The Gilded Cage (8 Jan. 1969)

After his file is stolen from the Nemesis headquarters Richard is abducted from his flat in Geneva, rolled up in a carpet and bundled into a van, though fortunately Craig turns up at the ... See full summary »

Director:

Cyril Frankel

Writers:

Monty Berman (creator), Philip Broadley,

Stars:

Stuart Damon, Alexandra Bastedo, William Gaunt

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Stuart Damon	...	Craig Stirling
Alexandra Bastedo	...	Sharron Macready
William Gaunt	...	Richard Barrett
Anthony Nicholls	...	Cmdr. W.L. Tremayne
John Carson	...	Symons
Jennie Linden	...	Samantha
Clinton Greyn	...	Lovegrove
Charles Houston	...	Orley
Tony Caunter	...	Brandon
Sebastian Breaks	...	Haswell
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Manager

Storyline

After his file is stolen from the Nemesis headquarters Richard is abducted from his flat in Geneva, rolled up in a carpet and bundled into a van, though fortunately Craig turns up at the flat and notes the registration number of the van. When Richard wakes up he is in London, in a beautiful apartment but with iron bars over the windows. For company there is a young woman called Samantha.Richard meets his abductor who tells him that, unless he can crack a code for him in twelve hours, Samantha will be killed. Mercifully for Richard, Craig has side-stepped the red herrings designed to put him off the trail, and is on his way to rescue his colleague.

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Genres:

Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 January 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

Did You Know?

Goofs

After a cut at 4:17, the express train, which was previously travelling on a double-track main line, is now on a single track line.

User Reviews

Mink-lined prison

Philip Broadley's 'The Gilded Cage' was one of ten 'Champions' episodes to secure a network screening on U.S. television in 1968. It opens promisingly with a break-in at NEMESIS H.Q. in Geneva. Two men - one of whom is 'Brandon' ( Tony Caunter, later to appear in 'Eastenders' ) - photograph Richard's file, and when Tremayne comes in to investigate, he is knocked unconscious. Soon afterwards, Richard is abducted from his flat, and driven off inside a roll of carpet. He awakens to find himself in pyjamas in a sumptuous bed, with the beautiful ( and my word, isn't she ) 'Samantha' ( Jennie Linden ) staring down at him. The room he is is is exquisitely furnished, but there are bars across the windows. When he enters an adjacent computer room, he is gassed. Someone wants to keep him there. But whom?

In the same vein as 'The Interrogation' ( though lighter ), this is good for the most part. We get to see Richard's Geneva flat, learn he likes classical music ( 'The Four Seasons' by Gressini ), and that Tremayne's bedroom is located next door to his office ( no Mrs.Tremayne from the look of things ). The reason for Richard's abduction and imprisonment is that 'Symons' ( the splendid John Carson ) wants him to crack a code ( Richard had managed to do this on an earlier mission ). The code is for a formula for a new kind of fuel which Symons hopes will put the Arabs out of business. Richard refuses to cooperate at first, only to be told that unless he do so, Samantha will die. There is a curious moment where Richard kisses Samantha and, miles away, Craig reacts. This poses the question - if one of the Champions has sex, do the others feel the pleasure?

Once again Sharron is sidelined, while Craig's big scene is when he recalls the number plate of the van that grabbed Richard. With a good villain, a beautiful girl, and an potentially explosive situation ( Sama's friends try to steal the formula , the scene is all set for a thrilling climax. It never happens! All we get is Craig walking through the door with a gun. Story over. In the pre-video days, I used to keep a record of my favourite programmes by writing down story details in a book ( which came in useful years later when reviewing programmes for I.M.D.B. ). I was so teed off by the non-climax of 'The Gilded Cage' I changed the ending completely - Richard and Craig fight it out with Sam's friends and Symons' thugs, while Symons snatches the formula from Sam and tries to leave, only to run into an armed Sharron! Why couldn't you have done this, Mr.Broadley?