A playboy novelist, who has had a spell of work with an intelligence agency as a sideline, leaves, but finds himself performing new missions around the world.A playboy novelist, who has had a spell of work with an intelligence agency as a sideline, leaves, but finds himself performing new missions around the world.A playboy novelist, who has had a spell of work with an intelligence agency as a sideline, leaves, but finds himself performing new missions around the world.
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Well, I may have a different view on this type of show than other reviewers. When I put on one of these DVD episodes I'm not expecting a mind bending plot experience or to be blown away by production values.
I put this on and I just go back. Back to the 70's and 80's (where I find my favorite TV programs, it was just a special time) and I can overlook a very lot of flaws. Thing is I'm American and never heard of Peter or this or the previous series until around 3 months ago, yet it still gives me nostalgia and I love British TV, maybe because there are so many new things to find I didn't have before.
This was just a different time and I can feel it and really enjoy everything about this. As far as Peter being the sole protagonist, this is actually fine with me. He is so entertaining that I enjoy every second of him being on screen. Yes I plan to get the Section "S"(I think that is the correct name) DVD's as well as honestly it's true they were better, the same "sniper" pistol is used over and over and over as a prop in this series due to budget, and the film isn't mega-HD (in fact I thought I bought a bootleg when first watching my copies) But I really don't care.
Peter is great and it's just fun. I love it but I'm hella nostalgic, I love to put on the series and just to watch or maybe let it run while I do something else, who wants today's TV in the background making you depressed with how terrible everyone is to each other as that seems to be what makes you "interesting" nowadays's--how much of a jerk you can be to others. Even as a womanizer Peter (Jason) is still more polite and a gentlemen than anyone on TV now. The reason I longer have cable.
As someone mentioned, at least these old shows HAD characters, flawed or not. Something you can not find in today's TV.
I put this on and I just go back. Back to the 70's and 80's (where I find my favorite TV programs, it was just a special time) and I can overlook a very lot of flaws. Thing is I'm American and never heard of Peter or this or the previous series until around 3 months ago, yet it still gives me nostalgia and I love British TV, maybe because there are so many new things to find I didn't have before.
This was just a different time and I can feel it and really enjoy everything about this. As far as Peter being the sole protagonist, this is actually fine with me. He is so entertaining that I enjoy every second of him being on screen. Yes I plan to get the Section "S"(I think that is the correct name) DVD's as well as honestly it's true they were better, the same "sniper" pistol is used over and over and over as a prop in this series due to budget, and the film isn't mega-HD (in fact I thought I bought a bootleg when first watching my copies) But I really don't care.
Peter is great and it's just fun. I love it but I'm hella nostalgic, I love to put on the series and just to watch or maybe let it run while I do something else, who wants today's TV in the background making you depressed with how terrible everyone is to each other as that seems to be what makes you "interesting" nowadays's--how much of a jerk you can be to others. Even as a womanizer Peter (Jason) is still more polite and a gentlemen than anyone on TV now. The reason I longer have cable.
As someone mentioned, at least these old shows HAD characters, flawed or not. Something you can not find in today's TV.
Compared to its predecessor Department S, Jason King was a generally enjoyable but sometimes uneven show which pointed to the impending decline of the ITC adventure series. Though many of the stories were good with excellent guest actors, and there was an emphasis on style, the series suffered from budgetary constraints compared to its contemporaries in 1971. These included grainy 16mm film, too much studio filming/stock footage and no matter where in the world a particular episode was set, any cars used tended to be right hand drive including in particular a recurring Vauxhall Viva that turned up in episodes set in France, Turkey and the Far East among others. Other ITC series disguised these discrepancies better.
It was also sometimes slow moving and lacking in atmosphere, concentrating on King's style, flamboyance, social graces and relationships with whichever guest actress(es) were in the particular episode, rather than other characters and the ultimate plots, which were becoming clichéd. The show may have benefited if there had been regular support actors to play with/against King in every episode.
Nevertheless, Jason King is one of the most memorable TV characters of that era, if not of all time, and the best episodes were very good indeed. Being forever identified as Jason King, and unfortunately caught up in a minor scandal, whether Peter Wyngarde could have continued to be (or wanted to be) a convincing leading man in subsequent years is debatable. He would have been excellent in lighter fare such as sitcoms and perhaps even as a Doctor Who. His relative obscurity is a loss to TV and movies.
It was also sometimes slow moving and lacking in atmosphere, concentrating on King's style, flamboyance, social graces and relationships with whichever guest actress(es) were in the particular episode, rather than other characters and the ultimate plots, which were becoming clichéd. The show may have benefited if there had been regular support actors to play with/against King in every episode.
Nevertheless, Jason King is one of the most memorable TV characters of that era, if not of all time, and the best episodes were very good indeed. Being forever identified as Jason King, and unfortunately caught up in a minor scandal, whether Peter Wyngarde could have continued to be (or wanted to be) a convincing leading man in subsequent years is debatable. He would have been excellent in lighter fare such as sitcoms and perhaps even as a Doctor Who. His relative obscurity is a loss to TV and movies.
I'd heard for years that JASON KING was a campy badly dated clown show, but after watching it I strongly disagree. There are several good to very good to excellent episodes.
There are also some clunkers, not so much for their comical fashions and out-of-style mores, but for how dull they are as entertainment.
My picks for top quality are:
E01 - "Wanna Buy A Television Series?" E04 - "A Deadly Line of Digits" E05 - "Variations on a Theme" E09-E10 - "All That Glisters..." (Parts I & II) E14 - "Uneasy Lies the Head"
The two-part movie length adventure (9-10) is the best of the series, maybe the best of the entire DEPARTMENT S/JASON KING run, thanks to its sprawling cast, obvious larger budget & location shooting around Paris.
Peter Wyngarde was a unique actor, Jason King is his signature role. DEPARTMENT S, when it worked, had better and more intriguing plots overall, plus a terrific trio of stars, but several episodes of JASON KING are as good (though the failures are duller and worse).
There are also some clunkers, not so much for their comical fashions and out-of-style mores, but for how dull they are as entertainment.
My picks for top quality are:
E01 - "Wanna Buy A Television Series?" E04 - "A Deadly Line of Digits" E05 - "Variations on a Theme" E09-E10 - "All That Glisters..." (Parts I & II) E14 - "Uneasy Lies the Head"
The two-part movie length adventure (9-10) is the best of the series, maybe the best of the entire DEPARTMENT S/JASON KING run, thanks to its sprawling cast, obvious larger budget & location shooting around Paris.
Peter Wyngarde was a unique actor, Jason King is his signature role. DEPARTMENT S, when it worked, had better and more intriguing plots overall, plus a terrific trio of stars, but several episodes of JASON KING are as good (though the failures are duller and worse).
I really like Peter Wyngardes performance, a bit of an intellectual cheeky chappy I suppose. . The program may be a little dated but there are some very good guest stars and some of Wyngardes one liners are so funny. It's obviously a follow on from Department S which was also enjoyable to watch, but with the Jason King show Peter is in it much more which I feel is a plus for us viewers watching. I agree with a previous review who said they don't watch it for a mind blowing plot. It's simply great fun with a very charasmaric lead and it's very enjoyable to watch and the program is well produced with a very catchy theme tune.
Finally we have a digital channel that is not afraid to run the old ITC pulp series from the late 60's and early 70's. These are the ones we 50-year-olds grew up with!
They were, of course, formulaic having the two-man/one girl teams (almost always with the Canadian/American Hero in order to sell over the pond). With the popularity of the formula it was surprising that 'Department S' spawned an untypical offshoot - Solo British Hero with very few Transatlantic guest parts. This was harking back to the glory days of 'Simon Templar'.
ITV4 has now re-run a number of these old 'Jason King' episodes most recently a two-parter entitled "All That Glisters.." I am absolutely convinced that Clinton Greyn's character of 'John Mallen' was voiced-over by Shane Rimmer, although no mention of this occurs in the credits. Anyone familiar with these stock actors would surely recognise the substitution instantly, unless Greyn had cultivated a mid-Atlantic accent of remarkable similarity during his time in the USA.
If true it is a shame that Rimmer (who, I believe has been unwell recently) received no accolade for the performance. Such 'Lip-Sync' on live actors must be far more demanding than marionettes and is to be admired!
Can anyone out there shed any light on this?
They were, of course, formulaic having the two-man/one girl teams (almost always with the Canadian/American Hero in order to sell over the pond). With the popularity of the formula it was surprising that 'Department S' spawned an untypical offshoot - Solo British Hero with very few Transatlantic guest parts. This was harking back to the glory days of 'Simon Templar'.
ITV4 has now re-run a number of these old 'Jason King' episodes most recently a two-parter entitled "All That Glisters.." I am absolutely convinced that Clinton Greyn's character of 'John Mallen' was voiced-over by Shane Rimmer, although no mention of this occurs in the credits. Anyone familiar with these stock actors would surely recognise the substitution instantly, unless Greyn had cultivated a mid-Atlantic accent of remarkable similarity during his time in the USA.
If true it is a shame that Rimmer (who, I believe has been unwell recently) received no accolade for the performance. Such 'Lip-Sync' on live actors must be far more demanding than marionettes and is to be admired!
Can anyone out there shed any light on this?
Did you know
- TriviaUnlike its parent series Department S (1969) (shot entirely on 35mm film), this series made use of the cheaper 16mm stock as a cost-cutting move by ITC. This was something of a trade-off, as star Peter Wyngarde was able to be genuinely seen in international location shots interacting with local landmarks. The writing team could then decide how to best integrate this footage in their scripts.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Greatest: 100 Greatest TV Characters (2001)
- How many seasons does Jason King have?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- O Mundo de Jason King
- Filming locations
- Betchworth Quarry, Betchworth, Reigate, Surrey, England, UK(scene of Olivier's car driving off a precipice - episode 'Toki')
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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