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The Waltons' nearly 10-year run on network television grew out of the popular, 1971 made-for-TV movie The Homecoming, which was derived from a Depression-era, rustic setting ("Walton's Mountain"), and characters based on Earl Hamner Jr.'s autobiographical novel Spencer's Mountain--itself the source for a very nice 1963 feature film starring Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara.That's a lot of entertainment sprouting from Hamner's prose. But something about his seminal story of family values, rugged independence, and big dreams amidst a hardscrabble existence captured the hearts of American audiences, many of whom personally recalled severe economic adversity in the 1930s.

The Waltons: The Complete First Season collects those initial episodes from the series building on the strengths of the Homecoming pilot, which introduced the extended Walton clan led by a strong-willed mill owner, John (Andrew Duggan), and his equally resolute wife, Olivia (Patricia Neal). The Waltons recast those key roles (as well as a few others) with Ralph Waite and Michael Learned (yup, a female), but Richard Thomas carried over as oldest child John-Boy Walton, an aspiring writer whose cusp-of-manhood view informs the series. Will Geer (Seconds) replaced Edgar Bergen as Grandpa Walton, Ellen Corby remained as Grandma, and John and Olivia's large brood (seven kids in all) were filled out by largely unknown, young actors. The episodes, still delightful and touching, strong on production values and unusually tight and polished for primetime drama, tended to focus on creator Hamner's pet themes of self-sacrifice and heroic effort when the going got tough.

Year 1 highlights include "The Carnival," in which the impoverished Waltons, who can't pay for tickets to see a circus performance, end up sheltering stranded carney folk. "The Typewriter" is a classic about John-Boy "borrowing" a museum's antique typewriter, only to have his sister Mary Ellen (Judy Norton) sell it as junk. "The Sinner" concerns the arrival of a fundamentalist minister on Walton's Mountain, finding comfort in the words of religious iconoclast John Walton after the clergyman makes a fool of himself with moonshine. That's Hamner himself providing touches of narration. During the long run of the multiple-award-winning The Waltons, there were many changes in casting and storylines. But this boxed set reveals a fine series in its pristine state.

Year 2 still finds the original cast complete and the show humming along nicely on nostalgia for an earlier America, specifically the Depression-era 1930s, a time of sacrifice and family unity as The Waltons portrays it. The characters we came to know so well in season 1 continue to live in a spirit of cooperation and generosity, and with hope that a younger generation of Waltons will prosper and dream new dreams for everyone. The 24 episodes included in this boxed set feature a number of very strong stories, including a handful of classics, all immersed in the series' typically old-Hollywood production values. (Several season 2 shows were directed by Waltons star Ralph Waite.) Among the best is the premiere, "The Journey," in which the ever-noble, college-bound John-Boy (Richard Thomas) passes on a school dance and an important date to take an aging neighbor, Maggie Mackenzie (Linda Watkins), on a special, final journey. "The Separation" finds Grandpa (Will Geer) and Grandma (Ellen Corby) Walton feuding--even living apart--after the former crafts a secret plan to raise money to pay the family's electricity bill. (Their reconciliation is one of the series' most enjoyable and tender moments.) The memorable "The Thanksgiving Story" is a nail-biter in which John-Boy, facing a hopeful future as he awaits college and a visit from his girlfriend, endures a head injury in the family mill and must undergo surgery. Finally, "The Honeymoon" sees John (Waite) and Olivia (Michael Learned) finally taking their honeymoon after 19 years of marriage and seven kids. Throughout all the major storylines is a constant buzz of subplots concerning John-Boy's younger siblings--their joys and disappointments, first loves, accomplishments and relationships with one another. The Waltons never slows down, but it is capable of revealing the most delicate of feelings within shared or private moments. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good Set. Fun for the whole Family.
There are eight episodes on this DVD, of seeming various length. They're certainly entertaining, in black & white, which is part of the charm. McGoohan himself is very appealing and fun to watch. The sets are a bit cheesy, and recycled. The hotel in one episode, is, with minor alterations, the hospital in the next and the German apartment complex in the next. The plots don't really make much sense if you think about them for more than five seconds. The third world episodes all seem to be set in Banana Republic #43. But the visuals are fun, from footage, some stock, some not, of London and Paris, and make-up and fashion styles of the sixties, complete with the occasional semi-fashionable thug. And of course, there's the obligatory set of fisticuffs almost every episode. But the atmosphere is nicely paranoid, and, somehow, John Drake, the hero, emerges as slightly less adolescent than his main screen rival. There are some "upsetting" or "ambiguous" endings, though Drake seems more invigorated than drained by the paranoia. And there's funny dialogue like when an adorable Latin American Minister of Culture, a babe in uniform, says "I have read all of your great writers, your Shakespeare, your Dickens, your Upton Sinclair." I wouldn't exactly call this show intelligent, but it is very entertaining, and, by today's standards, remarkably wholesome. And, yes, the episode 'Colony Three' is certainly a precursor to the Prisoner. But Danger Man stands on its own merits.

Danger Man Set 2: The plots need some work...
Patrick McGoohan is back as British secret agent John Drake in further episodes of Danger Man. Here are summaries and/or comments for the episodes in this set. Episode ratings are on a scale from one to five (best).

Volume 3: (Disc 1)

The Professionals (3): An agent in Prague has suddenly vanished. John Drake arrives in Prague, posing as a member of the embassy staff, his mission is to locate the missing man. Very quickly he is taken in, and compromised by a crafty operative, and his lovely accomplice. Drawn into their trap, Drake learns the fate of the missing man, and then takes steps to save him before it is too late.

A Date With Doris (2): Drake is in an unspecified Latin American location to extract an agent in jeopardy, and then rendezvous with the submarine "Doris". His cover is as a reporter sent to interview a prominent General. Things just do not go smoothly for Drake, and he always seems off balance. He barely concludes this messy affair, and is only successful because of luck, and some very fortuitous assistance. He is also guilty of a major error, when he foolishly allows himself to be followed to his "safe house". Count yourself lucky this time, John.

The Mirror's New (3): This one keeps you guessing. Edmund Bearce, a member of the British Embassy staff, chooses murder as a way to cancel a personal debt. Preparing to dispose of the body, he has an accident, and is knocked unconscious. Upon waking, he has a dead body on his hands, and a lost day to account for. Bearce reappears, but can't explain what happened. A suspicious Drake investigates and uncovers a secret life, and much more.

Colony Three (5): Easily the most thought provoking episode on the disc. The plot is similar to an episode of "The Prisoner" or "The Avengers", skirting the edges of credibility. Drake takes the place of a communist sympathizer, just prior to his defection to the Soviets. After arriving in Soviet territory, Drake and two other defectors take a long train ride to a secret location. They arrive at a place named "Hamden", also known as the "village" (sound familiar?). The phony English town is actually a training ground where Soviet agents learn to assimilate into British culture. Drake penetrates security, gathers as much information as he can, and then it is time to leave. This one has a bit of everything, torture, gadgets, death and a tragic end.

Volume 4: (Disc 2)

It's Up To the Lady (2): Sometimes Drake is just not on his game, and this is one of those times. A British diplomat intending to defect vanishes. A rendezvous with his wife (Sylvia Syms), will take place in Greece, near the Albanian border. Drake is on the scene, to try and get the wayward diplomat to return to Britain. Underestimating the local opposition, he is nearly drowned, loses his charges, and carelessly gets himself shot. Topping it all off, he learns once again what it is like to be a pawn in the game.

What Ever Happened to George Foster? (3): Bernard Lee ("M" from the Bond films) guest stars, as Lord Ammandford, a wealthy industrialist who seeks to destabilize the government of a fictitious South American country. In addition, the Lord is a man interested in keeping a mysterious past a secret from a probing John Drake. This is more of a straight detective story.

The Galloping Major (2): Sent to Africa, at the request of the President (Henry Marshall) of an unnamed country, Drake finds himself the pawn in a political power struggle. Makes interesting viewing in light of historical events, but not a great story.

The Colonel's Daughter (4): In India, classified information is being leaked to the enemy. Drake is looking into the activities of a butterfly collecting Colonel, and his daughter, living in a house in the country. Soon, Drake is up a tree, in the middle of the jungle, maintaining surveillance. Later, he uncharacteristically emerges victorious in a three on one brawl, on his way to uncovering those involved in the secret pipeline. Drake finds that the Colonel's daughter is definitely Daddy's girl.

Writing is critical to a good story, and some of the plots of these international exploits just do not quite pass muster. Drake is simply not at his best, making some near fatal mistakes. Perhaps being an operative largely on his own in a foreign land, puts Drake at too much of a disadvantage. He doesn't quite have the fire we have seen before. A few good episodes, but not enough for a ringing endorsement of this set. Give A&E positive marks for addressing a previous complaint, by upgrading to four episodes per disc. Fans of Danger Man, may find my other reviews of interest.

Depressing reminder of when television was intelligent
Watching these 35-year-old shows is a disturbing revelation at how television today has gotten even MORE dumbed-down than when it was referred to as the "vast wasteland". ALL of these shows have interesting characters, exotic locales (from Africa to Greece, South America to behind the Iron Curtain), and PLOT. Compared to "Man From U.N.C.L.E", this is Nobel Prize material! Each 50-minute show has more PLOT than most 2-hour movies foisted on us these days.

As noted above, probably of greatest interest to McGoohan fans will be the episode "The Colony", as the origins of "The Village" are plain for all to see. However, my favorite has to be "What Happened to George Foster", where McGoohan's Drake takes on a millionaire Lord (played by Bernard Lee, no less!) and risks his career, not to mention his life, in a private vendetta that foreshadows #6's battles with the assorted #2's of "The Prisoner".

This is certainly not light-hearted "Avengers"-style material. McGoohan gets roughed up in just about every episode, and there aren't any charming eccentrics or snappy gadgets. But it is nearly incredible that such high quality LeCarre-like material was shown on a weekly basis. Truely, it was a Golden Age.

Excellent spy show!
I have to agree with the last reveiw not as good as the Prisoner, but this is the best spy show I think I've seen. Each episode keeps you guessing on what will happen next. There is enough action in each episode to keep one satisfied. Each story is believable unlike many spy shows. John Drake does not carry a gun and flirt with women. The best episodes in set two are The Mirror's New, Colony Three, and It's up to the Lady.

Gritty British Spy Drama
Not as cerebral as "The Prisoner", nor nearly as simplistic as James Bond, Man from U.N.C.L.E., or any of the dozens of spy shows that were popular in the late sixties, "Danger Man" (Secret Agent in the U.S.) is a fine example of how British drama is often more subtle and ambiguous than anything you're likely to see on American TV.

Modern viewers may scratch their heads, wondering why this show was so wildly popular. At its worst, the pacing is glacial, the narrative larded with long chunks of exposition. At its best, this is chilling, thought provoking drama with plenty of gray areas, reminiscent of the Le Carre adaptions (Tinker, Tailor, etc.) that were produced in the 70s and 80s. These shows are surprisingly cerebral for a TV series; while some episodes are too deliberately paced to work as thrillers, McGoohan is always worth watching, the black and white DVD transfers are gorgeous, and the endings are often startling.

If you're not a McGoohan fan, you'll probably find "The Prisoner" more accessible. If you've already discovered "The Prisoner", and enjoy John Le Carre-style gritty, realistic espionage stories, give this box a try. (The episodes in Volume 2 are generally more absorbing and darker than those included in the first DVD set.) ... Read more

Description

Buzz Rickson, (Steve McQueen) is a dare-devil World War II bomber pilot with a death wish. Failing at everything not involving flying, Rickson lives for the most dangerous missions. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

My favorite B-17 movie
This has always been my favorite B-17 movie because of one scene, when McQueen buzzes the CO's office with his bomber because he's angry about being sent out on a leaflet drop mission. The rest of the movie is also great but the B-17 scenes are awesome, rivalling that other B-17 classic "12 O'Clock High". If you liked that one, you'll like this one.

There is romance in "The War Lover" but it isn't over done, the movie is still great despite it.

War Lover
Simply stated, this is more than just another McQueen movie. The War Lover offer dynamics that are frequently missing in so-called war/action movies. This movie is ideal for men who love action and the believable drama of the airwar over Europe - in this case the role of the pilot of your father's B17 Flying Fortress. Hollywood would be wise to create a rerun of this great flick.

Highly recommended.

Early Michael Crawford
Every Mc fan should have this one. You could see, even then, that he's a natural.

McQueen makes the "The War Lover" an excellent film.
Steve McQueen's ability to heighten a character's reality makes "The War Lover" and enjoyable film. The war scenes with the B17's adds to the excitement and value of this movie. By the way this movie is available at America's largest retailer for [price] plus shipping.

McQUEEN RISES ABOVE MATERIAL
"The War Lover" is another war film with a love triangle at its center. This time Steve McQueen, Robert Wagner and Shirley Ann Field are the lovers caught in the web. However, McQueen's unique style and the excellent aerial photography of the B 17s on their bombing runs are this film's greatest assets and make it a must for lovers of this genre. This is a British film and it looks and feels like it, which only adds to the authenticity. Highly underrated and forgotten these days. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Best of Cult TV
A child during the era of british cult tv, I was a serious addict. As an adult, most of those shows now seem simply corny. Danger Man/Secret Agent is an exception...it's as good as I remember with nicely choreographed action and fight scenes, lots of attention to detail, intelligent acting, editing and directing, artful background music, and of course McGoohan's unique charisma and wit. No one else ever brought a secret agent character to life as well as McGoohan does in this series. I'm keeping fingers crossed that A&E and Carlton will release the remaining episodes!

The best Series of the Sixties!!
While most DVD televiewers were first exposed to Patrick McGoohan's magnetic personality with the excellent TV series "The Prisoner", most fail to realize that before it, McGoohan played in this enjoyably realistic espionage series in which McGoohan excels as the dry, cynical agent John drake. The true Bond precursor, the series brought you in a totally different "spying" environment each week, with various fascinating situations in thoroughly more credible fashion than the unavoidable Ian Flemming's cinematographic derivatives. I found that "Secret Agent/Danger Man" has stood the test of time extremely well among cult TV series. Intelligent scripts and superbly cool British actors. There are many more episodes in this long-lived series, all of which I am eagerly waiting to acquire as soon as they come out! - I secretly relish the vision of this whole series on DVD on my shelf! - An absolute must for all Sixties'TV fans!

A must for Prisoner fans
Several folks below have complained about the uneven quality of the episodes--and they're right. McGoohan himself has admitted that some are better than others. But when it's good, boy does it put other shows of the same ilk to shame. And even when it's not terribly good, it's always stylish, with a charmingly retro, nostalgic feel.

And if you really, truly want to know why Number Six resigned, watch "Yesterday's Enemies," contained in Set 1.

A wish fulfilled
... I'm the proud owner of set1 of this video which keeps
me glued to the telly whenever the video is played.The theme
music is thrilling and sets the pace for a fast paced episode.
Patrick Mcgoohan aptly fits into the title role.I could only wish
that the full 48 episodes are published and the danger man fans
have a larger collection to play over and over rather than risking damage to their cherished single set.

As good as I remember
When I first heard the theme it immediately brought back memories of watching this the first time as a relatively young child. I refer to the original theme of Danger Man - I saw these in the UK - not the truly terrible "Secret Agent Man" song that is given as a "bonus".

I was concerned that they would not stand the test of time but was pleasantly surpised. A little dated in places, they still show what good plots and great acting can produce with an obviously limited budget. They do require a certain amount of attention and mental effort by the viewer but I think that's a plus not a negative. The fact that my college age kids watch them and think they are pretty good is a tribute to their quality.

These truly represent a time when British commercial televsion was producing top quality programs. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

"Six feet two and a half inches at your service, Madam..."
Patrick McGoohan is back as John Drake, the stylish no-nonsense good guy. Sets 4 and 5 of this clever spy show contain some of the best Danger Man episodes of all. Drake himself is a shade more cynical than in the earlier sets, and he is more reluctant than ever to blindly obey his upper-class superiors. Sometimes he seems tired of his job which forces him to live without wife and family and one can feel he is on the brink of resigning. As he is shown to be a chivalrous man, he is genuinely upset when his missions force him to inflict emotional distress on a lady.

The quotation above is from the delightful comedy "Have A Glass Of Wine" from set 3, but there are few as lighthearted episodes in sets 4 and 5. Most of the stories here are serious dramas, with lots of memorable scenes and sometimes tragic endings.

In "To Our Best Friend" Drake has to investigate one of his oldest friends who is suspected of being a double agent. Drake has to find the real traitor and at the same time save his friend from being executed by his own department.
In "The Man On The Beach" Drake's own loyalty is being questioned. The arrogance and cynicism he displays in this episode do not help him in that difficult situation. The episode has two spectacular and brutal fight sequences and memorable scenes with Patrick McGoohan and three leading ladies. Watch out for Drake's powerful scenes with Lady Kilrush and the dramatic ending.
The atmosphere of "The Man Who Wouldn't Talk" is particularly oppressive. Much of the story is set in a hotel room in Sofia - with the Bulgarian secret police closing in on Drake and a colleague of his who has to be rescued from imprisonment and torture.
In "Sting In The Tail" Derren Nesbitt almost steals the acting honours as psychopathic assassin Nourredine. In a chilling, film-noir like scene, two of Nourredine's thugs prepare to beat Drake up with the murderer cynically commenting on the procedure and a record playing Chopin's Nocturnes in the background.
"Someone Is Liable To Get Hurt" shows Drake in a very "Number-Sixish" mood. Part of the episode is set in a spacious villa where Drake is being held captive by a beautiful femme fatale. The situation makes him furious and we can watch him pacing up and down like a caged panther, constantly snapping his fingers and barely able to contain his rage. Patrick McGoohan is always great in scenes like these.

One of my all-time favourite episodes is "Are You Going To Be More Permanent?" which is a companion piece to "You Are Not In Any Trouble, Aren't You?" In both stories Drake obviously breaks his no-romance rule and both have the lovely Susan Hampshire as leading lady. She and Mr. McGoohan have several terrific scenes together and there are moments of intense sensuality between them. In the final scenes, which include some of the finest acting moments in the whole series, Drake's loneliness and disappointment are almost tangible.

"Danger Man" is a unique show. It has clever plots, beautiful filming, haunting music and a charismatic leading man. What further adds to its attraction is the way it captures the political climate of the Sixties which was so different from ours today. Britain still had parts of her empire, some of the episodes show the problems of newly independent countries and the British people left behind in their former colonies and in the Middle Eastern episodes the spirit of the Great Game of the 19th century can still be felt. This spirit of adventure makes the show still highly enjoyable and interesting to watch.

Danger Man Is a REAL Man
I am struck watching these shows at how different they are from James Bond. I am a Bond fan, but DANGER MAN almost makes Bond movies (especially the recent ones) look silly. In one episode contained in set 5, Drake passes out from blood loss. In another episode he is trying to escape detention and is out on the roof attempting to get a better grip on a rain gutter when it gives way and he falls and breaks his ankle. Drake then spends the balance of the episode forced to use a cane. Can you imagine Bond ever breaking his ankle like that or, for that matter, even breaking a sweat? McGoohan turned down offers to play Bond (twice) and let's all be thankful he did. Danger Man, John Drake, is a real man. And what a great series this is. Let's just hope A&E releases the rest of the episodes (about 8 or 9 more I think). Danger Man Tip: One thing I like to do is have a good supply of beverages on hand (I like rum and Coke) when watching DANGER MAN because people offer Drake an average of 5 drinks per episode, and it makes me pretty darn thirsty! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Much like the U.S. series The Man From U.N.C.L.E., this cool, clever cold war spy show is built on elaborate espionage shell games and diplomatic chicanery, and Patrick McGoohan's John Drake is the ingenious con man behind the bluffs and feints. The eight episodes on set 3 feature the usual array of plots pulled off with tongue-in-cheek charm--the nationalistic fervor of "Have a Glass of Wine" turns espionage into a veritable sporting event between spies, and in "You're Not in Any Trouble, Are You?" Drake gets to the bottom of a murder for hire ring by taking out a hit on himself. But the humor is interspersed with more ambivalent episodes. "That's Two of Us Sorry" offers up a casualty of the cold war mentality, and the assassins school of "Such Men Are Dangerous" rings with an undercurrent of fascism. For sheer invention, "The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove" delivers a mind game worthy of The Prisoner's Number 2. The set also features "A Man to Be Trusted," "The Affair at Castelevara," and "Don't Nail Him Yet."

The episodes feature the complete British cuts, with the Danger Man title and bouncy spinet theme song, but if you miss the Johnny Rivers theme song from the American version of the show, just click to the supplements and you can enjoy the U.S. credits as well as a still gallery and a biography and filmography of star Patrick McGoohan. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Top Notch
Much has already been said. This is one of the best TV series of all time!

Secret Agent/Danger Man and Combat were the two best series from the 60s.

At last!
I remember watching two or three half-hour episodes of "Danger Man"as a very small child. I am cursed with a photographic memory, so Patrick McGoohan's face and style were imprinted on my mind.The first season of "Danger Man" was a huge success in the German speaking countries and I have always found it strange that the hour-long episodes were never shown here.I got the ITC tapes 10 years ago but I had given up hope to see more of this elegant series. So imagine my joy when I learned about the A&E releases.

The quality of the show is amazing. It is a feast for the eyes with its beautiful black and white filming and the fashion of the Kennedy era. Furthermore I have always loved John Le Carre's books and many of the plots here come as close in complexity as scripts in a TV series can get.Even a comedy like "Have a glass of wine" is basically a clever espionage story.

But of course the most important asset is Mr. McGoohan's portrayal of John Drake as a moral man trying to stick to his values despite doing an often immoral job. It is surprising how much of the drama originates in this conflict between duty and personal honour.I certainly had not expected this depth of characterisation in a cold war spy series.

There are many splendid episodes in these three sets.My favourite in set one is "No marks for servility"-no other actor can convey smouldering aggressiveness like Patrick McGoohan."Whatever happened to George Foster" in set two is surprisingly modern in this era of globalisation and "Colony Three" is a nightmare with many memorable images.It is almost too sinister for my taste.Set three, the best so far, has "A man to be trusted" with lots of clever dialogue and a very sudden violent ending set in a dark rainforest with the hero in severe distress; the delightful "Have a glass of wine", poking fun at the French and featuring among other things a bicycle chase; and "You're not in any trouble" with its hint of romance.

In my opinion this series is highly recommendable and I do hope that A&E release the rest of it .For me this is not a nostalgic memory but exciting and new.

Danger Man Set 3: A mixed bag...
Patrick McGoohan is back as British secret agent John Drake in the third boxed set of episodes of Danger Man. Adventures in espionage without the pyrotechnics. Here are summaries and/or comments for the episodes in this set. Episode ratings are on a scale from one to five (best).

Volume 5: (Disc 1)

That's Two Of Us Sorry (5): A well-written episode, featuring a "red herring" and a sad ironic finish. At the Loch Broom power plant in Scotland, some top secret papers are missing. Fingerprints on a briefcase point to a "Jock Lawson" as the culprit. Strangely, Lawson, a suspected traitor, disappeared 20 years previously and is presumed dead. Drake's investigations take him to the island of "Herta", in search of the mysterious owner of the prints. The presence of Russian sailors raises Drake's suspicions, but the tightly knit island community does not yield its secrets easily. The persistent Drake, while still a bit off track, does eventually find a secret or two, raising local tempers and yielding some bittersweet results. Francesca Annis, guest stars as a fetching Scottish lassie, her second appearance in the series.

Such Men Are Dangerous (2): Drake takes the place of a convict who has been recruited along with several other criminals into a shadowy group called "The Order". A country estate serves as a training ground for murder and mayhem. The story starts out with some promise, but crashes pretty badly at the end. A "lowlight" is the comical car chase across some muddy terrain, sped up to appear more "exciting".

A Man To Be Trusted (3): This complicated tale finds John Drake in the Caribbean, looking into the deaths of two British agents, both killed after being brutally tortured. He has the assistance of a local law officer, but he is still not sure whom he can trust. Greed, lust and voodoo all play a part in this tale that gets a bit too close to Drake's heart.

The Affair at Castelevara (3): A roll of movie film that records an atrocity that took place at Castelevara, holds the key to freeing a man condemned to death. A local subversive group works with both Drake and the Americans, to try and free the prisoner, who could be more valuable dead than alive.

Volume 6: (Disc 2)

Don't Nail Him Yet (2): Denis Rawson is a bureaucrat living above his means, and is suspected of passing classified information. After a "chance" meeting with Drake brings the two together, the poor young man can't seem to get him out of his life. The game is to uncover the spy ring without letting critical information slip through. A bit slow and tedious, but finishes with an uncharacteristic bang.

The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove (2): Taking a break from the usual tense drama, this tale rooted in an alternate reality, plays with the audience. After a traffic accident, Drake finds himself in an unfamiliar world, not sure what is real, struggling to put the pieces together. There are clues, so if you can see the ending coming from a long way off, you won't be surprised at all. Nice to see the late Desmond Llewelyn, "Q" from the Bond films here.

Have a Glass of Wine (4): Another story involving following a courier to the source. This time it is to the wine country of France, and the results are not pleasant. First Drake is out pedaled on a bicycle, then outsmarted, and left to face a murder charge. Drake must escape from the law, identify the real killer, and then uncover the secret spy network. This is no easy task. With his back against the wall, John gets pretty violent here, taking on the police as well as dealing with the opposition.

You're Not In Any Trouble, Are You? (3): When an agent mysteriously drops out from his hotel window, John Drake is sent to Rome to investigate. He finds a troubled young woman, and clues that lead him to a "killing syndicate", a group that kills for money. Drake puts a contract out on himself, and then waits for the killer to arrive. This episode approaches the edge, and the finale pushes it over.

Danger Man Set 3 is a mixed bag. A couple of outstanding episodes, but also a few clunkers. Drake is on familiar ground, but the writing is not consistently top notch. Once again, not enough positives to justify a ringing endorsement of this set. Give A&E credit for addressing a previous complaint, by upgrading to four episodes per disc. Fans of Danger Man, may find my other reviews of interest.

Heroic, realistic
Wonderful plots. John Drake is a genuine hero in a not-always-clear and not-always-fair world. He does his best to be true to his values. I especially like "A Man to Be Trusted" -- the plot about a third-world election is very ingenious and would apply today.

Fun to watch on DVD where you can back up and slow-mo the stunts. Look at the scene where Drake turns over the dinner table in "Have a Glass of Wine" -- the actor playing the villain subtlely helps McGoohan flip the table!

Many of the actors became stars and are familiar to us in British drama and comedy. But wonderful acting in even the smallest roles. I especially remember Drake's expatriot widowed landlady in "A Man to Be Trusted"

Heroic and realistic, too

Superb Spy Show
A wonderful show for anyone interested in vintage spy series. The B&W filming lends an interesting quality to the episodes and seems to give the viewer a better feel for the Cold War. Some plots are straight forward, but others are as convoluted as an episode of Mission: Impossible, which came some years later.

I haven't seen these episodes in years and was delighted to find them on DVD. In this set, each DVD contains 4 episodes. They're well worth the price. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Danger Man Set 4: Gadgets and Gizmos
Patrick McGoohan returns as British secret agent John Drake in the fourth boxed set of one hour long episodes of Danger Man. Presented in black and white, are adventures in espionage around the world. Here are summaries and/or comments for the episodes in this set. Episode ratings are on a scale from one to five (best).

Volume 7: (Disc 1)

Sting in the Tail (3): This episode features Derren Nesbitt, as "Rachid Noureddine", a hit man headquartered in Beirut. Drake's plan is to lure him to where he can be captured, by using his girlfriend, a nightclub singer. Drake's cover is as an artist, interested in painting the woman's picture. Nesbitt is an actor who usually has a riveting screen presence, and this is the case here. There are sparks, when he and Drake, clash swords over the woman. The plot is simple and direct, though accepting McGoohan as a romantic figure is always a challenge. This episode's title is drawn from a gadget weapon similar to those provided by Q Branch in the Bond films.

The Black Book (4): Sir Noel Blanchard has been indiscreet, and is feeling a blackmailer's bite. John Drake is enlisted to look into the situation, and is sent to Paris to investigate. Tracking the payoff money, Drake encounters a mysterious young woman, and a connection to a Russian spy network. An above average episode, that has a gritty edge. More gadgetry, this time it is a typewriter that tracks and transmits radio signals.

English Lady Takes Lodgers (4): After George Stanway, a well known local smuggler disappears, Drake is sent to Lisbon to investigate. Stanway's wife Emma, takes in boarders, and is on unusually good terms with her lodgers. Drake too becomes a guest, and is soon swept up into the mysterious affairs of the villa's occupants.

Loyalty Always Pays (4): There's trouble in an unnamed African country, where the Minister of Defense has signed a secret treaty with China. Drake is sent in to get proof the treaty's existence. Making use of the local intelligence network to get the information he needs, Drake runs a con game, forcing a security official to help him to get access to the Ministry. This is a well-written episode full of intrigue, and featuring more gadgets.

Volume 8: (Disc 2)

Are You Going To Be More Permanent? (3): The last two comptrollers in Geneva have disappeared. The three local agents are under suspicion. Prepared for a trap, Drake is sent in to ferret out a double agent. A solid, no-frills tale of espionage.

Parallel Lines Sometimes Meet (4): A couple employed at an English atomic research lab, mysteriously disappears. Seeking to discover their fate, John Drake turns up in Haiti, of all places. There he encounters a mysterious English couple, a Russian agent, an overly intrusive police official, and the owner of a mining operation with much to conceal. Forming an alliance with the Russian; Drake explores the secrets of the mine, leading to an explosive finish.

A Very Dangerous Game (4): Drake assumes the identity of a teacher on his way to take a position in Singapore. Upon arrival, Drake is contacted by Chinese spies, and instructed to help trap a British agent. Soon Drake has located the ring's base of operations, and is playing a dangerous game of deception, where the price of failure is death. A fast paced adventure with an interesting but somewhat curious resolution.

The Mercenaries (3): Once again in an unnamed African nation, John Drake's initial undercover role is as a mercenary. Uncovering a connection between the leader of the mercenaries and an unscrupulous surgeon, Drake then must prevent the death of the country's Prime Minister, and avert a forced takeover. This episode is not with some humor, featuring a native witch doctor, and a most impressive pole vault.

In Danger Man Set 4, gadgets and gizmos seem to be more prominent than in previous episodes, particularly in Volume 7. The inclusion of such devices does not detract too much, as they remain tools used within context of the stories. In summary, another solid collection that should satisfy fans of the series, and cold war espionage.

The editors at A&E might pay a bit more attention to detail, and get the location correct in the episode synopsis. Spain is substituted for Portugal, Vienna for Geneva, and Hong Kong for Singapore. Fans of Danger Man, may find my other reviews of the series of interest. Be seeing you.

More realistic than James Bond
The people involved in producing and writing this program were previously involved in early post war journalism specializing in espionage. This is what makes the program so realistic. Some liberties are taken from reality by the use of gadgets. Watching this series will give members of the X generation a feel for what the world was like a few decades before they were born. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

2005 DVD REQUEST
I was born in 1970 and watched 'Eight Is Enough' on TV and in syndication (PAX TV) for most of my life. When I grew up I always wanted to live in a neighborhood like the Bradfords and have friends like Tommy with three or more hot, available, sisters...unfortunately, when I did grow up it was during the 80's and I lived in Texas. Needless to say, life was nothing like the television show and still to this day, I have yet to find a community or a group of people that are as cool as the ones portrayed in this show. The last of the 'Star Wars' saga is coming out this month in the theaters and back then the original 'Star Wars' movie had just come out and 'Eight Is Enough', a show which epitomizes the values of an era that has long come and gone has not been given a DVD release like 'The Brady Bunch' or 'The Partridge Family'. I liked 'The Brady Bunch' and 'TPF' but it always seemed fake to me like 'The Monkees' and I never really got into it like 'EIE'. If whomever is in charge of the rights to this show would put it out on DVD with a really cool 1970's-ish cover (NO DOUBLE SIDED DVD'S!!!) and some cool special features I'd buy it in a heartbeat, and be eternally grateful. It's a shame that in the time that we're living in we don't have more positive family role models on television, and instead have channel after channel of reality shows and military/cop dramas that aren't nearly as cool as 'Chips', 'Magnum P.I.', or 'Simon & Simon', in my opinion. Oh, also, release 'Simon & Simon' on DVD and I'll buy that as well. I love that show!!!

First Season (1977)
I can't believe that with the popularity of -- and push for -- family programming, this marvelous show isn't on the shelves available for purchase.I sure loved it as a young kid, and I would love to have this one in my home for the rest of my family to enjoy.

Even though Betty Buckley wasn't on the show until the second year as Abby, the first short season was a decent offering.Dick Van Patten as Tom Bradford was maybe one of the best TV dads on television ever.

The first year was so brief, so it would be great if whoever owns the rights would release seasons one & two TOGETHER (like the "Dallas" set).Betty Buckly, after all, was one of the best things to ever happen to this series.

01 - Never Try Eating Nectarines Since Juice May Dispense (3-15-77)
Elizabeth is arrested for drug possession, and David (played by Mark 'LUKE SKYWALKER' Hammil in this episode only - Grant Goodeve took over in episode 2) moves out on his own.
**The title of this episode is really just a clever way that Tom and Joan remember the names of all their 8 kids - Nicholas, Tommy, Elizabeth, Nancy, Susan, Joanie, Mary & David (from youngest to oldes)**

02 - Schussboomer (3-22-77)
Mary's single friend (who's also pregnant--GASP!) stays with the Bradford family and clashes with Tom.Apparently Diana Hyland who played Tom's wife Joan, passed away around the time this episode first aired, forcing them to eventually have the mother character die--and allow Betty Buckly to join the cast as the woman Tom would soon marry!

03 - Pieces Of Eight (3-29-77)
Tom and Joan argue when she insists on continuing her photography career while his newspaper is shut down by a strike.

04 - Women, Ducks & The Domino Theory (4-5-77)
Tommy gets stood up by his date, and Tom and David pretend to be interested in their annual hunting trip (Charlene Tilton gust stars).

05 - Turnabout (4-12-77)
David dates an older woman, played by Adrienne Barbeau (she played Bea Arthur's daughter on "Maude" and Oswald's mother on "The Drew Carey Show")

06 - Quarantine (4-19-77)
The entire family gets quarantined at the house, forcing David to run errands for them "on the outside."

07 - 'V' Is For Vivian (4-26-77)
Tom's sister (Janis Paige) comes to visit and annoys Tom by encouraging the kids too much.

08 - Hit And Run (5-3-77)
Tommy accidentally breaks a window at a church, Joanie meets a land developer who is in conflict with Tom, and Elizabeth lands three dates for the same high school prom.

09 - The Gipper Caper (8-10-77)
Tom's friend 'The Gipper' challenges the Bradfords to a game of touch football. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A vintage classic that needs to be on DVD!!
Of all those great prime-time soaps from the 1980s, the one that I watched religiously was "Falcon Crest," a gripping tale of love and ambition, greed and power amidst the vineyards of California's (fictional) Tuscany Valley.Featuring a phenomenal cast including Jane Wyman, Robert Foxworth, David Selby and Susan Sullivan, not to mention smart, complex scripts and possibly TV's greatest theme music (by Bill Conti), "Falcon Crest" is a must and I hope it gets a DVD release soon!!!

I will keep "WHINING" Until falcon crest is released on DVD
Okay, Dallas and Dynasty have now been released on DVD, now it is time to release the BEST of The Prime Time Soaps on DVD, FALCON CREST! Falcon Crest really set themselves apart from the rest of the pack! The Characters were Rich in Style and Complexities and the scenery was Breathtaking! Casting Jane Wyman as Angela Channing was a major coup. Falcon Crest has such a Gothic Feel to it, I dont even think the Words Soap Opera does it justice. More Like a Machivallian Play! Please Release this on DVD!

Like fine wine.....it is time to uncork Falcon Crest!!!!!!
With many of the shows of the eighties finally being released on DVD....it is finally coming time to uncork one of the best prime time soaps....Falcon Crest! Headed by veteran actress Jane Wyman, Falcon Crest separated itself from Dallas and Dynasty by using choice scenery and more complex characters. The locale and intriguing storylines kept fans glued to the set for nine seasons. I can only hope that a future DVD set would include some interviews with the cast and include TV ads and promotion. Let's uncork this vintage drama!!!It is time. ... Read more