Probe (1972)

High-tech investigations company World Securities uses Agents, called Probes, to solve various international cases, such as the retrieval of a famous diamond collection stolen by the Nazis during World War II.

Director:

Russ Mayberry (as Russell Mayberry)

Writers:

Leslie Stevens (creator), Leslie Stevens

Stars:

Hugh O'Brian, Elke Sommer, Burgess Meredith

Cast

Cast overview:
Hugh O'Brian	...	Hugh Lockwood
Elke Sommer	...	Heideline 'Uli' Ullman
Burgess Meredith	...	V.C.R. Cameron
Lilia Skala	...	Frieda Ullman
Angel Tompkins	...	Gloria Harding
John Gielgud	...	Harold L. Streeter (as Sir John Gielgud)
Kent Smith	...	Dr. Edward Laurent
Alfred Ryder	...	Cheyne
Ben Wright	...	Kurt van Niestat
Robert Boon	...	Felix Ernst
Albert Popwell	...	Dr. Griffin
A Martinez	...	Carlos Lobos (as A. Martinez)
Byron Chung	...	Kuroda
Ginny Golden	...	Miss Keach
Jules Maitland	...	Reinhardt Brugge

Storyline

Pilot for sci-fi detective series "Search." Hugh O'Brian as Lockwood, a high-tech private eye, was outfitted with two electronic implants (one to hear what was said at HQ and a dental contact he could bite to communicate with HQ--one bite for yes and two bites for no) and a button-sized "scanner" that combined a micro-miniaturized television camera that could also see in infrared spectrum, microphone, medical sensors, and transmitter, putting him in constant contact with a room full of experts monitoring his actions and vital signs and supplying him with encyclopedic information. Burgess Meredith as Cameron, Lockwood's "head kibitzer." Story involves missing diamonds. Series plots tended to be "missing object(s) or person(s)"-type detective stories, rather than murder "whodunits" or "howcatchems."

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | high tech | miniature camera | implanted monitor | cia agent | 

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Genres:

Crime | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Trivia

In this movie, it is explained that a famous collection of diamonds was stolen during World War II by the Nazis, namely by Nazi leader Hermann Goering. In real-life, Nazi leader Hermann Göring, was an avid collector of diamonds and other precious gems. Nazi Minister of Armaments, Albert Speer, wrote in his memoirs about Goering's habit of filling his coat pockets with precious gems and often time running his hands through the gems.

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Goofs

When the diamond cutter asks at the hotel desk for the room number of Harold Streeter, he is given, in German, the number 371. Later, when Hugh Lockwood calls the room of Harold Streeter, he asks for room number 397.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Hugh Lockwood: Probe One, Probe Control. Vice Consul safe unharmed and on his way to neutral territory. Recovery mission accomplished.
V.C.R. Cameron: We copy you Lockwood. You're lucky you're not back there face down in the gutter, but you're operating under severe strain so we'll overlook the high risk factor and call it exceptional service.
Hugh Lockwood: Which means I'm entitled to a few days off all expenses.

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Connections

Followed by Search (1972)

User Reviews

Probe and more

I had just come to America from Australia and was like a kid in a candy store, when it came to television. I find it amusing that today many of the sophisticated shows are becoming popular. I was accustomed to "The Persuaders" , "UFO", and reruns of "The Avengers" and "The Saint". All these shows offered exotic locations and cars, excellent theme songs and fast pace with a lot of high tech gadgetry. "Search" offered a format similar to that of NBC"S "Sunday Mystery Movie", by using revolving characters. "Fame is the Name of the Game" offered the same type of format years earlier. That also starred Tony Franciosa. There are so many of these forgotten shows, but I am glad that they were able to make an impact on my childhood. I feel sorry for the young lads and lasses that do not have this type of educational influence on their lives today. These shows introduced us to many new things and an air of sophistication. My nephew who, is almost the same age as I was when I came here is getting that from DVD's of these shows along with the Connery Bond series. The only show that offered anything close to these shows is "Keen Eddie". Cancelled after only one season. We should probably be grateful that there are only a handful of these shows as it makes each episode even more special.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 February 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Agent

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros. Television, Leslie Stevens Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3