I was mesmerised by Christine's (Tracy Reed) catlike eye makeup, bouffant hairdo and enigmatic manner. She is secretary to "Mr Potter" who is a dodgy geezers. But some other dodgy geezers aim to get their hands on his loot. Michael Burke (Edward de Souza) sets up a character in the underworld as a poker-playing ex-pilot who owes a lot to his bookie. (Have you noticed that in the 60s, in any nightclub, there was always a single woman sitting at the bar?) Potter employs Burke to pick up some "stuff", drop it at a disused airfield, and come back blamelessly via customs. But others have other ideas. However, Mr Potter has an underground lair full of bleeping electronics... A fine entry in the series.
4 Reviews
The Main Chance
Prismark106 March 2022
Michael Blake is an ex pilot and a gambler. He has been lured into a spot of smuggling by suave, sinister and wealthy Potter.
It turns out to be diamond smuggling and Potter leaves nothing by chance. He has a host of electronic surveillance in his house. He also has a fail safe in case things go wrong.
Things are about to go wrong. Blake plans to double cross Potter. He has been in cahoots with small time hood Joe Hayes.
Both staged a poker game where Hayes lost big against Blake.
Potter's enigmatic secretary Christine is also acting just a tad suspicious.
This Edgar Wallace Mystery has all the usual ingredients including a double cross. Can Blake stay one step ahead of Potter?
Actually several people are sold down the pan as the thriller aspects heat up as it goes along.
It turns out to be diamond smuggling and Potter leaves nothing by chance. He has a host of electronic surveillance in his house. He also has a fail safe in case things go wrong.
Things are about to go wrong. Blake plans to double cross Potter. He has been in cahoots with small time hood Joe Hayes.
Both staged a poker game where Hayes lost big against Blake.
Potter's enigmatic secretary Christine is also acting just a tad suspicious.
This Edgar Wallace Mystery has all the usual ingredients including a double cross. Can Blake stay one step ahead of Potter?
Actually several people are sold down the pan as the thriller aspects heat up as it goes along.
Another great mystery, full of twists and turns.
Sleepin_Dragon30 January 2023
Disgraced ex RAF pilot Michael Blake is employed by a wealthy businessman to smuggle goods to The Continent, forced into the situation by gambling debts, Blake tries to turn the situation to his advantage.
Another cracking episode from this fifth series, it really has felt as though it's hit its stride, there was a real sense of cleverness to this plot.
At times it felt a little more Avengers than Wallace, that wealthy businessman, all of that wild computer equipment, and the techy ending, definitely away from the usual format, but full of the usual twists and turns, there were perhaps more here than usual.
Very well acted, some excellent performances all around, the standout was of course lead actor Edward de Souza, he was terrific as Blake. Gregoire Aslan was equally good as Potter, it's interesting to see which of them has the last laugh.
Thoroughly enjoyable. 8/10.
Another cracking episode from this fifth series, it really has felt as though it's hit its stride, there was a real sense of cleverness to this plot.
At times it felt a little more Avengers than Wallace, that wealthy businessman, all of that wild computer equipment, and the techy ending, definitely away from the usual format, but full of the usual twists and turns, there were perhaps more here than usual.
Very well acted, some excellent performances all around, the standout was of course lead actor Edward de Souza, he was terrific as Blake. Gregoire Aslan was equally good as Potter, it's interesting to see which of them has the last laugh.
Thoroughly enjoyable. 8/10.
Flying, diamonds - very 60s
lucyrf10 May 2019
A disgraced ex-RAF officer, Blake, is well-known in London's underworld. He is talent-spotted by a shady businessman with a cellar full of electronic equipment, an arch secretary with Cleopatra eyeliner and a beehive, and a squad of muscular butlers and chauffeurs. Blake is hired for a hop over the channel with unscheduled stops at disused airfields - there were still a lot of these around. But Hayes (Stanley Meadows) is somehow in cahoots with Blake - can they outwit the sinister Potter? A plot straight out of Gavin Lyall, with lots of atmosphere. Do all these stories involve a louche nightclub with gum-chewing beatniks and a fortune-teller?
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
