Well... some of the writers were keen on westerns and influenced by them (notably Robert Holmes, who picked up several different themes and entwined them brilliantly in the episode "Gambit" - there's a very western influence in his treatment of Travis in that episode). However, a lot of it was actually down to Paul Darrow. Paul was (and is) a huge fan of westerns, and the main writers of the series knew this and enjoyed putting in deliberate references so that Paul would pick them up and interpret them as Avon. Some lines he actually suggested himself, and was allowed to use; for instance, when Avon shoots Travis' artificial hand off, Blake says approvingly, "Good shot." Avon's deadpan reply is: "I was aiming for his head." It's lifted straight out of a western, and it was Paul's idea.

All the fight sequences in B7 were very carefully choreographed, and I don't actually know for sure whether Paul had any direct or indirect influence on those he was involved in, but since he was given an unusually free rein elsewhere by Terry Nation and Chris Boucher, it's reasonable to assume that he probably did, and that he would have (consciously or unconsciously) worked from western models. Remind me to ask him!



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That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)

Sarah

<Awed> Gosh, I really didn't know that was true. I have difficulty spotting influences outside of the printed page and, for some reason, musicals. I'll have to get around to thanking my friend for that insight :)

Skiffle, this may be the moment to pick up on Jon's hint there and plug your writing for the benefit of newer members of this august fforum!



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That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)

Sarah

Well yes I know I said B7 wasn't particularly good, but I was thinking more of the 'special' effects -- and it used to suffer quite a lot from moving scenery syndrome.

But it has actually aged better than some much more expensive SciFi (the first Star Wars film springs to mind -- the effects in it seemed amazing at the time, and now you see them and think, Oh, what was all the fuss about?) probably partly because of this -- as you said, the special effects didn't look special at the time, either.

And there were certainly some damn fine actors involved -- I'll be buying it when it comes out on dvd too, but I was just anticipating that I'd be disappointed -- I have a tendency to view old TV programme through rather rose tinted specs, so I was getting my disappointment in early ;)



Jesus saves; Buddha does incremental backup.

I'll tell you one TV show from my childhood where the SFX still impresses; Thunderbirds. Yes, it's true. The showed them on Saturday mornings a year or so ago, and I watched to have a snigger at the strings on the puppets, but stayed to gawp at the superb modelling. When you consider the budget the Andersons worked to, and the limited resources at their disposal, it's still pretty amazing even 30 or more years later. No CGI; just balsa wood and aircraft glue. And, of course, Barry Gray wrote the best theme tune ever.

What a shame Gerry Anderson and Reg Hill didn't do the SFX for B7 ....



- - -
I am very interested in the Universe. I am specialising in the Universe and everything surrounding it. - E. L. Wisty

I read the Phantom Tollbooth a long time ago, which considering my short time on this Earth means I must have read it at about the age of 7 and a half, just after when I read the Hobbit for the first time (7 and 2 months).

I really should read it again, because I've forgotten a lot and I imagine I'd find it a lot funnier now.

I loved the 'Whetherman' and I remember the market stall and the people who kept doing what they were saying - 'easy as falling off a log' and all that. And the Watchdog, of course!

Hmm, really *should* get myself another copy...



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There's a hole in my creativity bucket and it's all leaked out.

Just because you asked, Sarah:

For those who don't know, I'm a (badly-paid) writer with nine westerns published. They are published by Robert Hale, in their Black Horse series, and are generally found in libraries rather than bookshops, although they can be ordered. Amazon and Booksonline also stock a selection.

As mentioned, Paul Darrow is a big western fan, so I wrote two westerns featuring Paul's character, Avon, as Sheriff Darrow, with Vila appearing as Deputy Keating. The third Darrow western is currently under construction. Paul has read both, and says that he wishes he could be as heroic as the sheriff is !

Owing to a f**k-up by an online name selling company, my website can be accessed via two addresses !
www.genre-fiction.co.uk
www.gillian-f-taylor.co.uk
There's also the actual Yahoo Geocities address, but that isn't as cool.

It's possible that forwarding to the genre-fiction address won't work, but the other one does.

BTW Sarah, the film Paul is quoting when he complains that he was aiming for Travis' head, not his arm, is 'The Magnificent Seven'. James Coburn shoots a bandito off his horse to the admiration of Horstz Budscholdz. Coburn complains that he was aiming for the horse

Does anyone remember the late 70's eaarly 80's cartoon series "Battle of the Planets"? It was very big when I was in primary school and still holds a special place in my childish heart.

I remember Battle of the Planets, that was the one where the plane/spaceship split up into 5 bits - one for each of the characters and iirc turned into a flaming pheonix occasionally.

Yep, I too recall Battle of the Planets. My little brother used to imitate Keyop.

Something Skiffle said reminds me... Has anyone else seen Terry Wogan and Gabby Roslin on Five? It's quite simply the best daytime TV show I've seen. They even have Johnny Ball doing a sciencey bit each day. He was on about Galilleo working on the trajectory of cannon after a slate fell off the Leaning Tower of Pisa. "It missed his shoulders by this far," says the Ball-meister, holding up his fingers two inches apart. He pauses, and then says, 'It hit his head.' Brilliant, quite simply brilliant.



PSD

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This is the work of an Italian narco-anarchic collective. Don't bother insulting them, they can't read English anyway.

Haven't seen it, although I read about it. I'm afraid that watching Mr Wogan brings me out in a metaphorical rash. Now if it were Johnny Ball and Gaby Roslin.... Now there's a guy who is a riot to watch!

Battle of the Planets - Was there one called Jason in that? I have a horrible feeling that I had a crush on an anime character. :-)

Yes, and as I recall Jason was fairly good looking. Certianly more so that Tiny or Keyop, although as I recall Mark wasn't bad.

Ah, found some pics.
[www.geocities.com]

Magda - That site is brilliant! And it does confirm beyond reasonable doubt that I did indeed have a latent crush on Jason. It must've been his bad boy stroppiness. :)

Magda - I know that site quite well. Of course it'w brilliant. It's by an Aussie.

Personally I thought Mark was a bit of all right. Which seems a touch tragic now, looking back.

I don't think having a pre-adolescent crush is too bad, in comparison with someone I know who nearly went through an identity crisis because of 'Monkey'. Well it was actually fancying Tripitaka that did it, the gender ambiguity thing.

I feel a rousing chorus of 'girls who are boys and boys who like girls who are..' coming on!