dBerczerk | 26 Sep 2014 1:54 p.m. PST |
I happened to catch an episode of "Reilly, Ace of Spies" on Public Broadcasting Station yesterday evening. I always found the opening theme music particularly captivating. As it played last night, I was immediately transported back in time to 1982, and vividly remembered where and when I first saw the series. There are themes from many British television shows I also find quite memorable: -- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes -- Foyle's War -- Downton Abbey -- The Avengers -- Doctor Who -- The Last of the Mohicans -- Masterpiece Theatre -- Soldiers: A History of Men in Battle -- Poirot -- House of Cards Have I missed any? The themes from Maigret (France) and Raid (Finland) are also great, but what factors contribute to British television theme composers' particular genius and success? |
boy wundyr x | 26 Sep 2014 2:06 p.m. PST |
Season 1 of Space 1999 always makes me want to dance. IIRC UFO is pretty spiffy too. |
Fonthill Hoser | 26 Sep 2014 2:08 p.m. PST |
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Maddaz111 | 26 Sep 2014 2:09 p.m. PST |
ok… but onedin line aint a british theme. |
mrwigglesworth | 26 Sep 2014 2:10 p.m. PST |
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Rogues1 | 26 Sep 2014 2:10 p.m. PST |
The original Prisoner – I am not a number, but Doctor Who will always be number 1 |
M C MonkeyDew | 26 Sep 2014 2:12 p.m. PST |
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MajorB | 26 Sep 2014 2:17 p.m. PST |
ok… but onedin line aint a british theme. ??? A BBC television drama series which ran from 1971 to 1980. The series is set in Liverpool from 1860 to 1886[1] and deals with the rise of a shipping line, the Onedin Line, named after its owner James Onedin. link |
MajorB | 26 Sep 2014 2:18 p.m. PST |
I always remember the themes from Z Cars The Avengers The Saint |
Schogun | 26 Sep 2014 2:37 p.m. PST |
The Avengers Doctor Who The Saint Secret Agent Man The Prisoner And yes, now that you mention it -- Reilly, Ace of Spies |
Red3584 | 26 Sep 2014 2:40 p.m. PST |
The Onedin Line…with a theme by Khachachurian, hence not very British |
MajorB | 26 Sep 2014 2:44 p.m. PST |
The Onedin Line…with a theme by Khachaturian, hence not very British The OP was talking about "British TV shows" not that the theme was "British" (whatever that means ). |
MAD MIKE | 26 Sep 2014 2:50 p.m. PST |
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tinned fruit | 26 Sep 2014 2:50 p.m. PST |
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boy wundyr x | 26 Sep 2014 3:00 p.m. PST |
Oh +1 to Sandbaggers too, good call Mad Mike. |
MAD MIKE | 26 Sep 2014 3:09 p.m. PST |
Thanks. I will never pass on a chance to draw attention to The Sandbaggers. Full episodes are on Youtube |
Winston Smith | 26 Sep 2014 3:09 p.m. PST |
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Black Bull | 26 Sep 2014 3:15 p.m. PST |
Joe 90 maybe a Wigan Casino thing |
Tin hat | 26 Sep 2014 3:17 p.m. PST |
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BobTYW | 26 Sep 2014 3:18 p.m. PST |
I second THE AVENGERS (John Steed and Emma Peel) Original Doctor Who (Tom Baker was the best) The Prisoner Space 1999 |
Norman D Landings | 26 Sep 2014 3:35 p.m. PST |
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Mikasa | 26 Sep 2014 3:35 p.m. PST |
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rmaker | 26 Sep 2014 3:49 p.m. PST |
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Norman D Landings | 26 Sep 2014 3:53 p.m. PST |
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saltflats1929 | 26 Sep 2014 4:03 p.m. PST |
Black Adder (all seasons) |
JimDuncanUK | 26 Sep 2014 4:06 p.m. PST |
How come you have all missed Dads Army. YouTube link Who have you been kidding? |
Coelacanth | 26 Sep 2014 4:30 p.m. PST |
The Prisoner all the way. Ron Grainer's theme music is arresting; the main title itself is a masterpiece of concise visual storytelling, introducing Six and outlining the conceits of the series without the use of dialogue: YouTube link For comparison purposes only, see the re-make: YouTube link Ron |
Vintage Wargaming | 26 Sep 2014 4:35 p.m. PST |
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miniMo | 26 Sep 2014 5:07 p.m. PST |
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Cardinal Hawkwood | 26 Sep 2014 5:16 p.m. PST |
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Fried Flintstone | 26 Sep 2014 5:17 p.m. PST |
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The Gray Ghost | 26 Sep 2014 5:19 p.m. PST |
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20thmaine | 26 Sep 2014 5:43 p.m. PST |
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20thmaine | 26 Sep 2014 5:54 p.m. PST |
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Huscarle | 26 Sep 2014 11:53 p.m. PST |
I have to agree with "Reilly – Ace of Spies", the music is from Shostakovitch's "The Gadfly". It was a few years before I found out the music for the "Onedin Line" was from Khachaturian's "Spartacus". Seems like quite a few classical pieces have been taken up by TV. My favourite 3 from the 70s are BBC TV "Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy" YouTube link I Claudius YouTube link and Colditz YouTube link and from the other side ITV "The Feathered Serpent" YouTube link "Children of the Stones" YouTube link |
artaxerxes | 27 Sep 2014 12:08 a.m. PST |
When the Boat Comes In. Absolute brilliant stuff. |
Swampster | 27 Sep 2014 2:23 a.m. PST |
Another vote for the Anderson themes, including Fireball XL5 for the kitsch value. Doctor Who, though the modern orchestral arrangement loses something. Rhubarb and Custard. Chorlton and the Wheelies. Dangermouse. |
wyeayeman | 27 Sep 2014 5:12 a.m. PST |
Robin Hood Ahh but which. Not the arty-farty Clannadd crap or the ridiculous jonas armstrong nonsense surely. Either 'The adventures of Robin Hood' (riding through the rlen) or There was a series called the Legend of Robin Hood in 1975 which was wonderful and the music just works |
Who asked this joker | 27 Sep 2014 6:17 a.m. PST |
UFO had a great theme. I remember it really getting me going as a kid. So retro. I will say, they sure did fire a lot of ordinance to take down just 1 UFO. |
rmaker | 27 Sep 2014 8:38 a.m. PST |
Robin Hood Ahh but which. Adventures of I don't know if the others ever made it across the pond. I also remember a Thames series on WW2 (World at War, maybe?) which had an Elgar-sounding theme, which was followed by a narrative lead in to the particular episode… "And now, the Fall of France" |
wyeayeman | 27 Sep 2014 9:39 a.m. PST |
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NWMike | 27 Sep 2014 10:14 a.m. PST |
Secret Agent Man The Avengers UFO Space 1999 Oh yes, almost forgot this one! YouTube link |
ChargeSir | 27 Sep 2014 10:26 a.m. PST |
Dad's army Blake 7 Colditz |
MAD MIKE | 27 Sep 2014 10:29 a.m. PST |
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zoneofcontrol | 27 Sep 2014 11:26 a.m. PST |
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Norman D Landings | 27 Sep 2014 12:07 p.m. PST |
Pushing the Gerry Anderson envelope… I even liked the theme for 'Space Precinct' (although it could lose the cheesey voiceover!) YouTube link The Champions: YouTube link Persuaders:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t99QQIXez4M Danger UXB: YouTube link And at number forty-two: YouTube link |
kreoseus2 | 27 Sep 2014 1:43 p.m. PST |
Has to be the professionals by a mile |
Dynaman8789 | 27 Sep 2014 7:08 p.m. PST |
No mention of Monty Python yet? What is the world coming too? YouTube link OK, not exactly British being written by the famous American John Phillip Sousa… YouTube link |
King Monkey | 28 Sep 2014 3:28 a.m. PST |
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rmaker | 28 Sep 2014 8:19 a.m. PST |
The World at War. link That was good, too, but the one I'm thinking of had a fanfare type theme. It dates from the '60's (so probably not Thames after all). And I think it was supposedly connected (loosely) to Churchill's books. |