This is the first and only surviving episode of the shortly-lived TV series 'Police Surgeon' starring Ian Hendry. The plot is about a kid who steals money (from a bank??) and gets caught by the police but refuses to admit to the crime. Honestly, this was quite boring to watch- the ending at the bar is slightly interesting and gives some weight to the kid's character. Although it had issues with it's pacing, there was certainly room for potential here.
2 Reviews
The only Episode
gordonl5610 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
POLICE SURGEON – 1960 - UK
This is the first and only surviving episode of this 1960 UK Police series. It headlines a still with hair, Ian Hendry as a doctor assigned to the London Police Service. If someone is in rough shape or asks for a Doctor, Hendry gets the call at 30 shillings a pop.
On this particular night Hendry has been called to look at a possible heart attack with a drunken old fellow. It turns out to be bad gas and not a problem. At the same time a rambunctious youth, Michael Crawford is dragged in and searched. He has far too much coin on him than one would expect. He was found in the area where a cigarette machine had been broken into.
Crawford asks to see the doctor and says he has been roughed up. Hendry checks him out in Crawford's cell. Crawford has a couple of minor bruises etc caused by his fighting with the arresting constable. Nothing that Hendry sees as worth reporting on.
Hendry knows the lad from the local area and asks if he pulled the theft. Crawford swears he won the money at the dog races. Hendry, having picked up the latest, paper, has a look at the evening results from the tracks. Needless to say, none of the dogs Crawford mentions even ran that day. Hendry shakes his head and exits, forgetting his paper.
Crawford, ever the quick thinker, grabs the paper and has a boo at the track results. He memorizes the winners and then hides the paper.
When the Station Inspector enters to question him about the money in his possession, Crawford simply rattles off the winners he bet on. The Police swallow the lies and release him.
The next day Crawford runs into Hendry at a small coffee and tea shop. Hendry of course knows that Crawford used the paper he left to trick his way off the charges. Hendry asks why the attempt at becoming a hard boy. Crawford mentions a local gangster type as his hero. Hendry points out the man, has spent 15 out of the last 20 years in prison. "Some life!" Hendry says.
After a long talk, Hendry seems to have made some headway in convincing the lad to come clean with the Police. At this time the Police arrive and slap the cuffs on the lad. It is too late to turn himself in. The Police have found a witness to Crawford breaking into the cigarette machine. It will now be time inside for Crawford.
Since this one episode is the sole surviving example of the series, the viewer will never learn if it was a hit or a miss.
The episode was written by BAFTA AWARD winner, Julian Bond. Bond wrote many fine stories for series such as, FAR PAVILLONS, SGT CORK, UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, OUT OF THE UNKNOWN, TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED, THE RIVALS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES and THE RUTH RENDELL MYSTERIES. His BAFTA was for the screenplay for, THE SHOOTING PARTY.
This is the first and only surviving episode of this 1960 UK Police series. It headlines a still with hair, Ian Hendry as a doctor assigned to the London Police Service. If someone is in rough shape or asks for a Doctor, Hendry gets the call at 30 shillings a pop.
On this particular night Hendry has been called to look at a possible heart attack with a drunken old fellow. It turns out to be bad gas and not a problem. At the same time a rambunctious youth, Michael Crawford is dragged in and searched. He has far too much coin on him than one would expect. He was found in the area where a cigarette machine had been broken into.
Crawford asks to see the doctor and says he has been roughed up. Hendry checks him out in Crawford's cell. Crawford has a couple of minor bruises etc caused by his fighting with the arresting constable. Nothing that Hendry sees as worth reporting on.
Hendry knows the lad from the local area and asks if he pulled the theft. Crawford swears he won the money at the dog races. Hendry, having picked up the latest, paper, has a look at the evening results from the tracks. Needless to say, none of the dogs Crawford mentions even ran that day. Hendry shakes his head and exits, forgetting his paper.
Crawford, ever the quick thinker, grabs the paper and has a boo at the track results. He memorizes the winners and then hides the paper.
When the Station Inspector enters to question him about the money in his possession, Crawford simply rattles off the winners he bet on. The Police swallow the lies and release him.
The next day Crawford runs into Hendry at a small coffee and tea shop. Hendry of course knows that Crawford used the paper he left to trick his way off the charges. Hendry asks why the attempt at becoming a hard boy. Crawford mentions a local gangster type as his hero. Hendry points out the man, has spent 15 out of the last 20 years in prison. "Some life!" Hendry says.
After a long talk, Hendry seems to have made some headway in convincing the lad to come clean with the Police. At this time the Police arrive and slap the cuffs on the lad. It is too late to turn himself in. The Police have found a witness to Crawford breaking into the cigarette machine. It will now be time inside for Crawford.
Since this one episode is the sole surviving example of the series, the viewer will never learn if it was a hit or a miss.
The episode was written by BAFTA AWARD winner, Julian Bond. Bond wrote many fine stories for series such as, FAR PAVILLONS, SGT CORK, UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, OUT OF THE UNKNOWN, TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED, THE RIVALS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES and THE RUTH RENDELL MYSTERIES. His BAFTA was for the screenplay for, THE SHOOTING PARTY.
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