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Showing posts with label "Sapphire and Steel". Show all posts
Showing posts with label "Sapphire and Steel". Show all posts

Friday, February 19, 2010

Thames Thursday - "Sapphire and Steel" Assignment 6

I apologize for the late post.  Things were rather hectic yesterday, and I worked on legal paperwork until late last night.  Looks like I've got a "Jiffy Pop" kind of case and need to turn up the heat.

This week's topic is Assignment 6 of "Sapphire and Steel".  When I first saw the assignment, I took everything at face value.  Then things started becoming clearer to me.  I watched the assignment again, and began noticing strange things - not that most of "Sapphire and Steel" wasn't strange - but strange dialogue, like the repeated "eggs, fruit and milk", the repetition of threes, the gingham checks and chess board. 

I've spent about a year working on a story ida to bring Sapphire and Steel out of the trap.  My story began where the series left off.  Then I heard Joanna Lumley say that she would like for them to be able to leave the trap in the present day.  So, I took all the clues and puzzles I had figured out and moved them forward in time.

Does anyone have any observations they would like to share about Assignment 6?

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Thames Thursday - "Sapphire and Steel" Assignment 5

We've reached Assignment 5 of the series, the only adventure not written by P.J. Hammond.  Assignment 5 is an "Agatha Christie" style mystery.  It's popular with many viewers, but it wasn't one of Joanna Lumley's favorite episodes.

Personally, I like Assignment 5.  It's probably my second favorite, after Assignment 2, because it puts Sapphire and Steel in such a completely different situation.  There are some interesting visuals that I completely missed the first time I watched it, but it does make one get the impression that there is more to Sapphire and Steel's relationship than just time-mending.

Instead of recapping the Assignment, I'll ask if anyone has any thoughts they would like to share about Assignment 5.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Thames Thursday - "Sapphire and Steel" Assignment 4

This week's topic is Assignment 4, "The Man without a Face".  I started writing an overview earlier this morning, but it turned into a dissertation. 

Some folks have commented on not being able to watch Assignment 3 with the animals in the abbatoir.  Assignment 3 didn't bother me as much as this one. There was something that felt just a bit too creepy or sinister. Since it gives me the creeps just thinking about it, I'll summarize quickly the assignment as briefly as possible. 

Everything takes place in a tenement building. The downstairs is a second-hand shop. Steel says that it is a depressing place; a room full of potential triggers. "Nothing here but the belongings of the poor, the hopeless, and the dead."

There are apartments upstairs.  The landlord and Ruth, a tenant, have been missing for months.  In going through photos, Sapphire finds they have been locked into a photo that is 97 years' old. 

Sapphire and Steel discern that the landlord was manipulating photographs. The new landlord takes the photo manipulation further; releasing children from some photos and trapping Ruth and the former landlord in another photo.  Steel figures out the photo manipulation technique, including the use of a prism, and was able to use the darkroom equipment to reproduce a photo of Liz's missing roommate, Ruth. Upon finding the photo of Ruth, the creature, the "new landlord", set it on fire, killing Ruth.

Sapphire and Steel are both locked into photos a few times.  The two enlist the aid of Liz, Ruth's roommate, during the last occasion. Being trapped in a photograph together, the dreaded creature, the image of a man used by time, an image with multiple faces, enters the photo where Sapphire and Steel are.  In order to free themselves from the photo, while trapping the creature inside, the following telepathic exchange occurs between Sapphire and Steel: 

Steel: [We can... we can make a mirror. Make a mirror from... from this... this glass.]
Sapphire: {But how?}
Steel: [If we concentrate, both of us! Think of Mercury, and Silver!]
Sapphire: {Yes.}
Steel: [Think of what they can do. Borrow from their minds! It can be done if we both concentrate!]

This is the first time that we learn that Sapphire and Steel can "borrow" the powers of other elementals.

With the help of the tenant, Liz, Sapphire and Steel escape the photograph, leaving the creature trapped inside.  Steel suggests they find the kaleidoscope in the second-hand shop. Sapphire locates the kaleidoscope, and Steel uses it to trap the creature inside.  The kaleidoscope would be placed within a shipwreck, which would remain frozen for another 75 years.  When Liz asks, what will happen in 75 years, Sapphire says they will be waiting, and Steel comments that there would be other shipwrecks.  Steel also tells Liz to get rid of any photographs of her and to never have another photograph taken.

There is some interesting dialogue in Assignment 4.  Liz and Sapphire are rather merciless in teasing Steel. While Steel is sitting in the apartment with Liz, she comments about having turned on the stereo again. The following conversation occurs:

Liz (talking about the stereo): "Nice, isn't it? You can't dance to it, but it stops you feeling lonely. I suppose you wouldn't know." Then Liz says: "Did she choose that suit for you?"
Steel: "What did you say?"
Liz: "You can turn it off, if you like." When the music continued, Liz looks over at Steel and says: "It's her, isn't it? You can't do anything! The first time, that thing just stopped. She did it, didn't she? Picked your suit, as well?"

Steel makes no comment in reply to Liz as Sapphire draws his attention away from her.

When Steel figures out the photographic technique, he demonstrates what he has learned for Sapphire:

Steel: "Tricks! Tricks, tricks with film, tricks with cameras. We've been looking for proof. For evidence of some great photographic discovery! Mr. Williamson, photographer, was no more than a clever conjuror! Light patterns. Multiple images. Mirrors! That was the extent of his talent! Excuse me."
Steel plugs in a projector near Sapphire's feet and says: "To someone like Ruth it was no doubt talent enough! A few, cheap tricks to impress the ladies!!"

Sapphire: "Well, at least he bothered to impress them."

There are two other things I noted - Sapphire's comment to the "man", that they have only one face, and the concept of mixing old and new together (as in A1) is mentioned again.

It seems that Steel doesn't understand some of the Earth-based phrases Sapphire uses.  Early in the assignment, Sapphire uses the phrase, "A genie in a bottle." Steel doesn't understand, and she doesn't explain.  Later, when Steel solves the problem of what to do with their time gremlin, he tells her about using the kaleidoscope.  This time, Steel uses the phrase, "A genie in a bottle."

This is still a dissertation, isn't it?  Those are just a few of my observations about A4.  What are your thoughts?

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Thames Thursday - "Sapphire and Steel" Assignment 3

We continue our discussion of "Sapphire and Steel" with Assignment 3.
This is an odd episode (aren't they all?) on several levels.

In Assignment 3, Sapphire and Steel assist a family from the future left stranded on earth. Sapphire and Steel know where the family is. Their problem is getting into the family's invisible "pod" on the top of an apartment building. Watching our bright Steel walk along the edge of the apartment building with his heels hanging over is great suspense.

I don't want to over-elaborate about the subject because it interferes with the discussion. I will only mention a few observations:

1) "I Get So Emotional Baby" 
When the creepy doll Steel strangled turned into Sapphire, Steel was overwhelmed with grief.

2) "I'll Be Watching You"
Steel saw the cringe-worthy flirting and fawning between Silver and Sapphire and Silver.  Somehow, Steel kept his jealousy and his temper in check and didn't deck Silver.

3) "Vous le Vous"
As I realized with A5 and A6, there were several visual and verbal messages. In A3, Sapphire and Steel had what I call their "dance around the bed".

4) "Here's Looking at You, Kid" 
I've wondered if the scene where Steel gave Sapphire the infant wasn't a hidden message.  That opens the door for a whole myriad of questions.  Unfortunately, the way the series ended, we can't speculate an answer to that question.
Never mind teasing us with vague terms about the chickens,
and grass and weeds, or the eggs, fruit and milk.

5) "Born Free" - Sapphire and Steel were surprised that there were no animals in the world of the future.  The concept of having pets was foreign to the couple from the future.

6) "You May Be Right" - In A3, Silver showed up to provide assistance. Silver is designated as a "technician", and he informed Sapphire and Steel that he was incapable of making a mistake. Although he may have hidden it from Sapphire and Steel, Silver does make mistakes.

Despite the gross moments with the animals in the abattoir, A3 has some gorgeous scenes.

The rooftop scene, when Sapphire steadies Steel to keep him from falling, is one example.

So, A3 is open for discussion.  One question on my mind is whether Sapphire was playing with Silver to provoke Steel, or whether Silver was playing with Sapphire to irk Steel.


Thursday, January 21, 2010

Thames Thursday - "Sapphire and Steel" Assignment 2

Assignment 2, "The Railway Station", seems to be the favorite of the six assignments. It was well-done from beginning to end

In this assignment, Steel is forced to make a difficult decision.  There is only one way to set time back on track, and Steel tells Sapphire, "It must be."   

The transcript recounts the final scene between Tully and Steel as follows:

From above Tully heard suddenly the soft whispering that heralded the darkness' approach. He broke out in a light sweat, words he had said earlier passing through his mind - a promise to the devil.  Well it was a payment, perhaps, for abandoning them.  He looked down at Steel and mustered a smile.  "Winning are we?"

This time the shudder that passed through Steel was strong enough to be seen.  Somehow it made Tully feel better. "Yes," the younger man answered.

Steel watched Tully mount the stairs, feeling sick to the heart and fighting it with all his might. I don't sleep, I don't cry, he told himself.  He is only a human, really.  Neither statement helped the moment Tully's horrified death-scream cut the air.  Steel stood frozen a moment longer before turning and stepping heavily out onto the platform.

Both men, ethereal and human, must face each other and their decisions.  In light of the circumstances, does Steel deserve to be considered as bad or as a villain?

What observations do you have about this assigment?  Do you have a favorite scene or special memories associated with Assignment 2?


Daylight Shot
Pit Cam Shot

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Thames Thursday - Assignment 1, "Sapphire and Steel"

Today's discussion topic is Assignment 1 of the UK series, "Sapphire and Steel". 

OVERVIEW OF THE SERIES:

Each episode contained the opening:

ALL IRREGULARITIES WILL BE HANDLED BY THE FORCES CONTROLLING EACH DIMENSION. 
TRANSURANIC HEAVY ELEMENTS MAY NOT BE USED WHERE THERE IS LIFE.
MEDIUM ATOMIC WEIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE:
GOLD, LEAD, COPPER, JET, DIAMOND, RADIUM, SAPPHIRE, SILVER AND STEEL.
SAPPHIRE AND STEEL HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED.

"Sapphire and Steel" was one-of-a-kind series.  There was no middle ground; viewers either loved it or hated it. Most loved the series, even if it frightened the fool out of them, and it has become a cult classic.

Understanding "Sapphire and Steel" didn't matter.  As Joanna Lumley said on "Wogan" during her interview of David McCallum, "It was a bit muddling, wasn't it?"

During the opening credits, there was a shadowy half-visible sort of metallic-looking semi-human image.  Little colored orbs were shown as certain "elements" were named (not all were elements as found on the periodic table, some are composite metals or crystals).  The elements were divided into three categories: investigators, who were called upon first to determined if a time break existed; operators, who repaired the breaks; and technicians, who were brought in to provide a specific skill (Silver was a technician, but he referred to himself in Assignment 6 as a "specialist" and was offended by the term "technician").  Sapphire and Steel were a handsome couple, designated as operators.  They appeared to be human, but had super-human abilities.  In Assignment 1, Sapphire told Rob and Helen there were 127 "of them", but Steel corrected her, saying that there were only 115 because the transuranics were "unstable". 

The preliminary title was "The Time Menders".  As Sapphire explained, "There is a corridor, and the corridor is time.  It surrounds all things, and passes through all things."  Time could break through and take things or people.

Aside from Assignment 3 (the animals in the abettoir), there was nothing gory about the series.  Everything took place within one site, giving a "claustrophobic" feel.  There was a dark, edge-of-your-seat suspense that, on occasion, played on viewers' fears (I first watched the series on YouTube and then bought the DVDs; it took me a year before I watched all of Assignment 4 - "The Man Without a Face").  

Some effects weren't very special, but most had a unique quality.  The effects were done on a shoe-string budget, years before there was CGI.  The creativity and effort needed to make the various effects work was a plus.

ASSIGNMENT 1 - "Escape Through a Crack in Time":

Assignment 1 wasn't the best in the series, but it was certainly good enough to hook viewers.

For Assignment 1 effects, the little spots of light on the floor weren't too intriguing, but there were effects that I liked:

Sapphire's being drawn into a painting - she was pulled into the past, yet she was still able to communicate with Steel and the children in the present;
The tunneled sort of opening in the wall in Helen's bedroom;
Mom's glowing red eyes;
Steel's freezing the painting to release Sapphire, freezing the soldiers and the cornerstone of the house;
Lead's hand appearing frozen when he touched Steel's shoulder;
The transition back in time to the construction of the house;
Lead's smashing the cornerstone. 

Using the negative of black and white film to show the spirits walking down the stairs to the basement was a cool effect.

Things I liked or found interesting in Assignment 1:

The children, Rob and Helen, were excellent.  From an interview with David McCallum, he said that Helen went through the entire "House that Jack Built" from memory, and she did it perfectly. 

The use of something as commonplace as children's nursery rhymes was a brilliant device for a "trigger".

Lead, the "giant" and Steel's "insulation", was great.  Lead picked up Steel as if he were picking up a feather.

There were unexplained aspects to the relationships between the elements:

Sapphire and Steel shared a certain familiarity with each other.  There was something unexplained between them.  In the transcript, Sapphire and Steel were referred to as "companions".  They teased each other; they touched each other; they looked warmly at each other.  They also annoyed the heck out of each other.

The significance of Lead, Jet, Copper and Silver to Sapphire and Steel was interesting.  Lead arrived after Steel dropped his temperature and had warmed up.  Besides having super-human strength (as did Steel), Lead (who wasn't identified as a "technician" or an "operator") provided insulation for Steel when he was required to lower his temperature.  Lead was a bit of a gossip.  When Lead said, "By the way, Steel, Jet sends her love," Sapphire was amused and replied, "Oh ...?  Does she, now?"  Steel wasn't amused (the transcript said when Sapphire looked at him, Steel was "slightly embarrassed"; he seemed annoyed in the episode).  Lead continued, "And Copper's having problems with Silver ...."  Sapphire asked, "Again?"  Lead answered, "Again!" and laughed.  In the transcript, it said that Steel did not like to hear about Silver, but offered no explanation.  Steel walked out of the room, gruffly telling Lead, "When you've finished eating, I'll show you what we have to do."  Lead looked at Sapphire and said, "Always cool, that man."  Sapphire replied, "Well he has to be, in this house."

Some of Sapphire's and Steel's powers were shown including Steel's ability to drop his temperature to almost absolute zero, Sapphire's ability to take time back, and their ability to communicate telepathically.

In reviewing Assignment 1, I noticed a few things that showed up in Assignment 6: the gray checked kitchen curtains looked like the curtains in the cafe kitchen, along with the use of multiple clocks.  Was this just a coincidence or were subtle items from other assignments used in Assignment 6, too?

***

Overall, Assignment 1 is an enjoyable episode.  I hope you will contribute your thoughts on this Assignment, and we'll tackle Assignment 2, "The Railway Station", next Thursday.



Steel and Sapphire with Rob

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Serendipity Saturday - "Sapphire and Steel"

With Thames Thursday coming up, shall we discuss "Sapphire and Steel" by assignment?  Since there were only six assignments, I thought we might discuss each.  What do you think, cousins?