Michael Powell on TV - Britmovie

Steve Crook · 14-12-2007, 12:56 AM

When he found it hard to make another feature film after the critics' reaction to Peeping Tom, Michael Powell did some work directing some American TV series.

He did three episodes of the Espionage series. Quite an unusual television series for the time - a potpourri of individual dramas that were only linked by the fact that they were about spies and spying.

Never Turn Your Back on a Friend (1964)
A multi-national commando team raid a Heavy Water plant in occupied Europe - and come away with the Chief Scientist
Starring Maja Bamberger, Pamela Brown, Mark Eden & Julian Glover

The Frantick Rebel (1964)
It's 1777, and a mysterious lady is in London...is she spying for the American revolutionaries?? Dr Johnson and Boswell investigate, but always seem a couple of steps behind
Starring Stanley Baxter, Roger Livesey, Bernard Bresslaw & Patsy Byrne

A Free Agent (1964)
Boy spy meets girl spy; boy spy marries girl spy. But he's British, she's Russian. Can their marriage survive in neutral Switzerland?? Will their bosses allow them both to retire?? And is the marriage all it seems???
Written by Leo Marks
Starring Norman Foster, Siân Phillips & Anthony Quayle

You can now get either just the three episodes directed by Powell
Or the whole series in a boxed set (announced)

Steve

batman · 14-12-2007, 09:50 AM

We discussed this series a few weeks ago IIRC .... great news about the DVD release. It's a good job I have a birthday so soon after Christmas!

Bats.

Steve Crook · 14-12-2007, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by batman

We discussed this series a few weeks ago IIRC .... great news about the DVD release. It's a good job I have a birthday so soon after Christmas!

Bats.

Is that a hint?

Steve

penfold · 14-12-2007, 03:02 PM

As Steve knows, I've been going on about this series, and Powell's episodes, for years. I can't tell you how thrilled I am that I'm finally going to see Roger Livesey as Dr Johnson and Stanley Baxter as Boswell....who wouldn't?? I read the scripts in the BFI Library, devoured everything the TVTimes had to offer on the series....I did manage to see Never Turn your Back at the NFT some ten or so years ago...I put up what I knew in IMDB (Those are my teasers Steve is quoting above) but I was pretty sure I would never see the others. I have met some of the Network people over the years and went on about Espionage, but more in hope than expectation; I can't wait frankly.

Moor Larkin · 26-03-2008, 08:59 PM

Steve Crook · 26-03-2008, 10:41 PM

Both Amazon.co.uk & Play.com say it should have been released on Monday 24th.
Amazon emailed me to say there was a delay and they were having trouble getting hold of copies. Let's see who manages to send it first

Steve

stevie boy · 27-03-2008, 12:08 PM

Is it worth getting the whole series, or just the Powell ones??

Steve Crook · 27-03-2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevie boy

Is it worth getting the whole series, or just the Powell ones??

Don't know, I haven't seen any of them yet

I suppose it depends which episodes they offer on the DVD of the full series and if any of the actors or directors appeal and if the story looks interesting.

They were apparently very varied in the subjects they covered, just look at Powell's ones to see that. But I don't know how much they varied in other qualities

Steve

14-12-2007, 12:56 AM	#1
Steve Crook Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: London Posts: 8,871 Country: iTrader: (1)	Michael Powell on TV When he found it hard to make another feature film after the critics' reaction to Peeping Tom, Michael Powell did some work directing some American TV series. He did three episodes of the Espionage series. Quite an unusual television series for the time - a potpourri of individual dramas that were only linked by the fact that they were about spies and spying. Never Turn Your Back on a Friend (1964) A multi-national commando team raid a Heavy Water plant in occupied Europe - and come away with the Chief Scientist Starring Maja Bamberger, Pamela Brown, Mark Eden & Julian Glover The Frantick Rebel (1964) It's 1777, and a mysterious lady is in London...is she spying for the American revolutionaries?? Dr Johnson and Boswell investigate, but always seem a couple of steps behind Starring Stanley Baxter, Roger Livesey, Bernard Bresslaw & Patsy Byrne A Free Agent (1964) Boy spy meets girl spy; boy spy marries girl spy. But he's British, she's Russian. Can their marriage survive in neutral Switzerland?? Will their bosses allow them both to retire?? And is the marriage all it seems??? Written by Leo Marks Starring Norman Foster, Siân Phillips & Anthony Quayle You can now get either just the three episodes directed by Powell Or the whole series in a boxed set (announced) Steve

14-12-2007, 09:50 AM	#2
batman Chief Member OBME Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Norwich Posts: 12,803 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (8)	We discussed this series a few weeks ago IIRC .... great news about the DVD release. It's a good job I have a birthday so soon after Christmas! Bats. __________________ Bats. I am MacIntyre from the silver metal planet .... I have come to look at your beautiful countryside.

14-12-2007, 03:02 PM	#4
penfold Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 2,740 Country: iTrader: (0)	As Steve knows, I've been going on about this series, and Powell's episodes, for years. I can't tell you how thrilled I am that I'm finally going to see Roger Livesey as Dr Johnson and Stanley Baxter as Boswell....who wouldn't?? I read the scripts in the BFI Library, devoured everything the TVTimes had to offer on the series....I did manage to see Never Turn your Back at the NFT some ten or so years ago...I put up what I knew in IMDB (Those are my teasers Steve is quoting above) but I was pretty sure I would never see the others. I have met some of the Network people over the years and went on about Espionage, but more in hope than expectation; I can't wait frankly. __________________ Bit of a Bay Window, what??

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26-03-2008, 08:59 PM	#5
Moor Larkin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North West Frontier Posts: 1,543 Country: iTrader: (0)

26-03-2008, 10:41 PM	#6
Steve Crook Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: London Posts: 8,871 Country: iTrader: (1)	Both Amazon.co.uk & Play.com say it should have been released on Monday 24th. Amazon emailed me to say there was a delay and they were having trouble getting hold of copies. Let's see who manages to send it first Steve

27-03-2008, 12:08 PM	#7
stevie boy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Coventry Posts: 1,493 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (0)	Is it worth getting the whole series, or just the Powell ones??