DVD: Carlton Visual Entertainment 37115 05913. 975 minutes - 39 25 minute episodes. Price varies from: £60.00 to £38.00 (UK) so shop around for the best deal). stars: Patrick McGoohan and a host of superb 1960s actors.

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Although this boxset only has a tentative relationship to SF, being as how it's an early 1960s espionage series, 'Danger Man' (US title: 'Secret Agent') is the predecessor to 'The Prisoner' even if actor McGoohan says the two lead characters aren't the same person. Saying that, there is obvious influence here. I just have to whisper one word: Portmerion. Maybe two more: The Village. As the extras show, Portmerion is used a lot for backdrops for various foreign countries and its no wonder McGoohan wanted to use the place for 'The Prisoner'. Indeed, so are a lot of the South Wales countryside making do for all manner of terrain. If you want to really dig, there's even a 'Cricketeers Pub' in episode 5, 'The Lovers'.



From an actors POV there are some very interesting actors turning up. In episode 19, 'The Girl Who Liked GIs', 'Graydon (the voice of Mike Mercury in 'Supercar') Gould and Paul (the voice of Steve Zodiac in 'Fireball XL5' ) Maxwell guest-star. Maxwell appears in a couple other episodes as well. In episode 28 'Bury The Dead', there's Patrick (the second Doctor Who) Troughton and in episode 37, 'Under The Lake', a beardless Roger (Doctor Who's The Master) Delgado. It goes without saying that the continuing appearance of actor Richard Wattis throughout the series also had a guest-spot in 'The Prisoner'. From a writer's POV, you also get the chance to see some of the earliest work of Brian Clemens before he went on to write 'The Avengers'.

So, apart from all this information, is 'Danger Man' worth a look at, given that its in black and white and from an earlier age. Certainly. Especially if you want to see how such series developed. 'Danger Man' didn't stay in the 25 minute format and went up to 50 minute episodes with a new theme music for later seasons. It needed more room to breath and develop storylines. Saying that, the stories were competently writing and worked well within the format. McGoohan as John Drake, an agent for NATO, would be sent in to sort out all sorts of problems because he was good at it. This ranged from rescuing scientists, formulas, removing corrupt officials and finding double agents and the odd assassination. Drake was a busy and efficient agent relying on his talent to get out of trouble far more than any gadgetry. 'Danger Man' also shows how he became a 60s TV icon and how his reputation has been maintained over the years.

If you have a taste for 60s TV series, then this one deserves to be added to your collection and in DVD size doesn't take up much room.

GF Willmetts