The Professionals 40th anniversary retrospective: Series 1
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- Опубліковано 25 вер 2017
- A look back at the first series of the hit 1970's British cop show The Professionals. We look at the context behind the show which lead to it's creation, the 3 lead characters played by Gordon Jackson, Martin Shaw and Lewis Collins, and we examine each episode from the first series in detail as I give my thoughts and opinions. Finally we look at how well the series did as a whole.
I have set up an account on Twitter to celebrate the Professionals, where I will be Live Tweeting episodes on the same days they were first broadcast 40 years ago. Follow it if you're interested, it is: @Pros40th - Фільми й анімація
Loved The Professionals so much. Lewis Collins and Martin Shaw . Brilliant ❤❤
I have the restored box set...it's fabulous looks like it was filmed yesterday. ...the difference between that and itv 4s re runs is astounding. ..yes I'm a huge fan as I saw it as a kid..my mate and I would play these characters in a scrap yard sliding over bonnets with our toy guns...we would argue who's turn it was to be bodie...r.i.p Lewis and Gordon thanks for the memories
Pleeease can you upload it on youtube??? Very very pleeease!!!
Watched them as a kid and still watch them over and over again, Takes you back with all the shops and cars. Lewis Collins would have been by far the best 007 he was made for the part.
He was OK for a TV show but his acting skill was limited. I doubt he would have have been a hit with an international audience. He didn't have the physical movement for a spy role like Bond.
@@CosmicKnight369 He was screentested for the role , but Cubby Broccoli thought he was to violent for the role...erm. That said, i have to disagree, i would much rather Roger Moore had vacated the role after Moonraker...and let Lewis have a shot. Daniel Craig was not known to international viewers and neither was Dalton really. I reckon he could have pulled it off given the chance.
@@CosmicKnight369 I disagree that he was a limited actor. In the mini series Jack the Ripper, he carried it and for mine, out shone Michael Caine. I think he would have made an infinitely better Bond than Dalton.
@TheRedDevil Agree. Thought Lazenby was really decent and I'm sure would have got better. Shame he took some really dumb advice and quit. OHMSS did have flaws, but also some superb action...and outstanding theme. Top three Bond film for me.
I read that Lewis wasn't quite tall enough at 5'11". I think his acting was fine for small or big screen.
just found this series, love it. never saw it in the us before. My favorite is when the assassin is put on the plane home and the "passenger" had a heart attack and the assassin tries to escape the plane in that "certain" Arab country. The look on cowleys face is priceless, what a grin
Both The Sweeney & The Professionals were often filmed in Southall around Scotts Road & Johnson Street & the old gas works where they filmed car chases, I lived in the area at the time.
The professionals way ahead of its time. Classic series
@John Saunders You don't know what you're on about! You didn't see the series first time around, obviously. There were so many complaints about this show back when it was on LWT, because of a backlash against "TV violence" and sexism - How can this be PC? Look at the way they leer at women etc.
Silly.
And the "new" CI5 ? What a waste !!!
I must say Lewis Collins is amazing,God rest his soul 💛
The best 007 we never got...
@@chrispalmer9838: Lewis Collins' 5'11" was considered not tall enough! Heightism. I'm 5'10", like Martin Shaw, so it's not on.🤣
Classic series, my favourite of all time with excellent actors and storylines, but also the dialogue with the brillant humourous pieces thrown in esp by Lewis, that remain funny with me. So glad I was able to have some correspondence with Lewis in 2011, and tell him how much I loved his acting in The Professionals. I was very sad and shocked when he passed away at the relatively young age of 67. God rest his soul. " you couldnt stop a fat lady in a thin alley " ( bodie to Doyle, epi Not a very civil civil servant, ser 2)
The Professionals is called Tokuso-han CI5 (特捜班CI5 meaning Special Investigating Squad CI5) in Japan and very popular. I fell in love with the show and especially the wonderful actor, Mr. Gordon Jackson. I remember that I got his address from an actors who's who book (?) at the library of British Council branch in Kyoto, and wrote my first and last fan letter to send to him. And he wrote back so kindly to me! I still treasure every moment of seeing him in both big and small screens.
Thats a wonderful story about the letter to Gordon.. Interesting to know of it's popular reception in Nihon
That’s so cool and good to know it was broadcast in Japan where I now live and still do as of now, the 28th of March 2024. I have been watching all The Professionals episodes here in Japan on UA-cam but I think I will buy the whole series on Blu-Ray.
I grew up with them on italian TV during the 80's. I decided to buy DVD complete serie to practice my english. It was simply a great idea because in original language it's all another thing. Obviously my accent is not like a cockney or a geordie but at least I am not too bad. I miss that period and nowadays it's simply sad to realize how changed UK and entire Europe.
The dubbed voices are Robert Rietti, well known as an actor in his own right as well as dubbing others in Bond films etc.
I had gotten into the Series through my Dad after I found Who Dares Wins In a Charity shop, I really liked Lewis in that and my Dad was like; "You haven't seen nothing yet".
Well, Its one of my favorite shows now.
Your Dad is a great man of impeccable taste.
I gave Who Dares Wins another chance last month - it's on UA-cam - but it can't hold a candle to The Professionals.
Lewis Collins joined the TA volunteer section of SAS in order to prepare for that part... although it glamourises the action to an extent, I believe they tried to make things as accurate as they could. And in reality they are not all 6'5" and built like a brick tower... a significant element of the work is to be a ghost, so looking 'normal' is a benefit for blending in.
I was fascinated by the series "the professionals" in the 80s, I had to go to sleep to see the follow-up on Wednesday in German television at 9:15 pm as a 12-year-old in the early eighties! Today, I am also fascinated by the knowledge that the creators of The Avengessers - also a great English TV production - also produced the professinals!
Yep..shown on ZDF. Next morning's topic in school.
@@twinsonic ... exactly once the same next morning in our school-class ... :) grets from germany
... exactly same as me ... :) grets from germany
Mark one productions. Was the ‘ klansman ‘ episode shown??
Dude! Here in Argentina was showed Saturday about 1 or 2 AM, !!! Remember the frustation after the waiting they show the same episode the last Sat!!! Son of&%$!%&%!!!
Great documentary. Lots of memories growing up watching this, was a favourite tv show in our family. Enjoyed hearing the history behind the series.
This was a real nostalgia trip! Although I've been watching the reruns on ITV4, it's always good to have a bit of background information on the programmes. Thank you very much. I'm looking forward to watching the second part!
Tommy played by John Castle. Made more than one appearance in the show. He appeared in a later episode called Man Without A Past.
TalsVids yeah good character Tommy MACKAY and to close to reality (in many ways !!) that he is KIA on OPS !!
TalsVids forgot to mention that JC also starred in NEW AVENGERS episode as LT.COL. "MAD JACK " MILLER oc 19 th SP. CDO ( UK SOF involved in MERC OPS in Foreign countries unofficially!! LOL ) particularly good INTRO combat scenes (when reporter is filming the troops etc ) episode also had young ALUN ARMSTRONG !! a plot ahead of its time !!
Ah yes, nostalgia !
One of the things that weren’t addressed in this great retrospective however, are the inspirations provided to the script writers by real life events and affairs of the time: (in order to keep this post readable some extensive Googling by the interested is required, I’m afraid)
To name a few:
Old Dog with New Tricks: The case of the ‘Turtle brothers’: A clear reference to the Kray brothers;
The Long Shot: The assassin ‘Ramos’ contains multiple winks to the infamous terrorist ‘Carlos the Jackal’;
Where the Jungle Ends: Grivas, the insane former mercenary leader was very obviously based upon the Greek-Cypriot mercenary commander ‘Colonel Callan’ from the Angolan civil war, including not only his provenance and psychopathic behaviour but even the the ‘magnum .44 incident' (though in real-life it wasn't someone's girlfriend but an Angolan local);
Killer with a Long Arm: The gun-for-hire assassin with his sniper rifle hired by political motivated patrons is clearly based upon the novel The Day of the Jackal;
Heroes: “Tommy”, the crazy wild-card CI-5 agent who takes huge risks in actions against Irish terrorists appears to be a clear reference to the mysterious Robert Nairac;
The Female Factor: A prostitute ring involving a member of the government and the Russians, brings back distinct memories to the Profumo-affair;
Everest was also Conquered: A key witness jumping out of an hotel room the night before giving evidence is almost an initial one-on-one recount of the death of Abe Reles (The canary who could sing but couldn’t fly).
Wasn't into The Professionals at all as a youngster, but absolutely love it now, got the whole set. Patricia Hodge in the 'Involvement' episode is the spitting image of someone I knew around 5 years ago.
All time favorite series used to watch it as a teenager, miss Body and Doyle, alos loved Gordon Jackson it it! Great show, fast paced and still great to watch, withstood the time very well. Thanks for upload and for bringing back memories of my childhood.
I watch an episode every night after work whilst in having my dinner,glad ITV are showing these.didnt know about klansman.very good video,well done.r.i.p Collins and Jackson.
I was only little when the Professionals came out so I don't remember much but my dad used to watch it and I remember the famous theme tune. I watch all the repeats now on ITV4 and I can see what all the fuss was about. Some episodes have me on the edge of the seat. Brilliant. Thanks for sharing.
The repeats on itv 4 are all edited for daytime viewing,and not digitally restored.same as the itv 4 repeats of the sweeney.why put an adult show on in daytime slots,spend youre money on the dvd restored and unedited versions ,you will not regret it.
the drug induced hypnotic state scenes in the first episode really had an impact on me-I watched it on TV with my dad (in 1977) at age 7 and became a big professionals fan.
Really enjoyed watching this doc. Nice work. Look forward to the next series retrospective.
Thank you Edward. My favourite tv series ever, the highlight of my week as a teenager in Australia. Also just loved the cars.. Dolomite Sprint was not a 3lt capri but my dad had one as the same time made me fell a bit special !
Really appreciate your hard work on this Edward! Some really interesting information about the show and well presented. Thank you! Keep up the great work!
Una gran producción para la TV.
Era muy vista por el público de Buenos Aires. Argentina .
Tengo los mejores recuerdos !!!!
Enjoyed watching this so good bodie is my fave loved him ❤
Excellent trip down memory lane here, thanks very much for putting this together . Incidentally, I could happily have watched it if it was twice as long; brilliant work 👍 👍
27:07 a big old country mansion, where would we be without them, a plot staple along with the birds.
Great job mate, really well put together and lots of great humour and balance-brought back a lot of great memories of watching the show with my dad in Australia in the 80s. Cheers.
Love the fact Trigger's in it!!!. Listen I've had this gun (broom) for 30yrs. 10 new barrels (broom heads), 15 new handles (broom handles). Yep, the same gun/broom!!:))))
Ship of Theseus.
I was in the US Navy stationed near San Francisco from 75-77. I had a 1976 Capri II S 28.L. it was a great car. Loved to drive it up and down the Napa Valley.
I love your work! Thank you, so much. Putting these into my favourite file.
I’m currently watching the Professionals on channel 24 on 4:45pm. Takes me back to my childhood when I had a crush on Bodie lol. Loved the ending of this video with Trump very funny!!! 👍
Nice documentary. I thought too with all those great US and UK 70's cop shows, The Professionals was one of my favourites. I have all the 50 episodes same amount as The Sweeney made a little earlier. Another nice one was Public Eye - '65 - '75. CI5 was ficticious though. For me it was, good characters, good stories, great incidental and music score and a lot of action with occasionally a sad slant. The ambience was that time captured nicely.
57 episodes of The Professionals I believe.
@@nicholasdickens2801 That's exactly right. As for 'The Sweeney', there was 53 episodes made, as well as a 'TV Pilot' episode called 'Regan' and two later spin-off cinema films.
The entire era in which these beauties were filmed..coupled with the Acting/Locations..(at the time)..The Incidental Music via Laurie Johnson..(albeit, some tracks were missing from the CD) all make these a "never get bored with treat for the senses"....Great presentation there too....
Fun fact:
The episode Klansmen was bought by ČST (Czechoslovak television) in with 20 other episodes, and was probably one of the first to be aired (it was dubbed into czech in 1981, so maybe it was aired same year as well). Yet the mr. Miller and black killers were cut from the episode, resulting in totally different ending. Knowing this I have a suspition that this episode was actually premiered in Czechoslovakia LOL :D
The whole series is heavily popular in Czech Republic till these days, as in 90's all episodes were redubbed into czech yet again.
"Anarchy, acts of terror, crimes against the public. To combat it I've got special men - experts from the army, the police, from every service. These are The Professionals. !!!"
An enjoyable and very informative profile of the first series of this classic action and adventure show. I look forward to watching the other ones in the near future. Thanks for uploading.
Fascinating. Thank you. Enjoyed the bit at the end too :D
Great Documentary,loved the professionals and have the full box set,along with the Sweeney ,one of my favourite TV shows from the seventies!
Great documentary and commentary, thanks a lot for that!
Lots of actors who have appeared in some Bond movies and other known flicks as well...
13:20 Crevis actor was the Islamic baddie in Iron Eagle...
14:00 Sinclair actor as the Admiral in the Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies...
15:08 the Greek restaurant owner was the one of the Soviet generals in another Bond movie...
23:00 Walter Gottel was of course General Gogol, M's opposite number in the KGB for several Bond movies...
Ed Bishop appeared in two roles for the series post UFO's Straker...
Among many other appearances...
My favourite tv show!! Always has been!! I’ve had the DVD box set of every episode for a while now ( including the banned ‘ klansmen’ episode)
Why was klansman banned?
karpetcabin due to the subject of racism and the way it was portrayed in the episode.
Thanks Edward Hunter. The Professionals actually spawned a lot of copycat shows all over the world. One of the more interesting ones was in the Philippines in the 1990s. They called the show SAGAD (Strategically Advanced Government Armed Defence). This outfit was very similar in scope and function to CI5. Sagad is used as an acronym but it is actually a Tagalog word which means 'to the very extreme' or 'to the edge.' There were equivalents of Crowley, Bodie, and Doyle. Thank you for this retrospective. I still watch The Professionals in DVD and video. Copied but never equalled.
And the BBC came up with Target starring Patrick Mower, even though they already had Startkey & Krutch!
Great series great on blu ray but I just wish they had made a film as the Sweeney good to see Ford cars were used later 👍
Congratulations Edward. Excelent Documentary. Today I saw two chapters of this Serie With my mother before to see this Documentary. Once again Congratulations. Greetings from Argentina.
Great job! Looking forward to the next one.
Excellent video. I studied quite a lot of these episodes myself, recording them all to my old Tivo box (sadly no longer with us). I could never figure out why there were claimed to be 54 episodes in total, yet I only ever had 53 saved. Discovered the answer a few years ago. As good an episode as it is, I think they were right not to broadcast it.
I reckon I could do pretty well with the program as a chosen subject on Mastermind, but I have to concede to your undoubted superior knowledge of all things CI5.
I doff my hat to you, sir.
Guessing you already noticed, but the actor who played the owner of that Greek restaurant where Doyle smashed the crockery pops up again in a later episode, as an elusive Bulgarian double agent, wanted by both sides for treason and counter espionage. Patricia Hodge plays a nice cameo as his English daughter. .She strikes up a romance with Doyle (for a change) , whilst being looked after. ( a rarity, as it's usually Bodie who gets the girls).
EDIT: think I've got the daughter mixed up with another episode, it could've been the female cellist) 🤔🙄
I really enjoyed this. Please do more!
Good video. A lot of work went into this. Good stuff!
Well done, a nice assessment of Series 1. There was a lot wrong with the episodes, as you picked out with some aplomb. I guess people's expectations of production quality and values were not so high back then, and any series with this much action and fun was always going to be popular when there was little choice of anything else to do at 9.00pm on a Sunday evening, so it didn't matter too much at the time.
Dour Scot Gordon Jackson as the boss, curly top Martin Shaw as the thoughtful Doyle, and rough diamond Lewis Collins as the hard case Bodie.
They were outstanding.
Best female guest: Patricia Hodge (Involvement).
The professionnals was also aired in France in late 80s !loved it and it was like Starsky and Hutch !
Highly recommend the bluray, looks like it was filmed yesterday.
Close Quarters is top notch. I was not surprised Gabrielle Drake shot one of the baddies. She was a member of SHADO on UFO, after all, a total badass.
Gabrielle Drake was great in this episode.
I've come to like this show, decades after it first aired, but it was kind of a poor man's version of Starsky & Hutch (of which, in all honesty, only the first 2 seasons were really good). The guy who played Doyle even got a perm and often wore jeans and sneakers and the other guy who played Bodie had an almost similar leather jacket as Hutch, only darker brown. So, we certainly had a big laugh when we first saw it. But it's a different show with, looks like, a smaller budget than US shows. Favorite episodes (haven't seen them all yet) so far "Discovered in a graveyard" and "Hunter/Hunted".
Brilliant! Please upload the next ones ASAP.
Will do, like I said in the credits early 2018 (February/March) is what I'm aiming for. We'll see if I can fit it in around my last year at University. I have watched all of Series 2 and made notes, I just need to get to organising the script and then we should be in business.
This is ace, much apereciated!!!
really great review!!!! you should do more seasons i would def watch!!!!!!
Excellent, absolutely excellent .Thank you.
The opening credits also has Cowley doing a bit of a speech half way through
Excellent series breakdown and super quality too (unlike the ITV4 copies lol). Thanks for posting.
Brilliant! Thanks for making.
Such a brilliant tv series.
8:49
How could you leave out THE BEST line of all the episodes here? When Cowley says "Do unto others while they are thinking about doing it to you; Kick him in the gooleys first!"
:-0
Was 6 when I watched this. Its 40 years later. Oh man. This was the shit.
I spent my childhood in Africa where the tv programming was mostly American with some British and Australian shows. The US shows showcased cutting-edge technology, edge of the seat police thrillers, down to earth humour, exciting gun shootouts and creative imagination.
The UK shows were dulllllllllll, about whether we were being served or under the scrutiny of CI5. Action was a single fisticuff in which the Irishman succumbed to the first belly punch. The Australian show 'Ryan' was a Xerox copy. An ugly PI but with an unforgettable intro composition. In fact, I only remember the name Luigi Vilani from the opening credits of Ryan.
great analysis for a really cool tv series
Ramos was dubbed by Robert Rietty, who also voiced several Bond villains, including Emilio Largo in Thunderball..
Cowley fought in the Spanish Civil War? Did the series ever mention which side?
On the communist side. In another episode he said how he had fought fascism all his life.
The International Brigade.
And they weren't all communists
Very nice retrospective. Close Quarters is a great episode, that on paper doesn't sound good. But it's ending got me on the edge of my seat, as I hadn't seen it for many years, until I got the DVD set in the 2000's. Stake Out, another episode that on paper sounds quite lame, but is actually quite fun and keeps you guessing. Klansmen was probably just a few years too late to be considered acceptable even back then. Seen it recently and because I was bought up in the 70's, it didn't really shock me, as I remember back then, racist comments on shows, was still pretty common.
Excellent work.
Initially British Leyland supplied the cars; Jaguars, Rovers, Triumphs. However they kept needing them back to give to motoring journalists. Ford said "what do want? Have it" and they switched to Capris and Escort Mexicos
Interesting you make the point about being based in London and then it being filmed in the countryside. I noticed they were usually consistent at filming at the locations they named. The German gang escaped to a manor house in Buckinghamshire or Berkshire and the chase route and manor house location tied up. There was no need to do this but if you know the locations it just made the series more believable
Love the last two minutes...Well done!
Great job looking to u doing a series 2
This was well done =very interesting about the KKK episode.
And it was sold all over the world, including many African countries without a single complaint
I wouldn't have missed an episode and Martin Shaw was drop dead gorgeous
The alternative opening sequence was only on one episode I think. Plus there’s a bit of extra talking from Cowley on the theme music in a couple of first season episodes.
No, that's incorrect. The assault course opening credits sequence was originally used on all 13 Series One episodes when intitially broadcast, before later being replaced with the Series Two opening credits instead for repeat screenings.
When 'Network' were working on their recent DVD and Blu-Ray releases of the show, they restored them for all of the Series One episodes once again.
Very good. Enjoyed this =^)
All four series are now on (UK) Amazon Prime and look intact - series one does feature the original opening sequence (Rolls Royce) and I am pretty certain the pilot is shown first. Klansmen is also on Amazon and unedited including the N word. Not sure how long that will last in this climate if someone complains. I agree - Bodie completely out of character and it felt bolted on, not part of the series in that respect.
I binge watched series one a couple of weeks ago. Stood up well. Better when the RS2000 arrived.... Capris were in reality extremely poor handling cars with pitiful power which is why few Police Forces ever used them - even the 3.0 ltr, preferring the Opel Ascona and it's bigger brother the Lotus Carlton / Rekord. In my force we had the Rover 3500 Vitesse V8 predominantly (marked and un-marked) and used a lightened 2.0 ltr Opel Manta as our 'Armed Response' vehicle, later a Cavalier SRi 130 and then a Sierra Cosworth.
Yes, this TV series was the reason I joined Traffic :)
Bodie my hero was everything to me , was Hart broken 😭 when he died , I put who dare wins on .. I remember going to c it at the cinima and at the en every one was clamping etc my uncle said that's why England is the best never 4 got it rip Gordon and Lewis
Great programme. Really enjoyed it. A word of caution though. The Sweeney was not originally broadcast at the weekend. The Sweeney was made by Thames (Euston Films) which covered the weekdays. London Weekend had Saturday & Sunday. Therefore The Sweeney was shown on Monday evenings.
I must add Martin Shaw was really impressive as Karel Curda in Lewis Gilbert 's Operation Daybreak
10:48 Is that mansion Stoke Park? As in Goldfinger Golf Club, as in Layer Cake Golf Club? :)
Have you examined The Comic Strip Presents 13 The Bullshitters Roll Out the Gunbarrel ?
@John Saunders Entertaining crap nonetheless.
"Old Dog With New Tricks"
...the "old dog" being Cowley, "new tricks" being CI.5's brief to "use any means necessary"?
Saw a few episodes in England(Oxford)last year.
Roger Lloyd pack voice was dubbed by a guy voice was used on the villain from thunder ball
Diane Keen... lovely
Wow!!!!! I've got to the Trump montage at the end, that is spot on!!! Please please please can you quickly release an edit of just that so we can all share it before Nov 3rd? If you have already can you post a link caus I cant find it? Go on, pretty please!!! :) edit: Maybe call it The Professionals V's Trump...
@Edward Hunter
Thank you for this wonderful review of what seems to be a very well-loved show.
I had a question for you!
There used to be a trailer for this series on UA-cam with snippets from all different episodes, although, I can't find it now. Do you know why it may have been taken off, and do you have access to it by chance?
Thank you!
Is that the one with the Beastie Boys playing in the background?It is on here somewhere.
This is amazing - have you done season 2??
Yeah, sorry for replying so late: ua-cam.com/video/aKAFfjlvzkE/v-deo.html
At the moment I am behind on Series 3 but very close to finishing narration.
Good job
Killer with a long arm and Heroes...great episodes..!
Scotch makes the world go around!
41:30 Still as relevant today: nice take on The Orange One at the end there!
They were all epic, as were the new avengers.
Funniest scene has to be (apart from Bodie slipping in the hangar) the stolen car scene from the episode Slush Fund. The dummies in the car are so blatantly dummies that one of their heads falls off mid crash lol. Other that that and a few gems The Professionals is one of my favourite programmes.
Brilliant
Anybody got any ideas how I can track down the pilot episode? The one without Lewis Collins in it? Thanks.
I don’t think it was ever actually finished filming before Lewis was recast in it?
@@leecoulson4224 Thanks Lee, Good to know, I'd love to see what they did shoot tho.just as a contrast.
That pilot episode with anthony andrews init wasnt completed,dont know if the rushes even still exist,like the avengers with elizebeth shepperd, do they exist, the man who would have known was the late brian clemens,they probably didnt survive as at the time would have been deemed as rubbish, no need to save ,if anyone knows otherwise im sure we fans would like to know.
@@graemekornicki6810 Agreed, I do want to view them if they exist still.
@@ianhill4585 me too would also like to see any out takes,.