Tagged kidnap

The Adventurer Season 1 Episode 20: Double Exposure

Bradley is re-routed to Amsterdam because of a coded message he receives. A friend of Bradleys, Jan de Groote, unaware that he married an agent was taken in by his wifes fellow agents to be sent back to her country. What was not known is that a double was put in place of Jan de Groote after the kidnaping. Bradley has his own tricks to play to expose this double and release his old friend from captivity.

Personal Synopsis

A strange episode where the look-a-like double idea is taken a bit overboard. There are two Donald Houston who plays Jan de Groote and two Gene Bradley’s, if one wasn’t enough for you. This convoluted story plot is held together by duct tape by the great performance by consistently good Donald Houston, who is a regular guest cast member in a ton of ITC shows and Ingrid Pitt from Hammer Film Productions fame. Honestly, I had to re-watch this episode to clarify the gaps in my comprehension of the plot, which is not a good sign but Donald Houston redeems this episode.

Original Air-Date: 1973

Directed by Cyril Frankel

Written by Martin Roth

Gene Bradley- Gene Barry

Mr. Parminter- Barry Morse

Colonel Kazan- Carl Duering

Gavin Jones- Garrick Hagon

Jan de Groote- Donald Houston

Elayna- Ingrid Pitt

Diane Marsh- Catherine Schell

You can Buy the DVD here:

theadventurerdvd

The Adventurer Season 1 Episode 16: To The Lowest Bidder

A civil servant, Sam Cookson, is placed in the middle of a bidding war for a new European superhighway. This position makes it dangerous for himself and his daughter while the bidders fight for this contract. Gene Bradley is sent to keep Sarah Cookson safe from any harm that may befall her. The possibility of harm or even worse death will challenge Gene to find a  solution and fast.

Personal Synopsis

Another episode with a feasible storyline, where competing building companies fight for a contract to build the so called Europe 100. Gene Barry looks over-tanned, awkwardly snug in his trendy suit and comes off as ineffectual in this tale of kidnapping and blackmail. Two special surprises are Anthony Nicholls as Samuel Cookson (his name will used in another series coming shortly) and  Jane Asher playing the role of Sarah Cookson. Jane was a child actor in another ITC production The Adventures of Robin Hood, where she played the “young girl” roles in multiple episodes. It must be said that “To the lowest bidder” is one of the stronger episodes in this series up to this point.

Original Air-Date: 1973

Directed by Val Guest

Written by Donald James

Gene Bradley- Gene Barry

Mr. Parminter- Barry Morse

Sarah Cookson- Jane Asher

Lizzy- Gillian Bailey

Laura- Sheila Gish

Gaston- Alf Joint

Carlson- David Kelly

Samuel Cookson- Anthony Nicholls

Milkman- David Pugh

Forrester- Carl Rigg

Johnny- John York

You can Buy the DVD here:

theadventurerdvd

The Zoo Gang Season 1 Episode 2: Mindless Murder

Three young ladies are killed in three separate places in connection with an extortion case. Some of the Zoo Gang want to look in on this investigation and collect the reward money. An amazing jewel owned by famous actress Lyn Martin is threatened to be stolen by the extortionists. The gang takes it upon themselves to save the jewel and expose the criminals.  Stephen is questioned by the police while Lyn Martin is putting herself in danger.  The trade must be made to save Lyn from injury or death.

Personal Synopsis

An episode with a great plot line and spectacular lighting. This episode allowed for some superb individual acting performances from Lilli Palmer and John Mills as well. The actors dynamics were working hard for this quartet of aging veteran resistance fighters to not outshine each other. It was a good episode to watch a few times.

Starring

Original Air-Date:  12 April 1974

Directed by John Hough

Written by Howard Dimsdale

Thomas ‘The Elephant’ Devon- John Mills

Stephen ‘The Fox’ Halliday- Brian Keith

Manouche ‘The Leopard’ Roget- Lilli Palmer

Alec ‘The Tiger” Marlowe- Barry Morse

Michel- Roy Boyd

Anthony Martin- Clinton Greyn

Paul- Aharon Ipalé

Herbault- Perry Morris

Claude- Louis Negin

Lyn Martin- Ingrid Pitt

Jean- Alex Scott

Jill Burton- Seretta Wilson

You can Buy the DVD here:

thezoogangdvd

The Protectors Season 2 Episode 17: Sugar and Spice

A powerful man, Sir Charles Standish, is set to sign a series of important documents for a corporate merger. A threatening letter delivered by hand had enclosed photographs of his daughter with the intent to stop his signing of those documents. The Protectors are hired to keep his daughter, Vicky, safe and away from these dangerous men. Harry and the team are held to the task of keeping eye on a young lady, this being a bigger task than expected.  As time is running short, the team of thugs close in on the house where the Protectors and Vicky are hiding out but Vicky must not be made aware of the danger she is in.

Personal Synopsis

A cute story where the director edits in child-like circus musical themes into the show. The premise of the show is to hide away a young girl subject to a kidnapping or worse, however the Protectors must not let her know her current situation. The storyline follows this young lady as she finds the situation quirky and somewhat unbelievable. A good episode with happy music during the fight scene, surreal.

Location

United Kingdom

Starring

Original Air-Date: 11 January 1974

Directed by Charles Crichton

Written by David Butler

Harry Rule- Robert Vaughn

Contessa Caroline di Contini- Nyree Dawn Porter

Paul Buchet- Tony Anholt

Vicky Standish- Debbie Russ

Manning- Derek Anders

Colson- Phil Woods

Sir Charles Standish- Norman Ettlinger

Brian Dukes- John Normington

Headmistress- Cicely Paget-Bowman

Kruger- Shane Shelton

Barnes- Gerry Crampton

You can Buy the DVD here:

The Protectors DVD 1   or     The Protectors DVD complete

The Protectors Season 2 Episode 9: Wam-Part 2

The Protectors_Wam pt2 Title Shot

Explosives and a mad man are on top on the mountain with threats of hurting the people up with him. There is a ransom called for in order to ensure the public safety. The police are now involved and are taking this very seriously.  The people on the ground are not able to communicate with the top except for a radio transceiver left at the bottom.  The authorities give in and pay the ransom.  As the passengers are being let down the police must investigate all of the men coming down because the kidnapper must come down to mountain.

Personal Synopsis

Part 2 of 2.  The tension is rising as the authorities and the passengers are anxious to get them down. This two part episode plays out as an extended standard episode with no particular heightened drama or suspense. However I do like the setting for the story, the cable car angle does add to the originality to this story. It is good to have a longer story since most episodes feel hurried towards the end, this episode is allowed to play out.

Location

Salzburg

Starring

Original Air-Date: 16 November 1973

Directed by Jeremy Summers

Written by Tony Barwick

Harry Rule- Robert Vaughn

Contessa Caroline di Contini- Nyree Dawn Porter

Paul Buchet- Tony Anholt

William Arthur MacKay- Prentis Hancock

Monica Davies- Jill Townsend

Inspector Luhrs- Michael Sheard

Attendant- John Herrington

Commissioner Braun- Olaf Pooley

You can Buy the DVD here:

The Protectors DVD 1   or     The Protectors DVD complete