Probe (1972) (TV)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Russ Mayberry

Writers:

Leslie Stevens (creator)
Leslie Stevens (written by)

Release Date:

21 February 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Plot:

Pilot for sci-fi detective series "Search." Hugh O'Brian as Lockwood, a high-tech private eye, was outfitted...

Plot Keywords:

High Tech | Intrigue | Technology | CIA Agent | Spy

Cast

Hugh O'Brian	...	Hugh Lockwood
Elke Sommer	...	Heideline 'Uli' Ullman
Burgess Meredith	...	B.C. Cameron
Lilia Skala	...	Frieda Ullman
Angel Tompkins	...	Gloria Harding
John Gielgud	...	Harold Streeter (as Sir John Gielgud)
Kent Smith	...	Dr. Laurent
Alfred Ryder	...	Cheyne
Ben Wright	...	Kurt von Niestat
Robert Boon	...	Felix Ernst
Albert Popwell	...	Griffin
A Martinez	...	World Securities Technician (as A. Martinez)
Byron Chung	...	Kuroda
Ginny Golden	...	Miss Keach
Jules Maitland	...	Brugge

Also Known As:

Search (USA) (rerun title)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

Leslie Stevens Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When the diamond cutter asks at the hotel desk for the room number of Harold Streeter, he is given, in German, the number 371. Later, when Hugh Lockwood calls the room of Harold Streeter, he asks for room number 397.

Movie Connections:

Followed by "Search" (1972)

A very well done sci-fi/suspense offering

Probe, later to become the TV series "SEARCH" (72-73 on NBC) was an attempt to cash in on the publics fascination with high tech from the space program. The movie had all the pieces of a fun romp: sci-fi with the hight tech scanners and communications, intrigue with the search for the NAZI theft of the French "Entourage" diamond collection, and locations spanning from Innsbrook Austria, the Gulf coast, and New York City, though I think all of the filming was done in southern CA with the Angeles National Forest doubling as the Austrian mountains and forests. The movie was well written, acted (it was great having older, more cerebral actors on the show) and produced, and the show started out that way until I think they ran out of ideas. Having three different agents (Hugh O'Brien, Tony Franciosa, and Doug McClure) was a mistake I think as it did not allow a fan following to develop for one main character. It would be great to do the series today, but I think there would be too much of a temptation to put young pretty boys instead of older more competant (and believable) actors in the agent roles.