"DO de do dedada dabadaba do dedod deda, DO de do dedada dabadaba do dedod deda" The strangest but most brilliant TV series EVER. Watch this drunk or St**ed............... its the best.
6 Reviews
Don't BASH The Bishop
dilsonbelper16 January 2021
The Man from V.I.C.A.R.A.G.E.
frukuk17 April 2023
This is actually quite fun and, as another reviewer has pointed out, seems to reference other 1960s TV series. (I did wonder if the shot of the Centrepoint building was meant to echo the shot of the Nemesis offices in The Champions (1968). But I don't know that The Champions would have already aired when this series was being made.)
The first (*** see EDIT below ***) episode was almost psychedelic -- or at least F-A-B -- as I was only half-watching it and so didn't realise a shrink-ray was involved. The teeny-tiny car and occupants had a feel of Michael Bentine's Potty Time (1973-1980). It's only when watching the second episode that I realised the shrink-ray is an important part of their equipment.
So, do please give it a go. Like me, you might just find it a fun watch.
EDIT: it turns out that what I thought was the first episode was actually the 13th and final episode. Having subsequently watched the actual first episode, I can confirm that the shrink-ray (and suitcase) is clearly introduced in the first episode.
The first (*** see EDIT below ***) episode was almost psychedelic -- or at least F-A-B -- as I was only half-watching it and so didn't realise a shrink-ray was involved. The teeny-tiny car and occupants had a feel of Michael Bentine's Potty Time (1973-1980). It's only when watching the second episode that I realised the shrink-ray is an important part of their equipment.
So, do please give it a go. Like me, you might just find it a fun watch.
EDIT: it turns out that what I thought was the first episode was actually the 13th and final episode. Having subsequently watched the actual first episode, I can confirm that the shrink-ray (and suitcase) is clearly introduced in the first episode.
In defence of 'The Secret Service'!
enochsneed8 September 2005
It seems to me that some of us have forgotten that Gerry Anderson's productions were originally aimed at *children*. A generation of confirmed adolescents have laid claim to 'Thunderbirds', 'Captain Scarlet', etc., with their SF elements and spectacular model work. When Mr Anderson decided on a change of pace with a whimsical espionage story people were baffled: "A Gerry Anderson show - starring a Model T Ford? What's that about?"
Well, don't forget the 60's was also the era of 'The Avengers', when England's green and pleasant land was full of power-mad eccentrics. It seems to me that Anderson combined elements of 'The Avengers' (off-the-wall spy stories in an apparently innocent setting) with the Father Brown character of GK Chesterton (unobtrusive village priest as super-sleuth). Father Unwin lives in an England of parish churches, tea on the vicarage lawn, and tree-lined country lanes free of traffic. He thinks getting 42 m.p.h. out of his Model T is cutting a dash. If anything I would like to know more about how he came to be involved in B.I.S.H.O.P.
The result was not (and is not) to everyone's taste, but it should not be dismissed just because it's different. The stories are not repetitive, although they do repeat the same elements. 'Thunderbirds' is repetitive: a huge disaster requires the fantastic equipment of International Rescue to save the day. Only the circumstances change: skyscraper, monorail, airliner. We saw the launch sequence of Thunderbirds 1 & 2 in every episode.
And in my opinion Stanley Unwin was a genius whose wordplay lay as much in the subtle association of ideas (a typewriter becomes a 'tripewriter', a trombone is a 'slideyhuff') as the simple scrambling of the words themselves. Read Unwin's 'House and Garbidge' or 'The Miscillian Manuscript' then John Lennon's books 'In his own write' and 'A Spaniard in the works' to see how influential he was (even those titles are 'Unwinesque'). He could also be extremely quick-witted and funny without resorting to 'Unwinese'. When, as 'Professor Unwin', he was asked about the castrati (male singers who were castrated to preserve their boyish voices) his reply was simple: "I'm not cut out for that sort of thing." Deep joy!
Well, don't forget the 60's was also the era of 'The Avengers', when England's green and pleasant land was full of power-mad eccentrics. It seems to me that Anderson combined elements of 'The Avengers' (off-the-wall spy stories in an apparently innocent setting) with the Father Brown character of GK Chesterton (unobtrusive village priest as super-sleuth). Father Unwin lives in an England of parish churches, tea on the vicarage lawn, and tree-lined country lanes free of traffic. He thinks getting 42 m.p.h. out of his Model T is cutting a dash. If anything I would like to know more about how he came to be involved in B.I.S.H.O.P.
The result was not (and is not) to everyone's taste, but it should not be dismissed just because it's different. The stories are not repetitive, although they do repeat the same elements. 'Thunderbirds' is repetitive: a huge disaster requires the fantastic equipment of International Rescue to save the day. Only the circumstances change: skyscraper, monorail, airliner. We saw the launch sequence of Thunderbirds 1 & 2 in every episode.
And in my opinion Stanley Unwin was a genius whose wordplay lay as much in the subtle association of ideas (a typewriter becomes a 'tripewriter', a trombone is a 'slideyhuff') as the simple scrambling of the words themselves. Read Unwin's 'House and Garbidge' or 'The Miscillian Manuscript' then John Lennon's books 'In his own write' and 'A Spaniard in the works' to see how influential he was (even those titles are 'Unwinesque'). He could also be extremely quick-witted and funny without resorting to 'Unwinese'. When, as 'Professor Unwin', he was asked about the castrati (male singers who were castrated to preserve their boyish voices) his reply was simple: "I'm not cut out for that sort of thing." Deep joy!
"A case for the B.I.S.H.O.P.!"
ShadeGrenade26 April 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Following 'Joe 90' ( 1968 ), Gerry and Sylvia Anderson decided not to stray too far from the world of international espionage for their next 'Supermarionation' show. 'The Secret Service' was built round a real-life person - actor/comedian Stanley Unwin, the inventor of 'Unwinese', a gobbledygook language.
Father Stanley Unwin ( as he was billed in the credits ) was an eccentric priest who lived in a beautiful English country cottage, had a home help called 'Mrs.Appleby' ( voiced by Sylvia ) and a work-shy gardener named Matthew Harding. Whenever a major crisis occurred ( such as top secret documents being stolen or whatever ), B.I.S.H.O.P. ( British Intelligence Secret Headquarters Operation Priest ) contacted the Father through a radio in his hearing aid. A gadget - known as a Minimizer - concealed in his Bible would shrink Matthew to the size of a doll, and Unwin could then carry him round in a specially-adapted briefcase. In the opening episode, Unwin mentioned that the Minimizer was bequeathed to him by one of his parishioner's, the late Professor Humbolt.
For thirteen weeks, this unlikely pair of secret agents thwarted villains and routed saboteurs. Father Unwin would often fall back on Unwinese to get him out of scrapes by confusing the enemy.
Another interesting feature was the amount of live action footage employed. The real Unwin would drive along a road, stop outside a house, get out, walk to the front door and knock. But when it was opened, the puppet Unwin was suddenly in place. You could not see the join, as Eric Morecambe used to say.
With its choral Barry Gray theme tune, 'Service' was a charming series, not too far removed from 'The Avengers' with its idyllic English country setting and bizarre plots ( as a matter of fact, an early 'Avengers' episode was called 'The Little Wonders' and featured enemy agents masquerading as priests ). But Lew Grade - head of I.T.C. - felt the show would not appeal to the American public, and had it cancelled. It was true that the potential for merchandising was severely limited - kids were hardly likely to nag their parents at Christmas for a Dinky toy of 'Gabriel', Father Unwin's Model T Ford. Many I.T.V. regions opted not to screen it. Even when B.B.C.-2 were raiding the Anderson back catalogue for their 6 P.M. Friday slot in the early '90's, they inexplicably passed up a golden opportunity to introduce 'Service' to a new audience.
I myself first heard of it through the early '70's children's comic 'Countdown' which ran a strip detailing the story of how Father Unwin acquired the Minimizer. Twenty years later, all thirteen episodes came out on video, and Network have since brought it out on D.V.D.
It was the last of the Andersons' famed 'Supermarionation' shows. From here on, it was live action only, commencing with the superb 'U.F.O.'.
Timeus to endey this reviewbold. Goodly-byecus!
Father Stanley Unwin ( as he was billed in the credits ) was an eccentric priest who lived in a beautiful English country cottage, had a home help called 'Mrs.Appleby' ( voiced by Sylvia ) and a work-shy gardener named Matthew Harding. Whenever a major crisis occurred ( such as top secret documents being stolen or whatever ), B.I.S.H.O.P. ( British Intelligence Secret Headquarters Operation Priest ) contacted the Father through a radio in his hearing aid. A gadget - known as a Minimizer - concealed in his Bible would shrink Matthew to the size of a doll, and Unwin could then carry him round in a specially-adapted briefcase. In the opening episode, Unwin mentioned that the Minimizer was bequeathed to him by one of his parishioner's, the late Professor Humbolt.
For thirteen weeks, this unlikely pair of secret agents thwarted villains and routed saboteurs. Father Unwin would often fall back on Unwinese to get him out of scrapes by confusing the enemy.
Another interesting feature was the amount of live action footage employed. The real Unwin would drive along a road, stop outside a house, get out, walk to the front door and knock. But when it was opened, the puppet Unwin was suddenly in place. You could not see the join, as Eric Morecambe used to say.
With its choral Barry Gray theme tune, 'Service' was a charming series, not too far removed from 'The Avengers' with its idyllic English country setting and bizarre plots ( as a matter of fact, an early 'Avengers' episode was called 'The Little Wonders' and featured enemy agents masquerading as priests ). But Lew Grade - head of I.T.C. - felt the show would not appeal to the American public, and had it cancelled. It was true that the potential for merchandising was severely limited - kids were hardly likely to nag their parents at Christmas for a Dinky toy of 'Gabriel', Father Unwin's Model T Ford. Many I.T.V. regions opted not to screen it. Even when B.B.C.-2 were raiding the Anderson back catalogue for their 6 P.M. Friday slot in the early '90's, they inexplicably passed up a golden opportunity to introduce 'Service' to a new audience.
I myself first heard of it through the early '70's children's comic 'Countdown' which ran a strip detailing the story of how Father Unwin acquired the Minimizer. Twenty years later, all thirteen episodes came out on video, and Network have since brought it out on D.V.D.
It was the last of the Andersons' famed 'Supermarionation' shows. From here on, it was live action only, commencing with the superb 'U.F.O.'.
Timeus to endey this reviewbold. Goodly-byecus!
They got it all wrong
rt-ingram9 September 2018
The Secret Service was one Gerry Anderson show that got it all wrong. Firstly, you can't have a show mixing puppets with real live actors, it's either one or the other. Secondly, the idea of a Church bishop doubling up as a secret agent and going on dangerous missions is too far fetched for its own good. The episodes weren't that memorable either; each puppet show has standout episodes, but this has none. And that whole 'Unwinese' thing was just plain silly.
Only worth watching if you are a die hard Gerry Anderson fan, otherwise, this is a very disappointing series.
Dull as a sermon
purakek20 August 2002
After Thunderbirds and that mysteron series, I looked forward to this Anderson offering. Tried to like it, but it was too slow and the concept of a priest working for the British Secret service (British Intelligence Secret Headquarters Operation Priest or BISHOP) didn't really take off. I guess if I wanna watch a show with marionettes as the cast, I need more toy rockets and explosions.
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