Do you think it would work if they remade it? - Sapphire & Steel (1979) Discussion

[–] nordeuropa 19 years ago

I would love to say yes, but in my heart of hearts I think no - it wouldn't work. The whole uniqueness of 'Sapphire and Steel' was its menace and surreal minimalism. What other show could get away with a character sitting in a chair MIMING flying a aeroplane - and yet have still him in great peril? In many ways it was like some avant-garde theatrical play than a television show. But this was when the UK only had three national television stations. In today's multi-channel and Internet world, I could unfortunately see viewers turning off in droves.

Also, I couldn't see anyone but David McCallum and Joanna Lumley in the roles - yet surely they would look distractingly older now. If I could be proved wrong and there ARE suitable replacements out there, I haven't got a clue who they might be.

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[–] Rachael89 19 years ago

Thanks for replying, your replies very interesting! I agree with what you say, the way it used to be done wouldn't go done well with a modern audience, and really the way it was done (effects, lighting etc.) made it the great show it was.

As for recasting I can imagine others in the roles, it's probably because I've done several comic strips for people on other sites, and as I'm no real good at capturing real life liknesses in cartoons, I just try to make them reflect how I see the charecter as opposed to the actors.

Rachael

Pack all your worries in your old kit bag and smilesmilesmile

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[–] MissBabs06 18 years ago

Hi Rachael!
I've only just discovered this board so if you, or indeed any other fans are still around I would love to know who you think might fit the roles. I cannot think of any actor that could give Steel the arrogance that David McCallum did so perfectly. But for looks, what about Rebecca Romijn for Sapphire? Or does the actors need to be English?

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[–] sibelian 18 years ago

I think there's definitely scope for a sequel series about some of the other "operators"... I think as long as the script-writers paid VERY close attention to the reasons the first series worked so well, like giving away as little as possible, hinting at dreadful things and appalling conseqences lurking around the corners and in the shadows and got THAT right, which ain't easy, it probably wouldn't matter that today's special effects might look different. There were hardly any real special effects in sapphire and Steel anyway and it was WAY creepy because of the situations being hinted at.

I would really love to see the photography one done again, though, or at least have Mr Shape appear in my fondly imagined sequel series. I have this imaginary scene in my head where the two new operators (Silver and Gold? Diamond and Jet?) suddenly realise that the only way to get rid of some new villainous entity is to release Mr Shape from the kaleidoscope to battle it for them... :-)

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[–] Rachael89 18 years ago

Hi everyone!

Wow, it's great to see new interest in the series here! Thanks for replying!

Hi Rachael! I've only just discovered this board so if you, or indeed any other fans are still around I would love to know who you think might fit the roles. I cannot think of any actor that could give Steel the arrogance that David McCallum did so perfectly. But for looks, what about Rebecca Romijn for Sapphire? Or does the actors need to be English?

I looked up that Rebecca Romijn, and your right, she does look abit like a Sapphire, very sophisticated and perhaps more importantly - blonde! However, the fact that she's American might be abit of a problem, as when I think of Sapphire I only really think of 'incredibly posh, I'm better than you' accent that only English people can pull off!

As for my choices, in a nice merry dream world where actors didn't have to be paid huge wads of cash to perform, I could see Paul Bettany (he wouldn't do it unfortunately) as Steel and Sophia Myles (as a TV actress, she might) as Sapphire. Probably because they both match my perceptions fo what the charecters look like, so being very shallow, I'd choose Bettany cos he reminds me abit of McCallum!

I think there's definitely scope for a sequel series about some of the other "operators"... I think as long as the script-writers paid VERY close attention to the reasons the first series worked so well, like giving away as little as possible, hinting at dreadful things and appalling conseqences lurking around the corners and in the shadows and got THAT right, which ain't easy, it probably wouldn't matter that today's special effects might look different. There were hardly any real special effects in sapphire and Steel anyway and it was WAY creepy because of the situations being hinted at.

I would really love to see the photography one done again, though, or at least have Mr Shape appear in my fondly imagined sequel series. I have this imaginary scene in my head where the two new operators (Silver and Gold? Diamond and Jet?) suddenly realise that the only way to get rid of some new villainous entity is to release Mr Shape from the kaleidoscope to battle it for them... :-)

Hi, whilst I think that idea is very interseting, and would probably appeal to fans of the original, I'd expect it to be very hard to make it workable for new audiences, especially the sequel to the Shape story, which, whilst beign something I'd LOVE to see, is highly unlikely to pull audiences.

I know Hmmaond was in talsk with ITV to bring it back last year, but the talks fell through, because they wanted to change it to much. I dread to think of what they proposed!

Best

Rachael

Pack all your worries in your old kit bag and smile smile smile

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[–] MissBabs06 18 years ago

Thanks for the reply Rachael.

I liked Sophia as Erika in Underworld but not sure about her as Sapphire. Same goes for Paul for Steel but then I've only seen him as Silas in Da Vinci Code.

Perhaps ITV wanted to change it because they didn't understand it the first time around and the changes would have made it something that didn't require you to be awake and think for yourself. The kind of show where characters have 'neat' powers and sfx does the rest.

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[–] a-carlton 18 years ago

I don't know. Maybe it is because I am an old cow myself I personally wouldn't mind seeing the same people recast in their original roles. I don't care if they are older now (arn't we all?) - I for one would be interested to see how time would have changed the characters as well as the storylines. I don't see why lead characters always have to be young. If they are good actors they probably remain good actors whatever age they are now.

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[–] eno2000 10 years ago

I think Michelle Dockery (The Hogfather and Downton Abbey) could do a very good Sapphire. Maybe Jon Simm for Steel. He's a bit too "tough" but I think he could pull off some of the arrogance.

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[–] PhilippaRM 17 years ago

no way, nobody can replace joanna lumley and david mccallum. i'm not a fan of remakes anyway.

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[–] cee100 17 years ago

I would love to see a remake as long as it was british and PJ Hammond was in charge, I could see Joanna and Steel do the show but not remake the stories as they've been told, but perhaps as they are older now we can resume where the last one took off with their escape and the fact that a great many years have passed while they were trapped, perhaps thousands into our future and that they have just aged 30 odd years....!

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[–] witchfinder68 15 years ago

just been watching on DVD, takes me back to being a kid, well teen i was 16.... if there was to be a new series(not remake of old stories) it would be great to see joanna and david reprise thair roles... if not (and with a slight link to time travel) i think Keeley Hawes from Ashes to Ashes and John Simm from Life on Mars and Dr Who could pull it off...

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] mswells-1 17 years ago

Big Finish Audio Productions have been doing audio only productions for CD release. They are just now into their 3rd Season. They work quite well most of the time, since it was minimalist to begin with. They cast Susannah Harker as Sapphire and David Warner as Steel.

Pretty much perfect casting, really.

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[–] easyrecall 17 years ago

I looked up S&S because I was watching "The Machinist" and I knew its languid, dreamy atmosphere reminded me of something....S&S!

I'd love to see a feature film made of it, Brad Anderson to direct maybe, or better still Chris Cunnigham (think of Bjork video All Is Full Of Love).

I'd have no problem seeing the origianal actors in the roles, I'm sick to death of unlined (or stretched!) skin as the only acceptable face and Im not even that old myself! Or a mixture of age ranges, maybe Helen Mirren and Robert Carlye?

For younger actors, i reckon Christian Bale (he could use his native accent for once!)Guy Pearce or Viggo M would be fantastic.Sapphire-wise my vote is for Samanatha Morton as its a tough role (credibly aloof but likeable, Spooky but sexy, lots of talking with the eye). She might also tell Mr Grumpy to lighten up once in a while!

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[–] Ger-El 16 years ago

I'm not sure it would work, even in the great PJ Hammond was at the helm, and that's not sarcasm, PJ Hammond is right up there with Russell T Davies in my book

I couldnt wait for it to come out on video and its among my DVD sets - it always will occupy a cherished spot in my memories

Joanna Lumley and David McCallum were a unique pairing and as much as there are loads of talented actors and actresses in the world, I'm not sure recasting the roles would work

Reviving the series with Gold, Lead etc might work

If pushed, then I'd cast Kenneth Branagh as Steel and Terry Farrell as Sapphire

Kenneth Branagh is a superb actor and Terry Farrell was superb in ST-DS9

Carolyn Seymour would be another good option for a recurring role

Of course, it goes without saying, that PJ Hammond would have to have control in it or it would be a disaster

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[–] prherbst 16 years ago

I would cast Viggo Mortensen as Steel. They have a slight resemblance plus he's a decent actor.

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[–] anna_velasquez 16 years ago

I dunno if I'd like to see a remake. I guess it would fail completely with regards to recreating the original creepy atmosphere. I mean, nowadays, everything SF seems to be considered crap unless it's got a ton of SFX in it. Now, S&S-SFX ... Two, no three spots of light, a patch of darkness, I guess the most "spectacular" one was the Shape, that man without a face in Assignment 4. But, heck, never ever did I come across three spots of light again that seemed so menacing!

S&S is all about atmosphere. And chemistry between the two leads. If they can get that across - just go ahead. If they can't - they better not bother.

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[–] Adzyb 16 years ago

Why not just do i direct continuation from the original series, Jet rescues Sapphire and Steel and they continue there work (no explanation needed).

I'd cast Jason Flemyng as Steel

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3435305216/nm0002076

And Chloë Annett as Sapphire

http://londonfilmandcomiccon.com/imagegallery/lfcc1images/chloeannett1.jpg

She was quite good in Crime Traveller (cast your mind back to the 90's)... i think that she could pull it off!

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[–] thecursor2002 14 years ago

It honestly wouldn't work. We could bounce around "this actor could play this" all day but the show was made for a different time, a different set of priorities. An "update" would rob the show of it's quirky charm and better special effects would just add a crutch that the creative team don't need to do effective story telling (the original proves that). Really, an remake just kill our memory of the original.

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[–] LadyCatherine 14 years ago

In a similar vein (no pun intended), several years ago they remade "Dark Shadows." For those scratching their heads, DS was a gothic soap opera from 1966 to 1971. It started off as a semi-standard soap, but then they brought in things like vampires, werewolves, seances, time travel--you name it. It was camp (kind of like Ed Wood's "Plan 9 From Outer Space" they shot a graveyard scene with cutout markers and you could see them shake; or the door would stick and they'd have to bluff lines until it opened); it was shot live, no chance for retakes, and ran on a cheap budget. But it was interesting and had a charm of its own (and women swooned over Jonathan Frid!).

The remake in 1991 was eagerly anticipated by those of us who still enjoyed the original series. Friends and I gathered for a pot luck dinner, sat down to watch... and at the end of the first episode, looked at one another with the same expression: "Were you as disappointed as I was?" People blamed the fact that the series was often preempted for Gulf War coverage as to why it got axed after one season, but other shows survived. Truth was, it just wasn't that good.

"Dr. Who" has survived because it has been on pretty much the whole time. It has evolved and changed. S&S was a product of its time; I'm finally getting a chance to watch it on DVD after having heard about it for years. I'm enjoying it--but I don't think it would work being remade.

Just my .02.

How we behave toward cats here below determines our status in heaven. R.A. Heinlein

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[–] 14 years ago

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