The beyond-great music theme of John Barry, and the background-information-filled format of the opening credits, may prepare you for something serious and somber, but what follows is actually quite colorful (much of it is shot on location in the south of France), lighthearted, humorous stuff, with a surprising number of smart & funny lines. Fans of Roger Moore's approach to James Bond, a club of which I am a proud member, will surely be pleased with his character and style here. This being the pilot episode of the series, it spends the entire first half setting up the relationship between Moore and Curtis, which doesn't leave much time for a separate main plot, but what there is of that is not bad. Perhaps my only objection: the "driving competition" sequence near the start goes on a bit too long. **1/2 out of 4.
4 Reviews
Great Early '70s Ensemble
andyetris10 November 2008
This one-season 70's series was a LOT of fun as it would almost have to be with both Moore, doing his typical suave Englishman routine, and Curtis almost reprising his SOME LIKE IT HOT hustler-with-a-heart-of-gold. Sometime DR WHO scriptwriter Terry Nation makes the most of the contrast, and throw in wacky '70s fashions plus enough dough to actually shoot scenes on location, and you've got something that should have run MUCH longer.
Two international playboys receive a summons to the Riviera, where they wind up under the thumb of a retired judge with a hunger for justice. Judge Fulton needs someone outside the law to pursue the mystery of a crime syndicate that is still operating after the apparent death of its boss. Fulton challenges Wilde and Sinclair to rise above their selfish lifestyles and, developing a taste for sparring with each other, the pair pursue a beautiful girl who unknowingly holds the key to locking up the bad guys.
This isn't my favorite episode of the series; it takes Moore and Curtis an episode or two more to really master their chemistry. If you're wading through the DVD set I'd recommend skipping ahead to POWERSWITCH.
Two international playboys receive a summons to the Riviera, where they wind up under the thumb of a retired judge with a hunger for justice. Judge Fulton needs someone outside the law to pursue the mystery of a crime syndicate that is still operating after the apparent death of its boss. Fulton challenges Wilde and Sinclair to rise above their selfish lifestyles and, developing a taste for sparring with each other, the pair pursue a beautiful girl who unknowingly holds the key to locking up the bad guys.
This isn't my favorite episode of the series; it takes Moore and Curtis an episode or two more to really master their chemistry. If you're wading through the DVD set I'd recommend skipping ahead to POWERSWITCH.
Overture
Prismark1011 December 2022
The role that maybe cemented Roger Moore as James Bond. There is a great story as how Lord Lew Grade got this series off the ground.
He sold it as a prestige vehicle starring Roger Moore and Tony Curtis, even though both actors had not yet signed up.
The Persuaders are two unmotivated playboys who could make a difference but choose to fool around instead.
American Danny Wilde (Tony Curtis) is a brash oil tycoon. Lord Brett Sinclair (Roger Moore) is descended from nobility. Retired Judge Fulton has deliberately sought them out under the threat of three months jail time in the Cote d'Azur for brawling.
Their first mission is simple. Seek out a young woman sunbathing and check if she has a tattoo and her identity.
Maria (Imogen Hassall) is a beautiful young woman. Unknown to Danny and Brett, her brother was an infamous gangster who reputedly died a few years ago.
Judge Fulton is not convinced and plans to use Danny, Brett and Maria to draw out her late brother.
I liked this opening episode. It displayed the contrasting characters of Danny and Brett. There is location shooting in the south of France. Brett's costume is designed by Moore himself.
Good action, good guest stars and a good start. Danny and Brett could be in a mission to seek out those who evaded justice.
He sold it as a prestige vehicle starring Roger Moore and Tony Curtis, even though both actors had not yet signed up.
The Persuaders are two unmotivated playboys who could make a difference but choose to fool around instead.
American Danny Wilde (Tony Curtis) is a brash oil tycoon. Lord Brett Sinclair (Roger Moore) is descended from nobility. Retired Judge Fulton has deliberately sought them out under the threat of three months jail time in the Cote d'Azur for brawling.
Their first mission is simple. Seek out a young woman sunbathing and check if she has a tattoo and her identity.
Maria (Imogen Hassall) is a beautiful young woman. Unknown to Danny and Brett, her brother was an infamous gangster who reputedly died a few years ago.
Judge Fulton is not convinced and plans to use Danny, Brett and Maria to draw out her late brother.
I liked this opening episode. It displayed the contrasting characters of Danny and Brett. There is location shooting in the south of France. Brett's costume is designed by Moore himself.
Good action, good guest stars and a good start. Danny and Brett could be in a mission to seek out those who evaded justice.
When Danny met Brett!
ShadeGrenade29 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
'The Persuaders!' premiered on the I.T.V. network in September 1971. It was eagerly awaited for two reasons; firstly, it saw the return of Roger Moore to television ( 'The Saint' had ended two years earlier ), and, secondly, marked the small screen debut of Hollywood icon Tony Curtis. The show's beginnings can be traced back to a 'Saint' caper entitled 'The Ex-King Of Diamonds' in which Simon Templar joined forces with brash Texan oil millionaire 'Rod Huston', played by Stuart Damon. Robert S.Baker thought there was mileage in the idea, and took it to Lew Grade. The wily boss pre-sold it to a U.S. network with both Moore and Curtis' names attached, even though neither had yet agreed to star in it! Ever the persuader, Sir Lew - as he was called then - eventually got the stars he wanted.
'Overture' was scripted by Brian Clemens and directed by Basil Dearden, who had made Moore's 'The Man Who Haunted Himself' a year before. 'Lord Brett Sinclair' ( Moore ) and 'Danny Wilde' ( Curtis ) are two fabulously rich men who enjoy a playboy lifestyle, often involving trips around the world, fast cars and lots of lovely ladies. When they meet up in the French Riviera, there is bound to be trouble, and is. Firstly, Danny tells Brett to get off the road, chases him all the way to the hotel ( accompanied by a catchy Tony Hatch & Jackie Trent song called 'Gotta Getaway' ), and a row over olives culminates in a Wild West-style punch-up. They are arrested and taken to the villa of retired 'Judge Fulton' ( Laurence Naismith ), who wants them to work together to bring to justice criminals who have eluded the long arm of the law. Their first task is to ascertain whether a beautiful young woman named 'Maria Lorenzo' ( the late Imogen Hassall ) has a heart-shaped birthmark just below the bikini line. This they do, and also establish that her real name is 'Michelle Dupont', and that she is the sister of 'Robert Dupont', a criminal boss wanted by the police who is in hiding and has recently undergone plastic surgery...
British viewers lapped up the show. It shot straight to the top of the ratings, and stayed there. Its winning combination of glossy overseas location filming, good-natured Hope & Crosby style cross-talk from the leads, and guest-stars such as Joan Collins, Ian Hendry, Terry-Thomas, and Susan George, made it a firm favourite. It also had a cracking signature tune from the always reliable John Barry. The comic 'Countdown' ran a colour strip based on the show, with some very fine artwork by Harry Lindfield amongst others, which lasted until the publication's demise in 1973.
Nina Baden-Semper has an uncredited role as an 'Air Hostess', while an equally uncredited Gordon Rollings looks suitably bemused as a bar-man.
'Overture' is a fun episode, a good introduction to what proved to be I.T.C.'s best action show of the decade. It was chosen for Channel 4's 'T.V. Heaven' in 1991, paired with 'The Odd Job', an episode of the comedy series 'Six Dates With Barker', and 'On Trial', the first-ever 'Upstairs, Downstairs'.
'Overture' was scripted by Brian Clemens and directed by Basil Dearden, who had made Moore's 'The Man Who Haunted Himself' a year before. 'Lord Brett Sinclair' ( Moore ) and 'Danny Wilde' ( Curtis ) are two fabulously rich men who enjoy a playboy lifestyle, often involving trips around the world, fast cars and lots of lovely ladies. When they meet up in the French Riviera, there is bound to be trouble, and is. Firstly, Danny tells Brett to get off the road, chases him all the way to the hotel ( accompanied by a catchy Tony Hatch & Jackie Trent song called 'Gotta Getaway' ), and a row over olives culminates in a Wild West-style punch-up. They are arrested and taken to the villa of retired 'Judge Fulton' ( Laurence Naismith ), who wants them to work together to bring to justice criminals who have eluded the long arm of the law. Their first task is to ascertain whether a beautiful young woman named 'Maria Lorenzo' ( the late Imogen Hassall ) has a heart-shaped birthmark just below the bikini line. This they do, and also establish that her real name is 'Michelle Dupont', and that she is the sister of 'Robert Dupont', a criminal boss wanted by the police who is in hiding and has recently undergone plastic surgery...
British viewers lapped up the show. It shot straight to the top of the ratings, and stayed there. Its winning combination of glossy overseas location filming, good-natured Hope & Crosby style cross-talk from the leads, and guest-stars such as Joan Collins, Ian Hendry, Terry-Thomas, and Susan George, made it a firm favourite. It also had a cracking signature tune from the always reliable John Barry. The comic 'Countdown' ran a colour strip based on the show, with some very fine artwork by Harry Lindfield amongst others, which lasted until the publication's demise in 1973.
Nina Baden-Semper has an uncredited role as an 'Air Hostess', while an equally uncredited Gordon Rollings looks suitably bemused as a bar-man.
'Overture' is a fun episode, a good introduction to what proved to be I.T.C.'s best action show of the decade. It was chosen for Channel 4's 'T.V. Heaven' in 1991, paired with 'The Odd Job', an episode of the comedy series 'Six Dates With Barker', and 'On Trial', the first-ever 'Upstairs, Downstairs'.
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