Post by Zone Fighter on Oct 6, 2006 19:16:22 GMT -8
I thought I had a post on this series but it didn't show up when I did a search for it.
There are actually two versions of Danger Man.
The original (1960-1961) consists of 39 half hour episodes, all b/w, starring Patrick McGhooan as Irish-American NATO agent John Drake. Ironiclly these episodes did not catch on in the US which is why the show ran for only one season.
The second version (1964-1966) consists of 47 one hour episodes all but two of which are b/w. Patrick McGhooan continues to play John Drake, but now he's an Englishman working for M9 (a non-existant agency). This version of Danger Man was aired in the US as "Secret Agent" with a vocal theme song ("Secret Agent Man") which doesn't really fit the show. John Drake is not given a number, his name taken away. In fact in most episodes he uses his real name, only occasionally subsititing a false last name, rarely does he assume a completly false identity.
In both series Patrick McGoohan made John Drake a much more moral man then James Bond. Drake did not bed women to get information out of them (though there are plently of beautiful women in the series) and did not appove of guns. In most episodes he disarms his opponent and throws the gun away, if he has time he removes the bullets first. John Drake does not depend on a lot of technological gimmicks, though he does have often use a camera disguised as lighter and has tape recorders hidden in various objects.
Both series are available on DVD in the US. The first as "Danger Man Season 1". The second under the title "Secret Agent A.K.A. Danger Man". The episodes in both sets have the original British (instrumental) opening credits. The American version is on all the "Secret Agent A.K.A. Danger Man" discs as a bonus item.
Danger Man Season 1
5 volumes, first 4 contain 8 episodes each, last 7
Secret Agent A.K.A. Danger Man
13 volumes, first 11 contain 4 episodes each, last two 3 each.
Volume 13 contains the "The Not So Jolly Rogers" (from the third season) the last b/w episode in the set, and the only two episodes filmed in color, "Korashi" [the British don't pronounce it correctly] and "Shinda Shima" (all there was of a fourth season). For some markets these two episodes were editted into a single movie length story titled "Korashi". The DVD has the original seperate episodes. Both stories are set in Japan and deal with a brotherhood of assassins. Shinda Shima was not supposed to be the last episode, but Patrick McGhooan declined to play John Drake again. Instead he had an idea for a new series, "The Prisoner". I think I know where McGoohan got the idea for The Prisoner. In Shinda Shima, John Drake is sent to Japan to find out why an electronical enginneer suddenly resigned from the staff of a top secret communications base and flew to Japan.
The third season episodes are more light hearded, than previous seasons or the final two episodes.
I can see why some people assume that "Number 6" in The Prisoner is John Drake. Aside from both series having Patrick McGoohan in the lead roles, the "be seeing you" line is used in Danger Man before its used in The Prisoner. The resort used as The Village was used in episodes of Dangerman, sets from the final two episodes of Danger Man are used in The Prisoner, and several Danger Man cast members show up in the Prisoner.
I like both versions of Danger Man more than any James Bond movie. Of courser the half hour episodes flow faster simply out of neccessity. If you don't expect an action fest (though there are plenty of fist fights) , aren't bothered by b/w and like a spy who uses his head you should enjoy either version of Danger Man
There are actually two versions of Danger Man.
The original (1960-1961) consists of 39 half hour episodes, all b/w, starring Patrick McGhooan as Irish-American NATO agent John Drake. Ironiclly these episodes did not catch on in the US which is why the show ran for only one season.
The second version (1964-1966) consists of 47 one hour episodes all but two of which are b/w. Patrick McGhooan continues to play John Drake, but now he's an Englishman working for M9 (a non-existant agency). This version of Danger Man was aired in the US as "Secret Agent" with a vocal theme song ("Secret Agent Man") which doesn't really fit the show. John Drake is not given a number, his name taken away. In fact in most episodes he uses his real name, only occasionally subsititing a false last name, rarely does he assume a completly false identity.
In both series Patrick McGoohan made John Drake a much more moral man then James Bond. Drake did not bed women to get information out of them (though there are plently of beautiful women in the series) and did not appove of guns. In most episodes he disarms his opponent and throws the gun away, if he has time he removes the bullets first. John Drake does not depend on a lot of technological gimmicks, though he does have often use a camera disguised as lighter and has tape recorders hidden in various objects.
Both series are available on DVD in the US. The first as "Danger Man Season 1". The second under the title "Secret Agent A.K.A. Danger Man". The episodes in both sets have the original British (instrumental) opening credits. The American version is on all the "Secret Agent A.K.A. Danger Man" discs as a bonus item.
Danger Man Season 1
5 volumes, first 4 contain 8 episodes each, last 7
Secret Agent A.K.A. Danger Man
13 volumes, first 11 contain 4 episodes each, last two 3 each.
Volume 13 contains the "The Not So Jolly Rogers" (from the third season) the last b/w episode in the set, and the only two episodes filmed in color, "Korashi" [the British don't pronounce it correctly] and "Shinda Shima" (all there was of a fourth season). For some markets these two episodes were editted into a single movie length story titled "Korashi". The DVD has the original seperate episodes. Both stories are set in Japan and deal with a brotherhood of assassins. Shinda Shima was not supposed to be the last episode, but Patrick McGhooan declined to play John Drake again. Instead he had an idea for a new series, "The Prisoner". I think I know where McGoohan got the idea for The Prisoner. In Shinda Shima, John Drake is sent to Japan to find out why an electronical enginneer suddenly resigned from the staff of a top secret communications base and flew to Japan.
The third season episodes are more light hearded, than previous seasons or the final two episodes.
I can see why some people assume that "Number 6" in The Prisoner is John Drake. Aside from both series having Patrick McGoohan in the lead roles, the "be seeing you" line is used in Danger Man before its used in The Prisoner. The resort used as The Village was used in episodes of Dangerman, sets from the final two episodes of Danger Man are used in The Prisoner, and several Danger Man cast members show up in the Prisoner.
I like both versions of Danger Man more than any James Bond movie. Of courser the half hour episodes flow faster simply out of neccessity. If you don't expect an action fest (though there are plenty of fist fights) , aren't bothered by b/w and like a spy who uses his head you should enjoy either version of Danger Man
