Danger
Man: The Complete First Series
“Acclaimed
1960’s television series
Danger Man, a stylish action adventure
drama, makes its debut on DVD for
the first time, reflecting the popularity
of the programme at that time...”
DRAMATIC AND TENSE, DANGER MAN was the most talked-about series
of the Sixties with attractive, brooding actor Patrick McGoohan —
now perhaps better known for the classic cult series The Prisoner —
smouldering his way through a perilous career as John Drake, a top agent for
British Intelligence who takes on assignments too risky for anyone else.
Patrick McGoohan's compelling performance catapulted him into films and clearly
paved the way for The Prisoner, considered his tour de force. The Complete
First Series comprises of six discs with 39 half-hour episodes of the thrilling
Danger Man, which features a number of intriguing storylines from top
writers Brian Clemens, Ian Stuart Black, Michael Pertwee and Ralph Smart. Edwin
Astley's memorable music adds to the tense atmosphere.
Guest stars include Donald Pleasence, Patrick Wymark, Robert Shaw, Patrick Troughton
(an early and acclaimed Dr Who), Warren Mitchell and Honour Blackman
(who starred as Cathy Gale in The Avengers). One of the episodes of Danger
Man, The Vacation, is an early directorial credit for its star Patrick
McGoohan and the series is presented in its production order.
Having been an avid fan of the series on its first television airing, it is
interesting to note that the series is just as exciting as I remembered it.
Acting in television back then was very theatrical and remained so well into
the Eighties — and Danger Man is a terrific piece of melodrama.
With a very much international flavour — Danger Man flies off to
Paris, Vienna, Eastern Europe and other more exotic locations — each episode
starts with a murder that Drake has to investigate, checking out those who moved
in the victim's circle for suspects. Drake also has to investigate fellow agents
like Harry Logan (Robert Flemyng) and has to clean up other people's dirty work
— "but someone's got to do it".
From leaks within the bureau to finding out who killed bank president Delroy
(Philip Latham) while investigating his link to dress shop owner Gina Scarlotti
(Barbara Shelley) and tracking down missing traitor Vanessa Stewart (Moira Lister)
with the help of Stashig (Donald Pleasence), nothing is too hard for Danger
Man. Not even when it comes to tracing clever assassin, Hans Vogeler (Derren
Nesbitt) who has killed Professor Berkoff (Carl Jaffe).
A fine drama, Danger Man has all the ingredients necessary to make this
thrilling series as watchable today as it has always been. Good to see this
successful venture with the late star Patrick McGoohan making its way to DVD.
• Action adventure drama Danger Man: The
Complete First Series will be released by Network DVD on 25 Janary 2010.
Certificate: 12 | RRP: £59.99 | Discs: 6 | Total Running Time: 975 Minutes (Approx)
| Screen Ratio 1.33:1 Colour/Black and White.
Special features
Commemorative booklet on the making of the series by Archive Television Historian
Andrew Pixley | Extensive Image Galleries, including many Unseen and Behind
The Scenes Stills | Mute Trailers | PDF material.
"A fine drama, Danger Man has all the ingredients necessary to make this
thrilling series as watchable today as it has always been"
— Maggie Woods, MotorBar
