"Callan" (1967) TV series 1967-1972

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Tony Robertson

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

8 July 1967 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

David Callan is the top agent/assassin for the S.I.S. (British counterintelligence), but he is an embittered...

Plot Keywords:

Spy | Character Name In Title

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Edward Woodward	...	David Callan (43 episodes, 1967-1972)
Russell Hunter	...	Lonely (41 episodes, 1967-1972)
Anthony Valentine	...	Toby Meres (30 episodes, 1967-1972)
Lisa Langdon	...	Liz March (30 episodes, 1967-1972)
William Squire	...	Hunter #4 (19 episodes, 1970-1972)

Runtime:

60 min (44 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (1967-1969) | Color (1970-1972)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M

Company:

ABC Weekend Television

Trivia:

The series theme tune was 'Girl in the Dark', a stock library track by Jack Trombey published by de Wolfe Music. In 1970 Edward Woodward released a vocal cover of the piece, 'This Man Alone', with lyrics by Peter Dacre.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Are You Being Served?: Big Brother (#2.4)" (1974)

God Help Your Friends

Callan works for "The Section", a secret department of the UK government. His job is implementing solutions to "manage" difficult people who endanger the security of the state. This can be anything from blackmail to assignation. In order to perform what's asked of him, he must be able to see the justification. It is this lack of ability to just follow orders that creates the drama.

Russell Hunter reunites with Callan as the smelly, low life criminal informant Lonely. Stealing the light occasionally from Woodward with memorable dialog

Callan: How do you like your tea? Lonely: Interfered with.

May have to be British to understand this! Callan cares for Lonely but can never say so as this would destroy the unsaid truth. Lonely is happy to have a friend but the fear Callan instills is the overriding factor for Lonely.

Callan demonstrate the difference between the US and UK approach to drama. The focus is not the plot, although they are all good, it is the interaction between the characters. Modern day dramas such as Morse highlight for the younger fans of good TV. In Morse it is the need to see Lewis get one over on Morse that makes us want to replay the episodes. We all know who did it the second time through. Callan is no different, with good writing between the characters, we are happy to forgive the quality of the DVD although not bad considering its age!

This series, the third, sees Patrick Mower introduce a new colleague Cross. He takes over from the suave Toby Meres played by Anthony Valentine. Cross is a "Jack The Lad" who knows it all and see his youth as more valuable than Callan's experience. Predictably, though not without good drama, the opposite it true.

William Squire takes over from Michael Goodliffer as the boss of the section in the role of Hunter. At the end of the second series we see Callan kill the previous Hunter and shot by Toby Meres. I like the previous Hunter but William Squire made this role his own with his callous code approach to the killing and blackmailing game. He understands Callan but at the same time confines him in how much he can question the processes of the section.

I recommend people who what this also watch - Sandbaggers - Morse - Cracker

Thanks Iain