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Post by omega on Feb 27, 2018 6:03:18 GMT
CALLAN » 1. CALLAN VOLUME 01 Released July 2018SynopsisFull-cast adaptations of Callan stories originally published in the Sunday Express. Originally broadcast in 1967, Callan took the burgeoning world of spy drama, and brought a much darker tone to the genre. With James Bond’s career beginning in film in 1962, Michael Caine’s Harry Palmer beginning in 1965 (The Ipcress File) and hot on the heels of the surreal series The Prisoner in 1967, Callan took a darker approach to espionage. Having similar responsibilities to MI5, Callan used the most ruthless and lethal techniques to get the job done, each method meticulously filed by ‘The Section’ (the organisation behind operative Callan), colour coding each lethal tactic. Four series of the original television series were produced between 1967 and 1972, plus a cinema film released in 1974 and a TV comeback in 1981. And now, Callan is set to return on audio at Big Finish. Adapted from series creator James Mitchell’s Sunday Express Short Stories by his son Peter Mitchell, four new adventures will expand the themes explored in the television show. 1.1 File on a Deadly Deadshot by James Mitchell (adapted by Peter Mitchell) Callan goes hunting for an assassin. 1.2 File on a Classy Club by James Mitchell (adapted by Peter Mitchell) The stakes are high for Callan when he takes on a gang using a casino for cover. 1.3 File on an Awesome Amateur by James Mitchell (adapted by Peter Mitchell) There’s a plot to assassinate Hunter and the man behind it murdered his daughter. 1.4 File on a Harassed Hunter by James Mitchell (adapted by Peter Mitchell) Callan and Meres are sent to Venice to kidnap a Russian poet.
More story details to follow. Written By: James Mitchell, adapted by Peter Mitchell Directed By: Ken Bentley CASTBen Miles (Callan), Frank Skinner (Lonely), Nicholas Briggs (Hunter), Jane Slavin (Section Secretary Liz) More cast details to be announced
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Post by nudge on Mar 2, 2018 12:01:39 GMT
Listening to Dalek Empire yesterday I was reminded that I'm not overly keen on Nicholas Briggs' voice acting so I do have a concern with: CAST Ben Miles (Callan), Frank Skinner (Lonely), Nicholas Briggs (Hunter), Jane Slavin (Section Secretary Liz) Not sure if I'm alone with this view, or maybe since he's the big boss man no one at BF is brave <stupid> enough to tell him to stick with writing + monster voices, and move away from the microphone.  |
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Post by pawntake on Mar 2, 2018 12:33:24 GMT
Listening to Dalek Empire yesterday I was reminded that I'm not overly keen on Nicholas Briggs' voice acting so I do have a concern with: CAST Ben Miles (Callan), Frank Skinner (Lonely), Nicholas Briggs (Hunter), Jane Slavin (Section Secretary Liz) Not sure if I'm alone with this view, or maybe since he's the big boss man no one at BF is brave <stupid> enough to tell him to stick with writing + monster voices, and move away from the microphone. He does a really good Sherlock Holmes, and he is an accomplished actor,cannot see the problem myself??  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2018 12:46:00 GMT
Listening to Dalek Empire yesterday I was reminded that I'm not overly keen on Nicholas Briggs' voice acting so I do have a concern with: CAST Ben Miles (Callan), Frank Skinner (Lonely), Nicholas Briggs (Hunter), Jane Slavin (Section Secretary Liz) Not sure if I'm alone with this view, or maybe since he's the big boss man no one at BF is brave <stupid> enough to tell him to stick with writing + monster voices, and move away from the microphone. Agree 100%. I tried some of the Sherlock Holmes stuff & gave up due to his acting. He was also out of his depth in Frankenstein. With all the great actors that work for BF I wonder why he gets some of these roles. |
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Post by nudge on Mar 2, 2018 13:35:47 GMT
He does a really good Sherlock Holmes, and he is an accomplished actor,cannot see the problem myself?? Am glad he has his fans, but I'd rather here someone else play the part. I did try Sherlock, but after two stories that was enough for me. |
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Post by nudge on Mar 2, 2018 13:48:58 GMT
Agree 100%. I tried some of the Sherlock Holmes stuff & gave up due to his acting. He was also out of his depth in Frankenstein. With all the great actors that work for BF I wonder why he gets some of these roles.It's either budgetary reasons, or maybe he just writes his name against a character: "Bagsy being, Hunter" an no one else objects. Though as can be seen in this thread he has his fans so expect we are a minority. |
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Post by omega on Apr 14, 2018 23:19:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2018 9:00:03 GMT
Listening to Dalek Empire yesterday I was reminded that I'm not overly keen on Nicholas Briggs' voice acting so I do have a concern with: CAST Ben Miles (Callan), Frank Skinner (Lonely), Nicholas Briggs (Hunter), Jane Slavin (Section Secretary Liz) Not sure if I'm alone with this view, or maybe since he's the big boss man no one at BF is brave <stupid> enough to tell him to stick with writing + monster voices, and move away from the microphone. He does a really good Sherlock Holmes, and he is an accomplished actor,cannot see the problem myself?? This. |
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Post by mark687 on Apr 16, 2018 14:04:41 GMT
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on May 5, 2018 8:53:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2018 9:28:21 GMT
This will be very much a niche product I think. |
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2018 12:11:23 GMT
Really looking forward to this, despite never seeing the series.
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2018 21:31:07 GMT
Really looking forward to this, despite never seeing the series. I can recommend it - good raw no frills early TV Drama with a hard edge and depth of character in place of action, with an exploration of the seedy underbelly of society and lost souls. Seems well cast with Ben Miles and Frank Skinner, who can provide both the hard and the vulnerable aspects explored in the originals. Hunter is an M style character in terms of screen time, i have no issue with Nicholas Briggs - he will be fine in the role - but please don't prejudge this by the way of what is likely a cameo from the person responsible for getting this made. The Prisoner has made a good impact and it is not the vanity project some would have it be. |
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Post by Audio Watchdog on May 6, 2018 0:05:24 GMT
This will be very much a niche product I think. I would say Big Finish pretty much specializes in niche products. Doesn't mean this won't be good or that there won't be an audience receptive to it. |
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2018 0:11:54 GMT
This will be very much a niche product I think. I would say Big Finish pretty much specializes in niche products. Doesn't mean this won't be good or that there won't be an audience receptive to it. This! |
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2018 2:14:02 GMT
Really looking forward to this, despite never seeing the series. I can recommend it - good raw no frills early TV Drama with a hard edge and depth of character in place of action, with an exploration of the seedy underbelly of society and lost souls. Seems well cast with Ben Miles and Frank Skinner, who can provide both the hard and the vulnerable aspects explored in the originals. Hunter is an M style character in terms of screen time, i have no issue with Nicholas Briggs - he will be fine in the role - but please don't prejudge this by the way of what is likely a cameo from the person responsible for getting this made. The Prisoner has made a good impact and it is not the vanity project some would have it be.
I don't really get The Prisoner backlash at all, to be honest. Big Finish explained that they couldn't do their standard pricing for the first volume, due to contractual obligations with ITV. And I don't blame Big Finish for promoting the release A LOT - it was audacious task, even by Big Finish standards and I can't imagine the licencise wasn't somewhat costly, either. I love what Big Finish have done with Doctor Who, but I'd rather see their talents expand to other properties and push them in exciting new directions and their own original stories, then just do more Doctor Who.
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Post by Audio Watchdog on May 7, 2018 23:28:48 GMT
I can recommend it - good raw no frills early TV Drama with a hard edge and depth of character in place of action, with an exploration of the seedy underbelly of society and lost souls. Seems well cast with Ben Miles and Frank Skinner, who can provide both the hard and the vulnerable aspects explored in the originals. Hunter is an M style character in terms of screen time, i have no issue with Nicholas Briggs - he will be fine in the role - but please don't prejudge this by the way of what is likely a cameo from the person responsible for getting this made. The Prisoner has made a good impact and it is not the vanity project some would have it be.
I don't really get The Prisoner backlash at all, to be honest. Big Finish explained that they couldn't do their standard pricing for the first volume, due to contractual obligations with ITV. And I don't blame Big Finish for promoting the release A LOT - it was audacious task, even by Big Finish standards and I can't imagine the licencise wasn't somewhat costly, either. I love what Big Finish have done with Doctor Who, but I'd rather see their talents expand to other properties and push them in exciting new directions and their own original stories, then just do more Doctor Who.
To be fair, the main gripe with the pricing had more to do with making a "deluxe" box set than anything else. As someone who understands Big Finish releases are luxury items serving a niche market, volume 1 of The Prisoner was the first time I felt like I was being taken advantage of by BF for being a fan. And it was a message Big Finish heard as the packaging for volume 2 shows. And I don't look at vanity projects as a bad thing. I look at them as passion projects and in art, as in most things, passion is something you want. |
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2018 1:28:13 GMT
I don't really get The Prisoner backlash at all, to be honest. Big Finish explained that they couldn't do their standard pricing for the first volume, due to contractual obligations with ITV. And I don't blame Big Finish for promoting the release A LOT - it was audacious task, even by Big Finish standards and I can't imagine the licencise wasn't somewhat costly, either. I love what Big Finish have done with Doctor Who, but I'd rather see their talents expand to other properties and push them in exciting new directions and their own original stories, then just do more Doctor Who.
To be fair, the main gripe with the pricing had more to do with making a "deluxe" box set than anything else. As someone who understands Big Finish releases are luxury items serving a niche market, volume 1 of The Prisoner was the first time I felt like I was being taken advantage of by BF for being a fan. And it was a message Big Finish heard as the packaging for volume 2 shows. And I don't look at vanity projects as a bad thing. I look at them as passion projects and in art, as in most things, passion is something you want. I don't get why people see it as a vanity project, though. It's something Big Finish does with other licencises, it's no different to Dark Shadows or Sapphire and Steel or Blake's 7. Doing something with The Prisoner was always going to get people's attention, it's a win-win for everyone. I do think they handled it badly, but I have feeling they really did expect to release volume one on download at the usual price and ITV came down on them, following the pattern of The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure, Worlds of Big Finish, Worlds of Doctor Who, etc with the packaged version a collector's item. (I know some fans complain about this, but not every release was going to sell as well as The Light At The End (released in the 50th anniversary year) and Big Finish could offer a Standard Edition, likewise for the Novel Adapations sets which had Tom Baker and Lalla Ward act together for the first time and an adapation of an RTD story and wanted to do something different to mark the occassion) |
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Post by coldlazarou on May 8, 2018 11:34:28 GMT
Anyone who hasn't seen Callan should at least check out the first episode: the guy he's up against is Professor Zaroff himself!
On The Prisoner, as per the above discussion: i must say that neither the deluxe box set format or the higher than usual price bothered me all that much - it was finding out that most of them were going to be remakes with the odd new one thrown in, rather than all new stories, that made me lose all interest
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Post by Audio Watchdog on May 8, 2018 21:56:50 GMT
On The Prisoner, as per the above discussion: i must say that neither the deluxe box set format or the higher than usual price bothered me all that much - it was finding out that most of them were going to be remakes with the odd new one thrown in, rather than all new stories, that made me lose all interest That was my initial feeling as well but to give Nick full credit, he made it work. |
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