Callan - The Monochrome Years (1967)
Violence
| Actors: | Edward Woodward, Russell Hunter, Lisa Langdon, Anthony Valentine |
Edward Woodward gives an electrifying performance as a reluctant professional killer working for British Intelligence. Callan became a national phenomenon in the late 1960s, making Woodward one of the highest profile actors on television and paving the way to his eventual career in America on shows like The Equalizer.
Created by James Mitchell and exploring the dingy, twilight world of the professional spy, Callan was the antithesis of James Bond (back in the days of Connery and Moore) and presented, until that point, television's most realistic portrayal of government espionage.
| Status: | Normal |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 600mins |
| Origin: | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Aspect Ratio: | 4:3 |
Member Reviews (1)
1 Member
Review
A
says
This hasn't been on TV for nearly 40 years.
This set of DVD's contains the surviving episodes of the first two series of Callan which were made in B&W between 1967 and 1969.
The later colour series occasionally get a run on UKTV. Their DVD's have been out for a while. These original B&W eps are rare, rare, rare... and overdue for DVD release.
Rave mode engage.....
And they are gems.... clouded, old B&W gems with technical faults you'd expect from archival television but amongst the best things you will ever see on a TV screen. This is real television not the faux movies that pass for TV drama these days. Gritty, cold war, espionage, violence, underworld criminals: Edward Woodward and Russell Hunter were never better than they were in this.
Tense psychological character driven drama doesn't get any better than this. Warning (in case I'm not making this clear): you won't like this if you are expecting car chases..... It's not cool or hip or funny or uplifting or inspiring. But the thrill is electrifying. If you get it, you will be hooked forever.
Serious viewers only (please).
Some of the eps are missing but these are the ones you get:
A MAGNUM FOR SCHNEIDER - the 1967 Armchair Theatre pilot
From the 1968 series THE GOOD ONES ARE ALL DEAD (1-1) and YOU SHOULD HAVE GOT HERE SOONER (1-6)
From the 1969 series RED KNIGHT, WHITE KNIGHT (2-1), THE MOST PROMISING GIRL OF HER YEAR (2-2), LITTLE BITS AND PIECES OF LOVE (2-4), LET'S KILL EVERYBODY (2-5), HEIR APPARENT (2-6), DEATH OF A FRIEND (2-9), THE WORST SOLDIER I EVER SAW (2-13) (Reconstructed), NICE PEOPLE DIE AT HOME (2-14), DEATH OF A HUNTER (2-15)