"Sapphire & Steel" (1979) TV series 1979-1982

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Creator:

Peter Hammond
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

10 July 1979 (UK)

Genre:

Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

Complex, involved science-fiction series about a special force of interdimensional operatives whose...

Plot Keywords:

Ghost | Time Loop | Photograph | Special Agent | Paranormal Phenomena

Cast

Joanna Lumley	...	Sapphire (34 episodes, 1979-1982)
David McCallum	...	Steel (34 episodes, 1979-1982)

(more)

Series Directed by
Shaun O'Riordan		(7 episodes, 1979)
David Foster		(1 episode, 1979)

Series Writing credits
Peter Hammond		(28 episodes, 1979-1982)
Don Houghton		(6 episodes, 1981)
Anthony Read		(6 episodes, 1981)

Series Produced by
Shaun O'Riordan	....	producer (7 episodes, 1979)
David Reid	....	executive producer (7 episodes, 1979)

Series Original Music by
Cyril Ornadel		(7 episodes, 1979)

Series Film Editing by
John Hawkins		(6 episodes, 1979)

Series Casting by
Maureen Riscoe		(1 episode, 1979)

Series Production Design by
Stanley Mills		(7 episodes, 1979)
Su Chases		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Mary Gibson		(1 episode, 1979)

Series Makeup Department
Mary Southgate	....	makeup artist (7 episodes, 1979)

Series Art Department
Ivor Weir	....	title sequence (7 episodes, 1979)

Series Sound Department
Len Penfold	....	sound (6 episodes, 1979)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Jim Boyers	....	lighting / lighting technician (7 episodes, 1979)
Mike Whitcutt	....	senior camera operator / camera operator (7 episodes, 1979)
Jim Reeves	....	vision controller (6 episodes, 1979)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dawn Evans	....	wardrobe (6 episodes, 1979)

Series Editorial Department
Neil Guy	....	vision mixer (6 episodes, 1979)

Series Other crew
Ron Brown	....	programme administrator (7 episodes, 1979)
Ann Murphy	....	stage manager (7 episodes, 1979)
O'Farrell Sean	....	floor manager (7 episodes, 1979)
Joyce Lewsey	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1979)

Production Companies

• Associated Television (ATV)
• Colour Productions

Distributors

• Independent Television (ITV)
• Televisie Radio Omroep Stichting (TROS) (1980) (Netherlands) (TV)

Runtime:

UK:25 min (34 episodes) | USA:30 min (34 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

BBC Elstree Centre/ATV Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Associated Television (ATV)

Quotes:

[someone knocks on the door]
Robert Jardine: Who is it?
Steel: Robert Steven Jardine?
Robert Jardine: Yes?
Steel: You asked for help.
Robert Jardine: I did, yes!
Steel: Then unlock the door.
Robert Jardine: [unchaining the locks] That was quick. I'd only just phoned.
[Sapphire and Steel enter]
Robert Jardine: I don't know you! Only... the policeman at the Point!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Screenwipe: (#3.4)" (2007)

A fantastic show I'll never forget.

I'll admit it; I'm not the biggest fan sci-fi television. I'm not a Star Wars or X-Files fanatic. When I read about Sapphire & Steel, I wasn't expecting much. I figured that if I didn't like it, I could MST it. (MST stands for Mystery Science Theater 3000, read my comments about it if you've never heard of it before) To my surprise, I didn't need to use my fleeting talent for mocking films. I became hooked on Sapphire & Steel after I watched the first episode.

I was intrigued by the premise of the entire show. Sapphire and Steel, played by Joanna Lumley and David McCallum, are extraterrestrial beings (for lack of better explanation – none is ever really given or necessary as to who they really are) sent on different assignments including breaks in time, people being locked in pictures, and ghosts seeking revenge for their wrongful deaths.

I was wrong to write this show off as another X-Files. Sapphire and Steel is much more thought provoking, mysterious, and different from all the other shows floating around out there. The series finale was one of the best ends to a television show I've ever seen! If I had the money, I'd buy the entire six-season DVD set, but since I'm broke I'll have to live with repeatedly renting it from Netflix. It's a definite guilty pleasure of mine.

10/10 - I recommend it anyone with an open-mind who has a couple of hours to kill on a rainy day.