Callan Set 1

David CALLAN (Edward Woodward, The Equalizer) was blackmailed by a secret part of the British Security Services known as "The Section". They wanted his skills. He didn't like or want the job, but he had no choice, but he was good at it. This former soldier turned thief, was 'drafted' by "The Section".

The Section head, codename Hunter (William Squire), AKA Charlie, is cold, ruthless, needs Callan, and cares little about who gets killed. Concern is only the how, why, and if anyone finds out.

There's a nucleus of regular cast, but each episode (9 in this Set 1) is primarily a new suspense story involving espionage, murder, blackmail, and all those good black things. Callan is THE top agent (realism, no James Bond or Get Smart stuff here)--kills when ordered--is a deadly shot--with a tinge of conscious, fair play, and justice. It's a bit on the dark side, every man for himself. A collection of individuals in a dark world, void of trust. A climate where right and wrong have no definition. Sometimes Callan has to much personal emotion for his job of deceit and dirty-tricks. That makes for a fascinating character. Great character relationships throughout the series. Well, some relationships turn downright nasty. Callan even has feelings, though never shown, toward a dirty, criminal type, Lonely (Russell Hunter), who is occasional helpful, in all the bad ways of getting the job done.

The "Section's" colour code for files: RED= dangerous, priority, target death; YELLOW= occasional surveillance; BLUE= wrong party; WHITE= put out of action via prison, bankruptcy, mental home, etc. What colour is your file?

Downside: no subtitles. But they'd help little with the British slang used occasionally like: bird=girl, nik=arrest, belt up=shut up, ta=thanks, quid and bob=$$$ but how much?

A fun series for those who remember the late 60's/early 70's. Filmed at that time period, the British scenes, decor, and clothing styles resemble everyday life in the USA about then. This DVD series is NOT a 1970 period drama, just a very good intelligence/spy series created and aired during the 60's to 70's decade change.

This CALLAN SET 1, originally aired April to June, 1970, is the 3rd season. Many of the B/W episodes telecast earlier had been "lost." Acorn Media has saved this season for all of us. TA. Fortunately in 1970 the show went to color.

Episode 1, WHERE ELSE COULD I GO?
2, SUMMONED TO APPEAR
3, THE SAME TRICK TWICE
4, A VILLAGE CALLED 'G'
5, SUDDENLY--AT HOME
6, ACT OF KINDNESS
7, GOD HELP YOUR FRIENDS
8, BREAKOUT
9, AMOS GREEN MUST LIVE
Watch them all if you dare, but periodically check over your shoulder.

In case there is any confusion, this set comprises the 9 episodes of Season 3, which is the first season to be filmed in color.

CALLAN is an excellent espionage series that aired from July 8, '67 - May 24. '72, and starred the very distinguished Edward Woodward as "David Callan" , a reluctant professional killer who works for a shadowy branch of the British Government's intelligence services known as 'the section'. This series demonstrated strong scripting and acting talent (Edward Woodward always had such a commanding and steely presence on the screen, as was demonstrated in the series "The Equalizer"). The series also showcases the acting talents of William Squire, Patrick Mower, and Russell Hunter. Don't expect any high tech gadgetry in these (color) episodes, just some great slow burning psychological intrigue (which was probably a more accurate portrayal of individuals who were in this particular type of employment), set during the cold war era.

(DISC 1)
1. WHERE ELSE COULD I GO? - After five months in the hospital recuperating from near-fatal gunshot wounds, Callan returns to his section to find the upstart Cross after his position. Under the doubting eye of his superior, the agent must prove that he still has the will to kill.
2. SUMMONED TO APPEAR - When Callan and Cross's tail on a Polish operative goes horribly wrong and an innocent bystander dies, Callan must testify at the inquest. His dilemma: perjure himself or implicate his fellow agent and expose the section.
3. THE SAME TRICK TWICE - Surtees, a British agent recently returned in a prisoner exchange, threatens to publish an explosive tell-all account of his activities, complete with scandalous details. Suspecting that the KGB has turned Surtees, Hunter orders Callan to stop him.

(DISC 2)
4. A VILLAGE CALLED 'G' - The entire section goes on red alert when Liz, Hunter's ever punctual secretary, fails to show up for work. Trying to trace her, Callan begins to suspect that Liz's disappearance involves not an enemy from the present, but a ghost from her past.
5. SUDDENLY, AT HOME - Lady Janet Lewis - the beautiful widow of an ex-foreign secretary - accepts a TV producer's lucrative offer for an interview about her husband. Suspicious of the producer's intentions, Hunter assigns Callan to stop her, but the assignment gets personal.
6. ACT OF KINDNESS - When Heathcote Land receives incriminating photos of his company's sales manager in bed with a mistress, Callan tries to persuade him not to expose the man. But Land knows too well how such games are played.

(DISC 3)
7. GOD HELP YOUR FRIENDS - Callan must break up the engagement between a lovely NATO interpreter with a grade A security clearance and a man suspected of serving as a KGB informant. Does the woman's fiancé really love her? Or does he love Moscow more?
8. BREAKOUT - By surrendering to the police, wily KGB operative Nikolai Lubin seeks safety in a British prison, out of reach of Hunter and the section's interrogators. Hunter, however, has other plans - engineering Lubin's "escape" under the guise of a a KGB operative.
9. AMOS GREEN MUST LIVE - When a visiting black activist turns up dead, a clue at the scene suggests that controversial anti-immigration politician Amos Green will be the assassin's next target. While Cross covers Green, Callan seeks a killer before he can strike again.

Highly recommended.

Picture quality is that of a very good VHS, however, if this can be overlooked, it still makes for very enjoyable programming. Closed Captioning is not included for the hearing impaired.