.:: CALLAN ::.

This is a series that I have wanted to see for a while, so I was very pleased to see that Clearvision have released this on video and DVD. I was a little perplexed when I first read the back of the cases though as this is billed as the first series that was ever shown on Thames, and it was being released in the original order of transmission.
There were two series before this, and I assume that they were broadcast before the reshuffle of TV licenses at the end of the 60s, so would have been through Rediffusion. I do know that they were monochrome, very few of them survive, but they laid the foundation for this series, which is in fact the third, and provide a lot of background material that would lessen the jar at the beginning of the first episode on these discs if known. By this series, the characters are firmly established and the conclusion to the previous series formed the way forward for this - indeed it was only by popular demand that the ending where Callan was not killed in the final instalment of the second series was used!
Of course, much of 60s TV has been junked, and monochrome shows are deemed less saleable, so I cannot find fault with these releases being the colour series, it is just the description. But with this little mystery out of the way, I sat down for an evening's viewing, and certainly wasn't disappointed. The shows still stand up very well today and Edward Woodward is very good and believable in the role of Callan, but the master tapes have suffered over the years and on some occassions there are drop outs and tape lines across the picture. Of course, this means that the tapes are likely to be on their last legs, so it is fortunate that home video is so popular that series like this can be released before it is too late.

C A S T

Callan Edward Woodward

Hunter (1) Ronald Radd

Hunter (2) Michael Goodliffe

Hunter (3) Derek Bond

Hunter (4) William Squire

Lonely Russelll Hunter

Cross Patrick Mower

Liz Lisa Langdon

Toby Meres Anthony Valentine

Armchair Theatre

Episode Tx. Date Synopsis Misc

A Magnum for Schneider 6.2.67 Head of the Section, Hunter, requires the services of his best operative, David Callan. Due to his growing conscience, disrespect for orders, and concerns about the people he was ordered to silence Callan was 'retired' from the service, is working as a bookkeeper, a job he despises. He is offered to be reinstated into the Section if he kills an international arms dealer called Schneider. This was a production in the Armchair Theatre slot that was popular enough to devlop into the series.

Series 1

Episode Tx. Date Synopsis Misc

The Good Ones Are All Dead 8.7.67 Callan is coerced into helping the Section hand over to the Israelis an ex-SS officer, Strauss.

Goodbye, Nobby Clarke 15.7.67 Clarke, an old freind of Callan's who has been training mercenaries in Africa has a choice - dont' go back, or be killed. Does Not Exist.

Death of Robert E. Lee 22.7.67 Two CIA agents request the help of Hunter's Section in killing a Chinese agent, who has been trading in nuclear secrets. But his real mission in England is to kill Hunter. Does Not Exist.

Goodness Burns Too Bright 29.7.67 Callan is lured into going to Berlin, where Hunter wants to use him as a sacrificial lamb to facilitate the planting of a British mole. Does Not Exist.

But's He's a Lord, Mr. Callan 5.8.67 Hunter wants Callan to stop a blackmailing Lord from selling the negatives used in the blackmail to all and sundry. Does Not Exist.

You Should Have Got Here Sooner 12.8.67 When somebody beats Lonely up, and Callan finds out who it was he turns the table on Hunter.

Series 2

Episode Tx. Date Synopsis Misc

Red Knight, White Knight 8.1.69 Callan is pulled from the field by the sections new head.

The Most Promising Girl of Her Year 15.1.69 Callan must prove that a young biochemist is not giving information to the East.

You're Under Starter's Orders 22.1.69 Callan apparently turns renegade. A ruse to trap the head of a ‘pipeline' for smuggling foreign agents and defectors out of the country.

Little Bits and Pieces of Love 29.1.69 Callan must use the wife of a rocket scientist as bait to lure the same scientist to Britain.

Let's Kill Everybody 5.2.69 A freelance German mercenary organisation who specialise in eliminating foreign security sections have their sights set on the Section.

Heir Apparent 12.2.69 After Hunter's death Meres and Calln must fetch the new Hunter from East Germany.

Land of Light and Peace 19.2.69 Callan must retrieve a microfilm from a spying medium. Does Not Exist.

Blackmailers Should Be Discouraged 26.2.69 Callan must find everything out about the past of an influential politician. Does Not Exist.

Death of a Friend 5.3.69 The French O.A.S. carry an internal war into England. Callan and Meres must sort out the mess.

Jack-on-Top 12.3.69 Callan and Meres must catch the controller of a ring of spies before he can leave the country with the information the ring has gathered. Does Not Exist.

Once a Big Man, Always a Big Man 19.3.69 Callan and Meres must secure the safe of a ship that was sunk during World War Two that contains a list of Third Reich collaborateurs and puppets, but a survivor of the ship tries to stop them. Does Not Exist.

Running Dog 26.3.69 Callan must stop fashist agitators from killing the Chinese Ambassador. Does Not Exist.

The Worst Soldier I Ever Saw 2.4.69 Security wants a retired brigadier of the British army to be stopped from accepting a job offer from a sultan, deadly force is requested. Studio tape held

Nice People Die at Home 9.4.69 Callan + Russian spy network = Confusion

Death of a Hunter 16.4.69 Callan in brainwashed into believing that Hunter is the leak in the Section and that he has also killed Lonely and framed Callan for murder. In his drugged state Callan kills Hunter and is shot down by Meres. This had two alternative endings filmed and was supposed to be the last episode, but public demand lead to a new series.

Series 3

Episode Tx. Date Synopsis Misc

Where Else Could I Go? 8.4.70 The new Hunter cannot decide if Callan is to return to the Section or not. Vol 1

Summoned To Appear 15.4.70 When Cross kills an innocent bystander it's up to Callan to cover for him, but even he cannot decide if it was an accident or murder. Vol 1

The Same Trick Twice 22.4.70 An exchange of captured agents with the Soviets goes sour. Vol 1

A Village Called "G" 29.4.70 Hunter's secretary, Liz, finds the sweetness of revenge turning sour. Vol 2

Suddenly - At Home 13.5.70 Callan and Cross are assigned to protect a woman whom Callan becomes involved with. Vol 2

Act of Kindness 20.5.70 Callan helps a former agent out of a blackmailing business. Vol 2

God Help Your Friends 27.5.70 Callan is assigned to disrupt a romance between a government worker and a suspected spy. Reluctantly he delves into his bag of dirty tricks. Vol 3

Breakout 3.6.70 Callan and Cross must break a Russian spy out of prison, where he has voluntarily surrendered himself to, and kill him. Vol 3

Amos Green Must Live 24.6.70 An outspoken parliamentary candidate recieves a death threat. Vol 3

Series 4

Episode Tx. Date Synopsis Misc

That'll Be the Day 1.3.72 Callan is dead. Or so the KGB would have you think.

Call Me Sir 8.3.72 Lonely is used as bait to retrieve Callan from the KGB.

First Refusal 15.3.72 Callan has become the new Hunter. And his first job is to retrieve a list of British undercover agents.

Rules of the Game 22.3.72 Callan orders Cross to terrorise an innocent Russian family for political reasons.

If He Can, So Could I 29.3.72 Callan looses his position as Hunter when he goes after the assassin who killed Cross.

None of Your Business 5.4.72 The old Hunter returns and Callan tries to get away.

Charlie Says It's Goodbye 12.4.72 Callan tries to quit the Section when a girl he is seeing takes a dislike to his job.

I Never Wanted the Job 19.4.72 Lonely becomes the unlucky witness of a mob hit.

The Carrier 26.4.72 Callan and Lonley break into a courier's house to find out how he's operating.

The Contract 3.5.72 Callan substitutes himself for an assassin in order to prevent an assassination.

Call Me Enemy (Richmond File 1) 10.5.72 Callan debriefs a top enemy defector.

Do You Recognise the Woman? (Richmond File 2) 17.5.72 Richmond, a top enemy defector, reveals his true agenda.

A Man Like Me (Richmond File 3) 24.5.72 Callan tracks down Richmond who is trying to leave England.

Episode	Tx. Date	Synopsis	Misc
The Good Ones Are All Dead	8.7.67	Callan is coerced into helping the Section hand over to the Israelis an ex-SS officer, Strauss.
Goodbye, Nobby Clarke	15.7.67	Clarke, an old freind of Callan's who has been training mercenaries in Africa has a choice - dont' go back, or be killed.	Does Not Exist.
Death of Robert E. Lee	22.7.67	Two CIA agents request the help of Hunter's Section in killing a Chinese agent, who has been trading in nuclear secrets. But his real mission in England is to kill Hunter.	Does Not Exist.
Goodness Burns Too Bright	29.7.67	Callan is lured into going to Berlin, where Hunter wants to use him as a sacrificial lamb to facilitate the planting of a British mole.	Does Not Exist.
But's He's a Lord, Mr. Callan	5.8.67	Hunter wants Callan to stop a blackmailing Lord from selling the negatives used in the blackmail to all and sundry.	Does Not Exist.
You Should Have Got Here Sooner	12.8.67	When somebody beats Lonely up, and Callan finds out who it was he turns the table on Hunter.

Episode	Tx. Date	Synopsis	Misc
Red Knight, White Knight	8.1.69	Callan is pulled from the field by the sections new head.
The Most Promising Girl of Her Year	15.1.69	Callan must prove that a young biochemist is not giving information to the East.
You're Under Starter's Orders	22.1.69	Callan apparently turns renegade. A ruse to trap the head of a ‘pipeline' for smuggling foreign agents and defectors out of the country.
Little Bits and Pieces of Love	29.1.69	Callan must use the wife of a rocket scientist as bait to lure the same scientist to Britain.
Let's Kill Everybody	5.2.69	A freelance German mercenary organisation who specialise in eliminating foreign security sections have their sights set on the Section.
Heir Apparent	12.2.69	After Hunter's death Meres and Calln must fetch the new Hunter from East Germany.
Land of Light and Peace	19.2.69	Callan must retrieve a microfilm from a spying medium.	Does Not Exist.
Blackmailers Should Be Discouraged	26.2.69	Callan must find everything out about the past of an influential politician.	Does Not Exist.
Death of a Friend	5.3.69	The French O.A.S. carry an internal war into England. Callan and Meres must sort out the mess.
Jack-on-Top	12.3.69	Callan and Meres must catch the controller of a ring of spies before he can leave the country with the information the ring has gathered.	Does Not Exist.
Once a Big Man, Always a Big Man	19.3.69	Callan and Meres must secure the safe of a ship that was sunk during World War Two that contains a list of Third Reich collaborateurs and puppets, but a survivor of the ship tries to stop them.	Does Not Exist.
Running Dog	26.3.69	Callan must stop fashist agitators from killing the Chinese Ambassador.	Does Not Exist.
The Worst Soldier I Ever Saw	2.4.69	Security wants a retired brigadier of the British army to be stopped from accepting a job offer from a sultan, deadly force is requested.	Studio tape held
Nice People Die at Home	9.4.69	Callan + Russian spy network = Confusion
Death of a Hunter	16.4.69	Callan in brainwashed into believing that Hunter is the leak in the Section and that he has also killed Lonely and framed Callan for murder. In his drugged state Callan kills Hunter and is shot down by Meres.	This had two alternative endings filmed and was supposed to be the last episode, but public demand lead to a new series.

Episode	Tx. Date	Synopsis	Misc
Where Else Could I Go?	8.4.70	The new Hunter cannot decide if Callan is to return to the Section or not.	Vol 1
Summoned To Appear	15.4.70	When Cross kills an innocent bystander it's up to Callan to cover for him, but even he cannot decide if it was an accident or murder.	Vol 1
The Same Trick Twice	22.4.70	An exchange of captured agents with the Soviets goes sour.	Vol 1
A Village Called "G"	29.4.70	Hunter's secretary, Liz, finds the sweetness of revenge turning sour.	Vol 2
Suddenly - At Home	13.5.70	Callan and Cross are assigned to protect a woman whom Callan becomes involved with.	Vol 2
Act of Kindness	20.5.70	Callan helps a former agent out of a blackmailing business.	Vol 2
God Help Your Friends	27.5.70	Callan is assigned to disrupt a romance between a government worker and a suspected spy. Reluctantly he delves into his bag of dirty tricks.	Vol 3
Breakout	3.6.70	Callan and Cross must break a Russian spy out of prison, where he has voluntarily surrendered himself to, and kill him.	Vol 3
Amos Green Must Live	24.6.70	An outspoken parliamentary candidate recieves a death threat.	Vol 3

Episode	Tx. Date	Synopsis
That'll Be the Day	1.3.72	Callan is dead. Or so the KGB would have you think.
Call Me Sir	8.3.72	Lonely is used as bait to retrieve Callan from the KGB.
First Refusal	15.3.72	Callan has become the new Hunter. And his first job is to retrieve a list of British undercover agents.
Rules of the Game	22.3.72	Callan orders Cross to terrorise an innocent Russian family for political reasons.
If He Can, So Could I	29.3.72	Callan looses his position as Hunter when he goes after the assassin who killed Cross.
None of Your Business	5.4.72	The old Hunter returns and Callan tries to get away.
Charlie Says It's Goodbye	12.4.72	Callan tries to quit the Section when a girl he is seeing takes a dislike to his job.
I Never Wanted the Job	19.4.72	Lonely becomes the unlucky witness of a mob hit.
The Carrier	26.4.72	Callan and Lonley break into a courier's house to find out how he's operating.
The Contract	3.5.72	Callan substitutes himself for an assassin in order to prevent an assassination.
Call Me Enemy (Richmond File 1)	10.5.72	Callan debriefs a top enemy defector.
Do You Recognise the Woman? (Richmond File 2)	17.5.72	Richmond, a top enemy defector, reveals his true agenda.
A Man Like Me (Richmond File 3)	24.5.72	Callan tracks down Richmond who is trying to leave England.