"Callan" (1967) TV series 1967-1972

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Tony Robertson

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

8 July 1967 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

David Callan is the top agent/assassin for the S.I.S. (British counterintelligence), but he is an embittered...

Plot Keywords:

Spy | Character Name In Title

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Edward Woodward	...	David Callan (43 episodes, 1967-1972)
Russell Hunter	...	Lonely (41 episodes, 1967-1972)
Anthony Valentine	...	Toby Meres (30 episodes, 1967-1972)
Lisa Langdon	...	Liz March (30 episodes, 1967-1972)
William Squire	...	Hunter #4 (19 episodes, 1970-1972)

Runtime:

60 min (44 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (1967-1969) | Color (1970-1972)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M

Company:

ABC Weekend Television

Trivia:

David Callan's address in the first two series was: 31 Duke William Street, Bayswater; his later address was: 27 Bransken Terrace, Fulham. Lonely lived at 19 Old Market Street, Shepherds Bush.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Nearest and Dearest: Compliments of the Season (#5.2)" (1970)

Very Dark Indeed

Callan was a very dark series which has never been given the credit it deserved. I'm glad to see the series on DVD here in England because it is a series I would recommend to anyone who wasn't born when it first aired.

A pre-Equalizer Edward Woodward played Callan who was an agent for British Intelligence. He was no James Bond however; Callan's was a dark world where everyone had their own agenda and no-one could be trusted. Things were not black and white; there were plenty of shades of grey. Unlike James Bond, Callan didn't have a posh car, plenty of beautiful women and he didn't get to jet off to sunny locations. Callan hated his job, he had no choice but to work for British Intelligence (watch the first episodes to see why that is). He was a good man deep down and cared about people but he was constantly required to lie and deceive people and cheat. He was given the dirty jobs no-one else wanted and whilst his superior (a man called Hunter, played by various actors)knew that Callan was good at his job, he also didn't care about Callan at all. Callan was a loner.

The premise was very interesting indeed. Callan was reluctantly doing a dirty job and his emotions came into conflict with his job at times. It was fascinating viewing.

Over the years there have been many dark series where you can never be sure who is good and who is bad. In a way, I guess it is indicative of the times we are living in. However, I think it is important to remember that Callan was the benchmark for many of the dark and pessimistic shows we see today and without Callan, many of them would not have arisen.