The Sentimental Agent- Network

[dpgmel]

Network have just annouced the release of this series made in 1963, know nothing of it does anyone have any memories of it ?



Sentimental Agent (The) - The Complete Series: Network DVD

[cornershop15]

FANTASTIC NEWS (again)

(Yesterday: If There Weren't Any Blacks .... Today: The Sentimental Agent)



Many thanks, dpgmel

I dreamed of this being released one day when I looked at some TVTimes listings last year, but never imagined it would be this soon. I mentioned the series a few months ago at Zena Marshall's obituary thread and would like to reproduce the post I did here:

TVTimes listing for 'The Sentimental Agent', 26th June 1966



Note: This programme was first shown in 1963



Apparently the title character was originally seen in an episode of fellow-ITC series Man of the World

and later given his own 13-part show. Zena Marshall appeared in two of them as different characters:





The episode was called A Little Sweetness and Light and also guest starred Patricks Allen and Newell.

The regular cast also comprised of Burt Kwouk as Chin (another manservant?) and an actress called

Clemence Bettany, who you might be seeing soon as one of my subjects at 'Unmentioned Actors ...'.



In real life, Carlos Thompson was married to Lili Palmer, following her divorce from Rex Harrison, but

I am very sorry to reveal that this actor committed suicide in 1990, four years after his wife's death.



On a happier note, great news for Zena's fans! Her early episodes of Danger Man will be on DVD soon



---



Some Sentimental Agent Trivia:

'Chin' was indeed Carlos's manservant, proven in the details on the Network page dpgmel helpfully linked. Other guests in this series include Anneke Wills, Derek Francis, Ann Bell, Bessie Love, Carol Cleveland and the sadly late Donal Donnelly. The episode Never Play Cards with Strangers was first broadcast the day my parents were married, 19th October 1963.

If paul revere reads this, the long DVD wishlist at your thread is gradually dwindling - dreams CAN come true:



ITV series not yet released on DVD

So that's Travelling Man, Man at the Top, Moody and Pegg, Boy Dominic, The Hanged Man (also announced here this week) and now The Sentimental Agent that are all "see(ing) the light of day". If the same applies to Murder at the Wedding, I will be 'cock-a-hoop', to coin a phrase.



P.S. At this stage, I only know Clemence Bettany from her role as a Chemist in the first episode of The Saint, but her regular part in The Sentimental Agent is likely to elevate her from Unnoticed/Bit-Part Actress to Unmentioned, so I was right the first time!

[Dandy Forsdyke]

A pre-Avengers Diana Rigg appears in the 1963 episode A Very Desirable Plot as Franny.

[darrenburnfan]

Ivor Slaney's theme music was released on a 45 rpm single in 1963 (see below) and, although it was very popular and was played a lot on the radio, it didn't make any impression on the record charts. Few theme music singles did in those days. I suppose that the public thought why should they pay 6/8d for the single when they could hear it on ITV every week for nothing. Left click with mouse on white bar at top of image to enlarge it.

[vanmunchen]

I recall enjoying this series. Carlos Thompson was very good in it. I had no idea he had committed suicide - how sad.

[Arfur Teacake]

I hope Cornershop15 can do one of his excellent appraisals of forgotten artistes



on the lovely Clemence Bettany.





Darrenburnfan I think the problem with theme tune records was, they always sounded a bit different to what the TV version actually was . Have you heard the Stingray theme done by The Tornados?...quite raving mad

[darrenburnfan]

No, Arfur, I never heard that particular record by The Tornados, but as far as I can recall, as I haven't seen The Sentimental Agent since 1963, the Ivor Slaney recording for His Master's Voice was identical...as near as made no difference...to his version on the soundtrack. Another early Ivor Slaney single on His Master's Voice was his theme from the 1961 series Sir Francis Drake (which I also have in my collection) and that's also an identical arrangement to the soundtrack version.

[Arfur Teacake]

Network have put up a clip, looks promising as well.



[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yE3zZNDrLY]YouTube - The Sentimental Agent - Complete Series DVD (web exclusive) clip[/ame]







I wonder what ever happened to Clemence ? hopefully it was one of those 'got married to rich man and retired' type stories.

If I had been her agent I would have got her a slicker name for the stage something like Nicky Newman or something- she looks like a Nicky IMHO

[flynn]

i have the Diana Rigg episode. and remember the series.

i would like to buy the network release.but at £33.99.

i would never forgive myself.for spending so much.

[dpgmel]

name='flynn']i have the Diana Rigg episode. and remember the series.

i would like to buy the network release.but at £33.99.

i would never forgive myself.for spending so much.

Agree 100% am tempted but at that price....... ( mind you there's an Amazon seller who wants £44.99 for it ! )

[flynn]

name='dpgmel']Agree 100% am tempted but at that price....... ( mind you there's an Amazon seller who wants £44.99 for it ! )

i nearly choked on my Bran Flakes.thats Extortion.

[cornershop15]

It's £35.74 now (at Network)! In complete contrast, Amazon are charging £15.93 for the Complete Series of Get Some In (five discs).

I enjoyed most of The Sentimental Agent but missed Carlos Thompson in the last few episodes. When he was brought back for the final one, it was not only embarassing to watch (robbed of his charismatic personality and made to say a couple of bland lines) but also rather eerie. His companion was Sheree Winton, who committed suicide herself some years later. A tragic end to both lives.

A pre-Avengers Diana Rigg appears in the 1963 episode A Very Desirable Plot as Franny.

As promised for our Emma, here's the publicity still of Diana I mentioned, for what was her screen debut:

Playing her father was William Mervyn, the kind Old Gentleman who waves to The Railway Children.

I hope Cornershop15 can do one of his excellent appraisals of forgotten artistes on the lovely Clemence Bettany.

So it was Arfur who made that request, not Cully. Looking at his next post, however, I can see why I was mistaken:

I wonder what ever happened to Clemence? hopefully it was one of those 'got married to rich man and retired' type stories.

That's usually cully's line!