Di-di-di-di dah-dah, di-di-di-di daaaah. Di-di-di-di dah dah, di-di-di-di daaaah!
It’s the most recognised TV theme song, and now it’ll get stuck in your head all over again. The 70s cop show Hawaii Five-O is to be turned into a movie.
Named thus because Hawaii is the 50th American state, the series featured breathtaking scenery matched with sharp dialogue, and was one of the most popular TV shows of all time. It ran from 1968 to 1980, and was the longest United States police show until overtaken recently by Law and Order.
After years of negotiations with various Hollywood studios, George Litto (who was the agent of the series’ creator, the late Leonard Freeman) has sold the rights to Warner Brothers. The script will be written by the Ocean’s 11 screenwriter George Nolfiset, and Litto will be the producer.
Hawaii Five-O was an elite branch of the Hawaii state police answerable only to the governor. It was led by Steve McGarrett, played by Jack Lord, who finished every episode by chiming ”Book ’em, Danno” to his sidekick Danny. Five-O investigated ”organised crime, murder, assassination attempts, foreign agents, felonies of every type” and pursued the Chinese kingpin Wo Fat, who will feature heavily in the film.
On Thursday, the movie trade magazine Variety reported how Litto had finally accepted an offer. He said: ”Name a company or a studio, and I can say they tried hard to make a deal, probably more than once. But Warners is the right place for this.”
In a previous interview, Litto said he fancied Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford or Michael Douglas as McGarrett.
Variety said: ”Several studios tried over the years to catch the wave with seven-figure offers, but Litto held out for a pact that gave him and Freeman’s estate creative input. He set a timetable on sequels and ensured that his family would be involved even after he dies, much the way the Broccoli clan has steered the James Bond franchise since the death of producer Cubby Broccoli.”
Hawaii Five-O joins a number of other 70s shows being looked at by studios, reaffirming our love for wide lapels, bad haircuts and platform shoes: The Six Million Dollar Man, CHiPs, the Dukes of Hazzard, and Kojak. Last March, Warner Brothers released a movie of Starsky and Hutch following remakes of Charlie’s Angels and Mission: Impossible.
Shooting of Hawaii Five-O is scheduled to begin on the island of Oahu and in its state capital of Honolulu in spring, for release in summer 2006.
Already on the comeback trail
Charlie’s Angels
The 2000 movie version was a huge hit
Starsky and Hutch
The 1975 detective drama was remade as a comedy
The New York Dolls
The punk band split up in 1975-76, but reunited this year for a one-off gig at the Meltdown Festival, organised by Morrissey
Star Wars
The first film hit the big screen in 1977. A new DVD set of the original trilogy is due out this month
Glam rock
The Darkness confirmed the revival of the genre when they stole the show at the Brits in February
Platform shoes
Brought back by the Spice Girls so that thousands of small girls could twist their ankles
Flares
Made a comeback in the 90s and are now worn without embarrassment
Should stay in the 70s
100% polyester clothing
It itches, makes you sweat and is seldom a good look
Bubble perms
As worn by Kevin Keegan and the Liver Birds
Austin Allegros
Always in mustard, burgundy or a horrible dark green
Watney’s Party Sevens
A big tin of disgusting beer
Stylophone
An odd musical instrument promoted by Rolf Harris, even featured on Bowie’s Space Oddity. Now a collectable on eBay.
Parkinson
Oh, wait, he’s still here – Guardian Unlimited Â