SPINS A WEB...."THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN" - SEVENTIES STYLE!

Swinging into danger in Hong Kong, Nicholas Hammond as the 1979 version of THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. Image: CBS.

Actor Andrew Garfield, Stunt Co-ordinator Vic Armstrong and Director Marc Webb (an inspired name!) may be bringing MARVEL's most popular super hero to fresh new climes of practical and CGI refined excitement and adrenaline pumping action within the streets of New York (new July 20th teaser trailer here: The Amazing Spiderman - Trailer 1 (HD)‬‏ - YouTube), but I thought it'd be nice to make a special acknowledgement to the equally inventive and enjoyable for its time, if short-lived (13 episodes over two years/seasons), CBS TV series of 1979, starring ex-SOUND OF MUSIC child star Nicholas Hammond in the duel role of photo news journalist Peter Parker, of which he gave a memorable and creditable performance with humour and some vulnerability, and in his alter-ego as the heroic, web spinning Spider-Man in THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. The series telling of Peter/Spidey's origins were perfectly well done and the following stunt/wire work and hand to hand combat sequences provided by Fred Waugh, often doubling for our hero as he scaled dangerously real buildings and swung across skyscraper roofs, was pretty good for its time. In the UK and Europe the series makers (Charles Fries and Daniel R. Goodman)  released theatrical versions of the pilot episode, followed by SPIDER-MAN STRIKES BACK (TV episodes: The Deadly Dust) and SPIDER-MAN AND THE DRAGON'S CHALLENGE (TV episode: The Chinese Web), the latter having some noteworthy location filming in Hong Kong (the extra money added to the coffers kittie because they knew going into production that the episode/s were going to be released in theatres overseas, a move done with several other series of the time like UNIVERSAL's BUCK ROGERS and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA series). Despite criticisms from MARVEL creator Stan Lee, the series was successful with viewers in the US and worldwide (but axed by CBS because there were too many superheroes shows at that time on the air), and the films, though dated in places nowadays, were equally fun: I always recall being much enthused by them as an ten/eleven year old at my local cinemas and in subsequent episodic airings on the UK's ITV channel every Friday night at about 7.30'ish (a popular viewing time for US TV imports in the seventies and up to the mid-eighties), where they were always talked about by me and my chums in the school playground the following Monday. Sadly, apart from bootlegs online, the series has never been properly released on DVD, so here's hoping that, with the slew of new interest in the Web-slinger next year, it may finally get the dusting down it deserves.

Nicholas Hammond as THE DAILY BUGLE's photo journalist, Peter Parker.

Against the Twin Towers backdrop, a 1977 Spider-Man gets ready for action.

Title sequence 2: The Amazing Spider-Man (1978) - OPENING 2‬‏ - YouTube

It's the same old cliche, but today's kids really have never had it so good with all the things that can be done now in films and TV with regards to stunts and effects, but I hope the new SPIDER-MAN film also delivers a half way decent plot that sustains itself well amongst the origin re-imaginings and high tech visual wonders.

The action packed UK VHS video sleeve poster for THE DRAGON'S CHALLENGE movie release of the early eighties. Image: SONY/COLUMBIA.

KOOL TV CLASSIC IMAGE: "SPIDER-MAN" 1967

He's got radioactive blood y'know! It's SPIDER-MAN, 1960's style!

Its basic storytelling animation may now stand out like a sore thumb in today's world dominant CGI market, but I don't care, I loved the 1960's US/Canada produced SPIDER-MAN series as a kid and still do. As a seven year old I still remember rushing home from school to see it on the UK's ITV channel in the afternoons and school holiday mornings to see his crime-busting adventures against all kinds of weird and wonderful villains (including distinctive arch nemesis like the Scorpion, the Vulture and the weird, domed headed Mysterio).

Here's the oh-so memorable theme tune and titles for the series:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o29VoxtsFk

And check out WIKIPEDIA's great behind the scenes feature here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider-Man_(1967_TV_series)

Originally created by Stan Lee and brought to artistic life by the now reclusive artist Steve Ditko, SPIDER-MAN and his nerdy alter-ego, the student/photographer Peter Parker, bitten by a radioactive bug that would turn him into a relatable hero for our times, has endured for nearly fifty years, and he's been a star in all kinds of media/entertainment environments beyond his continuing full colour comic book appearances. From books to animation, to live action TV (SOUND OF MUSIC star Nicholas Hammond played our web slinger hero in a short but memorable series in the late seventies/early eighties), to a new 2011 stage play (with music and lyrics provided by U2's Bono and the Edge), his popularity looks set to continue for as long as audiences want him in their lives. Having already made billions for the MARVEL empire, with three modern successful blockbuster movies brought to life by director Sam Raimi and starring the well cast Tobey Maguire in the title role, the comic book company are now ploughing ahead with a brand new re-imagined series of movies, the first of which is filming in Los Angeles as you read this, with a re-cast younger actor, Brit Andrew Garfield, in the title role. With Marc Webb (appropriate surname!) now taking over the creative reins, and with a plethora of strong acting support from the likes of THE WEST WING's Martin Sheen, OSCAR winner Sally Field, SOUTHLAND's C. Thomas Howell, actor/comedian Denis Leary and Rhys Ifans playing the baddie, The Lizard, the new SPIDER-MAN adventure hits movies theatres in Summer 2012 .

Andrew Garfield as the all-new SPIDER-MAN. Image: SONY/MARVEL.

"Wherever there's a hang-up, you'll find the Spider-man!!!"

It's a criminal fact, but the 1967 animated SPIDER-MAN series is not available on UK DVD, but it is on Region One import from UNIVERSAL.