Anyone who grew up in the 70s will remember the phrase, "a Quinn Martin production." Martin was a prolific TV series producer, the man behind shows like Barnaby Jones, The Streets of San Francisco and more.
From Wikipedia:
They fail to mention the best part of "a Quinn Martin production": the episode titles. These were always laughably dramatic titles that:
The eponymously-named Quinn Martin Productions produced a string of hit television series during the 1960s and 1970s, including The Fugitive, Twelve O'Clock High, The F.B.I., The Invaders, The Streets of San Francisco, Cannon, and Barnaby Jones. His series were known for their highly stylized format: a prologue featuring a stern-voice narrator to establish the premise; explicitly announced Acts I, II, III, and IV; and an epilogue, again featuring the narrator.
1) used words like "gambit," "crucible," "caper" and others that no normal person ever used;
2) referenced mythological, literary or Biblical figures (Judas, Damocles, Herod, Minerva);
3) used corny, clichéd metaphors (Web of Deceit, Nest of Scorpions);
4) frequently followed this simple formula: (noun) + "of" + (emotion) = score! (Triangle of Fear, Conspiracy of Terror).
Here are some QM show opens, followed by a list of some actual episodes from the various series. If I wore a hat, it would be off to Steve Hatchett for the great idea.
Real episode titles from various QM shows:
Perchance To Kill
See Some Evil, Do Some Evil
The Day Of The Viper
The Deadly Jinx
Rendezvous With Terror
Blueprint For A Caper
Web Of Deceit
Jeopardy For Two
Theater Of Fear
Honeymoon With Death
Dangerous Gambit
Sins Of Thy Father
Band Of Evil
Fraternity Of Thieves
The Deadly Charade
Circle Of Treachery
The Damocles Gun
Shadow Of Fear
The Devil's Handmaiden
Uninvited Peril
Nest Of Scorpions
Dance With Death
Homecoming For A Dead Man
Death Is The Punchline
Scream Of Silence
The Girl In The Electric Coffin
The Nowhere Man
Devil's Playground
Blood On The Vine
Cain's Mark
Bitter Legion
Nobody Beats The House
The Dead Samaritan
To Ride A Tiger
He Who Digs A Grave
Hounds Of Hell
Valley Of the Damned
Conspiracy Of Corruption
Arena Of Fear
Triangle Of Terror
Voice From The Grave
Coffin Corner
The Iceman
A Touch Of Venom
The Games Children Play
The Quasar Kill
Image In A Cracked Mirror
To Free My Enemy
The Plague Merchant
Passage Into Fear
Blueprint For Betrayal
Wind It Up And It Betrays You
Caesar's Wife
Conspiracy Of Silence
Antennae Of Death
Game Of Terror
The Minerva Tapes
Judas Goat
Arrangement With Terror
Escape To Nowhere
A Game Of Chess
Holiday with Terror
A Gathering Of Sharks
The Loper Gambit
The Year Of The Locusts
A Collection Of Eagles
Trail Of The Serpent
Legion Of The Lost
Winterkill
Chapel Of The Damned
A String Of Puppets
Bird Of Prey
Mister Nobody
Labyrinth
Murder By Proxy
Requiem For Murder
Clown Of Death
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15 comments:
So...I can make a correlation between Dance With Death and Honeymoon With Death...because hey, that's how things work. I can even accept Clown of Death, because...well, just because.
But...ANTENNAE OF DEATH????
Clowns never laughed before.
If I ever get a tattoo, it will say: "A Quinn Martin Production".
DOes anyone have a QM episode name generator? They should.
My favorite MST3Kistic one is "Tinker, tailor, soldier, death!"
Is there such a thing? If not, it would be relatively easy to make using the aforementioned formula.
Maybe Antennae Of Death was about bullet ants.
My mother refused, I mean out and out refused to watch any drama if it did not say, "A Quinn Martin Production," at the beginning of it.
Judas Goat?
Your caption under the mug shot of the day is hilarious.
And I've been pronouncing Mala's name wrong all this time. I feel like such a fool.
Samsmama, you've been saying "Maalox" all this time?
I love the "eye acting" of Phyllis Love in that last video.
Any of those episode titles would make a fine and cool cryptic name for a blog.
"Funny or Die" could have been "Death is the Punchline." Same theme.
RIP Karl Malden.
Beanstalks never grew.
sounds like names of rock bands I've seen.
It didn't get any better than "The Fugitive." Cool premise, moved to a new location every week, terrific guest stars (Robert Duvall, Warren Oates, Bruce Dern). As a bonus, the opening and closing of each episode was narrated by William Conrad in the days before ol' Quinn gave him his own show ("Cannon").
Michael Douglas sucks. At acting.
Cary, are you officially out of the television business?
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