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. Continue reading
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