CORONET BLUE (1967) – Another intriguing but short-lived television series created by future Psychotronic legend Larry Cohen, the man behind The Invaders. Coronet Blue was an hour-long espionage program about Michael Alden (Frank Converse), an apparent intelligence agent suffering from near-total amnesia after being drugged and tossed in the ocean by unknown parties who accused him of betraying them.
The words “Coronet Blue” are among the few things he remembers about his past. Alden tries to learn their meaning while mysterious forces pursue him and try to kill him. Brian Bedford and Joe Silver also starred. This avant garde series was filmed in 1965 but was judged to be too difficult for viewers to follow. It was not aired until 1967.
THE EPISODES:
A TIME TO BE BORN, A TIME TO DIE – After our amnesiac hero pulls himself out of New York Harbor he adopts the name Michael Alden based on the name of the physician treating him and the hospital in which he is laid up. His fingerprints come back with no match and Michael goes on the run from his enigmatic pursuers and struggles to learn what “Coronet Blue” means.
Alden finds that he speaks fluent French and Spanish, has brutal self-defense skills and can play the piano. Some of the men and women trying to kill him are called “Greybeards” for unknown reasons. (Between this and A Man Called Noon it’s clear where Robert Ludlum drew some inspiration for The Bourne Identity.) The guest cast includes SUSAN HAMPSHIRE, Louise Troy, JON CYPHER, Baby Jane Holzer and JAMES NOBLE.
THE ASSASSINS – Through classified ads, Michael meets people claiming to be his parents (Signe Hasso and Edward Binns) and his fiancee (Janet Margolin). They arouse his suspicion, especially when attempts on his life continue. JOHN VERNON also appears.
THE REBELS – Michael volunteers to be a test subject for a university’s amnesia treatments. More fragments of his past are unleashed by campus protests and political arguments. CANDACE BERGEN, JON VOIGHT, DAVID CARRADINE, RICHARD KILEY, Ray Middleton and Addison Powell guest star.
A DOZEN DEMONS – A monk named Brother Anthony (Brian Bedford) seems to have clues about Michael Alden’s past when he recognizes his likeness from a stained-glass portrait. The pair try to track down the artist who did the portrait, but others are after him as well. Also with LYNDA DAY-GEORGE, John Beal, Donald Moffat and “Stefano” from soap operas – Joseph Mascolo.
FACES – Michael sees an old photo of himself at the funeral of a murdered woman and comes to believe he may have been the one who killed her. Guest cast includes HAL HOLBROOK, MITCHELL RYAN, MARISA BERENSON, Nicholas Pryor, John Pleshette, Lisa James and Michael Walker.
MAN RUNNING – Alden becomes entangled with a fugitive from a South American revolution, his daughter and a political figure from the region who is targeted for assassination. Also stars DENHOLM ELLIOTT, JULIET MILLS, Carlos Montalban and RENE ENRIQUEZ.
A CHARADE FOR MURDER – Michael’s pursuers plot to frame him for murdering a U.S. Navy officer but Brother Anthony winds up framed instead. With JACK CASSIDY, BRENDA VACCARO, Richard “Al Neri” Bright and ROY SCHEIDER.
SATURDAY – Alden arranges a covert meeting with a man who wants $2,000 to tell Michael who he really is, but they both end up on the run from assassins. DAVID HARTMAN, Neva Patterson and Doug Chapin guest star.
THE PRESENCE OF EVIL – Michael and Brother Anthony show up at a magic act in which a young woman (Judi West) with a blue coronet as part of her costume might have information about our hero’s past. The Satanist magician she works for may be a “Greybeard.” Also starring Joseph “Dr. No” Wiseman and Viveca Lindfors.
SIX MONTHS TO MARS – In an episode that plays like a forerunner of The Prisoner, supposedly benevolent U.S. agents subject Michael and an astronaut in training to a simulated Mars mission which begins to jog Alden’s memory. Patrick O’Neal, Alan Alda, BILLY DEE WILLIAMS, Dennis Patrick and Betty Low (as The Piano Teacher) are in the guest cast.
THE FLIP SIDE OF TIMMY DEVON – The sudden release of a new song by a now-dead singer fills Michael’s mind with memories and he knows all the lyrics despite its supposed “new-ness.” He and Brother Anthony investigate the music industry personnel behind the late singer and the song. With DICK CLARK, MURRAY THE K and SALLY KELLERMAN.
WHERE YOU FROM AND WHAT YOU DONE? – The most recent clues lead Michael and Brother Anthony to a female folk singer (Laura Devon) whose strange and mysterious song lyrics seem to serve the same purpose as an espionage Numbers Station. Also starring VINCENT GARDENIA.
TOMOYO – Michael spots an Asian woman (Cely Carillo) that he believes he had covert meetings with in the past. Tailing her leads to his self-defense trainer (Keye Luke) and possibly more. With DANIEL J. TRAVANTI and SAB SHIMONO.
*** And that was the 13th and final episode of the series, which ended without fully revealing what was going on, who Michael Alden really was or what the hell Coronet Blue meant. SPOILERS BELOW:
Decades later, show creator Larry Cohen stated that it was eventually going to be revealed that Michael was really a Soviet agent provocateur and assassin. He had decided to defect to the U.S. but his Russian comrades intercepted him in the first episode, although he survived with amnesia. Coronet Blue was the codename for their elite network of agents working in the U.S.
It goes without saying that – like The Invaders – Coronet Blue was far ahead of its time. Countless programs since then have thrived on mysteries and secrets that slowly get revealed over the life of the series. Unless they’re done by David Lindelof and/or J.J. Abrams, of course.
FOR MORE FORGOTTEN TELEVISION CLICK HERE.
Balladeer's Blog 