It's hard to believe now but there was a time in history when television shows did not centre their plots around brutal violence and blood-letting. 'Callan' was a dark drama series which ran on ITV from 1967 - 1981 and throughout its run saw people being beaten, tortured and even murdered. However, the show's level of violence was never taken to gory extremes and because of this a modern audience would probably class the show as slow, dated and boring.
Well, slow and dated it may well be but if you ask me there is still a great deal of enjoyment to be had out of the show for despite its low production values it still manages to send a collective chill down the spine. The opening titles which consist of a shadeless light bulb swinging slowly to and fro while Jack Trombey's sinister 'Girl In The Dark' theme tune plays sets the tone for what is about to follow.
Edward Woodward was the perfect choice for the title character of Callan, expertly fleshing out the body language and delivering with venom the dialogue of an individual who could kill at any second when tipped over the edge. The man's death in 2009 robbed the world of a great talent.
David Callan was first introduced in an 'Armchair Theatre' play entitled 'A Magnum For Schneider' ( broadcast on 04/02/67 ) in which he was called upon by an anonymous government agency known as 'The Section' to carry out an assassination. Callan's superior, the cold-hearted Colonel Hunter assigns him to kill German businessman/war games enthusiast Schneider ( Joseph Furst ). Callan also has an accomplice in a shape of Lonely, an introverted and not very bright individual who has a tendency to give off an unpleasant odour whenever he gets nervous. The screenplay was so well-received that ABC Television ordered a six-part series which was screened five months later, with the show now just simply titled 'Callan'. The second series, made in 1969 was broadcast by Thames Television as by this time ABC had lost its franchise with ITV.
Though it was undoubtedly Woodward who stood out from all in the cast, Russell Hunter was first rate as Lonely. Though a pathetic retch, it's hard not to feel sorry for him because he is friendless. Callan at first appears not to care about Lonely, though as the series progresses, he seems to become more warm and tolerant towards him. As Hunter, various actors came and went but out of them all, Ronald Radd was the best. Peter Bowles portrayed Callan's rival Toby Meres initially but his place was later taken by Anthony Valentine.
After four series plus a cinematic feature film, 'Callan' concluded in 1981 with a special episode entitled 'Wet Job', in which the reluctant spy is called up for one last mission. All existing episodes ( including 'A Magnum For Schneider' ) have been released on DVD by Network and make worthwhile viewing. Four years after the final episode of 'Callan', Woodward crossed over to the States to take on the role of another secret agent, Robert McCall in the CBS production 'The Equalizer'.
Well, slow and dated it may well be but if you ask me there is still a great deal of enjoyment to be had out of the show for despite its low production values it still manages to send a collective chill down the spine. The opening titles which consist of a shadeless light bulb swinging slowly to and fro while Jack Trombey's sinister 'Girl In The Dark' theme tune plays sets the tone for what is about to follow.
Edward Woodward was the perfect choice for the title character of Callan, expertly fleshing out the body language and delivering with venom the dialogue of an individual who could kill at any second when tipped over the edge. The man's death in 2009 robbed the world of a great talent.
David Callan was first introduced in an 'Armchair Theatre' play entitled 'A Magnum For Schneider' ( broadcast on 04/02/67 ) in which he was called upon by an anonymous government agency known as 'The Section' to carry out an assassination. Callan's superior, the cold-hearted Colonel Hunter assigns him to kill German businessman/war games enthusiast Schneider ( Joseph Furst ). Callan also has an accomplice in a shape of Lonely, an introverted and not very bright individual who has a tendency to give off an unpleasant odour whenever he gets nervous. The screenplay was so well-received that ABC Television ordered a six-part series which was screened five months later, with the show now just simply titled 'Callan'. The second series, made in 1969 was broadcast by Thames Television as by this time ABC had lost its franchise with ITV.
Though it was undoubtedly Woodward who stood out from all in the cast, Russell Hunter was first rate as Lonely. Though a pathetic retch, it's hard not to feel sorry for him because he is friendless. Callan at first appears not to care about Lonely, though as the series progresses, he seems to become more warm and tolerant towards him. As Hunter, various actors came and went but out of them all, Ronald Radd was the best. Peter Bowles portrayed Callan's rival Toby Meres initially but his place was later taken by Anthony Valentine.
After four series plus a cinematic feature film, 'Callan' concluded in 1981 with a special episode entitled 'Wet Job', in which the reluctant spy is called up for one last mission. All existing episodes ( including 'A Magnum For Schneider' ) have been released on DVD by Network and make worthwhile viewing. Four years after the final episode of 'Callan', Woodward crossed over to the States to take on the role of another secret agent, Robert McCall in the CBS production 'The Equalizer'.