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IMDbPro

The Vise

  • TV Series
  • 1954–19611954–1961
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
49
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
40,299
14,657
The Vise (1954)
CrimeDramaThriller
This British production featured lesser-known actors in filmed plays showing people caught in "the vise" of fate created by their own deeds.This British production featured lesser-known actors in filmed plays showing people caught in "the vise" of fate created by their own deeds.This British production featured lesser-known actors in filmed plays showing people caught in "the vise" of fate created by their own deeds.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
49
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
40,299
14,657
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Stars
      • Donald Gray
      • Colin Tapley
      • Ron Randell
    Top credits
    • Stars
      • Donald Gray
      • Colin Tapley
      • Ron Randell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Episodes221

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    Honor Blackman, Donald Gray, and Neil McCallum in The Vise (1954)
    Donald Gray and Neil McCallum in The Vise (1954)
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    Top cast

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    Donald Gray
    • Mark Saber…
    157 episodes157 eps • 1954–1961
    Colin Tapley
    Colin Tapley
    • Inspector Parker…
    79 episodes79 eps • 1955–1960
    Ron Randell
    Ron Randell
    • Host…
    61 episodes61 eps • 1954–1955
    Robert Arden
    Robert Arden
    • Bob Page…
    42 episodes42 eps • 1955–1961
    Diana Decker
    • Stephanie Ames…
    26 episodes26 eps • 1956–1958
    Neil McCallum
    Neil McCallum
    • Pete Paulson
    24 episodes24 eps • 1957–1960
    John Stuart
    John Stuart
    • Inspector…
    24 episodes24 eps • 1954–1960
    Hal Osmond
    Hal Osmond
    • Benny…
    24 episodes24 eps • 1955–1961
    Michael Balfour
    Michael Balfour
    • Barney O'Keefe
    22 episodes22 eps • 1955–1959
    Teresa Thorne
    • Judy
    22 episodes22 eps • 1955–1959
    Alastair Hunter
    Alastair Hunter
    • Janitor…
    22 episodes22 eps • 1955–1959
    Patrick Holt
    Patrick Holt
    • Inspector Brady…
    20 episodes20 eps • 1955–1958
    Cecil Paul
    • Police Sergeant…
    20 episodes20 eps • 1956–1960
    Sandra Dorne
    Sandra Dorne
    • Anita Damon…
    18 episodes18 eps • 1954–1959
    Denis Shaw
    Denis Shaw
    • Allen…
    17 episodes17 eps • 1954–1960
    Gordon Tanner
    Gordon Tanner
    • Larry Nelson…
    15 episodes15 eps • 1955–1960
    Jennifer Jayne
    Jennifer Jayne
    • Ann Somers…
    15 episodes15 eps • 1955–1959
    Frank Hawkins
    • Inspector Chester…
    14 episodes14 eps • 1955–1959
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Connections
      Follows Mark Saber (1951)

    User reviews2

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    An Oddity that was so successful
    The Vise was produced by Danziger who rented space from other studios mainly Nettlefold at Walton-on-Thames. They bid for Beaconsfield Studios and tried to lease Twickenham but they opened their own film studios in 1956 situated in an old Aircraft testing station at Elstree and was named the New Elstree Studios. Its life was short opening in 1954 but closing less than ten years later in 1961. The new studios had six stages and employed 200 technicians including Terance Nelhams who left to become the singer Adam Faith. Brian Clemens of later Avengers fame was Chief Scriptwriter and Directors David Macdonald, Max Varnel Godfrey Grayson and Ernest Morris were responsible for Danzigers TV and Film output. The second feature market was pretty buoyant and these cost between £15,000 and 17,500 to make but few won them acclaim other than Tell Tale Heart Directed by Ernest morris starring Laurence Payne produced in 1961.

    The two Danziger brothers had come to England from America in 1952. Edward had studied law and was involved with the Nuremberg war crimes tribunal whereas Harry Lee had played Trumpet in a Band. They were known as the experts at producing cheap films using same outdoor scenes and music cut from episode to episode. They contracted actors at a weekly fee together with another fee for World rights forever. The Vise comprised of 65 thirty minute films shown in United Kingdom as Mark saber. There was a follow up series Detectives Diary or Saber of London in the United Kingdom of 91 thirty minute films. The Vise was made at Nettlefold but Saber of London at New Elstree but by 1958 Danziger had made in all 156 episodes all with Donald Gray in title role. Public took to gallant Saber who always got his man he epitomised the British bull dog spirit. The standard of acting was described as poor but Gray saved some very poor scripts.

    The series went out on NBC first and appeared on Associated Redifusion TV (LONDON) between 1957 and 1962 after the BBC monopoly had been broken much to the consternation of Lord Reith the Corporation's first Director General. In four years Saber went through five assistants : Barney O'Keefe played by Michael Balfour, Pete Paulson played by Canadian Neil Macallum, Bob Page layed by Robert Arden, Larry Nelson played by Gordon Tanner and Eddie Welles played by Gary Thorne. His secretary Stevie was played by singer Diane Decker but she was replaced by Judy played by Theresa Thorne until episode 65 but thereafter Saber had the very occasional love interest of Ann Somers played by Jennifer Jayne. When Donald Gray went to America in 1957 he was met by cheering crowds but they were disappointed when he signed his name as Donald Gray rather than Mark Saber. In a visit to Harlaam Gray was tackled on street by a plump Black lady who asked if he had come to sort out the crime. People blended reality with fantasy but unfortunately Donald Gray was badly typecast very rarely working after the series ended though he was the voice of Colonel White in the puppet series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons.
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    • trev-11
    • Oct 1, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 1, 1954 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Detective's Diary
    • Production company
      • Danziger Productions Ltd.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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