7. The Deadly Whisper

[The Bishop]

7. The Deadly Whisper

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1297
Here is the loveable Rex - what a character he looks! I wonder whose dog he was.

CAPERS

1. CELEBBERS

There are plenty of celebrities in this story and, most notably, Captain Black playing the part of Kroner. We also see Captain Scarlet (Agent Blake), Captain Brown, Captain Ochre and Captain Indigo.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1312

2. STORY TRIDDLYHOW

A gang of criminals are determined to sabotage a new experimental airliner in such a way as to make the crash look like it was caused by a design fault. The gang leader is Mark Slater (Captain Indigo) who is charismatically and enigmatically voiced by David Healy.

Slater, Kroner and Eastman (who seems to be a new puppet) kidnap Anne Soames, who is the daughter of Professor Soames. They threaten to kill Anne unless the Professor agrees to develop his prototype sonic rifle to the point where it is capable of shooting down the plane.

Professor Soames is a clever man and, when Father Unwin phones him about entering his prize roses into the flower show competition, says he is submitting dahlias this year. Both Father Unwin and Matthew realise that this is a subtle call for help and Unwin contrives to visit Soames and leave the miniaturised Matthew to investigate.

Slater is no fool either and quickly discovers the intrigue and takes Father Unwin prisoner until after the aircraft has been destroyed. Unwin and Matthew engineer their escape and manage to make a fool of Kroner (Black) in doing so. Slater and Eastman are already heading for the airfield with the rifle and use it to stop their pursuers from giving chase.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1299

3. NE'ER DO WOLDS

Here we see Kroner (Captain Black) being cut down to size by Father Unwin and Matthew. Kroner is holding the Professor, Anne and Unwin at gunpoint but, unbeknown to him, the miniature Matthew is behind him having climbed to the top of a bookcase.

Unwin uses Unwinese as a means of communicating instructions to Matthew who is able to push some heavy books on top of Kroner's head. "How did that happen?!" asks Professor Soames. "The value of a good book is often understimated." is Father Unwin's somewhat guarded reply.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1298

4. RESOLVEY-HO!

Having been stopped in their pursuit of Mark and Eastman, Father Unwin liaises with The Bishop who is able to arrange for Unwin to take command of the airbase. The Professor has thought of a way to thwart the saboteurs which involves flying a jet aircraft at Mach 3 over the attack zone. The build up of sound waves from the jet causes the sonic vibrations from the rifle to bounce back and blow up the rifle thus preventing any attack on the prototype airliner.

[The Bishop]

CONTAIN-ITS

5. IF YOU FOLLOW MY MEAL

Purpose

Unwinese is used fairly extensively in this episode. When Unwin is talking to Mark Slater, he uses Unwinese to communicate instructions 'under the radar' to Matthew about pushing the case back to him.

Later when Unwin and the Soames family are trapped in the attic by Kroner, the Unwinese is used to pass precise instructions to Matthew to enable him to manouevre the heavy books so that they will fall on Kroner's head.

Transcript

The following exchange takes place in the Professor's room between Mark Slater and Father Unwin.

Mark Slater: "I'm afraid the Professor is unwell - he's gone to rest. You came for the dahlias, I understand?"
Father Unwin: "Ah, yes.. dahlias.. yes, yes. Well I get a confusimost with the dahlias and the joy of the rosibud of the horticold."
Slater: "I beg your pardon?"
Unwin: "Yes. Hortiocold or culture. Push your case to me, Matthew, if you wold, please."
Slater: "Push your case?"
Unwin: "Yes.. or take it up to a higher corm. This is a deep joy, if you understold?"
Slater: "I'm afraid I find it difficult to follow your train of thought!"
Unwin: "Ah, yes.. Train - now there's a thing. St Pancreas, glade or gland, Kingsy Cross, Scotload.. O most joyfold!"
Slater: "Let's stop this charade!"


The next interchange takes place in an attic room where Kroner is holding his hostages at gunpoint.

Unwin: "A little to the leftyportload side please Matthew."
Kroner: "What are you talking about?! Who's Matthew?"
Unwin: "Yes! Matthew, Mark or Lukey-John, if you understold?"
Kroner: "That's enough of that!"
Unwin: "Yes, of course.. but the Angeloads say of this and there is a deep joy of it, I assure you."
Kroner: "Let's cut out the chat, shall we."
Unwin: "Exactly right, Matthew."

Matthew then pushes the books which fall off the bookshelf and land on Kroner's head knocking him out!

A little later in reply to Professor Soames' question about what had happened:

Unwin: "No time for chat. We must get after Mark and his henchman. O deep joy in the goodly workload, Matthew. Tricklyhow back in the case and I'll pick you up later."

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1301


Translation

Mark Slater: "I'm afraid the Professor is unwell - he's gone to rest. You came for the dahlias, I understand?"
Father Unwin: "Ah, yes.. dahlias.. yes, yes. Well I get confused when it comes to dahlias and the joy of rose growing."
Slater: "I beg your pardon?"
Unwin: "Yes. Horticulture. Push your case to me, Matthew, if you would, please."
Slater: "Push your case?"
Unwin: "Yes.. or push it in the corner. This is a good thing, you understand?"
Slater: "I'm afraid I find it difficult to follow your train of thought!"
Unwin: "Ah, yes.. Train - now there's a thing. St Pancras, Kings Cross, Scotland. How wonderful!"
Slater: "Let's stop this charade!"

Unwin: "A little to the left hand side please Matthew."
Kroner: "What are you talking about?! Who's Matthew?"
Unwin: "Yes! Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, if you understand?"
Kroner: "That's enough of that!"
Unwin: "Yes, of course.. but the Evangelists speak of them and it is a source of great joy, I assure you."
Kroner: "Let's cut out the chat, shall we."
Unwin: "Exactly right, Matthew."

Unwin: "No time for chat. We must get after Mark and his henchman. Good work, Matthew. Get back in the case and I'll pick you up later."

6. DEEP JOY OF THE MINIATURISATION

This is one of those episodes that includes a shot of Micro Matthew - see below.

7. THE MIKE SONG SINGERS

It is easy to take the sound effects for granted and concentrate on the music. In this story, the sound effects as the sonic rifle builds up its power are effective and menacing and culminate in a series of powerful explosions. Below you can see a humped back bridge which has been blown up to stop Father Unwin and Professor Soames as they give chase in Gabriel.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1300

8. PROPY

The following scene should perhaps have been included under Chuckloads but this is the moment when the prototype airliner flies over the Vicarage and the vase resonates and is smashed. You can see the pieces flying off left, right and centre if you watch the video.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1303

9. SETLOADERS

This is an atmospheric and colourful set and the 3 targets make a dramatic impact. There is also a good view of the first generation sonic rifle that Slater wants to be developed so that it is capable of destroying more than a pane of glass.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1313

[The Bishop]

NAME DROPNY

10. GLINTY SCINTILLADES

Here we have Captain Brown who previously portrayed the criminal, George Grey, from 'To Catch A Spy' (see right) and now plays Professor Soames (see left). I think the modellers have done a great job on him by adding lines to his forehead and a grey moustache and hair.

Before the changes this puppet seemed rather cold-blooded and calculating but I really like him now he has had his makeover as it gives him a definite gravitas. As you know, this puppet was selected to play the Prime Minister, George Lomax, after extensive screentests and auditions!

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1315

11. AGENT BLAKE - O FOLLY TERRIBOLD!

Agent Blake makes a brief, non-speaking appearance in the Bishop's office in Whitehall. This scene is very similar indeed to the one included in the solution to the Competigame but I note that there was a big red clock on the wall on that occasion..

12. SUPPORTY CARPS

Here is the resident blonde actress from the Repertory Company playing the part of Anne Soames. This is a surprisingly powerful image and the expression and posture combine well to create a genuine moment of tension and alarm.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1304

13. CREASEY UNIFOLDERS

Captain Ochre wears a rather gaudy blue uniform when playing the part of the Controller. I also wondered why Professor Soames' jacket does not appear to have lapels - it looks a bit odd.

HOUSE & GARBIDGE

This section affords an opportunity to pick up on some of the live action shots and locations which are a characteristic of this show.

14. LIVE HAPPENY

There is some good live action in this show and this always enhances my viewing pleasure (as they say). First there is Anne Soames being kidnapped after stopping to help an apparent casualty lying in the road and later we see Stanley Unwin visiting the mansion of Professor Soames.

15. TIMELY PARPS

There is nothing particularly nostalgic in this story but it still has an excellent, leisurely feel.

16. GRANDLY ARCHITEPS

Professor Soames' mansion is absolutely beautiful. If I won the lottery this is the sort of place I would love.

Here is a link to the place where Anne Soames stops to phone her father but unfortunately there is no link to the mansion which remains unidentified! http://avengerland.theavengers.tv/h.htm#h30

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1307

17. MOTYCARS CLASSICOLD

I think this is a very attractive car. I well remember seeing them about but am not sure what type it is - maybe a Volkswagen?

I love the attention to detail in dressing the live action artist shown below getting out of her car. Surely, the white and greeny-blue cardigans can't be made from the same material for both the puppet and the actress - can they? Also, does anybody know who the live actress is and who is playing the part of the injured Mark Slater? You would need to be a cool customer to lie in a roadway these days with the weight of traffic around!

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1306

[The Bishop]

SUM UPPERLY

18. ALL UTTERY WORDS

The extended scene showing the bulldog, Rex, lying in his smart green kennel is just gorgeous. What a dog he is! Did they smear anything on Matthew's face to encourage Rex to lick him. These scene alone could perhaps be the most enchanting one in the entire series.

As far as the story is concerned, it is reasonably good and the voice work of David Healy is spot-on. The ending is somewhat unsatisfactory and hard to believe as I don't think the vibrations would bounce back and blow up the rifle. Was Eastman killed? The music at that point seemed very subdued and recriminating.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1309

19. QUANTICOST

Would normally be a 3 Minimiser lights episode but Rex makes it a 4 out of 5.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=68&pictureid=947
Rating: Five stars + 4 Minimiser lights


TRIVIAL

20. MICRO MATTHEW

Here is a good shot of Micro Matthew sitting on a puppet-scale desk. I wanted to get the 'Greyhound' painting on screen but this is as close as I could get - it seems to be painted in a really weird style!

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1308

21. SPLODEY BANGERS!

I can think of 4 explosions - one in the garden when the polystyrene rock is blown up, one on the road as Unwin and Soames give chase, another when the bridge is blown up and finally when the rifle explodes after the jet flies over at Mach 3.

22. LESSON LEARN-IT

There are no lessons in this story.

23. JUDGE NOT, MRS APPLEBOD

Mrs Appleby gets to complain about her nerves being affected by the airliner tests but keeps her council on Matthew.

24. WHIMSY CHUCKLODES

Rex provides most of the humour but the exploding vase (see above) is great comedy.

25. COMPETIGAMES

This is a thread with a difference in that it incorporates a competition for members of the public Fanderson Forum. The winner will receive a small prize consisting of a resin Matthew Harding head which was taken from the original puppet.

The Bishop will soon be retiring on a nice, fat Civil Service pension. To win the Matthew headcast you must answer the following question: What is The Last Errand Of The Bishop?

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1314
Something seems to be missing! Maybe it's a clue!

Within the threbbers of this page there is a story told
Of saboteurs and crooks and spies and tales of ne’er do wolds.
The Hall Of Fame is all metsup, whatever can we do?
To solvey one last missionload with Matthew you must go.
Father Unwin is the wordysmith, eyebold lookyhow,
If riddload to be sort-it out, then county-hup right now.

[Steve Gerard]

The Bishop, another great intensely detailed episode review:).

[air terrainean]

17. MOTYCARS CLASSICOLD[/B][/SIZE]

I think this is a very attractive car. I well remember seeing them about but am not sure what type it is - maybe a Volkswagen?

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1306

Your Moterycar identifolder is partly righters Bish. The car is a Volkswagen based coupe with bodywork by Karmann Ghia. A convertible version was also available. Not entirely sure what the other car is though - it may be a Rover 2000, but I'm not sure if the shape is right.

[Technodelic]

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=1297
Here is the loveable Rex - what a character he looks! I wonder whose dog he was.

Ooooh yes... *nods* :p

[The Bishop]

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=72&pictureid=1003
Hello Steve, Air Terrainean and Technodelic,

Thank you very much for your comments and observations.

I am a little surprised that nobody has commented on the Hall Of Fame and why Father Unwin and Matthew appear in the same picture...