Angela Browne

[stuart.scot]

I've only just found out that the late Angela Browne, was the wife of one of Brit forums most celebrated members, actor Francis Matthews.



I don't know to much about her, but I've liked what I've seen. Perhaps the role I most associate with her is Rachel in the pilot of Man In A Suitcase, Man From The Dead. Given the fact Rachel was once in a long term relationship with McGill, I wonder if it was ever considered to give her a regular slot in the series. McGill did have a few girlfriends in the series, most notably Rosemary Nicols Moira in Day Of Execution, She appeared to be the other serious relationship in McGill's life. However, she found out that his dangerous life style wasn't suitable for a long term relationship. Going back to MFTD, I felt that McGill had done enough by the end of the episode to get a bit of support from his ex-girlfriend, so Angela reprising her role wouldn't have been such a bad thing.



Angela looked stunning in The Saint story The Elusive Ellshaw, as Roger Moore's leading lady. I have to say as well I was impressed by another attractive actress Ellen Mcintosh, who had a small, but effective role as Mrs. Ellshaw in the story.



Just steering briefly away from the thread, I would have liked to have found a way of telling Ellen just how much I enjoyed her performance in The Saint, as she didn't appear to do be in a great deal else



I saw Angela recently in an episode of Upstairs Downstairs, as she appears to be conning Richard Bellamy, but in the process falls in love with him.



Angela was also the love interest for Edward Woodward's Callan in The Wet Job. This story was made yrs after the series had finished and showed secret agent Callan in retirement, before the new Hunter forces him back into the field. Though if memory serves me right it wasn't a success, however, despite that, I enjoyed it immensely.



Angela was clearly a great actress. I just wish I'd seen more of her.

[smudge]

As Francis will undoubtedly tell you, Angela was lovely!



I first encountered her just as the TV nostalgia boom was starting to gather speed in the early 80s - Channel Four had just shown her in THE PRISONER, but then she popped up again looking even lovelier in their repeat run of the half hour Danger Man series as, "The Girl In Pink Pyjamas."



No doubt I'd seen her in other things as I grew up, but up the that point I had simply watched and enjoyed the TV without taking in the credits etc. As I hit my student years 'fandom' bit hard and I started really paying attention and fast building a canon of my favourite performers.



It is to my regret that (for once) I didn't get to Portmeirion for the event where Angela and Francis were guests of honour...



One of the prized items in my collection is a signed picture which she was kind enough to send to me some years ago.



Not only was AB a lovely and talented actress, but she and Francis also managed to cope with raising a family too - certainly 'all-rounders' there.



Another thing Francis will most likely agree with me on - I reckon he was one of the luckiest men on the planet!



Smudge

[stuart.scot]

Perhaps Angela was unlucky in the sense that in the 60s Adventure hero's weren't allowed to have regular girlfriends, otherwise her character of Rachel might have lasted the whole series of Man In A Suitcase, sort of standing by her man, as McGill remained an ex secret agent in disgrace, after deciding he couldn't betray her double agent father to the Russians, which meant he couldn't clear his name.



I've also discovered that the actress I mentioned Ellen McIntosh in my opening thread worked on a tv series with Angela, called Ghost Story, I think, in the early 60s and worked with Francis in an episode of Paul Temple. I wonder if Francis reads this if he'll have any information on this actress that made such a great impression on me in The Saint story [I]The Elusive Ellshaw . I also wonder if she was Scottish as she did a few Take The High Road's, playing a Lady Strathmorris.. I don't remember her, but then I didn't know who she was then. However, I think I'm right in saying Bernard Gallagher played her husband



I was just thinking, both Angela and Ellen had great running scenes. Angela in Man In A Suitcase's; Man From The Dead, where she runs flat out after recognizing her father, whom she believed dead. Then in The Saint's; Elusive Ellshaw Ellen runs after her estranged husband Phillip Latham, as he's about to get into a taxi

[Windyridge]

I remember Angela Browne particuarly in The Avengers with Diana Rigg, playing a secretary who was part of a murderous gang led by a ventriloquist's dummy (only in the Avengers eh?). She was absolutely gorgeous as a murdering keep fit fanatic who shot her victim with a little gun on her charm bracelet. What were they on those writers?!

[stuart.scot]

I caught a couple of clips of Angela's appearance in The Avengers on You Tube. In one she reminded me of Anne Bancroft's Mrs. Robinson from The Graduate, though in both she looked similar to another Avenger guest star Suzanne Lloyd, as she too played an assassin

[batman]

[cornershop15]

A couple of captures from the first episode of the series, Man From The Dead, where she played Rachel Thyssen.

Well-described by Stuart earlier.





Original ITV transmission: 1st November 1967, when The Bee Gees' Massachusetts had it's third week at No. 1



I agree with Stuart that her character had enough history with Richard Bradford's to guarantee a return. I'm sure that would have happened if there had been further series.



A close-up of our Angela ...



Other guests included a memorable Timothy Bateson and a pre- Champions Stuart Damon



I might have noticed Angela first in the Norman Wisdom film Press For Time and a little later in The Prisoner episode A Change of Mind, where Batman's pictures are from. When it was repeated on Channel 4 in 1983, something went wrong with my video recording (can't remember what) and I missed it. I was VERY upset, convinced it wouldn't be repeated for years - and I was right. This was some time before the (expensive) VHS release I would imagine.



A few months later, I went - for the first and last time - to a fan club gathering where they would watch an episode. When I told them A Change of Mind was the only episode I hadn't seen, they put it on for me but as I've always been self-concious with people, I doubt very much that I would have taken anything in from the programme. Until 1992, when it was again repeated on C4, the episode was always the odd one out. For this reason, I still have 'a problem' with it, based on the far fewer viewings I've had compared to the other 16. Angela is clearly the best thing about the episode, very good again as the serious doctor who becomes charmingly childlike after being hypnotised by Patrick McGoohan! Much though I like John Sharp, I feel he was miscast in this - or is it that I'm so used to the other Number Two's?



Returning to Press For Time for a moment, a young Frances White was in that, and I've just discovered that her and Angela Browne also appeared in a Wednesday Play called A Serpent in Putney. Tony Britton and John Alderton were in this as well - a very interesting cast. If I was to find this didn't exist, I'd be "very upset" again to miss out. I DO know, however, that Angela's next credited appearance, in Out of the Unknown, was wiped and apparently exists only as a (complete) audio recording. Terrible. This is one of SIX shows with husband Francis Matthews (I), our much cherished fellow-member, including the film Just Like A Woman, which I haven't seen for about 25 years.



It's obviously very sad that Angela died but the good news is that so much of her work is available for us to see, notably her 13 episodes of The Ghost Squad and several other ITC productions.

[cully]

Angela Browne a lovely actress whom I always confuse with Sarah Lawson...another lovely actress.

[Francis]

A couple of captures from the first episode of the series, Man From The Dead, where she played Rachel Thyssen.

Well-described by Stuart earlier.





Original ITV transmission: 1st November 1967, when The Bee Gees' Massachusetts had it's third week at No. 1



I agree with Stuart that her character had enough history with Richard Bradford's to guarantee a return. I'm sure that would have happened if there had been further series.



A close-up of our Angela ...



Other guests included a memorable Timothy Bateson and a pre- Champions Stuart Damon



I might have noticed Angela first in the Norman Wisdom film Press For Time and a little later in The Prisoner episode A Change of Mind, where Batman's pictures are from. When it was repeated on Channel 4 in 1983, something went wrong with my video recording (can't remember what) and I missed it. I was VERY upset, convinced it wouldn't be repeated for years - and I was right. This was some time before the (expensive) VHS release I would imagine.



A few months later, I went - for the first and last time - to a fan club gathering where they would watch an episode. When I told them A Change of Mind was the only episode I hadn't seen, they put it on for me but as I've always been self-concious with people, I doubt very much that I would have taken anything in from the programme. Until 1992, when it was again repeated on C4, the episode was always the odd one out. For this reason, I still have 'a problem' with it, based on the far fewer viewings I've had compared to the other 16. Angela is clearly the best thing about the episode, very good again as the serious doctor who becomes charmingly childlike after being hypnotised by Patrick McGoohan! Much though I like John Sharp, I feel he was miscast in this - or is it that I'm so used to the other Number Two's?



Returning to Press For Time for a moment, a young Frances White was in that, and I've just discovered that her and Angela Browne also appeared in a Wednesday Play called A Serpent in Putney. Tony Britton and John Alderton were in this as well - a very interesting cast. If I was to find this didn't exist, I'd be "very upset" again to miss out. I DO know, however, that Angela's next credited appearance, in Out of the Unknown, was wiped and apparently exists only as a (complete) audio recording. Terrible. This is one of SIX shows with husband Francis Matthews (I), our much cherished fellow-member, including the film Just Like A Woman, which I haven't seen for about 25 years.



It's obviously very sad that Angela died but the good news is that so much of her work is available for us to see, notably her 13 episodes of The Ghost Squad and several other ITC productions.

From Francis Matthews:

I am so pleased that so many of you have seen fit to recall my beautiful wife, and some of the photographs almost moved me to tears to see how very beautiful she was. I need hardly say how empty my life has been since I lost her, although I have the continuing joy of my sons and grandchildren who are a constant solace for me.

You all seem to have "tabs" on so much of her work on screen that I won't bore on about it, tho' I am astonished that Ghost Squad is still around somewhere. That was with the scary Donald Wolfit.!

I would like to say, though, that her most memorable work was in the Theatre where, before we were married, she was gleaning rave reviews to die for. By the way some of you may not know that the DVD of "Just Like a Woman" is being released about the same time as the Paul temple Disc Set.

A bientot FM

[mariocki]

Some more shots from Man From The Dead:



On location in Hampstead High Street: (along with several of the crew)







and at Bankside SE1:







At White City Stadium:











Now where have I seen that dress before



I know, in A Change Of Mind:

[stuart.scot]

I was just thinking about adventure hero's of the 60s, who at one time had a long term relationship with the leading man. Angela in Man From The Dead was the exception, as she was still alive by the end of her episode. I'm not sure, Cornershop, if Angela would have returned for a second series as McGill appeared to have fallen in love with Rosemary Nicols character in a future storyline Day Of Execution, but she was seen fleeing his flat after a failed assassination attempt on his life.



The others, who suffered the usual fate of being killed off, after being in love with the hero and him feeling the same way about them,



Margaret Saad in The Saint Sees It Through. Sylvia Syms in The Baron's Farewell To Yesterday and I think Felicity Kendall in Jason King's Toki . In The New Avengers Obsession storyline, Gambit killed Martin Shaw's bad guy, though his one saving grace was that he was in love with Purdy.



I know the Avengers producers felt Steed and Emma Peel did have a history between them, but at the time of the show they were just close friends. However, I feel Tara and Steed were definitely an item. So if they ever did a son of Steed, Tara's my girl for the mother.

[mariocki]

A regular girlfriend for McGill would've suggested some stability in his life which didn't fit with the character profile, although long term relationships are hinted at in episodes like Variation On A Million Bucks, Jigsaw Man and Day Of Execution.

[cornershop15]

Thanks for that information, Stuart and Mariocki (for another thread I think!), always interested in the more emotionally-involved storylines. Returning to our subject, as we should, Rex Features has one page of images each for both Angela and Francis. Ordinarily, I would be frustrated and annoyed at not being able to enlarge the thumbnail-sized pictures, but nearly all of Angela's are on the image galleries for The Prisoner and Man In A Suitcase DVDs. Excellent. I'll certainly try and upload one or two of them for this thread.

[stuart.scot]

I was sad to hear the final Callan wasn't to well received. I thought it was very good and who knows if successful might have led to a few more. Then Angela good have played Edward Woodward's regular girlfriend or even wife.

[John Llewellyn Moxey]

How very remiss of me not to mention the pleasure I had working with Angela, on an episode of the Saint.





John

[stuart.scot]

John



As I said in my opening post on this thread, as well as Angela, I was also impressed by Ellen Macintosh in the very same Saint episode

[cornershop15]

Hello John. Yes, The Elusive Ellshaw, from which I've just finished capturing these images of Angela ...





Very similar to the first shot from Man In A Suicase I posted a few days ago.



A Close-Up this time (or a 'C.U.' as they say in 'The Biz' ) ... That's Roger Moore's shoulder on the right!



Original ITV transmission: 17th October 1963, when, just as Beatlemania was beginning, Dagenham boys

Brian Poole & The Tremeloes were at No. 1 with Do You Love Me?. Not the best of Sixties songs.



Other stars in this episode included Richard Vernon, as Angela's father, and an exciteable Philip Bond as her husband. Anthony Bate, with hair, was a villain and recent thread subject Philip Latham was the Ellshaw of the title ("The elusive Ellshaw is elusive no more")



As an added bonus, I like these two images of Angela and Roger in the studio car:





Much though I admire the realism of The Sweeney, I've always preferred back-projection as it doesn't

distract from the stars



Same car, different hairstyle ...





I might include one or two more from this next time. Congratulations to John on an entertaining episode.

John



As I said in my opening post on this thread, as well as Angela, I was also impressed by Ellen Macintosh in the very same Saint episode

I'll post a capture of Ellen from this episode at Mr. Moxey's thead.

[cornershop15]

In the event, I didn't get round to adding more captures from The Saint, with at least 50 other actors

and actresses occupying my attention over the last few weeks, including a couple of dozen Obituary

threads. Maybe some other time.



I do, however, have the exciting news that I at last received the boxset of Angela's series Ghost Squad

last week, in which she played Donald Wolfit's secretary Helen Winters. These are the first images I've

selected, from the opening episode Hong Kong Story*:



Special guest villain: 'My new friend', George Pastell, from Cyprus - like Paul Stassino (and my mother)



In this scene, Angela is presented with a bar of gold by boss Donald Wolfit, not as a gift alas!:



Original ITV transmission: 23rd September 1961, when Shirley Bassey was at No.1 with the double A-

sided single Reach For The Stars/Climb Every Mountain - not exactly among my all-time favourites



I'm afraid I'd never heard of Michael Quinn before purchasing this so I look forward to getting to know him better, or his persona I should say. As I enjoy seeing ghosts in films and TV shows, I was disappointed there weren't any 'actual' ghosts, as in fellow ITC series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). Never mind, The Invisible Man, which I got the same day, makes up for it!



* IMDB states Hong Kong Story is, in fact, the third episode, which means Network have put them in the wrong order again. Why do they keep doing this? I think I've read somewhere, possibly for Man In A Suitcase, that they're in 'production order', i.e. the dates filmed.

Don't know if that's right or not.



There are quite a lot of stills and publicity photos from Ghost Squad at Rex Features. Angela is there, of course, but sadly uncredited.



GHOST SQUAD / GS5 | A TELEVISION HEAVEN REVIEW

[Mark O]

Great screen grabs Cornershop,............Angela as Lili De Ternay was in Upstairs Downstairs last week looking very elegant in her Edwardian costumes, any chance of any grabs from this episode UD please?

[cornershop15]

Great screen grabs Cornershop,............Angela as Lili De Ternay was in Upstairs Downstairs last week looking very elegant in her Edwardian costumes, any chance of any grabs from this episode UD please?

Thanks, Mark. I didn't realise she was in that, or more likely forgotten as I have browsed her filmography at least once, so I'll definitely work on that soon.



By the way, I spotted your post at 'Where Have We Seen Them Before', just before posting here, and will endeavour to track down Linda Marlowe's appearance in the regularly-screencapped The Saint. I hope she had more to do than Katherine Schofield in The Angel's Eye episode I did last week. And no, I haven't forgotten your Peter Dyneley request!



I hope Francis returns to see these soon. He hasn't posted for a while.