The Champions - Theme Tune and Trailer - ATV/ITC 1968
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- Опубликовано: 9 сен 2024
- The Champions were exercising their super-human skills to entertain us on TV long before the Six Million Dollar Man was even a twinkle in his producer's eye. Aided by several off-camera trampolines, dodgy editing and questionable stunt doubles (who weren't even lookalikes) Craig Stirling, Sharron Macready and Richard Barrett were able to bounce around in exotic locations - in other words in the studio which was thinly disguised by a few palm fronds or polystyrene snow. Even the exterior shots of the headquarters of their organisation (Nemesis) were filmed in the romantic setting of Whetstone High Road which apparently lies on the banks of Lake Geneva.
Don't get me wrong ... The Champions was one of the great action adventure series from in the 1960s funded by Lew Grade and ATV. It was created by Dennis Spooner and the producer was the legendary Monty Berman. The theme tune was written by Tony Hatch.
Some ITV regions waited until late 1969 (ie when they began broadcasting in colour) before they showed The Champions, so it had a very staggered roll out across the UK.
The British stars were Alexandra Bastedo, William Gaunt and Anthony Nicholls. As with many of Lew Grade's shows an American actor was included to build the appeal of the programme to American audiences. The late Stuart Damon was the American in The Champions. He went on to have a long career in TV in General Hospital in the US.
The Champions sold moderately well overseas. It was called Les Champions in France, Tris d'Assi in Italy, Los invencibles del Némesis in Spain, Os Campeões in Brazil and Los Campeones in the rest of Latin America.
Together with the opening titles I've included one of the generic (ie non-channel specific) launch trailers for the show. Two other trailers featured William Gaunt and Stuart Damon individually whilst a fourth trailer included all three of the main characters.
I know people that have done this like a few years ago but this was one of my favorite shows.
Same!!
Bastido was a really classy lady RIP Alex.
When I scanned the TV guide sometime in ‘68, for the evening of the first ever broadcast episode, I saw the title and thought it would be a documentary about football!, I was only around 9… Not being a great sports fan, I had a pleasant surprise when it came on.
I watched the same episode a few weeks ago. It was still rather good, I thought.
Brilliant!!
Wonderful series, one of my favourites.
English beauty, nice lady and talented actress.
When TV has something original and worth watching.
How times have changed.
Times certainly have changed! For example, nearly every drama after 9pm is now a family-unfriendly fast-flowing sewer of bad language. Did viewers actually ask the TV executives for this? I don't think so!
How wonderful to see a lady dressed like a lady.
Brilliant nostalgia. Got the box set last month
A wonderful series - enjoy the box set!
If you have the box set then it looks like you're the man to do a RUclips video of all the pre-episode scenes where they demonstrate their powers :)
This music reminds me of the film, "The Shuttered Room" opening music. Very similar. Probably why I love both! Thanks for sharing.
Welcome!
In the United States this series aired in 1968 on NBC as a summer replacement for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.
Thank you. I was trying to remember when it was on and did not think it was a Fall Season show.
Loved The Champions as a child. I always wanted to be Richard Barratt.
I was 5 years old and in love, I now know why, she asked me out on a date!
Very classy
I wonder if that trailer would have had the same impact if it was fronted by one of the male leads? Or if the show was made now if they would use the female lead to promote it
Alexandra Bastedo was probably a fine actress and was tbh was in this (way before my time) and was obviously very attractive but I just feel like she was told to front this advert because of marketablity.
Not a criticism of the producers or the actors/actressses. Just pointing out attitudes
In fact I think each of the three leads made a trailer individually and a fourth trailer was made with all three. I guess by making four trailers ITC hoped that TV stations picking up the series would give more airtime to the trailers and that they would thereby build more intrigue in the build up to the show.
There are at least two versions of each trailer. One version is on the Carlton DVD box set. Another on the Network DVD set. One set mentions a particular channel in the trailer. The other set doesn’t.@@LostsTVandRadio
@@wurliewynd6308 Ah, thank you for that information.