"The Protectors" (1972) TV series 1972-1973

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

29 September 1972 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure | Crime

Plot:

The Protectors were Harry Rule, the Contessa di Contini and Paul Buchet, three freelance troubleshooters...

Plot Keywords:

Spy

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Robert Vaughn	...	Harry Rule (52 episodes, 1972-1974)
Nyree Dawn Porter	...	Contessa Caroline di Contini / ... (51 episodes, 1972-1974)
Tony Anholt	...	Paul Buchet (42 episodes, 1972-1974)
Gus	...	Harry's Dog / ... (26 episodes, 1972-1973)

Series Directed by
Jeremy Summers		(17 episodes, 1972-1974)
Don Chaffey		(9 episodes, 1972-1973)
John Hough		(5 episodes, 1972-1974)
Charles Crichton		(5 episodes, 1973-1974)
Don Leaver		(5 episodes, 1973-1974)
Cyril Frankel		(4 episodes, 1972-1974)
Michael Lindsay-Hogg		(3 episodes, 1973)

Series Writing credits
Tony Barwick		(11 episodes, 1972-1974)
Donald James		(7 episodes, 1972-1973)
Brian Clemens		(6 episodes, 1972-1973)
Trevor Preston		(5 episodes, 1973-1974)
Terry Nation		(4 episodes, 1973-1974)
Jesse Lasky Jr.		(3 episodes, 1973)
Pat Lasky		(3 episodes, 1973)
John Goldsmith		(2 episodes, 1972)
Shane Rimmer		(2 episodes, 1973-1974)
John Kruse		(2 episodes, 1973)

Series Produced by
Gerry Anderson	....	producer (52 episodes, 1972-1974)
Reg Hill	....	producer (52 episodes, 1972-1974)
Desmond Saunders	....	associate producer (26 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Original Music by
John Cameron		(52 episodes, 1972-1974)

Series Cinematography by
Brendan J. Stafford		(50 episodes, 1972-1974)
Frank Watts		(2 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Film Editing by
David Lane		(43 episodes, 1972-1974)
Mike Campbell		(21 episodes, 1972-1974)
Bert Rule		(11 episodes, 1973-1974)
John S. Smith		(6 episodes, 1972-1973)

Series Casting by
Mary Selway		(26 episodes, 1972-1973)
Michael Barnes		(26 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Art Direction by
Bob Bell		(52 episodes, 1972-1974)

Series Makeup Department
Betty Sherriff	....	hairdressing (52 episodes, 1972-1974)
Eddie Knight	....	make-up (39 episodes, 1972-1974)
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist (13 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Production Management
Sherwood Price	....	executive in charge of production / executive in charge: Ferdporqui Productions (52 episodes, 1972-1974)
Norman Foster	....	production manager (26 episodes, 1972-1973)
Desmond Saunders	....	post-production supervisor (26 episodes, 1972-1973)
Malcolm Christopher	....	production manager / unit production manager (26 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Hollands	....	assistant director (20 episodes, 1972-1973)
Gino Marotta	....	assistant director (20 episodes, 1973-1974)
David Bracknell	....	assistant director (11 episodes, 1972-1973)
Mike Higgins	....	second assistant director: second unit (4 episodes, 1973)

Series Art Department
Keith Wilson	....	assistant art director (23 episodes, 1973-1974)
Michael Ford	....	assistant art director (4 episodes, 1974)

Series Sound Department
J.B. Smith	....	sound recordist (48 episodes, 1972-1974)
Dennis Whitlock	....	sound recordist (40 episodes, 1972-1974)
Peter Pennell	....	sound editor (25 episodes, 1972-1974)
John Beaton	....	sound editor / boom operator (20 episodes, 1972-1974)
Len Abbott	....	sound recordist (9 episodes, 1972-1973)
Brian Holland	....	sound editor (5 episodes, 1972-1973)
Bill Rowe	....	sound (2 episodes, 1972-1973)
David Bowen	....	sound (2 episodes, 1973-1974)
Robert T. MacPhee	....	sound (2 episodes, 1973-1974)
Alan Willis	....	sound editor / sound mixer (2 episodes, 1973)

Series Stunts
Roy Vincente	....	stunt director (19 episodes, 1972-1973)
Fred Haggerty	....	stunt director (3 episodes, 1972-1973)
Joe Dunne	....	stunt coordinator (3 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Ray Sturgess	....	camera operator (25 episodes, 1972-1973)
John Winbolt	....	camera operator (25 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Germinal Rangel	....	gowns: Miss Porter / gowns: Miss Porter's / ... (50 episodes, 1972-1974)
James Smith	....	wardrobe supervisor (26 episodes, 1972-1973)
Frank Vinall	....	wardrobe (26 episodes, 1973-1974)
Jean Fairlie	....	wardrobe (18 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Editorial Department
David Lane	....	supervising editor (10 episodes, 1972-1973)

Series Music Department
Alan Willis	....	music editor (51 episodes, 1972-1974)
John Cameron	....	musical director (49 episodes, 1972-1974)
Mitch Murray	....	composer: theme song "Avenues and Alleyways" / composer: theme "Avenues and Alleyways" (26 episodes, 1972-1973)
Peter Callander	....	composer: theme song "Avenues and Alleyways" / lyrics: theme "Avenues and Alleyways" (2 episodes, 1972)

Series Other crew
Tony Barwick	....	script editor / story editor (45 episodes, 1972-1974)
Marjorie Lavelly	....	continuity (45 episodes, 1972-1974)
Arnold Ross	....	location manager (14 episodes, 1973-1974)
Peter Carter	....	location manager (8 episodes, 1973-1974)
Doreen Soan	....	continuity (5 episodes, 1973)
Brian Heard	....	location manager (4 episodes, 1973-1974)

Production Companies

• Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Distributors

• 2ème chaîne ORTF (1972) (France) (TV) (edited dubbed version)
• Independent Television (ITV) (1972) (UK) (TV)
• Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV) (1972) (Japan) (TV)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (video) (VOD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

30 min (52 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Venice, Veneto, Italy

Company:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Trivia:

One of Gerry Anderson's only non-science fiction efforts, and his first since Crossroads to Crime (1960).

Soundtrack:

Avenues and Alleyways

They almost did it . . .

This series almost works. Almost. But thirty minutes (or, rather, 25 minutes of runtime) just aren't enough. I always thought Robert Vaughn and Nyree Dawn Porter had the beginnings of a strong on-screen chemistry. But it never really happened. And it wasn't just because of the background presence of Gerry Anderson, whose sci-fi series cast with humans (UFO and Space: 1999) often rivaled his puppet populated sci-fi series, such as Fireball XL5, for stiffness and lifeless performances. No, it was mainly a matter that just as soon as Harry and the Contessa began even the mildest of banter the producers had to move the story along to get in all the action scenes and wrap things up at the end of a half hour.

Otherwise, the makers of the series seem to be flying by the seat of their pants throughout. And this is not necessarily a bad thing. There are lots of interesting and even novel, for the time, camera shots and action sequences. All in all, not a bad way to spend a half hour. For all its faults, there is more imagination in the shooting of The Protectors than there is in most of the static drama series on TV today.