Dinosaur TV CRIME/ ADVENTURE
The black and white detective series is my favourite type of tv, and I am always thrilled to hear from fellow enthusiasts about episodes that have been rescued from oblivion.
What's your Favourite series? By 1960 the half hour series format had reached its zenith, and although Danger Man was head and shoulders above all others, it's not a crime series, so I nominate my favourite as The Pursuers.

Assistant director Geoffrey Hellman kindly sent me this photo of himself working on the forgotten series Zero One. Can you recognise the well known actor in the foreground? Answer
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Z Cars
There were some fine acting performances, notably from Stratford Johns and Frank Windsor, though Brian Blessed, made the series a turn-off for me.
1.1 "Four of a Kind" - (January 1962) The formation of a picked band of patrolmen with such integrity that our police of today would surely envy
1.3 "Handle With Care" - How come a toy thief (Arthur Lowe) is in possession of an unstable stick of gelignite? The race is on to intercept his two sons who have now sold the remainder pf the jelly to a lorry driver. With off camera explosions, and unsympathetic characters, it doesn't matter what happens next, in a mundane tale only enlivened by Arthur Lowe's strong Midlands accent
1.4 "Stab in the Dark" - Teenager Sadie is stabbed by her front door. "It should've killed her," but luckily she was wearing a thick coat. Insp Robins (John Phillips) gives a lesson in modern police interrogation, that would make George Dixon's hair curl. The search is on for "a nut with a knife." The suspect- a Tom O'Connor, not the comedian, but a quiet spoken youth: in Robins' hands he's putty. Persistence and graft pays off for the police
1.6 "Friday Night" - (February 1962) "It's going to be one of those nights"- starting with a fatal accident. Since this is seen in the studio it is not very convincing, specially when someone periodically sprays some 'rain' in front of the camera. Yet the sensitive treatment of bereavement and the comic contrast of an Irishman with a prison-wish develops nicely a miscellany of mini-plots, concluding with a chase after a jelly gang. But regrettably there are too many characters to develop in the time available to make a satisfying and complete play
3.2 "Made for Each Other" - (September 1963) Jock and Fancy catch a girl (Judi Dench) who's broken into an empty house. Continuity with her black eye in the filmed and studio scenes proves an entertaining distraction in this story of a rebellious "spitfire". Sadly this viewer finds the ending a cop out
3.14 "Tuesday Afternoon" - (December 1963) "You expect to see women out shopping, you know, but, I mean, men, well you think they'd be working." In those days a man out on Tuesday afternoons would excite comment! One man's a speeding motorist, another a garrulous shoplifter (Eric Barker in a nice little cameo). These are humdrum sub plots, though pleasant enough in Alan Plater's story, which reaches its peak when a conman is exposed, a man selling cut price houses - for £2,500!! Certainly by this stage of the series, the film and studio scenes are much more seamlessly linked and the main characters have now developed a nice rapport
3.29 "Happy Families" - (March 1964) Whilst Watt attempts to sort out his domestic arrangements, Barlow is on the track of some obscene photos, found in the possession of timid eight year old Reg. Barlow traces various kids who have had the pictures, providentially spotting the photographed lady (Catherine Woodville) in the course of interviewing some pretty awful characters- "I just took the photographs for fun"
Softly Softly
"On Christmas Day in the Morning" (1968)- Watt's festive spirit is diminished when he's called to investigate a Christmas Eve theft of property worth £11,000 from guests at the Pentland Grange Hotel- "they came upon the midnight clear." Other jolly seasonal references follow in a rather ordinary Alan Plater script, hardly special Christmas fare
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Sherlock Holmes (1965)

Nigel Stock made a fine Dr Watson in this 1965 BBC series.

Trivia Quiz question: Who played the great Sherlock in this version?
Answer

The Illustrious Client

The Speckled Band

To the earliest TV version of Holmes

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ADAM ADAMANT LIVES! (1966/7)
"It's his courtesy viewers admire. The way he puts every woman on a pedestal and treats her like a rare flower." Alongside star Gerald Harper was Juliet Harmer as Miss Jones. The BBC gave this their best shot in an attempt to emulate the fantasy that made The Avengers so unique. It's nice this series has received some sort of recognition following its dvd revival, although it's very hit and miss with a few absolutely brilliant stories but also a number of scripts that are best forgotten
1.1 A Vintage Year for Scoundrels- Adam foils the king's assassination, at the cost of his own life. He's put to sleep in a block of ice, but now unfrozen in modern London (like "the fires of hell") he's rescued by Miss Jones. They face "a touch of the old Victoriana" (ie gassing) as Adam aids Miss Jones in overcoming an evil protection racket run by cockney gangster Miss Margo (Freda Jackson, in a sort of Beryl Reid imitation). Our rating 8*
1.2 Death has a Thousand Faces - "One of the most devillish plots" takes Adam to Blackpool where the owner of the Horror Museum (Stephanie Bidmead) plans, with the assistance of the Illuminations Officer (Michael Robbins) to blow up The Golden Mile. With Miss Jones literally on the rack, how can they be stopped? Our rating 7*
1.3 More Deadly than a Sword - For Queen and Country, Adam agrees to fly to Japan, whilst Miss Jones "follows him round the world like a puppy dog." Sadly this story is a dud, a static tale of blackmail in a geisha house. Our rating 0*
1.4 Sweet Smell of Disaster - BK27 is the "new wonder ingredient" stolen by BK (a manic Charles Tingwell) and his assistant (Adrienne Corri) to be put in the new detergent Cloud Seven. Adamant has to fight modern salesmanship but also something much more sinister- a plot that plans to make addicts of the entire nation! BK: "this is a takeover of people, of banks, of government, the lot!" A fantastic concept that finishes in a traditional punchup, appropriately in a sea of froth. Our rating 9*
1.5 Allah is Not Always with You - "A lady to see you, sir." A "mortally wounded" one, seeking Adam's help against the evil Vargos (Kevin Brennan), who hangs out at the Fluffy Club. Miss Jones becomes Adam's 'Fluffy' for the night when he visits-"abandon hope all ye who enter here." But Adam's "very principles will prove his weakness," as Helen (Jennifer Jayne) poses Adam the question "would you like to come up?" A distraction whilst Vargos attempts a coup in a sheikdom- "you fiend!" Our rating 2*
1.6 The Terribly Happy Emblamers - "Very comfortable," declares Sir George, as he steps into his own coffin. Now it's Adam's turn as he poses as a worried Mr Smith and is hypnotised by a psychiatrist (John le Mesurier) who looks slightly baffled as only John le Mes can, listening to Adam's mind rambling about his past on the couch. "He's one for us," the doc tells his boss, "he'll take any way out." That at Sunnyoaks Health Clinic, a typical Brian Clemens venue- "sleep under controlled conditions and wake up in a few years' time." Thus Adam enters his coffin and it has to be Miss Jones in the Emma Peel role to save him from a real funeral. After this it's a fencing duel to the "kill." Our rating 5*
1.7 To Set a Deadly Fashion - Semi-spy story centered on the Fashion House of highly strung Monsieur Roger (Colin Jeavons) and his "gorilla" (Alister Williamson). "Ghastly!" exclaims Adam of Roger's latest revealing bathing costumes, one modelled by the attractive Georgina, alias Miss Jones. Tiny microphones are hidden in clients' dresses, but when all secrets have been gathered in, they are treated to a deadly electric impulse. Adam faces "oblivion" when he's fitted up with this deadly heart attack machine of M Roger- "the touch of a true artist." Our rating 3*
1.8 The Last Sacrifice - An undistinguished story of spies at Pearmain House, where Henry, initiated into the brotherhood is killed. Miss Jones is tied up in a dungeon prior to being filmed being killed by another blackmail victim of the Brotherhood. Our rating 1*
1.9 The Doomsday Plan - This is serious!- BBC newsreader Kenneth Kendall is "shanghaied"! Dr Mort (Peter Vaughan), "the Sarah Bernhardt of Religion," has predicted The End of The World in a plot worthy of The Avengers. Vaughan brings the story alive with his portrayal of a demented megalomaniac whose aim to "to shock the ungodly into repentance." How? By staging a mock nuclear attack, but, there's a bit of self-interest too, for during the ensuing panic, he's going to "relieve" banks and jewellers of their contents. Announces the duped Mr Kendall: "this is an emergency." But thank God, AA sounds the All Clear! Our rating 8*
1.10 Sing a Song of Murder - Miss Jones has robbed a bank! Bailed out by AA, she cuts a record but it contains subliminal messages: "when the record is released there's going to be the biggest crime wave in history." But that's only a preliminary to a "sound bomb" to destroy a city! Our rating 6*
1.11 Death by Appointment Only - Eight prominent Euro-businessmen have been killed leaving "a devil of a mess." Culprits are the escorts from the exclusive agency of Madame Eve (Christine Finn, a sort of junior Joan Greenwood). Newest escort is Miss Jones and latest client is AA, and both become the next death targets of the evil Eve. Our rating 7*
1.12 Beauty is an Ugly Word - A highly infectious virus is stolen by Miss Earth (Annette Andre). Trying to build a new World of Beauty with her likes is Sinoda (Peter Jeffrey) who boasts "I am a supreme being... No-one can stop us"- except perhaps "the Victorian zombie!" Actually it's Miss September, alias Miss Jones, who is to be forced to build a new civilisation once the old has been wiped out. Vince Powell and Harry Driver's script is inventive, but marred by two overlong fight scenes. Our rating 7*
1.13 The League of Uncharitable Ladies- 7 am in the Mall: the Mission for Peace strike. The group meet in an exclusive London Ladies Club and as soon as you see the sinister Randolph (John Carson) hovering there you know they're "very very ruthless." Even though they are all respectable middle aged ladies, they will kill anyone "who stands in the way of peace.". Indeed, another diplomat (Gerald Sim) is stabbed to death- by his own wife. So who stands in their way? AA of course! So who's to kill Him? Why Miss Jones, "and she won't know anything about it." Our rating 7*
1.15 Village of Evil - AA "crosses swords with the devil himself" in a "seemingly innocent village." The location was also used in The Avengers, much more effectively. Here, despite some chilling moments, the story is too drawn out, and just too sinister to be at all credible, as the warlock leader is finished off by a black cat. That says it all. Our rating 5*
1.16 D for Destruction - Is this Redcap, as Colonel AA rejoins the 51st to uphold the Honour of the Regiment? But wait, perhaps it's Dad's Army as Colonel Mannering (Ian Cuthbertson) crosses swords with the "popinjay" colonel from 1902. Or perhaps it's Court Martial since Colonel AA is framed for murder, or maybe even Batman as AA and his 'batman' Miss Jones thwart the takeover of a nuclear base just as the finger is on The Button. But no, it's really only Allo Allo for that's what it must be when Michael Ripper utters that immortal line to AA: "Listen carefully, because I shall only tell you once...." Our rating 2*
2.2 Black Echo -
Is the lady claiming to be the Grand Duchess (Gladys Cooper, of course) really the woman AA encountered in St Petersberg back in 1901? As her heirs are set to inherit £150m, AA is retained by the bank holding this enormous sum, to see if she's genuine. She's "a very old woman" now, and "he's a friend from long ago." AA recaptures a touch of his romance with Louise in '01, "the summer of love"- now there's a line from the sixties! Yes, "infamy is afoot" as what had seemed but a gentle adventure builds into Frankenstein-like horror. "The fiend still lives" with a Voice "like a sawblade." Perhaps it all becomes too high falutin, a quest for eternal youth. A doomed quest. Our rating 4*
2.13 A Sinister Sort of Service- final story.
On his hundredth birthday, AA pledges to crack the crime wave that is sweeping London. Surveillance Services ("security is our business") are the group behind it, run by Mr Lang (TP McKenna). He programmes a giant 'Crime Computer' to help businesses protect themselves, but "a machine that can predict crime can also plan crime." "Sir Lancelot" AA joins the gang and is forced to commit their most ambitious robbery to date, for £5 million, for Miss Jones has been taken prisoner, as usual, by the fiendish Face. The limitations are evident of a studio bound production, but at least William E Simms can rescue Miss Jones before AA foils the theft and saves his friends. Yet the Face still eludes him. I suppose it always will, now. Unless someone dares to revive the series- heaven forbid! Our rating 6*

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Francis Durbridge
The master of suspense serials has not been treated well by the BBC, who did so well out of him.

Thankfully, here's one complete surviving six part serial from 1966:

The Game of Murder
with Gerald Harper and
Conrad Phillips
Episode 1:
Episode 2:
Episode 3:
Episode 4:
Episode 5:
Episode 6:

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Dixon of Dock Green
starring Jack Warner as PC George Dixon, an Ordinary Copper
A cosy police drama which reflects the integrity of a pre-Z Cars police force. It ended up being derided as an anachronism, but that wasn't the fault of the programme, but of the world that had changed all around.

Series 2. Story 16 The Rotten Apple - (1956) Fourteenth in a string of robberies is at Alderman Mayhew's home (AJ Brown). The crooks "knows all about the layout of the place." Recently released from prison, the Captain is the obvious suspect, but he's always got a watertight alibi. Next robbery however, the Captain is identified, but the evidence shows he's not guilty of all the others. The breakthrough comes when George Dixon learns PC Tom Carr (Paul Eddington) owes over a hundred quid to a bookie. Dixon's subsequent lecture is almost punishment enough: "there's nothing worse than a rotten copper, the lowest thing that crawls on God's earth."
17 The Roaring Boy - (1956) PC Dixon comes face to face with an army deserter, Douglas Beale (Kenneth Cope), who is holed out in the room of his girl Diane (Jennifer Wilson). "Don't be a fool son, give me that gun." But he won't, getting a sadistic pleasure from the power it gives him, and he enjoys arguing with his prisoners. Remarks the disillusioned Diane: "I only hope there's no men in the next world." For Beale has declared "I've always wanted to kill someone." But PC George Dixon gives them both a lesson in morals before pulling the carpet, literally, from under the coward
18 Pound of Flesh - Kay Evans (Dorothy Gordon) reports the theft of her husband's best suit, but why is she lying? "Sounds pretty thin to me," notes the shrewd George Dixon. Blake, an extortionate moneylender is the source of her worries, thank goodness such a "rat" is nicked
Series 20 (now in colour) 399 Harry's Back (12 January 1974) with Lee Montague
413 Firearms were issued - An £80,000 armed bank robbery and police have to be issued with guns so they can close in on the three crooks who are now sharing the cash out. After a tense time of waiting, the house where they are hiding is surrounded and the police move in. One criminal is shot as he tries to escape, but it turns out that none of the men are actually carrying shooters. So a detailed investigation is organised as a matter of urgency by brusque Inspector Donovan (Percy Herbert) whose main concern appears to be press reaction. Questions are asked, still relevant today.

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Maigret
Rupert Davies achieved a well deserved success as the celebrated pipe-smoking detective. That opening sequence of his striking a match to light his pipe, accompanied by Ron Grainer's evocative music was a classic.
Initially the programmes were telerecorded using Kinescope, "just as effective as film and a great deal cheaper." According to another contemporary report they were shot on both 405 and 525 line videotape as well as on 16mm and 35mm film. You takes your choice!
When shooting started the new BBC Television Centre had not been opened so the first two stories were shot at the old Lime Grove studios. Riverside Studios were apparently also used for a few early episodes before the BBC Centre opened officially on June 29th 1960. Rehearsals had already began (at the end of the previous month) and the first episode shot around June 14th 1960. The stories were screened from that October.
36 Death in Mind (November 1962)- Two lonely old women are murdered and the ten million they've left seems sufficient motive. Maigret however risks his career in letting the obvious suspect (John Ronane) escape, with the idea of following him. Has he contacted Emile Radek (Anton Rodgers), an impoverished medical student? When the man who inherits the money (Jerry Stovin) shoots himself, Maigret finds himself taunted by this Radek who is now in the money. "There could be another murder," Radek warns our policeman. But Maigret can play cat and mouse too, and he toys with Radek at the scene of the murders
37 Seven Little Crosses (December 1962) - with Alfred Burke, James Maxwell, also with Arthur Lowe
41 Fonetenay Murders (October 1963) - Three murders in a small town where Maigret just happens to be holidaying with a friend, the local magistrate (Alan Wheatley). All killed with a spanner, murders seemingly unconnected. Soon class tensions are mounting, before Maigret reveals the murderer's name- it's Mr Grimsdale! Well, it's actually the local bigwig played by Edward Chapman, for ever immortalised for his role as stooge to Norman Wisdom
52 Maigret's Little Joke (December 1963, final story)- The wife of Dr Jarvet (Michael Goodliffe) has died over the weekend- Inspector Lucas investigates as Maigret is injured. Digitalis is found in her body: "it's impossible!" Unable to resist following the case unofficially, Maigret keeps sending Lucas anonymous little notes with suggestions as to what to look into
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Riviera Police
In the overall TV Ratings for 1965, this Rediffusion series came fourth, ahead even of No Hiding Place. Only 13 stories were made, surprising in view of its popularity.
1 Who can catch a Falling Star?
5 Duet for Two Guns
7 Take it Sideways and Pray

The main characters were
Inspector Legrand (Brian Spink), the only character to appear in all stories.
The other three stars rotated their appearances, and were
Lt-Col Constant Sorel, a 28 year old Canadian bachelor (Frank Lieberman),
Supt Adam Hunter, a Londoner seconded to the Riviera Police (Geoffrey Frederick),
and Supt Bernie Johnson, a languid Aussie (Noel Trevarthen).
The theme music was written by Laurie Johnson and titled Latin Quarter.
The titles of all the stories in this series were-
1 Who Can Catch A Falling Star? (Mon Aug 2nd 1965- with all four stars)
2 That Kind of Girl (Aug 9th- with NT plus Bill Nagy, John le Mesurier)
3 The Lucky One Was the Snake (Aug 16- with FL plus Nadja Regin, Wanda Ventham, Harold Innocent)
4 But the Company She Keeps (Aug 23- with GF plus John Bailey)
5 Duet for Two Guns (Aug 30- with NT)
6 A Shot in the Dark... and Two in the Mid-day Sun (Sept 6- with FL plus Raymond Young, June Thorburn, Paul Maxwell, Jennifer Jayne)
7 Take It Sideways and Pray (Sept 13- with NT)
8 There Comes a Point (Sept 20- with FL plus Laurence Payne, Pauline Letts, Anna Carteret, Patrick Mower)
9 Past Indefinite - Future Imperfect (Sept 27- with NT plus Peggy Thorpe-Bates, Peter Copley)
10 There's Something Moving in the Water (Oct 5)
11 Girl on a Plate (Tues Oct 12- with GF plus Stephanie Randall, Basil Dignam)
12 Bubbles Through a Looking Glass (Oct 19- with FL plus George Pravda, Jacqueline Ellis, Geoffrey Palmer)
13 A Rainbow has Two Ends (Oct 26- with all four stars plus Erica Rogers, Frederick Jaeger, Alan White).
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1 "Who can catch a Falling Star?" (Aug 2nd 1965)-
with Supt Adam Hunter and Inspector Legrand
(Supt Johnson and Lt-Col Sorel also appear, but only on film).

Anna Corelli, "Italy's newest star," is cavorting on the Riviera. These opening scenes on 16mm film are disjointed, but the gist is clear enough: to a Callan-like theme, she's arguing with her boyfriend Tony (Anthony Valentine) over the attentions of a rival, Craig. He throws her over the cliff, but Joan Mayer (Katharine Blake) happens to see him.
Joan's "made some great pictures in her time," but now she's "a drunken lush", with her husband Eric (Alan Gifford) an old-style movie director, "a couple of old has-beens." Eric decides that what Joan knows could be of use to them.
Tony's father, Jerry (Ronald Radd), is one of the biggest European film producers. "Joan's going to make a comeback," Eric tells Jerry in the old story of blackmail.
Supt Hunter with Inspector Legrand question the influential guests at the party where the "limited" actress had been murdered. "We all loved her," is the typical showbiz response, but Douglas is more helpful, he remembers seeing Joan Mayer near where Tony and Anna were arguing.
Hunter also discovers Tony has had several other similar scrapes, though his dad insists "nothing's ever been proved against Tony." Possibly because Jerry puts pressure on the police, Hunter is similarly put under pressure from his superior to go easy. Tony's "a natural killer" insists Hunter, and indeed he's correct.
For Tony is arranging for Joan to be warned off "permanently." High up in the hills, she's happily preparing for her starring role. The assassins shoot Eric and chase after her, as the police arrive. A gunfight and Joan gets away. "We've got to find her," before Tony can finish her off. Jerry is persuaded to cooperate with the police and Hunter goes to where Joan is making a Personal Appearance. Tony is lurking there too. Joan, rather the worse for drink arrives, a shot rings out, a fight and Tony is dragged away. "I'm still a great star," wails Joan, to more Callan-like music
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5 "Duet for Two Guns" (Aug 30th 1965) -
with Supt Johnson and Inspector "Legs" Legrand.

There's a 90 second sequence to start, on grainy 16mm film showing prisoner Harry Borden (Fredric Abbott) leaping from a 200 foot cliff and swimming to freedom. He has "to talk to" the man who shopped him, "respected citizen" the crooked La Salle (John Turner), who still has the gold bullion from their joint robbery "hidden away somewhere." Borden's old acquaintance Supt Barney Johnson is assigned to recapture this "tricky customer," who eludes police by jumping a lorry and sneaks into Nice during a carnival by donning a clown's costume.
La Salle's villa is near here! But the crook is confident his mansion is well guarded by his 'secretaries,' Mike and Jack and he rejects Johnson's rather reluctant offer of protection.
Nearby, with his pal Guido, Harry is planning his attack, whilst safe inside his fortress La Salle plans his reception for Harry. Johnson has to keep a watching brief outside the giant gates that guard La Salle's property. At the point of a gun Johnson is forced by Harry to join him enter La Salle's. "It's a trap," insists Barney Johnson as they easily walk in through the front door. "The best way to beat a gambit," retorts Harry calmly," is to accept it."
"This isn't chess," is Johnson's profound conclusion. But La Salle's trap is beaten, Mike and Jack silenced. No sign of La Salle, he's flown. Jack is forced to reveal where.
Inspector Legrand is tracking all their moves by helicopter: "they're slowing down... a no through road... a cottage." There digging up the garden is La Salle, but not for horticultural reasons, but for the stolen gold. He's shot dead by Harry who ironically ends with "I told you you'd dig your own grave!"
But the police swoop and Harry has to run for it, and Johnson shoots him dead too

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7 "Take it Sideways and Pray" (Sept 13th 1965) -
with Supt Johnson and Inspector Legrand.

The Monaco Grand Prix. Lew Scarsdale (John Meillon) crashed at the Nurburgring a year ago. He still has nightmares about the crash in which a fellow driver died. "I thought I was finished," he tells Jenny, his wife.
But now he's on the Riviera, "lapping faster than Jim Clark," to try and persuade his old boss Jack (David Burke) to let him drive again. "I can win Monte Carlo for you!" But Jack's had enough of Lew's bravado, calling him a "suicide pilot." Against rival Harvey Brooks it'd be like "High Noon, with cars for guns." For Lew blames Harvey for that crash.
But after arson at Jack's garage, Lew's lighter is found nearby by Peter, Lew's best mate. Supt Johnson accepts Lew's alibi, but "someone's trying to get at Jack Dyson," but who or why is a mystery. Then a man in a skeleton mask kidnaps Jack's driver and suddenly Lew is needed to race. Johnson rounds up the kidnapper just as the race is starting.
Lew starts badly, but in those days overtaking wasn't any great shakes as "Lew always comes in with a late run." "What a race this is!"- as Harvey and Lew battle it out. Lew is forced off-line as Harvey regains the lead. Wheel to wheel racing (on sound commentary with some film), "they're going to crash! Someone's in the water." So taking the chequered flag is........ Lew.
Maybe the kidnapper will be forgiven, as he was only trying to help Lew get a seat and Jack to win the race
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Boyd QC

The stories starred Michael Denison as Richard Boyd.
Reviews of 3 stories below. More on the series in our 2008 Boyd QC Research Section.

(probably) 2.4 The Balance of her Mind (April 1958) - Boyd is a judge at Hazelford Assizes. Having escaped from Hungary after the uprising, 52 year old Mrs Eva Christoff and her daughter Olga, a qualified chemist, find "life was good" in England. But then a compatriot started trying to persuade them to return to Budapest. The threat by the communists to harm Eva's nieces produces unbearable pressures, but for them, "the answer does not lie in Communism." On 18th January 1958 they attempt to gas themselves. Insp Ireland had found them unconscious in bed
3.9 In Camera (February 1959) - 540 insurance stamps, a cigarette lighter and a compact are all items Elizabeth Wayne (Brenda Hogan, right pf picture) is accused of stealing from her employer. Bolton (John Welsh) of Security at Alison Engineering Company, on the instructions of her boss Mr Morley (Peter Bull) had installed a camera in an office from where items had been going missing, and "nice kind" Miss Wayne had been snapped with her hands in the till. A Mr Tickle (pronounced Tickell, he insists- Charles Gray) of Histon Newspapers takes up this minor case, which thus promotes it to front page news. The only way out seems to be "Quis custodiet, ipso custodes." What else?! As narrator Jack (Charles Leno) tells us: Boyd "revelled" in this trial, though frankly it doesn't require even Boyd's brainpower to work out the truth. A long cross examination of the ailing Bolton leads to "a slice of luck" when Bolton is taken ill under Boyd's questioning. He's taken to his bed, and in his home the stolen cigarette lighter is discovered
(probably) 6.9 What The Eye Doesn't See (January 1964) - Shopkeeper Luigi faces prosecution and a fine of 20 pounds (gulp) for the technical infringement of driving his goods van without a C licence. However Richard Good, an officious ministry inspector (Peter Vaughan), asks "How about 7 pounds and I'll forget about it?" But Luigi tells a policeman (Stratford Johns), and seven pound notes are marked enabling Good to be caught in the very act. Boyd has to defend Good. Is he a "nasty piece of work"? "If he's honest, he's a fool!" Prosecuting Counsel Mostyn (Terence Alexander) looks confident. Boyd pounces on the fact that Luigi wears a hearing aid and significantly wasn't wearing it that day. Is it going to be Perry Mason all over again? Certainly Good's version of events contains no reference to any bribe. However this is one case that Perry, sorry Boyd isn't going to win. "Tight as a lord, bragging he was going to get off," Good slips up and Boyd has to withdraw as on Good's own admission he is guilty. Sentence: Two months in prison for the unfortunately named Good.

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No Hiding Place - with Raymond Francis as Det-Supt Lockhart

Series 1

Series 3

Series 4

Series 5

Series 7

Series 9

Note- we have seen no stories from Series 2,6, 8 or 10 nor from the forerunners of No Hiding Place (see below). This was Associated Rediffusion's flagship crime series that ran for ten series. It had made an inauspicious start in 1957 with 57 live half hour stories titled Murder Bag. The first story had the very dull title Case 1: 16 Sept 57! Advance publicity stated the series was about "how Scotland Yard goes to work from the moment it discovers a murder has been committed." It was said Ray Francis prepared for the part "by visiting police stations and courts and talking to policemen." In 1959 the title was changed to Crime Sheet. Guy Taylor wrote- "Wondering why A-R has so much faith in Chief Supt Lockhart, I looked in on Wednesday August 5th 1959. Remembering the earlier Murder Bag programmes I will admit that the overall production has improved and the series is better for being on film (perhaps he means the linking scenes?), but the storylines still remain corny and just a little too obvious. The characters are black and white. They are not shaded to any degree of reality. The crooks are as crooked as you make them, and the police are just a little too staid and slick. Lockhart is devoid of any warmth or real character." Despite the critics, after 15 Crime Sheets, the progamme was lengthened to one hour in Autumn 1959, and No Hiding Place was born. Lockhart progressed through many series, rising higher up the ranks. Explained script editor Guy Morgan: "I feel that in the past Lockhart, as head of the Big Five, has been called in on a lot of crimes that were not important enough for an officer of his status. In future he will only deal with that type of case that would make headlines in the national press." bBefore the second series in the summer of 1960, Guy Morgan told TV Times: "I don't want it to appear that crime detection is easy and that all cases are solved by one man....the plots will not solely concentrate on murder, they include a prison escape, a case of alleged police perjury and a bomb scare in a newspaper office." Ray Dicks (executive producer) tells about the addition of Deputy Commander Hutchins:"by showing that even Lockhart can have someone breathing down his neck." More outdoor filming was included to put the stories on authentic backgrounds. Raymond Francis became a huge star through No Hiding Place, and wrote in 1964- "It's tough going, long hours and all that, but it's very enjoyable. Of course almost everyone calls me Lockhart and when my wife goes shopping at home in Eastbourne, she is always called Mrs Lockhart by shopkeepers!" In a 1967 TV Times interview Raymond Francis declared- "When Lockhart began, it was a little too early to worry about being typecast. And by the time I woke up to that danger, it was too late." And asked about the future- "well of course I hope it goes on. If it does end for any reason, I think I could take it philosophically." Prophetic words for what was just around the corner- this successful series only finally came to an end because Rediffusion's contract was not renewed. In July 1965 according to a TV Times article at the end of series 7, Lockhart had been "in 277 stories." Rediffusion had planned to axe the series at this point, but "viewer demand" brought it back! This would mean that there were 317 stories altogether, with 245 episodes of No Hiding Place. This may be slightly more than the actual total, but how many are still in existence? In the 1990's, the owners of the Rediffusion archive advertised only nine stories available for tv stations to buy, so if more than two dozen survive, it would be a pleasant surprise! Question- Murder Bag 1:15 titled Case 15: December 23 was about the theft of a seasonal item- guess what? Answer. However this case unseasonably ended up with a murdered man! To Taped Shows Menu . . . . . . . Series One - Opening - a policeman's hand indicates STOP to allow police car 892FPC to leave the Yard and proceed along Whitehall in a northerly direction and on to other London streets. Dt Chief Supt Lockhart is assisted by Sgt Baxter (Eric Lander) 1.7 "Victim of the Dark" (Jan 1960) - There's a cosy little introduction by Raymond Francis telling us about the remoteness even today of some country districts. Then a film clip of a large property that would have been worthy of the later Avengers. Margaret (Marjorie Stewart) is returning home after a long spell away, spent in a mental home as we learn later. There's joy on the faces of her daughters Angela and Catherine, but her ex-husband Alfie (Peter Vaughan) is distinctly less welcoming. He'd been the cause of her breakdown, and now he's even married the 'other woman' Jean (Anna Turner) who has borne him two children, young Johnny, "the apple of his father's eye," and six month old Susan. But strangely it's Jean who had invited Margaret to stay. Perhaps it's partly because her marriage is now also on the rocks, because Alfred has been having an affair with their maid Gerte. "I never knew anyone could be so selfish," Jean tells her husband. She finds a sympathetic ear in Margaret, who despite her illness is now more rounded and understanding. But of course "cold-blooded" Alfred resents Margaret's presence. "Don't forget, if anything happens, you're responsible," he warns his wife. Indeed something does happen. The introduction of these characters has taken up the whole of the first act and is a trifle out of proportion to what follows. Very surprisingly when there's a murder, it's little Johnny who's the victim. Splashing through the puddles in their car 894FPC, Lockhart and Baxter come to investigate. The child had been killed with a knife in a shed at about 1am. First task is to locate the weapon and any blood stained clothing. Whilst the search commences Lockhart orders the family to stay in their rooms so he can question them individually. Alfred blames Margaret as "she's been in an asylum." But he's rather suspicious too, as he has a bad cut, got whilst shaving he claims. Viewers must have hoped he's the killer, but he has no obvious motive. Jean is of course very upset and blames herself. To hurt Alfred, she had made up a story that Johnny wasn't his son. Gerte admits threatening Alfred after he'd broken a promise to marry her. With the characters thus well developed, the ending comes too abruptly. As Lockhart questions Marjorie, a torn nightdress is discovered stuffed up a chimney. "Why did you do it?" the police superintendent asks the killer. No Hiding Place . . . . . . . Series Three - The opening sequence showed a policeman holding up his hand authoritatively to allow through a police car (the familiar 892FPC). Whilst this is the same as the series one opening, the pictures then differ. Dt Chief Supt Lockhart is assisted by Dt Sgt Baxter (Eric Lander) 3.6 "The Widower" (Mar 1961) - Here's a gem of a part for Griffith Jones. Mr Slade-Jones (Griffith Jones) is grief stricken over the death of his wife Amelia, died 26th October 1960. Only been married 3 months, she died of a heart attack. According to his landlady Mrs Nuggett (Gwen Nelson) he has taken a ring promised to her. Furthermore, she believes he poisoned her! But where is he now? Noone seems to be able to give a precise description except Mrs Nuggett who says he had "horns, cloven hooves and a big blue beard." Quips Lockhart who's frustrated by his disappearance: "at least that's something definite!" Meanwhile,"impeccably dressed" Henry has returned home to his real wife, after months of "secret service work." In his specially locked room he keeps the jewellery he's inherited from his deceased 'wife' as well as lots of plants and scientific apparatus. He has to go off to work again, however, and a Mr Fraser-Smith is now wooing another wealthy widow Edith Sudbury (Georgina Cookson). He asks his wife to check her credentials: "Henry, I do hope you know what you're doing," his wife innocently tells him. He does, they're soon married, and shortly the new wife's heart is having "a wee flutter." Dt Sally Jordan (Rowena Gregory) gets a lucky break when she spots the disputed ring on a woman in a Knightsbridge hotel. Her action leads Lockhart to Henry Potter, a lab assistant who had been convicted of theft back in 1949. A constable recognises the photo leading Lockhart and Baxter to Henry's real home where his wife of course, cannot discuss his top secret work, which is "of a highly confidential and important nature." But a look round his secret room convinces the police that "Mr Potter is preparing the way for his next victim." Indeed he is, waiting like a spider to adminster a fatal dose of nicotine. But in burst the police. Poetic justic ends the case. 3.26 "Dead Ringer" (Aug 1961) - George Berrington (Jack Rodney), a 'painter' (ie a fixer) of horses is wanted for murdering an Epsom stable lad, but the only witness has just been killed in a motoring accident. His boss, Joe Mulvaney (Peter Vaughan) who's in cahoots with trainer Frank (John Horsley), now finds a dead ringer for the dud Frzser D who's running at Alford Park. Berrington has to make it look like Frazer D. A police expert explains to Lockhart "they switch a good animal to represent an indifferent one, and when the substitute wins they have to produce the genuine horse..." Lockhart completes the horrible sequence "... and so they destroy a good one." Mulvaney starts betting on the outsider, but the odds fall too quickly when Madge, Berrington's wife, places a £3,000 bet on FD. "You ain't 'alf started something." Yes Frazer D wins, but as joint favourite at 4-1 noone makes a packet. Mrs Berrington is questioned why she's chartered a flight from Gatwick to Paris, paid, no doubt, out of her winnings. The buried animal is found, Berrington lying dead alongside. "I'm going to call my solicitor," snarls Joe Mulvaney when he and Frank are accused of murder. They only admit that they ordered Berrington to kill the horse. "And then," jokes Lockhart, "he committed suicide, fell into the hole and buried himself." But they are cleared as it's finally proved who really did it. A quick moving story with a flowing plot and characters that gel. This, the final programme of the series, ends with assistant Harry promoted to Detective Inspector Baxter. No Hiding Place Menu . . . . . Series Four - The brief opening depicted Dt Chief Supt Lockhart and Dt Insp Baxter being driven in Humber 408CXW. 4.37 "Beware of Weepers" (Jan 1963) - Out of the snow in a hut, tramps Mort (Reg Lye) and Joss (Duncan Lewis) spot some gelignite. "There's a fortune in this stuff!" Baxter is just off to watch Fulham ("you ought to be in mourning," jokes Lockhart) when they are called in to investigate the theft of "weepers," unstable pieces of gelignite. "Don't get yourself blown up," Lockhart still in jocular mood warns Baxter, "your intray's still full." The tramps break into a factory to crack a safe. It's when the jelly explodes prematurely that they discover it's unsafe, and they scarper double quick. Mort ropes in Joe Macclesfield (Danny Green) "a real criminal" to help his next job, robbing a music hall. Another failure! Joe is picked up, in tatters. "All time booby prize" Lockhart awards him, convincing Joe the weepers need to be traced urgently. However, by now Mort and Joss are approaching "one of the big boys" (Harry Fowler) who won't buy, warning them it's too dangerous. An inebriate woman breaks into the tramps' ramshackle home under a railway arch. She overhears them discussing their problem: "no need to lose our heads!" A sewer on the Brighton Road is where they decide to bury it, but with the woman's info Lockhart and Baxter race to catch them up. The jelly has already been chucked down a manhole: "you need a gas mask for this job, sir." Rashly Baxter radios for help which triggers the explosives. One rather battered explosives expert (Ewan Roberts) glares out of the sewer. A trace of a smile creeps over Lockhart's face. That perhaps sums up this story in which writer Bill Strutton can't quite decide whether to make a tense drama or a comedy out of a potentially explosive situation 4.40 "Operation Tiptoe" (Feb 1963) - "Thank you Tiptoes" is how a stylish thief has signed his calling card at no less than 47 robberies in the past two years four months. As the investigating officer is retiring, Baxter is briefed: none of the stolen jewellery has been recovered. Job 48 is in Kensington, a £1,100 necklace, only recently purchased from Frazer of Knightsbridge. A footprint shows the thief wore crepe soled shoes, and these are eventually traced to a Mr Freelove. Infidelity proves to be the downfall of the crook. We meet Eddie Frazer (Ian Shand) with his secretary Jennifer. Her husband suspects her and her "fancy pants." We also meet impresario Mendelssohn-Jones who has given a £3,500 necklace to his "baby doll" Michelle Duval. But is his "French oo-la-la" two-timing him? A detective, Guppy Watson is assigned to watch her. Thus Job 49 proves Frazer's downfall. At Mme Duval's flat Guppy watches Frazer drive up in the snow and climb up to her balcony. Lockhart and Baxter catch up with Frazer alias Freelove, but it's too late- he's dead. Who killed him? Jennifer or her husband, who admits following Frazer, or Guppy or his paymasters? A final scene is at Mendelssohn-Jones' office where the killer stupidly gives himself away. Well defined characters in this story, though it doesn't quite capture the swagger of the gentleman thief. No Hiding Place . . . . Series Five 5.8 "Expert with Salt" (Aug 1963) - The opening scenes at a Wimbledon tennis party are far too complex, unsuccessfully attempting to introduce too many characters. Stockbroker Arnold Gracie (Ronald Leigh-Hunt) "owns one of the biggest broking houses in the City." Together with Derek (Ronald Allen), a scam is planned on Charles Milner, currently staying at the Belvedere Hotel. They have concoted an assay report on a valuable gold mine which Derek, accidentally on purpose, has left behind in a taxi he's been sharing with Milner: "the fish is hooked." However blonde Gloria, a model friend of Arnold's, and who can't act, get's pally with Australian Sadler (Alan White) who's a con artist himself. He's been brought to this country by Nesta who works for Justine (Naomi Chance) and together they plan to diddle her of "thousands and thousands." But Sadler, an expert himself in the old dodge of "salting" mines to make them appear to contain a genuine seam of gold, gets greedy and tries to muscle in on Arnold and Derek's scam. He breaks into Derek's home and finds a phoney gold mine report. Thus he realises it is indeed a "squeeze" and that Milner is "being taken for a ride." He approaches the swindlers demanding an equal cut. They "kid him along," playing for time. Keeping a watching brief is Lockhart's team. Non-intervention is their current attitude: "people who are being conned don't appreciate advice- not until it's too late." In her posh Regent's Park house, Justine receives a report, this is part of Sadler and Nesta's blackmail plan. It purports to be in her late husband's handwriting, implicating him in a gold mine scam. Arnold and Derek's shakedown of Milner is complete, as he hands over £22,400 believing he's investing in shares in a real mine. Finally Lockhart moves. Sadler's plan is to "retire for life" which indirectly comes true, as he is found murdered in his flat, his pockets cleaned out. Murder weapon seems to be a yellow metallic figure. Odd that Milner claims he saw this figure in Arnold's office. Arnold is about to do a runner when Inspector Baxter catches up with him and he's arrested. But who killed Sadler? Nesta is questioned and provides, says Lockhart, a pack of lies. However her conviction that Sadler should have had plenty of cash on him rings true. Then Justine is interrogated. Lockhart has discovered it was Sadler who had worked with her late husband to fake a gold mine. More lies. Finally the truth No Hiding Place . . . . . . Series Seven - Opening sequence with a camera closing in on the Yard. Lockhart on the phone answers "Lockhart here." Then a picture of the Houses of Parliament with our chief superintendent riding past. His car then picks up his two assistants. 7.14 "Smokey" (Apr 1965) - A potential Derby winner is "the pin-up of the greyhound world." His minder Jerry Dempsey (Donal Donnelly) is in financial difficulties and seeks help from "tough nut" Harry Lavey (Glyn Houston). It's forthcoming to the tune of £300, as long as Jerry fixes the dog. Jerry's girl has "problems of me own" including her unemployed father Smokey Flynn (Liam Redmond) who used to be one of the best greyhound trainers. Smokey gets wind of what Jerry is planning and tips off the dog's owner Joe Briggs who dashes off to the race meeting where the betting scam is going on and ends up with his head bashed in. The dog that has won the race, The Thief of Bagdad had conveniently broken a hock and had to be destroyed. So when Lockhart arrives on the scene, he finds it difficult to prove any scam has taken place. Nor can he find Smokey who has been hidden away by Jerry, since he knows it was The Queen of Fiji that had actually run in the race. Although a prisoner, Smokey is still able to lecture Jerry, warning him that he doesn't want to end up the same way as he, old Smokey, has gone. Lavey realises that as Smokey is wise to the scam, he will inevitably talk eventually. So he and his mob decide to arrange for Smokey's 'suicide:' "he's like a dog that can't run any more." Luckily the police arrive in time. Jerry has admitted he killed Briggs as he was on to the scam. Whilst this is a mainly sympathetic portrayal of the greyhound world, the characters don't come over as entirely convincing and so the story really never quite comes alive No Hiding Place . . . . . Series Nine The opening sequence showed a window being smashed followed by various other crimes. Dt Chief Supt Lockhart is assisted by Dt Sgt Russell (Johnny Briggs) and Dt Sgt Perryman (Michael McStay). 9.2 "Ask me If I killed Her" (May 1966)- A filmed scene at a post office introduces Duncan Myers (Derek Godfrey) who is asking if any letters have arrived for him. We follow him back to his work at a college where his wife (Yootha Joyce) is the principal. She realises he is disturbed by the fact that his affair with Anne seems to be over and warns him "don't make a fool of yourself." Now there's film of Anne (wonderfully played by Mary Miller), walking along a street, watched by Duncan. He finally makes up his mind and joins Anne, who is ecstatic. A sour Mrs Myers goes to the police to inform them "the last time this happened he murdered a girl." He strangled Janet Ainley three years ago in 1963 in a holiday camp, and she's worried he's going to murder again! As Lockhart's busy in court, Dt Sgt Perryman is told to check out her claim, but Lockhart warns him "Peter Treble killed her, you can take my word for that." So, with Lockhart's doubts ringing in his ears, Perryman interviews Mrs Myers wanting first of all to know why she has taken three years before coming forward. "I think it's possible we've made a mistake," Perryman, after some reflection, suggests to his boss. Lockhart is not amused: "what do you know?" he asks pointedly, with the emphasis on the 'know.' It's true Myers had had an affair with Janet but even though Treble wasn't convicted of the crime, Lockhart is sure in his own mind he was guilty. Publicity seeking Myers' whereabouts comes to Anne's attention so she suggests he call at a police station just to reassure them he's OK and that he's not returning to his wife. But Myers, perhaps fearing something else, refuses to go. Another filmed interlude as Anne drives her Mini, discussing her situation with a friend (Shirley Cain), rationalising her thoughts in favour of Duncan. A nagging voice urges her to contact the police, which she does, just to let them know Duncan is fine. The police speed to see the couple but they've run off together to his secret hideaway: "they won't find us here." Anne and Duncan are discussing his past. His attitude to his late ex-girl friend is very ambivalent, making for some tension. He's getting rather drunk. Is Anne worried he did kill Janet? Yes, he did see her the night she died, but like tonight, he was too drunk to recall what happened. He forces her to express her view, Anne screaming "I think you killed her!" Lockhart can now spare the time to join in the hunt. He's used his brains and worked out where they might be. Arrival of Lockhart to comfort a hysterical girl. Myers is questioned, but the evidence proves he is not guilty. Lockhart breaks the news to Anne who is free to do what she wants... No Hiding Place Taped Shows Menu . . . . . . . . . Redcap (Series One- 1964) with John Thaw as Sgt Mann. Perhaps I shouldn't write it, but this is one series that it wouldn't have mattered if it had been junked, though now it has been released on dvd: 1 "It's What Comes After" -Excellent story by William Emms. Why has exemplary Cpt Lynne (Keith Barron) suddenly become a bundle of nerves? 2 "A Town Called Love" -Local girl Magda "puts the squeeze" on Army personnel, forcing them to steal to order or be reported for pilfering. Pendlebury (Michael Robbins) is the latest victim, but when Magda is found "carved up" Pendlebury "goes over the wall." Unofficially, Mann also goes to East Germany to bring him home, but he's rumbled by the Commies and an exchange has to be arranged, but not before Mann has given Pendlebury the route how to escape back to the West. Somehow he makes it, without even Simon Templar to help him. Maybe in those days, scriptwriters didn't realise you couldn't just 'pop over' the border. 3 "Epitaph for a Sweat" - In a "god forsaken unit" in Aden, Sgt Rolfe (Leonard Rossiter, appearing to out-Hartnell William) works over a native "wog" who naturally complains. An overlong story of army bullies and political expedience that could still, sadly, apply today 4 "Misfire" - 5 "Corporal McKann's Private War" - 6 "The Orderly Officer" - 7 "Night Watch" - Sgt Graham (Brian Wilde) is "in a mess." He's been busted to private after a court martial in Burma. But his whole platoon under Major Stokely (Allan Cuthertson) are at rock bottom morale, about to "burst and the pus come flying out." Me, I just nodded off 8 "The Boys of B Company" - 9 "A Regiment of the Line" - 11 "A Question of Initiative" - A German civvy is run over by soldiers who'd stolen a car on a tough initiative test. As we know the guilty pair, the interest is seeing how Sgt Mann solves the case and deals with the delicate political implications. The final Act nearly does a fine job of fleshing these out 12 "A Place of Refuge" -By gad sir, Major Trust is blowing his brains out. Perhaps it's no coincidence but money has been borrowed from regimental funds. When Sgt Mann isn't "dead careful" interrogating civilian Wendy, the major's girl friend, he's withdrawn from the case, but he still finds enough evidence that she's involved in drug trafficking. The story provides an interesting role for Barbara Jefford as the ambivalent Wendy: "you're not a woman, you're a psychopath." 13 "The Patrol" - Sgt Mann lands in the jungle to get statements from a patrol commanded by two "eccentrics" (Graham Crowden, Robin Bailey). Much crawling round the studio jungle before Mann sees some Action. Truly Awful To Series Two . . . Taped Series Menu . . . Redcap Series Two (1966): 14 "Crime Passionel" - A respected sergeant is shot dead in a crowded canteen. Why is the truth being covered up? 15 "Pride of the Regiment" - A simple investigation into a pub brawl leads Sgt Mann to the sad story of 'What Price the Hero Now,' Fred Barratt VC. Mann teaches him some home truths about living on past glory. George Sewell gives a strong portrayal of the tarnished hero in Arden Winch's excellent drama 16 "The Killer" - Old friend O'Keefe (Garfield Morgan), the 'Blue Angel of Bolton,' is a sergeant in the "toughest mob" in the army. He wants Mann to uncover a killer he believes is in his unit, so Mann joins them on an exercise. Nevertheless he fails to prevent O'Keefe from ending up with his throat slit. But does Mann then arrest the wrong man? He doesn't exactly cover himself with glory 17 "Buckingham Palace" - At a snowy Cyprus relay signal station, a gambling craze leads to murder. No1 suspect is Cpl Cowell, though Sgt Buckett (William Lucas) knows a Greek called Butros (Peter Bowles) is the guilty man. Sgt Mann plays poker to prove there's been a security leak 18 "Rough Justice" - Impressive script about laxness in an upper crust crack regiment, under its colonel (Terence Longdon), where new recruit Richardson (Edward Fox) is tarred and feathered by his fellow officers, juvenile squirts all of them. Richardson disappears just before Sgt Mann inspects the books, which Richardson had been blackmailed into fiddling 21 "Paterson's Private Army" - A sub machine gun has gone missing from a Jungle Warfare Training School. It had been in the care of Cpl Donald (Colin Campbell) who is a genuine Scot, but some of the cast struggle bravely with their Scots accents, notably Pte Ogilvie (Geoffrey Whitehead), Sgt Burns (John Junkin) and Major Cleghorn (John Horsley). Sgt Mann meets the bitter members of Donald's platoon and the case seems "far too obvious" though I would have called it plain uninteresting. "I'm a bit fogged," admits Sgt Burns, and he isn't the only one. Even Mann has to conclude "it doesn't make any sense at all" 22 "Stag Party" - Terrorists at a Greek base? Or an inside job? A grenade during a strip poker game seems to be an act of jealousy- "it's pretty obvious, if you think about it." Ann Lynn enlivens a dull story, whilst Harold Goodwin as a Greek policeman delivers an odd Anglo-Greek accent 24 "Time Alibi" - AWOL, Cpl Harkness is identified at an ID parade as a robber. Mann has to find out why this "model soldier" has gone "off the rails" in a plot and guest star, Keith Barron, somewhat akin to the first story of the first series. This time it's a girl (surprise!- "I met this girl...") and when the cash is found in Harkness' room it looks pretty conclusive. To prove his innocence, all Mann has to do is break down a naval officer's alibi 25 "The Proper Charlie" - Who beat up Charlie Ringwold, a shy recruit with 2 left feet? 26 "Information Received"- MP Sgt Bamber (James Grout) is accused anonymously of nicking petrol. But Harry Bamber is an old colleague of Sgt Mann who can't believe such a straightforward chap be guilty. The right thief is found and he admits writing the accusation. But, this, Mann's last case, is only now beginning.... Taped Shows Menu . . . . . . . . . Police Surgeon with Ian Hendry "Easy Money" - Just out of Borstal, Jim (Michael Crawford) is brought in when he's found standing by a cigarette machine that has been knocked off, with twenty half crowns on his person, Our kindly doc gives him some gentle 'help'. He even talks it through afterwards with Jim at Ray's Cafe: "what you going to do about that money you stole?" After a long chat and a punch up with teddy boys Jim decides "you've got to draw the line somewhere." But the programme offers no solution to what is after all insoluble. These days would the police bat an eyelid at such petty crime and would a high and mighty doctor have any time for such a delinquent? Taped Shows Menu . . . . . . . . . The Protectors (1964) "The criminals and us- we're all in the same business. The difference is, our clients pay us to keep one jump ahead of the criminal mind. Diagnosis? Call the Police. Prognosis? Call WELbeck 3269." The firm of Souter and Shoesmith Ltd is a specialist in security. From offices in Marylebone, secretary cum Girl Friday Heather Keys (Ann Morrish) is also an expert in art forgery. Ian Souter (Andrew Faulds) went to school, like Prince Charles, at Gordonstoun and served at the end of the war in The Black Watch. His partner is Robert Shoesmith (Michael Atkinson), formerly of the CID, who said of his character, "he playes hunches, he's a creature of instinct." The producer was Michael Chapman. "Landscape with Bandits"- The Veritas Gallery in Manchester is "not a place for nobodies," wily owner Mr Ware (Gordon Gostelow) currently planning to go big time by buying River at Argenteuil by Monet, which is up for auction at Wheeler and Bond. Ian Souter is in charge of security at this auction house where "you've got to be a millionaire to shop." However the bidding doesn't quite reach this league, partly because doubts have been expressed in the newspaper group owned by Farnham, that the ownership of the painting is questionable. From a starting bid of £12,000 (laughable by today's standards!) it rises slowly, until a Frenchman, Scionneau (Martin Miller) interrupts the dignified calm, claiming he is the owner. Souter and Shoesmith quietly eject him and the bidding continues, Farnham being one bidder, but Ware hasn't even got to the sale. The winning bid is for a mere £36,500 from a Susannah Lane (Elizabeth Shepherd), but "who is she acting for?" Souter learns the answer when he delivers the Monet to her home. She's bought it jointly with one Christopher Searle (Barry Justice) an employee of Ware, but who has fallen out with his boss. The pair plan to resell the picture to start up their own gallery, and they ask Ian Souter to look after the Monet until they find a buyer. The blustering Ware, angry that he has been doublecrossed offers them a maximum of £42,000, but that is rejected. So Ware arranges for a mate called Tinker to duff Searle up. He then promises to get Scionneau back his painting- for a consideration! Whittle, a solicitor, tells Susannah and Chris he has an prospective buyer for them, a rich French widow. A figure of £45,000 is agreed and Bob Shoesmith is despatched to Paris with the Monet. Ian Souter, conicidentally, is flying to France on behalf of Farnham, at the same time as Bob is boarding the Golden Arrow with his clients- "roll on the Channel Tunnel," he says presciently. The train screeches to a halt, and two of Tinker's men snatch the painting. Bob has to break the bad news to his partner, but he and his clients are in for a surprise. The stolen picture was a forgery made by Heather, Ian Souter had secretly brought the real Monet over to Paris himself. He'd been highly suspicious of the French widow story. So Ware is disappointed, but Susannah and Chris are pleased to sell for £47,000 - to Farnham. 11 "Who Killed Lazoryck?" (6th June 1964) - After serving five years of his twelve year sentence, Pearce Kettner (Esmond Knight) has been released on medical grounds. His daughter Janice (Patricia English) is worried he might do "something stupid" for this "poet pacifist" always maintained he was framed for being a communist spy and killing Peter Lazoryck, a known spy. Chief witness against him had been Lord Keele (Peter Williams), and why has Kettner ordered his secretary Christina to moor his houseboat La Querencia suspiciously near to Lord Keele's home in Bandersly? "What I have to do must be done alone," he tells his daughter, so how can Ian Souter "protect a man who doesn't want to be protected?" And when Lord Keele is found with a knife in his back Kettner is "the obvious suspect." But luckily, Souter had been watching him on his boat, and can supply an alibi. Nevertheless Souter manages to have a heart to heart with the convicted spy, going over the day he was arrested. Lazoryck had been knocked on the head with a spanner just before Kettner had been going to visit him about his paintings, for he was "a painter of some merit." Keele, who had known Kettner from their Cambridge days, and who was currently working with him on a scheme of cultural exchanges, had lied at the trial, even to the extent of saying Lazoryck had kept that appointment with Kettner that day. Souter explores Bandersly, in the vague hope of unearthing something that will clear Kettner's name. But the search is interrupted by The Major, a spy who has been caused "considerable inconvenience" by Souter's inquiries. "You haven't a grain of evidence," rightly sneers the confident Major. Though Ian Souter is able to surmise fairly accurately how it must have been. "Keele only did what I told him," corrects the over-confident spy. The chat continues, sipping wine, The Major telling all, as this is to be his last assignment. And Souter's he adds. But he has gabbled too long, and they fight. The Major is shot by one of his own men, then the police drop in, late as ever. Kettner says he's almost sorry for Keele who'd been under The Major's thumb for years. There's one last traitor to expose, who claims "the party is my life- I had no choice." A familiar epitaph. The last line of philosophy is Kettner's Taped Shows Menu . . . . . . . . Sergeant Cork (1963)- with John Barrie A Saturday night one hour series about a Victorian detective in the 1890's. John Barrie was hardly inspiring, and William Gaunt was simply stodgy. The jokey name that workers on the series used for it was "H-Cabs" (ie hansom cabs). "The idea came to me," writer Ted Willis claimed, "when I was reading about the history of the CID." He describes Sergeant Cork thus- a bachelor in his 40's living in lodgings in Bayswater. "Playing Cork has undoubtedly been one of the happiest periods of my life," later claimed Barrie. "We're an extremely contented team. My only ill-comfort as Cork is the clothes I wear- heavy tweed coats. Under those hot studio lights they can be very uncomfortable." But one thing he really had baulked at was having a moustache, until producer Jack Williams told him it was "essential." Case 5329: "The Case of the Elegant Mistress" (2nd May 1964) - 10.45pm and Mrs Sanders (Moira Redmond) shoots one of her many male visitors, a captain in the guards. She confesses, so why does Cork want to complicate things by further inquiries? She isn't in fact quite what she first seems. If Ted Willis' reputation depended on this story, I would say he is hardly more distinguished than many others of this era Taped Shows Menu . . . . . . . . The Corridor People Very sadly only four stories were ever made- 1 Victim as Birdwatcher ... 2 Victim as Whitebait ... 3 Victim as Red ... 4 Victim as Black In 1966 the brilliant Edward ('Eddie') Boyd wrote this regrettably short series, one of several offbeat dramas he created for Granada. A stylish, self-confident programme, full of enigmatic characters. Eddie once said "it's the characters, not me, who decide what happens. Quite often they run away with the story. It's one long improvisation, almost." Yet it panned out jolly well! 1 Victim as Birdwatcher - Capture of a birdwatcher (Tim Barrett). Watching the "greater crested train robber." Why? 'They' want Vaughan's crucial share in a cosmetics company. His answer- no! "My dear boy, you don't quite understand." But then is the story that vital? He resists and resists until the seductive Syrie van Epp employs the obvious method to break him. He's free! Yet now he falls into the hands of Kronk who demands that share "in the national interest." Accidentally, apparently, the firm have produced an experimental drug that can turn you into a temporary imbecile. Surely watching this would be equally efficacious. Vaughan is charged with being "a wilful and contumacious enemy of the realm." Bang! But Kronk still ain't got the drug and look, Syrie has now ravished its inventor. Also appearing are Windsor Davies, as well as Clive Morton who gives his lines some panache: "bite the bullet" he advises Tim Barrett. Yes that's what the actors need to do, and leave us to pick up the pieces. 2 Victim as Whitebait - "Graveyard Patrol" as Elizabeth Shepherd camps it up at the empty grave of detective Phil Scrotty after Whitebait, "one of the bodies, escapes... brought back to life." Aubrey Morris plays the drunken miracle worker Robag who holds a desirable scientific secret, which he soon holds no more, as he's shot! "My dead husband just walked in the door!" Mrs Abigail Whitebait ("high income bracket, low on IQ") tells Scrotty- He's living proof of Robag's brilliant discovery. So is Scrotty:"why aren't you dead?" the down-to-earth Kronk asks him. He's now to unearth recluse accountant Samson Whitby who can prove Syrie van Epp's employer is a swindler. In the park the attractive Syrie pushes a pram containing the biggest baby you ever did see. For a toy, read machine gun. She aims to silence Whitby but "the poet of double dealing," Scrotty himself has the last laugh for it's Whitebait who's shot dead for a second time, and all on account of the desirable Abigail 3 Victim as Red - "A nut, a real nut" Scrotty tells us of his client who has been searching for his brother these past seven years. Missile expert Col Hugo Leeming is now being "looked after" by Syrie ("business with pleasure") in a quest for two million quid. But Kronk wants him and the cash too, since Leeming had written "a blueprint" for a train robbery (topical eh?) before it actually occurred. "How very very strange." Mrs Kempsford, her "show business career in pieces" (Betty McDowall) was the colonel's first wife and she's also on the trail but it's Kronk of course who gets his man betrayed by Syrie: "some people are unlucky at cards, some with women and others with horses. But you, colonel, have been unlucky with gramophone records!" In this Cold War story Scrotty and Syrie finally corner "The Big Man." Although the script tails off slightly in the final act, the first half sparkles as the cast ham it up with relish 4 Victim as Black - "Shoplifter extraordinary" the Queen Mother of Morphalia is back in town. She's here to find her "half-witted" son Ferdinand XVIII who is chasing some girl. She's a black girl, and Phil Scrotty has also been retained by the king to find her- his only clue: one Cinderella-like slipper. Also after her is Theobald who offers to pay Scotty NOT to find her! And of course Kronk is watching all of 'em. "I'm not just a pretty face" the girl confides to the viewers in a monologue on racial tolerance. Phil is duffed up for his troubles, ending up in hospital. He persuades Syrie's maid (Pauline Collins) to conduct his search, but she then tells Syrie where the Girl is, for more money. Kronk's absurd machine analyses the data and summarises the plot: "Theodore is after Black World Domination with a European Base." So the solution is "Keep Morphalia White!" There's a final sequence as the characters explain their roles: Syrie tells us "all I do is manipulate the moment," whilst Ferdinand enthuses: "they're even going to give me my own bomb!" Whilst Scrotty lies on his bed of pain "who's losing, who's winning?" he raves. The last word goes to the Girl in a typical oddball finish. But I end with the line "there are no mad like the sane mad." Taped Shows Menu . . . . . . . . . The Man in Room 17 This 13 part Granada series started on 11th June 1965 with Richard Vernon starring as Oldenshaw an "ex-Oxford type with a superior IQ," and Michael Aldridge as Dimmock, "Oldenshaw's red-brick equal." Willoughby Goddard appeared as Sir Geoffrey Norton Asst Commissioner of the Yard. A second 13 part series began on 8th April 1966 with Denholm Elliott replacing Aldridge. Room 17 was Somewhere in Whitehall, handling cases that baffle police. 2.1 How to Rob a Bank and Get Away with It This is a typically way-out Granada Friday night offering, but by 1966 this genre was really just past its sell-by date. Suspicious characters at a bank! "Hand over the money now!" Manager George Horton (Brian Wilde) deals efficiently with the situation, only to be told it's a film, by the latest wave of Cinema Verite directors, the celebrated Saroya, who explains that head of the Wessex Bank, Sir Giles, had granted permission for the project. But Horton is fuming at his not being informed. However flattery convinces this amateur actor that he and his wife should agree to appear in this latest Saroya film. "A blueprint for a perfect robbery," is this film, and as a precaution Room 17 send Bob Henty to join the film crew. Rehearsals at the Horton home are proceeding painfully slowly. But there's a frightening development, when Horton receives a phone call stating his daughter Christine has been kidnapped. Is it part of the film? Saroya isn't telling, but he does advise Horton to follow instructions and not contact the police. Another call from the kidnappers demands Horton opens the vaults of his bank, but to do that he needs the keys of his assistant, Davies, and he's not at home. What to do? Saroya admits he's actually impersonating the famous director, it's his devious plan to rob the bank. Why such a charade is less obvious. Room 17 arrange for the police to call at the Horton's: "is this an amateur film?" asks the copper. "The Hortons look tense and frightened," is the report sent to Room 17. Henty has sent them rushes of the film shot at home and the penny drops: "this is a real bank robbery." The robbery is now taking place as Davies has been contacted. "The climax of our film" as the vault is opened. Horton locks himself inside and demands to see his daughter. But it's a futile gesture, the keys are snatched from him, and he is forced to open the bank safe. Now the script describes the crooks making for the nearest airport, to a waiting private plane. But the police have read the script and Saroya is caught, though his scriptwriter Simpson (Mike Pratt) flies away with the loot. But at Gatwick Airport ("such an unimaginative place!") he too is arrested. Taped Shows Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sherlock Holmes (1951) starring John Longden as the immortal detective and Campbell Singer as Dr Watson The Case of The Man Who Disappeared Based on the Conan Doyle story The Man with the Twisted Lip Neville St Clair (Hector Ross), a patient of Dr Watson, has disappeared. A "very old friend" Marie had come to his home one day and insisted he obeys orders, or else....... Kate his wife (Ninka Dolega), seeks SH's help. She doesn't know who the woman was, but she has found out her husband's alleged place of work does not exist. SH examines the area around this address, and follows a mysterious match seller through a graveyard and on to Redmead Lane near Tower Bridge. Kate is brought there and spots her husband through a window. In rushes SH to find St Clair dead in the room. When the police arrive the corpse has of course disappeared from the match seller's room. But there is some clothing that belongs to St Clair, and his coat is found underneath the window on the bank of the Thames. The house is a shady opium den owned by Luzatto (Walter Gotell). Against all this evidence, Kate still believes her husband is alive. "I ought to be kicked from here to Baker Street," jokes SH as he concurs with her. The key is in the bathroom of the house, he adds cryptically. Kate's intuition seems to be substantiated when she receives an anonymous letter in printed letters cut from a magazine stating Neville is alive. SH of course can deduce much from this missive. It's from a woman. He breaks into the property of this lady, Doreen alias Marie, at the opium den belonging to Luzatto, to ask her why she'd sent the note. Answer: "Neville told me to." Luzatto had been blackmailing Neville St Clair because he thought he had killed Doreen's husband. Neville had feigned death when SH had found his corpse earlier- incredible that SH was so taken in! Nevertheless, SH persuades her to set a trap. The crooks break into Baker Street and capture SH. At least they think it's SH, though it's actually DrW. He's taken to Luzatto, who realising the error, orders DrW to write a note to SH ordering him to come to the den. But in breaks SH and there's a fight, during which, with typical sneakiness Luzatto creeps away. When the fisticuffs are over, the match seller is shown to be Neville, who'd been a virtual prisoner of the evil Luzatto. He's exonerated of the crime he thought he was guilty of, so they all live happily etc etc Crime Menu . . For the 1954 Sherlock Holmes series starring Ronald Howard . . For the 1965 Douglas Wilmer series . . . . . . . . . . Boyd QC starring Michael Denison in the title role, a well-respected, highly professional man-about-the courts. Richard Boyd QC is in demand by all kinds of clients. Some of his cases include murder, fraud, forgery, blackmail and poison pen letters. One of A-R's big successes, the series ran from late 1956 until 1964, with time off, of course, for good behaviour. We believe approx 85 stories were made. Writer of all the stories as far as I can tell was Jack Roffey, who also plays a court official at the Old Bailey. Introducing each story in the earlier series, and acting as narrator was Boyd's clerk (Charles Leno). Please note that some of this data may not be 100% accurate. If you are able to assist in any way, your help will be acknowledged. Please email me in the first instance. Series 1 ran for 13 weekly stories, commencing Christmas Eve 1956. 1:1 Her Father's Daughter Designed by George Haslam. Directed by Michael Currer-Briggs. Synopsis: what was the secret of Ruth Martin that turned the case for James Lavers? The first ever episode. 1:2 The Greenstreet Girl Designed by George Haslam. Directed by Cliff Owen. Synopsis: Judy Greenstreet, a secretary, endeavours to evade the amorous advances of her boss. The situation which ensues involves her in a charge of arson. Series 2 with 12 stories started on 9th April 1958. Series 3 ran for 16 weekly episodes from 30 December 1958. 3:9 In Camera Broadcast: 24th February 1959 Directed by Geoffrey Hughes Cast: John Welsh... Sgt Bolton Peter Bull... Morley Brenda Hogan... Elizabeth Wayne William Abney... Robert Welsh Charles Gray... Tickle Also in cast: Ronald Leigh-Hunt... Braber Ronald Cardew... Judge Graham Leaman... Clerk of the Court Malcolm Watson...Usher (recurring) Series 4 started on 29 June 1960 and ran for thirteen (or maybe twelve) stories. 4:1 A Case of M'Shimba Wed 29 June 1960 8pm George Albert Memorial Odapi arrives in England and is soon in trouble with the police. Boyd, as the man's defending counsel, discovers the defence lies in obscure tribal law. Cast: Dan Jackson... Odapi Barbara Assoon... Martha Shimboko Millard Williams... Tom Bates Malcolm Keen... Judge John Horsley... Mr Fraser Lawrence James... PC Shaw Edward Harvey... Mr Hornham Malcolm Watson...Usher Weyman MacKay... Clerk of the court Corinne Skinner/Zoe Adams... African girls Benny Nightingale/ Slim Harris... African men 4:5 Jellied Eeels They're Luv'ly Wed 27 July 1960 8pm. Directed by Michael Currer-Briggs Storyline- Rosie's eels and pies are 'doing very nicely,' but her ambitions grow too large against the better judgement of her crafty accomplice Willie. Cast- Megan Latimer... Rosie Gould George Tovey... Willie Walters Sheila Ballantine... Lottie Machin Molly Lumley... Old woman Geoffrey Hibbert... Alf Parker Patrick Newell... Bert Geoffrey Denys... Judge (in several of this series) Donald Eccles... Mr Limpkin Anthony Sagar... Dt-Insp Douglas Owen Berry... Usher (also in other stories) Betty Cardno... Mrs Painter Mignon O'Doherty... Mrs Toogood Louise Stafford... Mrs Noakes 4:7 Uncle George 10 August 1960 8pm The story: Every so often someone will try to pervert the true course of justice, and such was the case when Boyd was sitting as Special Commissioner at Springfield Assizes William Squire... Mr Corby Redmond Phillips... George Pack Leslie Weston... Mr Martin Mary Watson... Joanna Harriden Barrie Cookson... Jonathan Courtenay John Kidd... Dr Sullivan Colin Tapley... Det-Inspector Fuller Edna Petrie... Miss Ralton Frank Pemberton... Usher John Boddington... Clerk Series 5 ran for 13 episodes, commencing 24 May 1961. 5:1 The Needle Match Wed 24 May 1961 8pm Directed by Jonathan Alwyn David Spencer, international football star, is accused of killing an opposing player by deliberately dangerous play during a needle match. Pete Murray... David Spencer Maureen Connell... Ruth Hanson Sheila Raynor... Mrs Spencer Wensley Pithey... Mr Wodhurst John Miller... Judge Richard Wakeley... Lewis Peter Welch... Monro Kent Walton... Commentator Ronald Mayer... Mr Straker 5:2 The Old Flame Wed 31 May 1961 8pm Directed by Jonathan Alwyn Boyd defends a young doctor who is brought before the General Medical Council accused of improper conduct with a woman patient. Cast: Barrie Cookson... Dr Matthews Hal Dyer... Mr Matthews Fred Hugh... Mr Stunt Owen Holder... Mr Hakin Christine Finn... Marion Shaw Ralph Nossek... Geoffrey Shaw Alan MacNaughtan... Mr Walton Langley Howard... President 5:6 Messing about in Boats Thursday 29 June 1961 8pm Directed by Richard Gilbert Synopsis- Steven Blackford and Alexandra Haydon are sentenced to life imprisonment. To Boyd QC something appears wrong with the case and he finds grounds to bring them before the Court of Criminal Appeal. Cast- Gillian Raine... Miss Robins Henry McGee... Parker John Wyse... President John Boyd Brent... Mr Baker Richard Clarke... Steven Blackford Julie Paul... Alexandra Haydon Ann Tirard... Harriet Haydon David Evans... Paul Haydon Frank Seton... Barman Keith Pyott... Simpson Jeremy Geldt... Dr Bassett Pamela Hewes... Miss Trevor A long Equity dispute meant that there was no series in 1962. Series 6 started in November 1963 and was not fully networked. It ran for thriteen stories, but possibly there were up to sixteen. 6:1 What the Eye Doesn't See Friday 8 November 1963 10.5pm Directed by Pat Baker The story- As Chairman of the Appeals Committee at Springfield Magistrates Court, Boyd patiently hears the case of Bajendra Singh who was found guilty of serving Dins Dog Food in his Indian curry. Cast: Kenneth Connor... Bajendra Singh Roy Dotrice... Mr Jacobs Jeffrey Segal... Mr Victor John Woodnutt... Mr Jackson Patrick Newell... Mr Pyecroft 6:5 Thread of Evidence Friday 6 December 1963 10.5pm Directed by Pat Baker In the Civil Court, Boyd has a hard task defending a young couple, until his Junior comes to his assistance with her superior knowledge- not as a barrister, but as a woman. Robert Brown... Adrian Marshall Howard Douglas... Stationmaster Bill Treacher... Arnold Frank Littlewood... Clerk Richard Bebb... Mr Eadey Mary Yeomans... Mary Dunnett Richard Thorp... Tom Du