Full Circle (26 Mar. 1969)

British agent Paul Westerman is remanded in prison on suspicion of having stolen a micro-film from the Columbrian embassy, jeopardising an arms treaty, but noone can find the film. Craig ... See full summary »

Director:

John Gilling

Writers:

Monty Berman (creator), Donald James,

Stars:

Stuart Damon, Alexandra Bastedo, William Gaunt

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Stuart Damon	...	Craig Stirling
Alexandra Bastedo	...	Sharron Macready
William Gaunt	...	Richard Barrett
Anthony Nicholls	...	Cmdr. W.L. Tremayne
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Patrick Allen	...	Westerman
Sean Barry-Weske
Martin Benson	...	Garcian
Victor Brooks	...	Collins
James Donnelly	...	Pickering
Gabrielle Drake	...	Sarah
Jack Gwillim	...	Carrington
Lawrence James	...	Sgt. Fairfax
John Nettleton	...	Booker

Storyline

British agent Paul Westerman is remanded in prison on suspicion of having stolen a micro-film from the Columbrian embassy, jeopardising an arms treaty, but noone can find the film. Craig goes to jail as his cellmate and the two men escape, thanks to Richard, disguised as the padre. They are caught by Mr. Booker, who is being paid by Columbrian ambassador Garcian to secure the film but means to double-cross him and keep it for himself. Craig and Westerman swap identities and Booker tortures Craig to get the film. If there ever was a film. . . Fortunately Richard is on his way to help.

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Genres:

Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 March 1969 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Associated British Elstree Studios, Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Craig does porridge

The late John Gilling is best remembered for his work on Hammer horror pictures, such as 'Plague Of The Zombies' and 'The Reptile' ( both 1966 ). He also found time to dabble in television shows including 'The Saint', 'Department S' and. of course, 'The Champions'.

An intruder is detected inside the Columbrian Embassy in England. The police apprehend 'Paul Westerman' ( Patrick Allen ), who is carrying a camera but without any film inside. Convinced he has secretly photographed classified documents, they put him in Birch Hill jail on a holding charge. Tremayne tells the Champions that the incident is potentially embarrassing for the U.K. Government, as it had been on the verge of signing a major arms treaty with the country. Craig, posing as a convict, is put in Westerman's cell to find out what ( if anything ) he had photographed at the Embassy, and to whom he intends to sell the micro-film. A break-out takes place, but things go wrong. Another interested party - led by crime-boss 'Alf Booker' ( John Nettleton ) - grabs both of them. Stirling and Westerman swap identities. The former is tied to the roof of a gym and tortured by having lead weights almost wrench the arms from his sockets...

Unusually complicated by 'Champions' standards, this Donald James-penned episode does require some attention, especially as the final scene in Tremayne's office is top-heavy with exposition. From what I could gather, Embassy official 'Garcian' ( Martin Benson, who was 'Mr.Solo' in the Bond movie 'Goldfinger' ) organised the break-in as he wants to wreck the treaty in order to sign one with another country without losing U.S. aid. After a fight between Stirling and one of Booker's thugs, Garcian simply walks off, immune to arrest thanks to diplomatic immunity. Not a good episode for 'Sharron' fans - she's barely in it, apart from a delightful self-contained scene just after the main titles when she gives a lift to a pair of hippie hitch-hikers

• one of whom tries to get fresh with her - and ejects them from the

vehicle as they pass through a tunnel. Richard fares better - getting to impersonate an Irish priest who visits Craig in jail, and being ( a little too easily ) roughed up by Booker's mob.

As 'Westerman', the late Patrick Allen gives his usual, accomplished performance, making what could have been an ordinary character rather interesting. His panic attack during the break-out is convincing. John Nettleton ( 'Sir Arnold' of 'Yes Minister' ) is miscast as a London gangster though. Peter Vaughan would have worked better. His girlfriend 'Sarah' is played by Gabrielle Drake, just before she put on her purple wig to play 'Lt.Gay Ellis' in 'U.F.O.'.

Things To Listen Out For - during the gym torture scene, one of Nettleton's lines sounds as though it was spoken by another actor.