Miami Vice

[vin_petrol]

Men and Motors are currently reshowing Miami Vice (21:00 each night).

They started a couple of days ago with the pilot, which I had never actually seen before. Clearly, it's dated, but in a rather beautiful THIS IS THE EIGHTIES! way: the pastel colours, the rolled up jacket sleeves, the shiny locations. Some of the shoulder pads were amazing - you felt they should have some form of warning symbol on their edges.

My hazy memory of Miami Vice is that the BBC bought it without quite understanding what they were getting. I think they took the tag line "MTV cops" a little too literally, and gave it a teatime slot on BBC2, and showed it uncut. Within a few weeks it had built up an appreciative audience of teenage boys ("ooh, guns, ooh, Ferraris"). Unfortunately, some people had also noticed that it was actually a rather violent program, with plenty of gruesome shootouts, and it was moved to after 21:00 *and* heavily cut :-( It looks like Men and Motors have inherited the BBC's old tapes, as the gunfights so far have that 'cut' feel to them (i.e. guns fire, people are dead, but you haven't actually seen anyone shot-in-slow-motion-to-a-rock-music-soundtrack, which was how Miami Vice was originally produced).

I was never really a huge fan of the series. It was something to watch, so my memories are all a little fragmented. Still, I do remember Helena Bonham-Carter declaring she was a junkie to the sound of Wasteland by The Mission, and Crockett and Tubbs racing through the night in their Ferrari (or was it a Porsche?) to the sound of Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits. Ah, the eighties...

Comments

[jozafeen.livejournal.com]

I love Miami Vice! I was reminded of it when Karnage took it upon herself to wear a Don Johnson jacket for comedy value during a gig last week - marvellous!

[vin_petrol]

edwardscissors wore a beautifully observed 80s/Miami Vice outfit to the 80s night at Laughtons in April, complete with Ray-Ban Aviators, rolled up sleeves, and HUGE mobile phone.

[captainblue.livejournal.com]

I must confess to once having gone out on the town in my leather bike jeans but with a white collarless shirt and a jacket with the sleeves pulled/rolled up. It was the 80s but still no excuse...

I'll get me coat.

Ooh, I almost forgot - I still have one (maybe two; I need to check) pairs of Ray-Ban Aviators from 1987 in my car or the garage.

[vin_petrol]

I didn't get into the whole metal/biker thing till about 1986 (I bought my first leather jacket in September of that year). Prior to that I did sometimes vaguely attempt a more traditional 80s style, but I never quite managed it.
Actually, thinking about it, I know where there's a terrifying picture of me in 80s garb. Fortunately for the world, my scanner doesn't work any more.

steer told me last year that Ray-Ban are no longer making Aviators, so hang onto yours. You'll be able to sell them on ebay :-)

I keep meaning to get contact lenses, partly so I can wear mirrorshades (as I'm a crusty old Cyperpunk and couldn't wear them in the 80s. Hey, 20 years too late is better than never).

[captainblue.livejournal.com]

{snigger} and Tchah! Youngsters! One of the best bits about taking my daughter down to Lunnun on the bike was digging out my old leather jacket for her to try, complete with Siouxsie "Join Hands" tour badges.

[vin_petrol]

That leather jacket was still with till recently. When I reached three leather jackets I decided that was one too many (one for riding, one for going out) and I attempted to give it away at a Wendy House in Leeds. The lining was shagged so it had no real monetary worth. I wandered around with a sticket on my back saying "this jacket free if you want it". Nobody did. I left it draped across the balcony barrier for a couple of hours unattended - nobody stole it.

So on the way home steer asked if he could have it, and so I gave it to him.

We were both somewhat surprised when it *was* stolen at a Wendy House a few months later!

If I ever see it I'll recognise it though. I remember where every scuff mark came from - usually me sliding down the road when I took a corner a shade too fast :-)