CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - UK Wartime Spy Anthology  Series
Brenner (1959,64)  The Defenders (1961-65) The Nurses (1962-65)
 Espionage (1963-64) For the People (1965) Coronet Blue (1967)
Espionage
Episode Guide - March 2005
(eps #1 #4 #10)
compiled by
The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
Bob Lamm
Alan Collins, Alan Keeling, John King
Cindy Rumbold, Rina Fox
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (http://us.imdb.com)
---------
ESPIONAGE
---------
Plautus Production/ Herbert Brodkin Inc.
in association with
Associated TeleVision (ATV) [uk]
Majority of episodes Filmed at
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Boreham Wood, England
Some episodes filmed on location in Europe and the USA
for
NBC (Wednesdays 9:00pm)
Executive Producer Herbert Hirschman
Produced by George Justin

UK Spy Anthology series 1963-64 24 episodes x 60 min bw
(aired on NBC from 2Oct63 - 2Sep64)
no host

An anthology series of spy stories, some of them partly true.
A somewhat gloomy but well-made series with excellent guest stars.

Filmed on location throughout Europe, 'Espionage' was an anthology of
spy stories, all based on actual case histories. Through documented
accounts and actual newsreel footage events are covered from the
American Revolution, World War I to the then-current cold war, and
covered all forms of international intrigue, civil war, and underground
resistance movements.

Although most of the performers in these dramas were Europeans unfamiliar
to American audiences, some fairly well-known names were featured, such
as:-
Dennis Hopper (The Weakling) Patricia Neal (The Weakling)
Arthur Kennedy (The Whistling Shrimp) Jim Backus (A Tiny Drop Of Poison)
Anthony Quayle (A Free Agent)

'Espionage' Theme Music Composed and Conducted by Malcolm Arnold  

Music Score by Malcolm Arnold (Episodes 1-16) (to be verified)
Music Score by Benjamin Frankel (Episodes 17-24)
Titles Designed by Maurie Binder

Herbert Brodkin/Plautus Productions produced "Brenner",
"The Defenders" "The Doctors and The Nurses" "For The People"
and "Espionage" and "Coronet Blue"

################ Espionage ##################
############# season 1963-64 ###############
##############################################
 NBC Wednesdays 9:00pm EST

1.01 [--] Espionage: COVENANT WITH DEATH (Verified on film)
2Oct63 NBC Wed orig. airdate (rerun 13Apr64)
Written by Peter Stone
Directed by Stuart Rosenberg
Starring:
Bradford Dillman ..... Mangus Anderson
David Kossoff ........ Defense Attorney
Arnold Marle ......... Josef Blumfeld
Allan Cuthbertson .... Prosecuter
Don Borisenko ........ Ivor Kolstrom
With:
Alfred Burke
Lilly Freud-Marie .... Sara Blumfeld
Aubrey Morris
Alec Mango
*
Music Composed and Conducted by Malcolm Arnold
Production Designed by Wilfred Shingleton
Production Supervisor, John Pellatt
Director of Photography, Ken Hodges, BSC
Film Editor, John Victor Smith
Synopsis 1:
The story of two Norwegian resistance fighters who are
tried for the wartime slaying of an elderly couple.
Synopsis 2:
After World War II, two Norwegian Resistance fighters are tried for
the wartime slaying of an elderly refugee couple - but perhaps
the killing was justified. [RF]

[02] Espionage: THE WEAKLING
9Oct63 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Written by Arnold Perl
Directed by Stuart Rosenberg
guest stars
Dennis Hopper
John Gregson
Patricia Neal

[03] Espionage: THE INCURABLE ONE (pilot episode)
16Oct63 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Written by Halsted Welles and Albert Ruben
Directed by Stuart Rosenberg
guest stars
Steven Hill .......... Andrew Evans (Law & Order)
Ingrid Thulin ........ Celeste
Michael Gwynn ........
Era: The years between World War II.
Having been trained as an espionage agent during the war,
a Danish countess attempts to recapture the excitement of
war-time life.

1.04 [--] Espionage: THE GENTLE SPIES (Verified on film)
23Oct63 NBC Wed orig. airdate (rerun 22Apr64)
Written by Ernest Kinoy
Directed by David Greene
Starring
Barry Foster .......... Gerry Paynter
Michael Hordern ....... Minister
Alan Webb ............. Lord Kemble
Angela Douglas ........ Sheila O'Hare
with:
Joan Hickson .......... Sara
Eric Pohlmann
Godfrey Quigley ....... Arnold Grimsmith
Manning Wilson
Laurie Asprey
*
Production Designed by Wilfred Shingleton
Production Supervisor, John Pellatt
Director of Photography, Ken Hodges, BSC
Film Editor, Lee Doig
Song Written by Stanley Myers and Johnny Whyte
Assistant Director Jack Wright
Synopsis:
The British government is greatly disturbed over a security leak; an
influential anit-Bomb group has been publishing classified information. [RF]

[05] Espionage: HE RISES ON SUNDAY AND WE ON MONDAY (Verified on film)
30Oct63 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Written by Alvin Sapinsley
Directed by David Greene
Starring
Billie Whitelaw .......... Doreen McBride
Patrick Troughton ........ John McBride
Jack MacGowran ........... Matt Youhall
Andrew Keir .............. Sir Roger Casement
with:
Maurie Goode
Patrick MacAlinney
T.P. McKenna
Maurie Taylor
Desmond -----
Desmond Perry ............ Tim
Liam Gaffrey ............. Police
Gerry Duggan ............. Sgt.
Anthony Doonan ........... Constable
Harry Webster
*
Production Designed by Wilfred Shingleton
Production Supervisor John Sellat
Director of Photography Ken Hodges, BSC
Film Editor Lee Doig
Assistant Director Tom Sacks
*
Story about the I.R.A. (Irish Republican Army)
(Unmatched Characters - Bailey, Captain Monteith)

[06] Espionage: TO THE VERY END
6Nov63 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Teleplay by Norman Borisoff and David Greene
Story by Norman Borisoff
Directed by David Greene
guest stars
James Fox
Michael Anderson, Jr.
David Buck
Clifford Evans

[07] Espionage: THE DRAGON SLAYER
13Nov63 [su] NBC orig. airdate
Written by Albert Ruben and Raymond Bowers (1st source)
Written by Albert Ruben and Halstead Welles (2nd source)
Directed by William T. Kotcheff
Guest Stars
Lee Montague
Patrick Cargill
Thorley Walters
Story of an evil Chinese Manarin (played by Patrick Cargill).

=====

[08] Espionage: THE WHISTLING SHRIMP
20Nov63 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Written by Leon Tokatyan
Directed by Stuart Rosenberg
Guest Stars
Arthur Kennedy
Earle Hyman
Nancy Wickwire
Larry Gates
David J. Stewart

e-mail from Alan Frost <grafrost@servtech.com> June 2001 :-

I was a fairly faithful viewer of the "Espionage" television series, but
only one of the episodes has staid with me over the years. The one I
remember is Episode #8 "The Whistling Shrimp." I also remember that Larry Gates and
Arthur Kennedy were in it. (They are also both in the movie "Some Came
Running" which is playing on Turner Classic Movies right now.) I haven't
seen the episode since it first appeared, but I never forgot it. I was
happy to find it referenced on your web site. Thank you.

The plot, as I recall it, revolves around Kennedy as a reporter covering
events in Africa and Gates as an offical of the US State Department.
Kennedy, who suspects clandestine CIA activity, asks Gates to tell him the
truth about what the US is doing behind the scenes in a newly independent
African country. Gates, a man of honor, says that he will always tell the
truth until shrimp learn to whislte.

An African (played, I think, by Brock Peters and meant to represent Patrice
Lumumba) comes to Gates to tell him that he fears for his life. Gates
begins to investigate, but he's stonewalled. After the African is
assasinated, Kennedy confronts Gates who assures him that the US had
nothing to do with it.

To my recollection, this was the first time that US involvement in
undermining third world governments had ever been dealt with on national
TV. I learned from your web site that it was broadcast two days before JFK
was shot. I wonder if this coincidence is the reason I started concocting
conspiracy theories about the JFK assasination long before Oliver Stone's
movie.
Alan Frost <grafrost@servtech.com> June 2001

========

[09] Espionage: THE LIGHT OF A FRIENDLY STAR
27Nov63 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Written by John Gay
Directed by James Sheldon
guest stars
Ronald Howard
Patricia Jessel
Donald Morley
Carl Schell
Loretta Parry

1.10 [--] Espionage: A TINY DROP OF POISON
04Dec63 NBC orig. airdate (rerun 20Apr64)
Written by John D. Hess
Directed by Herbert Hirschman
guest stars
Jim Backus .............. McAvoy (Gilligan's Island, voice of Mr Magoo)
William Smithers ....... Crawford Layton
Donald Harron .......... Locke
Louise Sorel .............. Annie
Georgina Cookson ........ Eve McAvoy
Ferdie Mayne ............. Bin Hammad
Gordon Tanner .......... Quade
Michael Kane ............ Parson
Synopsis:
To destroy the effectiveness of American diplomat Crawford Layton,
representatives of the Levantine Republic start rumors that cast
doubt on Layton's emotional stability. [RF]

[11] Espionage: FESTIVAL OF PAWNS
11Dec63 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Teleplay by by Robert Dozier
Story by Raymond Bowers
Directed by James Sheldon
guest stars
George Grizzard
Sam Wanamaker
Diane Cilento (previously married to Sean Connery)
Maxwell Shaw

[12] Espionage: A CAMEL TO RIDE, A SHEEP TO EAT
18Dec63 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Written by John Furia, Jr.
Directed by Fielder Cook
guest stars
Bill Travers ......... Father James ('Born Free' 1965 film)
Marne Maitland ....... Bishara
Roger Delgado ........ Gebal
Background: Arabia
The story of Father James, a Catholic priest who, by leading
demonstrations, attempts to end the nation's repressive regime.

[13] Espionage: NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON A FRIEND
1Jan64 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Written by Mel Davenport
Directed by Michael Powell
guest stars
George Voskovec
Donald Madden
Mark Eden
Pamela Brown ......... Miss Jensen

[14] Espionage: MEDAL FOR A TURNED COAT
15Jan64 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Written by Larry Cohen and David Greene
Directed by David Green
guest stars
Fritz Weaver
Nigel Stock
Joseph Furst

[15] Espionage: THE FINAL DECISION
22Jan64 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Written by Donald Johnson
Directed by Ray Herbert
guest stars
Martin Balsam
Ann Lynn
Alan Gifford
James Maxwell

========

[16] Espionage: DO YOU REMEMBER LEO WINTERS?
29Jan64 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Written by Art Wallace
Directed by Robert Butler
guest stars
George A. Cooper ...... Leo Winters
Peter Madden .......... Davenport
Rhoda Lewis ........... Jane Vesey
Victor Platt .......... Frank Vesey
Cyril Luckham .........
The story of a frogman who is incorporated by British intelligence
to observe waterfront activities.

email from Richard M. Winters : <RMWLCSW@aol.com> September 2001
I was wondering if you could assist me in finding more information about
the episode #16 "Do you remember Leo Winters ?"
When I was a child I was told of this title by my mother and it was always
a lingering curiosity that I wanted to investigate. My sister ran across
you site and E-mailed it to me. You see, my father's name was Leo Winters,
he dies somewhat mysteriously in March 1963 while away on a trip working for
a US intelligence agency. His boss was named Davenport. While most likely a
freak coincidence of names and career, I'd love to finally learn more of
this script. Thanks,
Richard M. Winters : <RMWLCSW@aol.com> September 2001

=======

[17] Espionage: WE THE HUNTED
Filmways production
5Feb64 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Written by Peter Yeldham
Directed by Kenneth Hughes
guest stars
Joseph Campanella
Madlyn Rhue
Al Mulock
Filmed on location in Berlin

[18] Espionage: THE FRANTICK REBEL
12Feb64 (some sources 27May64) [us] NBC orig. airdate
Written by Ernest Kinoy
directed by Herbert Hirschman
guest stars
Roger Livesey
Stanley Baxter
Jill Bennett
Max Adrian

[19] Espionage: CASTLES IN SPAIN
19Feb64 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Teleplay by Raymond Bowers
Story by Norman Borisoff
Directed by Anton M. Leader
guest stars
Roland Culver
Neil McCallum
Anne Lawson
Chester Morris

[20] Espionage: SNOW ON MOUNT KAMA
26Feb64 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Teleplay by Allan Prior, Donald Johnson and Kenneth Hughes
Story by Kenneth Hughes
Directed by Kenneth Hughes
guest stars
Bernard Lee
Nigel Davenport
Maureen Connell

[21] Espionage: ONCE A SPY ...
4Mar64 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Written by Julian Bond
Directed by David Greene
guest stars
William Lucas
Millicent Martin
Peter Vaughan
Earl Cameron

[22] Espionage: THE LIBERATORS
11Mar64 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Written by John Furia, Jr.
Directed by Seth Holt
guest stars
Robert Webber
Michael Tolan
Donald Pleasence
Leila Goldoni

[23] Espionage: SOME OTHER KIND OF WORLD
18Mar64 [us] NBC orig. airdate
15Aug71 [uk] ATV Midlands, Sun 11.15pm (repeat)
Written by Joseph Liss
Directed by Herbert Hirschman
guest cast:
Ron Randell ............ Kenneth Dearing
Tom Stern .............. Robert
Dora Reisser ........... Eugenia
Alan Tilvern ........... Ziggy Levine
George Pastell ......... Russian Captain
John Hollis ............ Russian Major
Alexis Chesnakov ....... Polokov
Jeffry Wickham ......... Anton
David Healey ........... Buzz
Bruce Boa .............. Larry
Richard Marner ......... Policeman
John McCarthy .......... Doctor
Anything can happen when a bunch of jazzmen visit Moscow on a
goodwill tour. The boys working for Ziggy Levine, are warned to
be on their best behaviour. Kenneth Dearing, of the U.S. State
Department, has the job of looking after them, and points out
that they are ambassadors of their country. It seems, however,
that one of them forgets, for after getting involved with a girl
he is held on a spying charge.

[24] Espionage: A FREE AGENT
25Mar64 [us] NBC orig. airdate
Written by Leo Marks
Directed by Michael Powell
guest cast:
Anthony Quayle ...... Philip
Siān Phillips ....... Anna
Norman Foster ....... Max
George Mikell ....... Peter
John Wood .......... Douglas
John Abineri ........ Town Clerk
Ernst Walder ........ Watch Factory Mechanic
Gertan Klauber ...... Innkeeper
Vivienne Drummond ... Miss Weiss
Jan Conrad .......... Chief Mechanic
A Soviet agent falls in love with a woman working for the other side
he is viewed with suspicion by friend and foe alike.

-------------
Summer Reruns
-------------
[--] 13Apr64 Mon - rerun of 1.01 "Covenant with Death" (first aired 02Oct63)
[--] 20Apr64 Mon - rerun of 1.10 "A Tiny Drop of Poison" (first aired 04Dec63)
[--] 22Apr64 Wed - rerun of 1.04 "The Gentle Spies" (first aired 23Oct63)

################# Espionage ##################
################## emails ##################
##############################################

e-mail from Dimitri Kennaway <DKenn10533@aol.com> December 2002
I thought you might like to know that my late stepfather, Benjamin Frankel, composed
the music for episodes 17-24 of the "Espionage" series. The credit for Malcolm Arnold
is quite correct in that his title theme was retained for all the episodes and I presume
he wrote the complete scores for Nos 1-16 (I don't know if any other composers were
involved). There was a period during the early '60s when Arnold became ill and had to
drop various projects (like "Suddenly Last Summer" which was taken over and completed
by Buxton Orr) and this may explain why he did not score all the episodes.
By the way, I have two episodes on video: "Once A Spy" (one of those my stepfather scored)
and the very first, "Covenant With Death". I know that the person from whom I acquired these
has two further titles from the series ("HE RISES ON SUNDAY" and "GENTLE SPIES").
Do you happen to know if there are any other titles on video anywhere? I would like,
at least, to acquire all those that my stepfather worked on.
I really like your site, by the way.
Thanks and Happy Holidays,
Dimitri Kennaway <DKenn10533@aol.com> December 2002

################ Espionage #################
################# the end ##################
##############################################

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