Ron Grainer -- Theme from "The Prisoner"

 

As a J-moppet in the mid-1960s, there were two images on television that terrified me back under sofa cushions and behind my parents. One was the first face of Balok from the original "Star Trek" episode, "The Corbomite Maneuver".

Of course, I hadn't been aware of the episode at the time but terrifying Balok was used as the final still photo for the ending credits during the second season of "Star Trek". Not sure why my parents, who were never sci-fi fans, just happened to have the show on at the time when those credits popped up. I can only gather that they were getting back at me for filling up my diapers a little too often.

The other image that probably was responsible for me filling up my diapers was good ol' Rover from "The Prisoner". How does a white bouncy balloon become something this scary? I don't know but the producers pulled it off. It especially frightened me when Rover caught an errant Villager and the camera just had to show the victim screaming through the balloon.

"The Prisoner" starring Patrick McGoohan (whose face frankly scared me too) was one of those one-of-a-kind programs that has become legend despite only having a one-season run between September 1967 and February 1968. There was no way at the time that I could have understood the overarching philosophical and political themes at play. It was always Rover and that pre-commercial shot of Number 6's head racing toward the camera before prison bars stopped it. In fact, it wasn't until some fifteen years later when reruns of "The Prisoner" began playing on the local "The All-Night Show" that I could begin to understand what was really going on between Number 6 and all those Number 2s. And at the same time, I could also finally hear the theme song.

I only learned about this in the last few days but the composer for "The Prisoner" theme song was Ron Grainer who is already on KKP's Reminiscings of Youth series because of his work on the theme for "Doctor Who" which he accomplished with Delia Derbyshire. The other big surprise was that the original version of "The Prisoner" theme was a far more sedate deal known as "The Age of Elegance", and yep, it definitely sounded elegant, but show producer McGoohan was having none of that and he kept pushing Grainer to speed it up (I guess "Faster...more intense" wasn't just George Lucas' mantra). It finally did speed up to become this boss and very 1960s brassy tour de force tune that was unlike anything for James Bond or Napoleon Solo. The British always did brass right back in the day. I guess in a way, the theme was reflective of Number 6 himself: elegant, fast, brash and cunning.

By the way, I've been hearing rumours that Christopher Nolan may be interested in doing a cinematic version of "The Prisoner". If there's any director who can pick up on the challenge, it would be Nolan although I wasn't quite as enthused about "Tenet". Anyways, who was picking up on the Japan Record Awards hardware in 1967?

Grand Prize: Jackey Yoshikawa and His Blue Comets -- Blue Chateau（ブルー・シャトウ）

Best Performance: Hiroshi Mizuhara -- Kimi Koso Waga Inochi （君こそわが命）

Best Performance: Yukari Ito -- Koyubi no Omoide （小指の思い出）

Be seeing you...

From imdb

Ron Grainer and Delia Derbyshire -- Theme from "Doctor Who"

 

For all American readers here, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope all of you have made it to your destinations and will soon be tucking into that Norman Rockwell-friendly turkey dinner with all of the trimmings. Now, as for all you Whovians out in the world, a Happy 60th anniversary to "Doctor Who", the longest-running science-fiction TV series out there. It was born on the BBC on November 23rd 1963.

As you can see at the top, there is my copy of the commemorative tome for the 20th anniversary of the show which I purchased when I was but a wee high schooler. To think that "Doctor Who" is now three times as old. From what I remember reading was that the show of a fantastical if irascible figure known as The Doctor traveling in his Type 40 TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension In Space) had originally been crafted to act as a peaceful programming wedge between the Saturday afternoon sports show and the evening news. Well, it's gotten a little more complex since then.

The first time I'd ever heard of "Doctor Who" was in the early 1970s when it appeared on either the local educational channel, OECA, or the Buffalo affiliate of PBS, WNED. I first got to see the Third Doctor played by Jon Pertwee as this cranky if dashing middle-aged guy chopping enemies with his Venusian aikido and was then initially confused when suddenly he changed into a tall bohemian version of Harpo Marx played by Tom Baker as you can see above. I had to gradually learn about the whole concept of regeneration which is virtually a bank holiday in the UK when a new actor jumps into the role. 

I distinctly remember the first episode that was introduced on screens here which happened to be the 10th anniversary special, "The Three Doctors". The idea was either inspired or insane by the programmers. Have new viewers see all three actors who have played The Doctor at one time to get the idea of who they were or confuse the heck out of them by having three Doctors in the same time and space in some madcap caper. But since I didn't see any weird monsters, spaceships or phaser bursts within the first five minutes, I quickly switched over to the CBC. It would take several years, quick views of clips Pertwee and Baker as I was changing the channel and a more mature approach before I finally got to enjoy "Doctor Who" by the late 1970s...just in time before Baker handed the baton to young Peter Davison.

My feelings on the good Doctor and the show over the decades have been perhaps similar those of his companions: love and hate, disappointment and thrills. The quality of episodes and even that of full seasons has also careened wildly just like the TARDIS flying through the space/time vortex. But The Doctor keeps on coming in his many and different faces to save the universe from Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans and other horrifying crises.

Although my initial viewing of "The Three Doctors" didn't last too long, I was around for the eerie and iconic theme song by Ron Grainer and Delia Derbyshire. The story of how the theme was created is frankly incredible and ought to be read about on its Wikipedia entry but back then, there were no synthesizers or emulators. From how it reads, it was all the equivalent of manual handling, snipping, splicing and patience without computers. I've often wondered whether techno bands such as Yellow Magic Orchestra and Kraftwerk had gotten any inspiration from hearing the theme.

In the decades since, the theme song eventually underwent a lot of different arrangements including the one for the 60th anniversary specials, due to be televised in a few days. But I have to admit that my favourite version isn't one that has been used on any of the episodes or specials, but the following mix created by Hardwire. If I ever have the need for speed and inspiration, I go to this one.

Anyways, enjoy the anniversary and have a jellybaby!

For this week's Reminiscings of Youth, let's see what was winning at the Japan Record Awards in 1963.

Grand Prize: Michiyo Azusa -- Konnichiwa Aka-chan (こんにちは赤ちゃん）

Best New Artist: Kazuo Funaki -- Koukou Sannen-sei （高校三年生）

Best New Artist: Akemi Misawa -- Shima no Blues（島のブルース）