Sheikh Al-Abdullah (Peter Wyngarde), who asks Franzl if he’d consider becoming his successor.

The film ends with Babsi and Franzl returning to Tyrol, where the two marry.

I have been collecting Peter Wyngarde-related material for over thirty years. Below are just a few of my favourite items. Some of the things you will see here have been bought in auction or at film fairs, but others were given to me by Peter himself. I will be adding more pieces to this page over the coming weeks and months, so do please call back whenever you can to see some more fascinating stuff. Hope you enjoy it. Tina Wyngarde-Hopkins

THE ENTIRE PETER WYNGARDE ‘GOING OUT’ WARDROBE

Above: Peter is wearing a mink Russian Ushanka and full-length mink and seal skin coat at the Royal Premier of ‘Macbeth’ at the Palace Theatre, London, in 1972. His companion is actress, Suzanna Leigh. He wore this coat in the opening scenes of the Jason King episode, ‘A Thin Band of Air’.

 Below: The coat, which had once belonged to 1920s silent screen idol, Rudolph Valentino. Bought by actress, Vivien Leigh, in the 1950s and given to Peter as a gift when the two were acting together on the British stage in, ‘Duel of Angels’.  Peter wore it in the ‘Jason King’ episodes, ‘A Thin Band of Air’, ‘Toki’ and ‘A Red, Red Rose Forever’.

Left: Peter had originally loaned me the hat when we attended a firework display in November 1999, but insisted that I kept it as he said it looked better on me than it did on him! 

To complete the ensemble (above) is a pair of hand made leather riding boots, size 12. He also wore the same boots in the Avengers episode, ‘A Touch of Brimstone’ (see image below) and onstage in ‘Duel of Angels’, Sherlock Holmes: ‘The Illustrious Client, ‘Anastasia’ and ‘The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari’.

A: Handmade, raw silk shirt. Zip front – button sleeves. B: Silver button on sleeve of shirt.

A: Snakeskin belt with heavy silver-plate hands. B: There is a hook in the palm of the left hand that slots into a hole in the middle finger of the right. Peter wore this belt in several episodes of ‘Jason King’, including ‘A Thin Band of Air’, ‘Chapter One: The Company I Keep’ and ‘The Stones of Venice’.

A: Gold and ebony bracelet. B. Bracelet showing leopards with onyx eyes.

Above: Some of my collection of film, theatre and television scripts, which include:

• ‘Department S’ (various episodes)
• Doctor Who: Planet of Fire
• ‘The Duel’
• ‘Flash Gordon’
• ‘The Good Woman of Setzuan’
• Jason King (various episodes)
• ‘The King and I’
• Sherlock Holmes ‘The Illustrious Client’
• ‘Anastasia’
• ‘Dracula’
• ‘Underground’

A. Call sheet from the Jason King episode, ‘Nadine’. B. A script for the Jason King episode, ‘Flamingos Only Fly On Tuesdays’

A: 1902 First Edition copy of Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’ which Peter gave to me for my birthday in 2015. The inscription, which is a reference to my ability to garner information for his stories and scripts, reads: ‘To my darling “sleuth”! See if you can work this out? All my love and congratulations, Yours… always Peter’.

A. Egyptian cotton shirt with front pleating. Because of the size and shape of the collar, it was clearly designed to be worn without at tie. B. The sleeves are, naturally, turned back and sewn into place.

In the top right-hand corner is a photograph of Peter in the Jason King two-parter, ‘All That Glisters’. In it he’s wearing the same design shirt but in mauve.

A. “Rehearsal Script” for ‘Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Illustrious Client’. B. The finished screenplay. C. Inside the script (B): Peter’s amendments in his own hand.

Above: Lyrics for the songs on Peter’s LP, written in his own hand. ‘Hippy and the Skinhead’; ‘Rape’; ‘The Way I Cry Over You’; and ‘Try To remember To Forget’

The lyrics for all of the tracks are in the collection, plus those for songs that didn’t make the album.

Above: Peter’s ‘Neck-Tie Man of the Year’ Award – (West) Germany. It reads as follows:

“The German tie institute choose Mr Peter Wyngarde tie-man of the year 1971.”

Below: Peter receiving the award on 14th November, 1971.

Above: A: ‘Flash Gordon‘ First Draft script. B: Final script.

Above: A. Amendments to ‘Flash Gordon’ script in Peter’s own hand. B. Shooting Schedule. C. Inside Shooting Schedule. Updates by Peter.

Above: Chinese chainmail white metal belt. B – The buckle features a bird centre, surrounded by intricately-cut feathers. Also above, Peter wearing the belt in an episode of ‘Department S’.

Above: The bespoke fangs that Peter wore when playing Count Dracula on stage in 1974 and, below, pages from the ‘Dracula’ original script which has been partly written in Peter’s own handwriting.

Above: Peter’s hand drawn sketch of the stage layout for ‘Dracula‘.

Above: The original painting of Peter Quint as seen in the film ‘The Innocents‘ – painted by Stella MacMahon – with the photograph of Peter from which the artwork was made.

Above: The locket in a scene from the film.

Above: Peter’s shooting jacket from Enfield Gun Club with his name embroidered on the front, and Team Enfield on the back.

You can see more of my vast collection of Peter Wyngarde-related memorabilia via the links below:

This page is an ongoing project which will added to in the coming months. Any contributions can be sent to us by using the button at the bottom of this page.

John Formby with Peter

“I corresponded with dear Peter and met and chatted with him [photo]. I was always trying to get him to write his memoirs “Oh but Ian (he said) it’s sooooo boring writing about oneself!” I told him it was a crime that he had not been given more work over the last 30 years “I quite agree” he said. He was a charming man, a theatrical legend (“you toured with Vivien Leigh in Duel Of Angels”, I said. “Happy days” he replied.) He was a wonderful actor. Bless him.“ Ian Kelland

With Simon Avery at Comicon – Birmingham NEC, 2016

“The day I met dear Peter and Tina – Westminster Hat: Saturday 12th November, 2016. I had a BRILLIANT day…..despite having an eight hour wait for my coach for the journey home! Both Peter and Tina were quite lovely. Dear Peter signed two photographs and my CD copy of his superlative album sleeve.” Chris Honey

Mark Anthony Curzon with Peter

Stuart Clarkson with Peter: “He was so nice. It made my day to meet him.”

Vince Ferguson with Peter at Westminster – 12th November, 2016

Tony Richards with Peter at the British Film Institute – September 2013

Left and right: Steve handing Peter a bespoke Jason King mug

Scott Martin with “The wonderful Mr W taking a shine to my Night of the Eagle poster.”

Uwe Sommerlad came all the way from Germany to see Peter at the Westminster Film Fair

David McConkey with Peter at Weston Super-mare, July 2014.

Above and Below: Peter with Alan Hoare

With Jez Fielder at the National Film Theatre

Graham Cousins and Peter

With John Botten at the Westminster Film Fair – 12th November, 2016

Andy Ellis and Peter at Westminster Film Fair

Christian James met Peter at Birmingham (above), and Portmeirion.

Travis Nicholls and friend, Simon Uskuri with Peter

Al Samujh, with The King at the Birmingham NEC

Mark Dewhirst and Peter at Westminster

Click below to email your photograph(s). Please remember to include your name and where you met Peter...

Alexander the Great

The Innocents (documentary)

The Innocents trailer

The Siege of Sidney Street trailer

Night of the Eagle trailer

Flash Gordon trailer

Life After Flash trailer

Click below for…

RARE PHOTOGRAPH IN AUCTION

The UK-based Prop Store (https://propstoreauction.com/) are holding an auction entitled Pop Culture – Art and Photography: London Spring 2026 (January 27th -February 11th, 2026) which includes this photograph (Lot 229) of Peter with Danny La Rue, mime artiste, Lyndsey Kemp and others at the Variety Artistes Benevolent Fund raiser, 1974.

The image, which is signed by the photographer, Mick Rock, has an estimate of £300 – £600.

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CLASSIC SPORTS CAR ARTICLE

The latest issue of Classic Sports Car (UK) – dated 1st January, 2026 -carried an article about the cars used in the Department S series, which are described as the best of a the vehicles used in series from the ITC stable.

Copies can be obtained from: https://www.classicandsportscar.magazine.co.uk/

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NEW DEPARTMENT S COMPLETE BLU-RAY BOX SET IMPRINT LIMITED EDITION

7-DISC BLU-RAY SET + 228-page hardcover booklet in Limited Edition Hardbox packaging. 1500 copies only.

Special Features and Technical Specs:
1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray
NEW Audio commentary on The Man in the Elegant Room
Audio commentary on The Pied Piper of Hambledown by Peter
NEW Audio commentary on Handicap Dead by ITC Entertained The World podcast
Audio commentary on Six Days by director Cyril Frankel and assistant director Ken Baker
NEW Audio commentary on Six Days by Kim Newman and BFI television consultant Dick Fiddy
Audio commentary on The Double Death of Charlie Crippen by writer Leslie Darbon
NEW Audio commentary on A Ticket to Nowhere by ITC historians Jonathan Wood and Rick Davy
NEW Audio commentary on The Man From X by film critic Kim Newman and BFI television consultant / ITC expert Dick Fiddy
NEW Audio commentary on The Perfect Operation
25-minute international version of The Mysterious Man in the Flying Machine
Audio introduction on A Small War of Nerves by actor Peter
NEW Audio commentary on A Small War of Nerves by film critic Kim Newman and BFI television consultant / ITC expert Dick Fiddy
Wanna Watch a Television Series? Chapter One – Variations on a Theme
Audio: English LPCM 2.0 Mono
Original Aspect Ratio: 1.33

Bonus Disc: Jason King
1080p high-definition presentation on Blu-ray of three episodes of spin-off series Jason King, from brand NEW 2K scans of the original 16mm elements by Imprint Films
NEW IN HD “Wanna Buy A Television Series?” – featuring commentary

£99.99

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‘THE BARON’ SERIES REPEATED

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‘DEPARTMENT S’ AND ‘JASON KING’ SERIES BOOKS

Two new hardback reference books on the series ‘Department S’ and ‘Jason King’ have just been published by IngramSpark. Both written by Scott V. Palmer Jason King, these book includes all episodes in original release order, complete cast listings, numerous photographs, and a story synopsis for each episode.

The ‘Department S’ volume (ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1088289655 – ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1088289655) has 136 pages, while the ‘Jason King’ book (ISBN-10: ‎ 1087868327 – ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1087868325) has 202 pages. £24.99 and £35.99, respectively. Available from Amazon.

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‘THE INNOCENTS’ PART OF FILM4’S “FILMFEAR” SEASON

FilmFear, created and curated by Film4 and HOME, returns with a selection of strange, scary and provocative films that highlight the many unexpected ways horror can take shape on-screen.  We get started early this year with returning hero Ben Wheatley, whose new zombie-comedy TV series gets a one-off cinema preview. The Halloween highlight is a double-bill celebrating a classic horror icon, while other nights showcase new voices finding fresh and imaginative ways to use horror and fantasy to explore psychological states. And, as always, there are cult favourites for those who prefer to stay in their discomfort 

Just follow this link: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-innocents-1961

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JASON KING ARTICLE

The forthcoming issue of Infinity magazine (No. 90 – October 2025) is to feature an article on Jason King by Paula Hammond, who will recall a chat she once had with Peter.

Published first week in November (2025).

If you’re unable to find a copy in your local newsagent or you live outside the UK, you can order the magazine as follows:

Via the publishers website: www.thedarksidemagazine.com (Payment by PayPal).

By post: Ghoulish Publishing, 29 Cheyham Way, South Cheam, Surrey, SM2 7HX. (Payment by cheque).

Infinity Magazine website: www,infinitymazine.co.uk

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NEW FENELLA FIELDING BOOK FEATURING 2012 LETTER FROM PETER

The story between those two points is remarkable. Lots of famous contributors, including; Kenneth Williams, a larky Harold Pinter, Laurence Olivier, Dirk Bogarde, John Cleese wanting his old scripts back to reuse in Monty Python, Cecil Beaton ‘a distant admirer’, Gyles Brandreth ‘you do weave spells’, a 14-year old fan called Matthew Bourne, Quentin Crisp, Leigh Bowery, Jane Birkin, Kate O’Mara and, of course, Peter Wyngarde.

It’s available from quoitmedia.co.uk

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COMING SOON!

From Wandering Planet Toys, The Prisoner ‘Checkmate’ set, featuring action figures of Peter as Number 2, and Patrick McGoohan as Number 6.

Fans in the UK will no doubt be pleased to know that the Prisoner Gift Shop at Portmeirion will be stocking the set once stock has arrived from the Wandering Planet Toys factory. which means that the additional cost of international shipping and import tax can be avoided.

For those of you in the US, you can preorder the set from the Big Bad Toy Store by clicking here.

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BBC ‘PRISONER DOCUMENTARY

The BBC are to broadcast a documentary about the annual Prisoner Convention at Portmeirion called, strangely enough, ‘The Prisoner of Portmeirion’.

It’s due to be shown on BBC1 and BBC Wales at 7pm on 24th July 2025, as part of the ‘Our Lives’ series.

It will be available on iPlayer from 14th July.

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UPCOMING NEWSPAPER ARTICLE: THE OLD VIC 1959 SEASON

The Bristol Post newspaper is currently working on an article about Peter’s connection to the city of Bristol via his season at The Bristol Old Vic.

Peter starred in both ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ and ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ there in 1959, and also produced and directed Eugene O’Neill’s ‘Long Day’s Journey Into Night’.

The article is being written by Jonathan Rowe for the ‘paper’s ‘Bristol Times’ history section. In addition to focusing on Peter’s work at The Old Vic, Rowe will also be discussing the his association with the TWW (Television Wales and West) TV station, which covered the South Wales and South-West region of England. Peter’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ was broadcast by TWW on 26th March, 1959. Additionally, he was also to record a series of short story readings for the company.

We will of course let you know as soon as we learn when the article is to be published.

Please click here for more information on Peter’s 1959 season at The Old Vic.

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CLASSIC MOVIES: ‘FLASH GORDON’

The new series of ‘Classic Movies’ is due to begin on Sky Arts on 1st May (2025), and will feature a 60 minute documentary on the 1980 film, ‘Flash Gordon’, which has now entered the pantheon of greats.

With each episode devoted to a single film, their story will be told with detail, affection, looking for the truth behind the myth, all the trials and triumphs that went into forging a classic. But this isn’t simply history, the standard making of, it’s about identifying those ingredients immortal scenes, performances, themes, luxuriant cinematography, art direction, special effects, music, even the power of a single line – that elevate a film to a new level.

Hosted by Ian Nathan, who guides us through the story from inception to legacy, supplemented with regular input along with special guest, with unique insight, historians who have devoted entire books, and visit to special location, where they shot or that served as a key inspiration, bringing each of these films to life with a dynamic presentation. We are on a journey to find out not what makes a film good, but what makes it classic.

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‘CHECKMATE’ NUMBER 2 FIGURE READY TO BE SHIPPED

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‘NIGHT OF THE EAGLE’ ARTICLE

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ITC RADIO DOCUMENTARY

Prisoners, Saints and Persuaders: The World of ITC. Return of the Saint star Ian Ogilvy tells the story of Lew Grade’s ITC company, which revolutionised British television from Department S and The Prisoner to The Persuaders.

Broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 7th December 2024, now available to listen to via the Archive On 4.

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YOURS RETRO ARTICLE

The UK film and television nostalgia magazine, Yours Retro, have published a two-page article about Jason King in their January 2025 (Issue No.: 83).

Written by Steve Green, the article focuses on the character of King, both in ‘Department S‘ and ‘Jason King’,

Published on 16th January, 2025

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THE RETURN OF JASON KING

Following from their highly popular rescreening of ‘Department S’, Rewind TV are set to start showing all 28 episodes of ‘Jason King’ as of the week beginning Monday 7th October (2024).

Rewind TV, the retro-focused television channel that launched on Sky earlier this year, is set to expand its reach by joining the Freeview platform.

The channel, which has been broadcasting a mix of classic British TV shows on Sky since May (’24), will soon be available to a much wider audience without the need for a subscription.

The channel is available free-to-air on satellite. So far, the channel is only available on Sky (satellite, Sky HD/Sky Q) channel 190.

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‘THE INNOCENTS’ MAKES INDIEWIRE’S BEST HORROR FILMS LIST

In building IndieWire’s new list of the greatest horror movies ever made, they opted to omit some films that straddle the nebulous line between the horror and thriller genres (e.g. “The Silence of the Lambs” et al), at least for now. They paid attention to films that paved the way for the genre and for filmmaking as a whole, as well as to modern classics that bring something new and brilliant to the canon today. What every film on the list has in common is that their horrors are more than just boogeymen and spirits projected upon a silver screen, but a conduit into which deeper real-life fears are made manifest. From social discontent to primal fear of the unknown, horror is a genre that reflects on humanity’s most potent paranoia, and the eternal darkness that rests within us.

‘Jack Clayton’s morbid fairy tale “The Innocents” is the best and most loyal adaptation of Henry James’ chilling novella “The Turn of the Screw,” which became a seminal text of literary theory in the 20th century. Co-written by Truman Capote and led by the great actress Deborah Kerr as a governess driven to paranoia by the distressed children she’s caring for, this version is still as open-ended to cerebral and Freudian interpretations as the text.

The pioneering craft of “The Innocents” makes this an especially classic Gothic tale, from Daphne Oram’s synthesizer score to Freddie Francis’ deep-focus, black-and-white cinematography, where ghosts are driven into and out of the frame through restrained, natural light and blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cutting. Many have argued, even dating back to the book, that the supernatural activity haunting the governess and her charges stems from her own sexual repression. The perverse “Innocents” leaves that door open while preserving the ambiguity of James’ story, which has haunted literature lecture halls for more than a century.’

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HALLOWE’EN TREAT IN SANTA ANA

Flickrhappy will be screening ‘The Innocents’ at the Frida Cinema in Santa Ana, California, on Sunday 20th October as a Hallowe’en treat. Tickets are free.

305E, 4th Street Suite 100, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Contact cinema: https://thefridacinema.org/contact/

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For the past two months, Talking Pictures have been screening the 1984/85 series. ‘The Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense’ on Friday evenings. October 4th (2024) sees the turn of episode 12 -‘And The Wall Came Tumbling Down’, in which Peter stars as Daniel Haswell.

Above: Peter as Daniel Haswell

Co-written by Dennis Spooner, who wrote several episodes of both ‘Department S’ and ‘Jason King’, the 70-minute film also features Gareth Hunt, Brian Deacon and Patricia Hayes.

9.10pm, Talking Pictures: Freeview 82 ~ Virgin 445 ~ Freesat 306 ~ Youview 82 ~ Sky 328.

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YOURS RETRO ARTICLE

The British monthly magazine, Your Retro, plan to publish an article about Peter in their January 2025 issue. The magazine, which bills itself as an “escape from the modern world where you can revisit the best entertainment from the fifties, sixties and seventies”, last featured Peter in a two-page article in March 2019.

The piece will focus on Peter’s work in Department S and Jason King, as well as the films ‘The Innocents‘ and ‘Night of the Eagle/Burn, Witch, Burn‘.

More information regarding this will be published here on receipt.

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RARE SCREENING OF ‘THE SIEGE OF SIDNEY STREET’

Peter as the notorious Peter the Painter, and Nicole Berger as Sara

Talking Pictures will be screening the 1960 British thriller, ‘The Siege of Sidney Street‘ on Sunday, 1st September (2024) at 10.05pm.

Starring Peter as the notorious Peter the Painter, the film was written by Hammer writer Jimmy Sanger, who also plays Winston Churchill in one scene, and directed by Robert S. Baker and Monty Berman – both of whom had a connection to ‘Department S‘.

Talking Pictures channel numbers: Virgin: 445 – Freesat 306 – Freeview or Youview 82 – Sky digital satellite platform 328

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CHECKMATE!

‘The Prisoner’ is currently being shown on three separate British television channels as of this week (05.08.24); Legend Extra, Rewind TV and London Live. Look out for Peter as Number 2 in ‘Checkmate‘ during the coming weeks.

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PETER’S HANDPRINTS IN MELBOURNE’S CITY GALLERY EXHIBITION

While Melbourne is a long way away from star-studded Los Angeles, it turns out that our two cities have something in common that not many people know about. Imprinted into the cement footpath of Hollywood Boulevard are countless celebrity handprints – but did you know that Bourke Street had its very own version? If not, now you do. 

But the story behind it isn’t quite as glitzy and glamorous as the action on Hollywood Boulevard – it actually started with a hardware store. Back in the ’70s, a retail chain called McEwans was the go-to shop for Victorians’ DIY needs, before Bunnings swooped in to take over in the 1990s. McEwans had a store on Bourke Street, about a block uphill from the GPO building, but needed some extra publicity to attract shoppers. So what did they do? Following in the (literal) footsteps of Hollywood, they invited celebs to leave handprints and footprints in wet cement out the front of the store. 

The publicity stunt worked a treat, with the lunchtime handprint events attracting visitors and media attention. As well as Peter Wyngarde, other famous names who left their mark included Bert Newton, Lionel Rose, Joan Sutherland, Henry Bolte, Barry Crocker, Colleen Hewett, Jose Feliciano and Evonne Goolagong Cawley, as well as international stars of the day like Sid James, Miriam Karlin and Harry Secombe. 

If you were old enough to remember it (or even alive) back then, you’re one of the lucky few Melburnians to know this rare piece of our city’s history, which lasted from 1972 to 1994. But for the rest of us, the ‘footpath of fame’ is now on display in a new exhibition at the Town Hall’s City Gallery. 

Gotcha! is a free exhibition open to the public until August 16, curated by Melbourne historian Robyn Annear. It includes 40 of the surviving prints from the McEwans pavement, which are accompanied by stories of the celebrities who made them and newspaper images that capture the mood of the times. To learn more about the exhibition, head to the City of Melbourne website. 

Click here to see a PDF of exhibition booklet

Details Start: April 17 @ 9:00 am End: August 16 @ 5:00 pm Cost: Free Event Category: Victorian History Events Website: https://whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/things-to-do/gotcha-concrete-prints-from-the-mcewans-celebrity-pavement

Organisers: City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection Phone: 03 9658 9658 Email: citygallery@melbourne.vic.gov.au Website: ttps://citycollection.melbourne.vic.gov.au/

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ICONIC MASK IN AUCTION

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‘DEPARTMENT S’ BACK ON TV

Rewind – a new satellite channel (Sky 190), is currently screening ‘Department S’, starring Peter as Jason King, Joel Fabiani as Stewart Sullivan and Rosemary Nicols as Annabelle Hurst.

The Sheffield-based channel has confirmed it’s launch on Sky’s satellite TV on 23rd May (2024), with a appearing on other platform during the coming months.

The channel promises to offer a range of classic entertainment shows from yesteryear, tapping in to a growing market for screening vintage television from the past century.

Rewind’s It’s launch line-up includes late night 1990s comedy from Channel 4, with Drop The Dead Donkey and Clive Anderson’s Whose Line Is It Anyway featuring from 10pm. Earlier in the evening, from 8pm, the channel will screen vintage drama series Return of The Saint and, or course, Department S. And the channel will be screening episodes of the long-running documentary Whicker’s World in its late afternoon schedule.

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‘NIGHT OF THE EAGLE’ UK BLURAY & DVD REISSUE

Studiocanal have announced a superb new restoration of Night of the Eagle, as part of the Cult Classics Collection. Dare you believe in the existence of witches in this nerve-shattering, atmospheric horror starring Peter Wyngarde and Janet Blair?

Described by The New York Times as “excellently photographed and cunningly directed… a nightmarish hair-curler”, Night of the Eagle is in the same league as classic British chillers including The Haunting, The Innocents and Night of the Demon. As the tagline says, ‘You must watch from the beginning to feel the shock impact of the end!’

The film is available on BluRay, DVD and Digital from 1st July 2024, with the striking original UK poster artwork featuring on the sleeve. The Blu-ray edition will include four art cards.

Extras:

• Burn Witch, Burn: Anna Bogutskaya on Night of the Eagle
• Archive Interview with Peter Wyngarde
• US Theatrical Trailer
• UK Theatrical Trailer
• US Alternate Opening Credits
• Audio Commentary with screenwriter Richard Matheson
• Behind the Scenes stills gallery

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‘NEW PRISONER NUMBER 2 FIGURE’

Wandering Planet Toys are releasing a second wave of their official ‘The Prisoner’ figures, which will include this one of Peter as Number 2 in ‘Checkmate’. The figures launched this month (April 2024) via a kickstarter backer campaign!

Wandering Planet Toys is a group of friends working in the arts and entertainment industries in Los Angeles who came together out of a love for movies, cult TV, pop culture, and, of course. The Prisoner figures have been produced with the support of The Unmutual Prisoner website: http://www.theunmutual.co.uk/

In the memorable episode “Checkmate” featuring the iconic human-chess match, Peter Wyngarde brought a suave and particularly crafty take to his Number 2.  Pair this figure with your Wave 1 “Checkmate” version of Number 6 for more village escape attempt action!

Please click here for more information.

UPDATE:

Wandering Planet Toys announce that second wave of ‘The Prisoner’ figures is to go ahead as Kickstarter target reached.

“Greetings dear Villagers!

We are thrilled that we get to make these wave No2 Prisoner Retro Action Figures. This is because of you. Thank you for joining us and pledging to make these figures… as its been said… It takes a village…

We’re cruising toward the unlock of some fun Stretch Goal items… we will of course keep you posted about this.

In the meantime we also wanted to announce that for those of you who may have missed our first Kickstarter Campaign, or for those who would like additional, we have made certain items from our first wave available as ADD ON’s for this campaign. Pledge at any level and you can add the below items to your pledge/order and they will be shipped along with your wave No2 items when everything is complete and ready to be sent to you. So, that means any of these items in wave one or wave No2 items can be added as ADD ON’s to your pledge.

More news soon! THANK YOU!

BE SEEING YOU.”

UPDATE:

Greetings Villagers! Thank you so much for your incredible response and support of our second wave of The Prisoner Retro Action Figures! Wave No2 is happening, and we have all of you to thank for it.

As we approach the end of the campaign we wanted to offer one more incentive, to spice up your Diorama Display and add even more options for you to display your figures… SO, we came up with a sort of booster pack of mini diorama display pieces to go with the Diorama Display.

The display is made up of three plastic “floor” tiles, and we have created DIORAMA DISPLAY BONUS BACKDROPS to fit into those tiles. Should this stretch goal be unlocked at 140K all of those going DEGREE ABSOLUTE/ALL IN will automatically have these three additional display backdrops included. And for those who have added the diorama display to their pledges and would like these additional pieces they will be offered as a set for $12.00.

Above: To the far left – Peter as Number 2 with Patrick McGoohan as Number 6.

Featuring iconic images from your favorite episodes, these will look sharp on your toy shelf, proudly displaying your figures. (please note these are the backdrop pieces only, and you do need the previously offered Diorama Display for the floor tiles to go with them.)

t’s been amazing to dream this second wave up, launch it on Kickstarter and have it brought to life by everyone reading this. Thank you for your enthusiasm and support! The Prisoner fans are awesome fans! BE SEEING YOU!

WP Team

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‘CROWN COURT’ DROPPED BY TALKING PICTURES

Those Peter Wyngarde fans who have been waiting for his appearance in the ‘Crown Court’ re-runs on Talking Pictures are going to be disappointed, as the broadcaster has decided to discontinue showing the series.

Above: Peter as Sir Charles Marchington QC in the three-part Crown Court episode, ‘The Son Of His Father)

While there have been much speculation from fans as to why, according to Noel Cronin – the man behind Talking Pictures TV, it’s a matter of expense rather than low viewing figures. “Talking Pictures TV isn’t a charity,” he said – adding that they just couldn’t afford to show it any more. It’s hoped that another broadcaster will pick up the baton in the near future.

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NEW FLASH GORDON PODCAST

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‘PLANET OF FIRE’ ADDED TO BBC iPLAYER

Peter’s three-part Doctor Who episode, ‘Planet of Fire‘ has been added to the BBC’s iPlayer as of 3rd November, 2023. You can watch it by clinking here.

The episode(s) have have Audio Description and Sign Language for the hard of hearing.

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THE BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE STAGE ITC RETROSPECTIVE

A look at the art and design of that most stylish of 60s TV companies, ITC, with intro by Lord Michael Grade.

Sunday 03 December 2023 15:00. NFT1

Lew Grade’s ITC (Incorporated Television Company) lit up small screens in the 1960s with a number of exciting action-adventure series (The Saint, The Prisoner, The Persuaders, Department S) that rivalled the American model of production, often topping them in exuberance, style and panache. Expect rare marketing art and sales designs, as well as some well known and alternative-version credit sequences.

Tickets go on sale on Thursday 09 November 2023 11:30am

Joint ticket available with Missing Believed Wiped 2023 £14, concs £11 (non-Members pay £2 more). Book in person at the box office or by phone on 020 7928 3232.

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THE INNOCENTS SCREENING

The Prince Charles Cinema, London, will be screening ‘The Innocents’ on Saturday, 14th October 2023, at 12.10pm. Relevant details are as follows:

Location: Prince Charles Cinema, 7 Leicester Place, London, WC2H 7BY

Nearest Underground station: Leicester Place

Phone: 020 7494 3654

Email: boxofficemanager@princecharlescinema.com

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NIGHT OF THE EAGLE TO BE RELEASED ON BLURAY IN OZ

Peter’s legendary portrayal of sceptical college professor, Norman Taylor, is to be released on Blu-ray by Imprint in Australia on 25th October 2023. Details of content are as follows:

• Number of Discs: 1
• Certificate: PG
• Runtime: 90 minutes
• Catalogue Number: IMP3701

Special Features & Technical Specs:

• 1080P High-definition presentation on Blu-ray from a 2K scan
• New Audio Commentary by Flipside founders Vic Pratt and William Fowler
• New Audio Commentary by film historian Scott Harrison
• Audio Commentary by screenwriter Richard Matheson
• New Filmed appreciation with author David Huckvale
• New Fritz Leiber’s Conjure Wife – video essay by academic Rachel Knightley
• Interview with Peter Wyngarde
• Theatrical Trailer
• Audio English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Original Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
• Optional English HOH Subtitles
• Limited Edition slipcase with unique artwork

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CONTENTIOUS 1975 CONVICTION QUASHED!

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LEGEND RESHOWING ‘THE PRISONER’ IN UK

The Prisoner is being repeated on Legend (UK only): Sky 148 – Virgin 149 – Freesat 137 – Freeview 41, from Monday, 17th July, 2023.

Above: Peter as the village administrator, Number 2 in ‘Checkmate’.

Look out for Peter in ‘Checkmate’ which will be shown on Thursday 27th July at 9pm, and again on Friday 28th at 9am.

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MORRISSEY TRIBUTE

Rock singer, Morrissey, paid tribute to his friend, Peter Wyngarde, during his European tour (2023) by wearing a T-shirt on stage with an image of Peter on the front.

The two men had been good friends for many years, and Morrissey mentions Peter in his 2013 autobiography. Following his passing in 2018, the singer had a giant photograph of Peter projected onto a screen at the back of the stage before every concert.

In 2012, Morrissey was presented with an original vinyl copy of Peter’s album on the Jonathan Ross Show by the host.

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PETER’S ‘NEVILLE THUMBCATCH’ FEATURED ON 4-DISC SET

British Mod Sounds of the 1960s Volume 2: The Freakbeat & Psych Years

• Limited edition including signed Eddie Piller print limited to 750 copies
• A collection of 95 classic and rare tracks across 4CDs
• Curated by Acid Jazz Records and Modcast founder, Eddie Piller
• In-depth sleeve notes from musician and author, Richard Norris

Demon Music Group : B0BL7N41FX

“Peter Wyngarde’s Neville Thumbcatch simply needs to be listened to whilst reclining on a Chaise Longue…” Gigslutz

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‘CROWN COURT’ – ENTIRE SERIES TO BE REPEATED

Crown Court, set in the fictional town of Fulchester, was filmed at Granada in Manchester. Each half hour episode was an all actor affair save for the members of the jury who were members of the public drawn from the electoral register or approached outside the studios. Cases were given three days, at the end of which the jury would deliver its verdict within 30 minutes. Any Justice Secretary today would kill for that kind of efficiency!

Showing at 2.30pm on Monday, Thursday, Friday, free to air on Virgin 445, Freesat 306, Freeview or YouView 82, Sky channel 328.

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‘THE INNOCENTS’ VOTED HAWAII’S FAVOURITE HALLOWE’EN FILM!

This week (17.10.22-23.10.22), the Wall Street Journal announced the results of a nationwide survey by Wishlisted[1] in all 52 states of the USA to find out which is the country’s favourite Hallowe’en movies. The site considered a list of 210 movies tagged “horror” on Rotten Tomatoes, filtered for those with at least a 60% audience score, then used Google Trends to compare searches for each movie by subregion between September 2017 and September 2022. Where many films were most popular in the same state, states were matched with the film with the most proportional popularity for that state. 

According to the survey, the most popular Halloween movies range greatly not only in theme but also in period. Residents of some states prefer the old classics, such as the 1925 version of “The Phantom of the Opera” or “Freaks” from 1932. Others have more modern tastes, favoring movies released in the last year or two, such as “Vengeance” (2022) or “Candyman” (2021). Hawaii, it transpires, has the best taste, choosing ‘The Innocents’

Hawaii: The Innocents (1961)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95%
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86%
> Directed by: Jack Clayton
> Main cast: Deborah Kerr, Peter Wyngarde, Megs Jenkins
> Rank on Rotten Tomatoes Top Halloween Movies list: 41/210

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SPECIAL SCREENING OF ‘THE INNOCENTS’ IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

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‘CHECKMATE’ THIRD IN SCIFINOW SERIES RATING

SciFiNow has also rated ‘The Innocents’ No.3 in their ‘Top 10 Must See Film of All Time’: “Another haunted house story, The Innocents follows governess Miss Giddens and her downwards spiral into paranoia when she takes a job at Bly country estate, looking after a young pair of siblings. It starts off quite sweetly, with Miss Giddens being taken by Miles and Flora’s charismatic ways, but once she learns that their previous governess, Mary Jessel, died under mysterious circumstances, things go from idyllic to nightmarish. Like The Haunting, The Innocents doesn’t care for jump scares, but it will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.”

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PETER’S PORTRAYAL OF PETER QUINT VOTED ONE OF CINEMA’S SCARIEST ‘LIVING DEAD’

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HALLOWEEN SCREENINGS OF NIGHT OF THE EAGLE

Department S & Night of the Eagle 1962 Find out about the flamboyant actor Peter Wyngarde with an episode of the Spy-fi series ‘Department S’. After the interval be very afraid with a rare screening of ‘Night of the Eagle’ aka ‘Burn Witch Burn’.”

15:00, Sunday 23 October 2022 (Doors open 14:30.)

Tickets are just £5.00 per person and include a cup of tea or coffee with biscuits during the interval. Book here

St. George’s Theatre, King Street, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. NR30 2PG.

FORBIDDEN WORLDS FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES ‘BIG SCREAM’ HALLOWEEN WEEKEND

Following its hugely successful inaugural event in May, Bristol’s Forbidden Worlds film festival returns to the former Bristol IMAX this Halloween to (metaphorically) splatter blood and giblets across the city’s largest cinema screen. Amongst the films to be screened is Night of the Eagle.

The technically minded may wish to note that films will will be projected from DCPs on a professionally installed Christie digital cinema projector. The screenings will not fill the full size of the former Bristol IMAX screen, but the projected image size will still be very big indeed.

Once again, you’ll be able to purchase branded Forbidden Worlds beer, courtesy of New Bristol Brewery. And this time, some films will be presented with descriptive subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Weekend and Day Passes for the festival are now on sale with individual screening tickets becoming available in a few weeks. Visit the Forbidden Worlds website for further information.

365 Bristol, c/o Raw Space111, Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8AT

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FLASH GORDON: THE OFFICIAL STORY REVISITED

Filmmaker and author John Walsh give a sneak preview of the 2nd edition of his best-selling book on the making of Flash Gordon, the movie from 1980. Find out how to win a signed copy. Available from Amazon and all other good bookshops.

See clip below for more information:

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ITC QUIZ BOOK

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THE PRISONER RE-RUNS

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DEPARTMENT S BACK ON BRITISH TV

The local London television channel, London Live began showing Department S at midnight on 18th February, 2022. The series can only be seen in the London area on the following channels: Freeview 8 – SKY 117 – Virgin159 and YouView 8.

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THE NATIONAL FILM THEATRE TO SHOW ‘THE INNOCENTS’ THROUGHOUT DECEMBER 2021

The NFT will be screening The Innocents on the following dates and times in December of this year:

• Saturday 04 December 2021 20:40 NFT3
• Thursday 09 December 2021 20:45 NFT1
• Monday 13 December 2021 18:10 NFT1
• Thursday 23 December 2021 14:20 NFT3
• Monday 27 December 2021 15:20 NFT1
• Thursday 30 December 2021 14:30 NFT1

Tickets go on sale in November

For further details, you can contact the NFT via the following link: https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/

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‘THE INNOCENTS’ BACK ON THE BIG SCREEN

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DEPARTMENT S: ULTIMATE EDITION RELEASED IN AUSTRALIA

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FLASH GORDON IS AMONG CLASSIC MOVIES TO HAVE HAD THEIR RATINGS TIGHTENED BY BRITISH BOAD OF FILM CLASSIFICATION

The move from Parental Guidance (PG) to 12A is “as a result of changing standards in society,” the body said. Flash Gordon’s “moderate violence, language, sex references and discriminatory stereotypes” were cited, along with domestic abuse in Rocky. The BBFC reviews its classifications every four to five years.

BBFC chief executive David Austin said in the body’s annual report: “We talk to over 10,000 people every four-five years… to ensure our policies remain in step with parental expectations and societal standards on an ongoing basis.

“As a result of changing standards in society, it’s not infrequent that a distributor will submit something to us that we have classified in the past, but which we need to take a fresh look at under our current guidelines.”

The PG rating says a film should not unsettle a child aged around eight or older while 12A recommends children under 12 shouldn’t watch without being accompanied by an adult.

Of the 93 complaints the board received last year, 27 were about 1980 space opera film Flash Gordon.

The movie’s 40th anniversary re-release was reclassified up to 12A partly due to the inclusion of “discriminatory stereotypes”.

The BBFC did not say what the stereotypes were. However Flash Gordon’s main villain, Ming the Merciless, was of East Asian appearance but played by Swedish-French actor Max von Sydow.

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‘A CELEBRATION OF ITC’

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COMING SOON TO TALKING PICTURES: THE INNOCENTS

Watch on Sky 328 | Freeview 81 | Freesat 306 | Virgin 445

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PETER GETS DANCING ON ICE STAR, RUFUS HOUND, BANNED FROM RADIO SHOW!

The following was taken from The Guardian:

Dancing on Ice star Rufus Hound urged fans to buy a record glorifying rape and joked about the killing of Jews, it emerged last night (29.01.21). The comments increased pressure on show bosses to axe him following anger at previous tweets — including one claim about the Manchester Arena bombing which triggered a falling out with pro-partner Robin Johnstone. Fed-up producers are even preparing TV and radio presenter Matt Richardson, 29, as his replacement.

Last night Hound, who missed last weekend’s show and will be absent tonight, tweeted: “I’ve had Covid. Isolated when I knew I’d come into contact with it, tested five days later, am coming to the end of having had it, luckily v mild case.” His rape blunder came in a podcast in which he talked about TV actor Peter Wyngarde’s banned[1] 1970 record, titled When Sex Leers Its Inquisitive Head[2].

Wyngarde, who died in 2018 aged 90, played sleuth Jason King, said to be an inspiration for Mike Myers’ Austin Powers character. The album featured a song called ‘Rape’, in which Wyngarde babbled about how sex attacks differ from country to country. The tasteless lyrics include: “Rape, rape, rape, rape, rape! It’s utterly amazing how many different kinds of rape there are!” He goes on: “There’s Italian Rape . . . Look into my eye-a-balls, you will see the fire! “Japanese Rape, of course! In France of course, where fun is greedy, The women are a little more seedy, And rape is hardly ever necessary.

Hound said: “Have you heard his album? Oh my s! “It starts with literally a seduction. “And one track, I s*** you not, is his take on how rape works in different countries, doing the different ’70s racist accents of the people committing the rape. “It sounds like I must be making it up in order to make it weirder for you to struggle to make you believe.“It absolutely genuinely exists — and I urge you all to buy it.”

Left: ‘Rape’ was also released as a single.

He also joked to comedian Richard Herring on his Leicester Square Theatre Podcast that Hitler killed millions of Jews “as a bet”. At one point he declared: “I’ve just thought of the most racist joke”– prompting host Herring to tell him: “Keep that to yourself.” The Sun on Sunday has already told how Hound, 41, had used terms such as “retard” and “gay lord” in tweets. And we told how another he posted suggested then – PM Theresa May orchestrated the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing to help win the Election.

“In Germany it isn’t always remembered, The rape is synonymous with whips, bunkers and Mauser, Which makes it all comparatively kinky.” He then makes a sick reference to the Holocaust. Critics have called it one of the most disturbingly racist recordings ever made.

Notes and Corrections: [1]: The album was not banned. [2]: The original album – released in 1970 – was not entitled, ‘When Sex Leers Its Inquisitive Head’. [3]: I have never read a single review of the album in which a critic has described it as, “one of the most disturbingly racist recordings ever made”.

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INFINITY MAGAZINE – ISSUE 32:

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FLASH GORDON GETS STEREOTYPE WARNING FOR “DUBIOUS, IF NOT OUTRIGHT OFFENSIVE” MING THE MERCILESS

Above: Peter as General Klytus with Max Von Sydow as Ming the Merciless

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) said it now has to bear in mind discriminatory depictions that are “no longer acceptable to modern audiences” when older films come in for reclassification. Ming was “coded as an East Asian character due to his hair and make-up” in the 1980 film but was played by the late Swedish actor Max von Sydow, BBFC senior policy officer Matt Tindall spoke about the issue in a podcast looking back at the year in film.

“Flash’s arch nemesis, Ming the Merciless, is sort of coded as an East Asian character due to his hair and make-up,” he said. “But he’s played by a Swedish actor in the film, he’s played by Max von Sydow, which I don’t think is something that would happen if this were a modern production.”

Mr Tindall said the BBFC was aware this is something that viewers “may find dubious, if not outright offensive”.

He continued: “Let’s just say that attitudes towards the acceptability of discriminatory racial stereotypes have moved on considerably since then and rightly so, of course.”

The organisation has reclassified Flash Gordon as a 12A – stricter than its original A rating, which is roughly equivalent to a PG today – due to scenes of violence “that go beyond what you’d expect in the lower category”, “moderate bad language” and “some verbal sex references” that exceed PG level.

Mr Tindall said the presentation of Ming in the film is not a “category defining issue” but that the organisation had added a warning due to the “potential it has to cause offence”.

He said: “This is something that we have to bear in mind often when we see older films coming in for reclassification, films that might contain discriminatory depictions or stereotypes that are not acceptable to modern audiences, including films where discrimination wasn’t the work’s intent, just a reflection of the period in which it was made.

“And this is an issue that we’re currently planning to explore more through research next year.”

Earlier this year, the 1939 American Civil War epic, Gone With The Wind was temporarily removed by US streaming service HBO Max, later returning with a warning over its “racist depictions” that were “wrong then and are wrong today”.

In the UK, comedy show Little Britain was removed from some streaming services over the use of blackface in some of its sketches.

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‘FLASH GORDON: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM’ OUT NOW!

Product Details

• Author: John Walsh
• Hardcover : 192 pages
• ISBN-10 : 1789095069
• ISBN-13 : 978-1789095067
• Dimensions : 26.11 x 2.16 x 33.15 cm
• Publisher : Titan Books (27 Nov. 2020)
• Language: : English

If I could give this book more than 5 Stars I would.

It is a masterpiece and a must, not only for Flash fans, but for Sci-Fi purists and general film buffs alike. It’s beautifully printed; the photographs, which have been taken both from the film itself and behind-the-scenes are of a superior, HD quality and the text, penned by John Walsh (see also ‘Harryhausen: The Last Movies’), is concise and peppered with a veritable cornucopia of otherwise unknown facts about the film, its cast and crew.

Also includes interviews with Sam J. Jones (Flash Gordon), Brian Blessed (Prince Vultan) and director, Mike Hodges.

Several pages are devoted to Peter’s character, General Klytus.

GORDON’S ALIVE!

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‘THE MAKING OF FLASH GORDON’ BOOK – PUBLICATION DATES REVISED

Please note that the publication dates for this book have been revised to the following: UK – 27th November and the US, 1st December, 2020. As previously mentioned on this page, Filmmaker and Author, John Walsh, is currently working on a new book which will be the official story of the 1980 Sci-Fi classic, ‘Flash Gordon’ which, it’s hoped, will be published later this year.For anyone interested, he has set up a Facebook page dedicated to the project which can be hound here: https://www.facebook.com/FlashGordonOfficialStoryOfTheFilm/

You can read more details about the book in an interview with the author, John Walsh, here.

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PETER QUINT AND MISS JESSEL (THE INNOCENTS) VOTED THE SCARIEST GHOSTS IN CINEMA

From unexplained bumps in the night to creepy children and things without faces, here are some of film’s most terrifying spectres, The Guardian votes Peter Quint and Miss Jessel the scariest ghosts in cinema – 30th October, 2020.

No.1: Are the ghosts real, or figments of the febrile imagination of the governess who sees dead servants peering through windows or lurking on the far side of the lake in a fair approximation of an early Black Sabbath album cover? It doesn’t matter, because either way they will chill your blood in the first and still the best adaptation of Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw. Directed by Jack Clayton, every frame of Freddie Francis’s deep-focus black-and-white cinematography seems designed to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

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FLASH GORDON: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM

The publication date for FLASH GORDON: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM has been put back from 27th October this year to 20th November. Even prior to release, the book is already more than 50% sold out, so it would be advisable to pre-order a copy if you are planning to purchase it. R.R.P.: £35.00

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PETER WYNGARDE BIOGRAPHY REACHES TOP 55,000 IN WORLDWIDE SALES

Peter Wyngarde: A Life Amongst Strangers – the definitive biography of the legendary actor which was published at the end of February this year – has been ranked at No. 55,100 out of over 6,000,000 books currently on sale worldwide. That would equate to approximately 9 units sold per hour in the UK alone.

The book is available in three formats – Hardback, Paperback and Kindle, and can be purchased from the Amazon, Austin-Macaulay, Waterstones and all good book shops.

See also: Book Information – Press Reviews – Happy Readers

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DEPARTMENT S & JASON KING FEATURES

The UK’s premier Cult TV and film magazine, Infinity, are due to publish an article about ‘Department S’ in their October issue, which will be on the shelves as of 10-10-20, and will follow up with a feature on the Jason King series in the November edition.

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‘NIGHT CONSPIRATORS’ NOW AVAILABLE TO STREAM

Peter plays the part of Werner Loder – the young editor of a Berlin-based newspaper – in Robert Muller’s controversial drama from 1963. Amongst the supporting cast are Peter Arne, Ronald Radd, Cyril Luckham, Sally Home, Patricia Haines and Ronald Leigh-Hunt.

Left: Peter as Werner Loder

Who are the five men of power who have come together late at night in a foreign embassy in Germany? What is their purpose? Who are the unexpected … Find out by following the link below:

https://watch.networkonair.com/armchair-theatre/armchair-theatre-anthology-two.html

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FLASH GORDON – THE LATE QUEEN’S FAVOURITE FILM!

Brian Blessed has claimed that the Queen revealed to him that her favourite film is Flash Gordon, the 1980 sci-fi in which he stars as Prince Vultan.

Speaking about the film’s 40th anniversary, the actor said that whenever he goes, people demand he recite his character’s catchphrase.

“Everywhere I go, they all want me to say ‘Gordon’s alive!’,” said Blessed. “The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker, horses and queens, and prime ministers, they all want me to say ‘Gordon’s alive!’, it’s their favourite film.”

He continued: “The Queen, it’s her favourite film, she watches it with her grandchildren every Christmas.”

The actor then assumed the Queen’s accent, quoting her as saying: “You know, we watch Flash Gordon all the time, me and the grandchildren. And if you don’t mind, I’ve got the grandchildren here, would you mind saying ‘Gordon’s alive’?”

It is unclear when the Queen made the reported disclosure, but she did appoint Blessed an OBE for services to arts and charity in 2016 .

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FLASH GORDON BACK IN CINEMAS

Flash Gordon is now confirmed to play at Picturehouse Central and in select cinemas from July 31st, it will then be released on 4K UHD Collector’s edition, Blu-ray, Steelbook, DVD and digital on August 10th. In addition, the film will screen as part of The Luna Drive In Cinema from August, with screening details available on their website as they are announced. 

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THE COMPLETE AVENGERS SERIES 2 COLLECTOR CARD

Part of The Complete Avengers Series 2 set of trading cards, released by Unstoppable Cards on 11th May 2020. Autograph card of Peter as Stewart Kirby. Only 36 produced. 

http://www.unstoppablecards.com/shop/index.php/unstoppable-cards/the-avengers-tv.html

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FLASH GORDON 4K RE-RELEASE CONFIRMED FOR AUGUST 2021

A fabulous-looking new collection of disc releases for 1980’s Flash Gordon have been announced – full details right here.

Now here’s some cheery news. The might Flash Gordon, the 1980 cult favourite movie, is getting a full Ultra HD 4K Blu-ray release this coming August. The movie will also be available too in a restored DVD and Blu-ray version as well, and we’re promised a hugely impressive remaster of the film.

To quote the official press blurb: “For the new 40^th Anniversary 4k restoration, Flash Gordon was scanned from the original 35mm negative to produce 4K files. Over 500 hours of manual restoration repaired serious damage that included image instability, scratches and intermittent flicker. The sound was scanned from the original track negative and underwent restoration to improve issues ranging from audio drop-outs throughout the feature and during reel changes, digital clicks and optical distortion. The film was colour graded for theatrical, home entertainment and 4K HDR release, using previous digital releases and 35mm prints as a reference. In line with the Director’s vision and the original 35mm cinema release, VFX work was applied to remove the strings in all scenes where visible.  This restoration was approved by Director Mike Hodges in May 2020, and will include the first 4K HDR Dolby Vision master of Flash Gordon.”

What’s more, a five-disc Ultra HD version is set to be available too, and there’s a hefty list of extra features across the various versions of the film.

The UHD, DVD and Blu-Ray Disc 1 includes:

• The main feature (1 hr 47)
• New Lost in Space: Nic Roeg’s Flash Gordon (also iTunes extra)
• Audio commentary with Mike Hodges
• Audio commentary with Brian Blessed
• Behind the scenes of Flash Gordon
• Stills gallery (also iTunes extra)
• Storyboards gallery (also iTunes extra)
• Original theatrical trailer

Blu-Ray Disc 2 includes:

• Interview with Mike Hodges
• Interview with comic book artist Alex Ross TBC
• Interview with screenwriter Lorenzo Semple, Jr. TBC
• Episode 24 of Flash Gordon (1979-1982): The Survival Game / Gremlin’s Finest Hour
• Sam Jones’s acting start
• Entertainment Earth on Flash Gordon merchandise
• Bob Lindenmayer discusses deleted scenes and original endings
• 35^thAnniversary Greenroom
• 35^thAnniversary reunion featurette
• Renato Casaro extended interview
• Brian Blessed anecdotes
• Melody’s musings
• On the soundtrack (Brian May & Howard Blake)
• Easter Eggs

The 5 disc Collector’s Edition includes:

• The UHD and 2 Blu-ray discs
• Bonus Blu-Ray Disc of LIFE AFTER FLASH, the 2017 feature documentary celebrating the film and it’s star, directed by Lisa Downs
• Original soundtrack by Queen & Howard Blake
• 32 page booklet
• 16 page Titan mini book (The Story of Flash Gordon)
• Reproduced booklet of the first strip of original comic books
• Poster of original artwork
• 4 artcards of various incarnations of Flash film posters across the years
• 1 sew on ‘Flash patch’

All versions of the film will be available on August 10th, 2020.

Watch the trailer here

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FLASH GORDON: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM

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13 EPISODES OF ‘JASON KING’ DUBBED INTO GERMAN

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JOHN CLEVERLY CARTNEY COLLECTOR CARD

Part of The Complete Avengers Series 1 set of trading cards, released by Unstoppable Cards in August 2019. Autograph card of Peter as John Cartney. Series Card No. AVPW4. Only 36 produced.

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EARTHLINGS, WHO WILL YOU COLLECT NEXT?

Big Chief Studios Ltd. is proud to announce a licensing deal with Hearst Holdings, Inc., King Features Syndicate Division, via Allsorts Licensing to produce a range of high-end collectables based on the cult classic 1980 movie Flash Gordon.

Initial product offerings will include highly detailed Sixth Scale Character Replica Figures of the key characters. Fans will be able to pre-order the first two figures: Flash Gordon – Saviour of the Universe and Ming the Merciless – Emperor of Mongo, from May. The line will be further expanded with figures of fan favourites Prince Vultan and Prince Barin, plus other characters to be announced.

Big Chief will also release a range of Character Mini Busts, which will offer striking portraits of key characters and the fantastical environments of Mongo.

Big Chief managing director Mark Andrews said, “We are thrilled to have agreed rights with King Features for such a beloved cult classic. The adventures of Flash Gordon were the inspiration and template for so many sci-fi TV shows and movies. We are thrilled to be working alongside King Features on Flash Gordon in time for it’s 40th Anniversary in 2020.”

Flash Gordon is a 1980 science fiction film based on the King Features comic strip of the same name created by Alex Raymond. Directed by Mike Hodges and produced by Dino De Laurentiis, the film starred Peter Wyngarde, Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Topol, Max von Sydow, Timothy Dalton, Brian Blessed and Ornella Muti.

With a camp style similar to the 1960s TV series Batman, in an attempt to appeal to fans of the original comics and serial films. The film is notable for its soundtrack composed, performed and produced by the rock band Queen. The film has since gained a significant cult following.

Mermaid Theatre, London – Opened: Thursday, 13th December, 1990

Character: Jack Pinchwife

Having to laugh to order must, I suspect, be amongst the most burdensome of an actor’s chores. Just think about it – night after night, being required to overflow with spontaneous mirth at something that was never, as likely as not, exactly a hoot in the first place. Anyone who wanted to witness the art of bad stage-laughing at its spellbinding worst, should’ve headed straight for the Mermaid Theatre and Richard Trethowan’s otherwise concertedly lustreless production of ‘The Country Wife’.

Below: Peter as Jack Pinchwife with Fenella Fielding as Lady Fidget

A possible defence, of course, was that the mirthful reactions of William Wycherley’s corrupt, cynical Restoration gents and Sparkish (Michael Ward Allen), his witless fop, are not, for the most part, supposed to be genuine, but rather the spurious displays of the scheming and the stupid. What the male members of Threthowen’s cast managed to hawk up, however, both looked and sounded rather different from this – more like what you would get if you were to round up a number of seriously depressed people and force them, at gunpoint, to impersonate the affected guffawings of insincere rakes.

The theatrical gods had scowled rather than smiled on this revival. To judge by the insert in the official programme, they had been positively vindictive towards it. To begin with, the rehearsal and preview period had been dogged by flu and viral infections. John Moulder-Brown who played the central amoralist, Harold Horner, had quit his sick bed just in time for the opening night whilst Peter, who played the deceived husband, Pinchwife, was absent for several weeks into the run (his place was taken by understudy, Keith Bridgewater) – initially with a bout of flu, which latterly turned into a viral infection.

Although Peter’s character, Jack Pinchwife, finds himself cheated on by his new, young wife, he’s not a particularly sympathetic individual. He was a drunkard and  gambler before marriage, and is the archetypical jealous husband – not because he loves his wife, but because he believes he owns her. He’s a latent tyrant, who’s not adverse to violence. Not only does he treat his wife like she’s his property, but also his sister, Alithea (Helen Masters), who’s engaged to Sparkish. Pinchwife wishes to marry off for financial reasons.

Wycherley’s tale of Horner – a life-long cynic about love, who lets it be understood that he’s become impotent, thereby ensuring that his adulteries – including an intrigue with the naïve Margery Pinchwife (Kerry Higgins), needed guile, subtle playing if it wasn’t to seem offputtingly coarse. The scornfulness of the man; his swingeing lack of scruples, and the way his deceit isolates him from any intimacy other than sexual were barely even hinted at by John Moulder Brown. Decked out in an unfortunately blond wig, he just looked bemused and uncomfortable. Charles II’s raunchier subjects might’ve found it intrinsically amusing to seduce and then abandon woman after woman whilst pretending friendship with their husbands. They might’ve thought it hilarious to see such conduct lauded in the theatre. Latter generations are more morally squeamish, or liked to think they were.

Sadly, subtlety and guile were banished from the Mermaid. The characters tended to simply move about the stage, cackle with mirthless glee, and then rattle off their lines, imperious to any feeling that was not instant and obvious; oblivious to rhythm, wit or even sense.