Secret Agent 

John Drake is a special operative for M9, specializing in security assignments against any subversive element which threatened world peace.

Stars:

Patrick McGoohan, Peter Madden, Earl Cameron

Cast

Series cast summary:
Patrick McGoohan	...	John Drake 48 episodes, 1964-1967

Storyline

Coming at approximately the same time as James Bond, ITC's Danger Man (known as Secret Agent in the states) is the complete antithesis, with the calm, icy-cool demeanour of British M9 agent, John Drake (Patrick McGoohan). Whereas Bond's all flash, Drake (who never carries a gun, he felt them to be "noisy, and they can hurt someone") used his brain, instead, and is very adept at defending himself with his hands, as well. He also eschewed having the "babe of the week", or even having Drake involved with a woman. The show (which had initially been a half-hour series, also under the Danger Man (1960) title, and character name, but was brought back slightly "retconned" and became a series with hour-long episodes) became an world-wide hit, and helped propel series' lead, Patrick McGoohan to international fame (in fact, Mr. McGoohan was twice offered the role of James Bond, and twice refused. The first time, he declined, but recommended a friend of his; Sean Connery). Unlike many other spy ...

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Plot Keywords:

1960s | secret agent | action hero | spy hero | hero | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Patrick McGoohan stated that before he began work on the one hour episodes, he needed to get himself back into physical shape in preparation for the action scenes.

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Crazy Credits

The first episode broadcast in the United States ("Battle of the Cameras") actually features two opening credit sequences. The first is a brief, 10-second introduction featuring a few bars of "Secret Agent Man" and a credit for Patrick McGoohan (running roughly the same length as the original UK credits). This is followed by the teaser, and then the regular credits. In all future US broadcasts, the pre-teaser credit sequence was dropped.

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Alternate Versions

Two color episodes were produced as part of a season that was interrupted when McGoohan quit the series to make "The Prisoner." These two episodes were edited together to form the movie Koroshi. The original unedited episodes were released on video in the UK in the 1980s.

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Connections

Referenced in Nearest and Dearest: Compliments of the Season (1970)

User Reviews

In North American syndication it was SECRET AGENT, but . . .

Believe it or not, I did not see any of this programme until 1992-93. It was shown one per night on CBC-Windsor at difficult to establish late hours. In spite of the inconvenience, I made it my business to see as many as possible; my first was when Drake had a car crash, blacking out . . . and you will just have to see it.

It was well cast with well-crafted supporting characters. I had no idea it was the progeny of an earlier show about a NATO operative, a few episodes of which I saw in 1961 (and none since). One notes comment that SECRET AGENT was inspired by the 007 films, which is beyond dispute, but I respectfully disagree that it was as "gadgety" as the Bond films, and furthermore it was devoid of the latent camp. Exception: "Would You Like Some Wine" (if memory serves). Perhaps it was the b.&w. presentation that made it more -- pardon the cliche -- gritty.

Most of the episodes were good. It seems some of the later ones (did the series run into 1967?) were the weakest: Far-fetched and in a few cases ridiculous without being tongue-in-cheek. I cannot say whether SECRET AGENT came to an end because it ran out of petrol or because the more ambitious THE PRISONER was on the drawing boards. All said, I agree that one should make every attempt to see the series, and no, being period piece does not distract for those able to make a mature adjustment to such.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 April 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

Secret Agent

Filming Locations:

MGM British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

49 min (47 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White (seasons 1-3) Color (season 4)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1