"The Rat Catchers" (1966) TV series 1966-1967

Directors:

Don Gale
Bill Hitchcock

Writers:

Raymond Bowers (writer)
Victor Canning (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

2 February 1966 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A highly secret British Intelligence Unit is set up to deal with enemy menaces, staffed by three tough & capable operatives...

Plot Keywords:

Spy

Cast

Gerald Flood	...	Peregrine Smith (25 episodes, 1966-1967)
Glyn Owen	...	Richard Hurst (25 episodes, 1966-1967)
Philip Stone	...	Brigadier Davidson / ... (25 episodes, 1966-1967)

Runtime:

60 min (25 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Filming Locations:

The Fountain Studios, Wembley, London, England, UK

Company:

Associated-Rediffusion Television

Trivia:

The total number of editions currently known to exist on film or videotape stands at just two (season one's "Ticket To Madrid" and "The Unwitting Courier", along with an incomplete copy of season two's "The Heel of Achilles") out of 25. Additionally, six largely-complete off-air audio editions are known to exist. The rest of the series is missing presumed wiped.

The Rat Catchers - a unique 1960s TV spy series and serial

The Rat Catchers had a unique TV format - a series of 13 for two consecutive years, with story lines written as a trilogy or two parter, taking Smith, Hurst and the Brigadier to many European countries, the furthest abroad being the Greek trilogy (Corfu, Meteora and Athens). They also visited Ireland (Dromoland Castle Hotel), Madrid, Lisbon, Stockholm, Amsterdam (where Alpha finally got his come-uppance!) and other locations around London and the UK. Gerald Flood, formerly Colonel Sharif Mahmoud from "Crane", was wonderful as Peregrine Pascale Smith, the urbane, elegant assassin who, in Mr Flood's own words in a magazine interview enjoyed "doing his rather dreadful job supremely well." Glyn Owen, as Richard Hurst, was the "common working policeman", uneasy at his assignment, whilst Philip Stone's Brigadier Davidson, whose catch phrase was "Say so, if you understand me", was delivered with icy coolness. I would love to re-view all these shows but gather that only a half-hour of one episode is all that has been kept. Ah, yes, I will never forget the thrill of hearing that unique musical introduction (I still have the 45!) and the real enjoyment this unique TV series and serial afforded all those who watched. "Say so, if you understand me!"