Probe (TV 1972)

Pilot for sci-fi detective series "Search." Hugh O'Brian as Lockwood, a high-tech private eye, was outfitted with two electronic implants (one to hear what was said at HQ and a dental ... See full summary »

Director:

Russ Mayberry

Writers:

Leslie Stevens (creator), Leslie Stevens

Stars:

Hugh O'Brian, Elke Sommer, Burgess Meredith

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh O'Brian	...	Hugh Lockwood
Elke Sommer	...	Heideline 'Uli' Ullman
Burgess Meredith	...	V.C.R. Cameron
Lilia Skala	...	Frieda Ullman
Angel Tompkins	...	Gloria Harding
John Gielgud	...	Harold L. Streeter (as Sir John Gielgud)
Kent Smith	...	Dr. Edward Laurent
Alfred Ryder	...	Cheyne
Ben Wright	...	Kurt van Niestat
Robert Boon	...	Felix Ernst
Albert Popwell	...	Dr. Griffin
A Martinez	...	Carlos Lobos (as A. Martinez)
Byron Chung	...	Kuroda
Ginny Golden	...	Miss Keach
Jules Maitland	...	Reinhardt M. Brugge

Storyline

Pilot for sci-fi detective series "Search." Hugh O'Brian as Lockwood, a high-tech private eye, was outfitted with two electronic implants (one to hear what was said at HQ and a dental contact he could bite to communicate with HQ--one bite for yes and two bites for no) and a button-sized "scanner" that combined a micro-miniaturized television camera that could also see in infrared spectrum, microphone, medical sensors, and transmitter, putting him in constant contact with a room full of experts monitoring his actions and vital signs and supplying him with encyclopedic information. Burgess Meredith as Cameron, Lockwood's "head kibitzer." Story involves missing diamonds. Series plots tended to be "missing object(s) or person(s)"-type detective stories, rather than murder "whodunits" or "howcatchems."

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Plot Keywords:

high tech | miniature camera | intrigue | spy | technology | 

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Genres:

Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 February 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Search

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Leslie Stevens Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

A piece of stock footage showing a 707 taking off is played at the wrong aspect ratio.

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Connections

Followed by Search (1972)

User Reviews

Sophisticated high-tech fun

"Probe" was the pilot for the series "Search", which lasted barely a year. If the series had stuck to the quality of this pilot, it might have been a hit. Hugh O'Brian was a natural for the suave, polished lead; he was never at a loss for words. Burgess Meredith played the head of the "secret agency", who presided over the monitoring of Hugh's vital signs from the control room via high-tech spy equipment on Hugh's person. Several technicians helped Burgess in this endeavor, one of them the gorgeous Angel Tompkins. She frequently made catty and snide but very funny remarks about Hugh's hormonal reactions to the beautiful women he encountered, and since he could hear what she said via his earpiece, he frequently shot a quip back at her. This, and Burgess' performance, were the highlights of the show, and were quite entertaining.

The story involves a set of 6 missing jewels, which John Gielgud wants the Probe team to recover. Elke Sommer, Lilia Skalia and Alfred Ryder are also involved in some way with the jewels, and it's up to Hugh to figure out who's telling the truth since there is obviously more to this story than he was told. I enjoyed this show very much; it was extremely well-done and it's too bad they didn't continue on in this way.