Film / TV
Biggles the Movie
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Biggles (Adventures in Time) | Compact Yellowbill (1986) |
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Originally released with the simple title "Biggles", the US distributors added the "Adventures in Time" subtitle.
A very bizzare tale that tried to appeal to all audiences and probably failed to engage any. From IMDB: One minute the New Yorker advertising expert Jim Ferguson is at a business party - the next he finds himself way back in 1917 in a plane fight during WW1. Mr. Raymond explains to him that he has a time-twin, to whom he's relocated in space and time whenever one of them is in trouble. So he has to help his twin, biplane pilot Biggles, in his attempt to destroy a Nazi-German super weapon, that could win the war. Movie cast as follows:
Through the wonders of the interweb (3 cheers for Youtube), a few snippets to enjoy.
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Biggles The Untold Story | Pan Books (1986) |
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The book to accompany the movie. Written by Peter James.
47pp, paperback, several colour illustrations. | ||
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Biggles The Movie | Severn House Publishers (1986) |
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The other book to accompany the movie. Novelisation by Larry Milne (who must do this as a career - previous title mentioned for him is Ghostbusters).
192pp, hardback, red boards, dustjacket. No illustrations, but an interesting article at the end of the book on how they got around to getting the film made. And a classic quote from Peter Cushing, the only real star in the movie:I have a feeling that BIGGLES will do for its young men what "Star Wars" did for its principals; they all made it big. Not quite. | ||
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Biggles | Yellowbill Services (1986) |
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In a serious milking of the marketing potential of the film, another spinoff was this "Rainbow Theatre Readalong" edition. A highly abridged version
of the story, illustrated with shots from the film, and accompanied by a cassette (sadly not sighted) that went beep when you
needed to turn the page.
Produced by the Rainbow Theatre, this book (BOW576 in their catalogue on the inside back cover), is one of 30 such titles. Alongside versions for the classics of Star Wars and Ghostbusters (!), also a strong line in A-Team books. 24pp, paperback, several colour images of scenes from the film. | ||
Biggles the TV Series
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Biggles | Granada TV (1960) |
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43 episodes (30 mins each) were produced and shown in the UK in 1960. They were a mix of
dramatisations of existing titles and new stories produced directly for TV.
Capt Johns and Tony Warren shared writing credits.
The following is the full list of episodes, with their original broadcast date, taken from IMDB. Links within the list are to the media company that now owns the clips - provides more technical/cast details if interested.
The cast was apparently consistent across all episodes (so IMDB says):
What? No Algy? | ||
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Biggles Air Police Membership | Unknown |
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When the TV series was shown, a breakfast cereal (Quaker Oats) had a linked promotion
where you could send off and join the Biggles Air Police. On submission you were then sent
a Biggles badge and an ID card, as well as a welcome letter.
Thanks to Andy for providing the details, and copy of his certificate. Still proudly carried in his wallet by the look of it.
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