Search - Callan: Set 1 on DVD

"Set 1" is Season 3

George Fergus | Chicago, IL USA | 06/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In case there is any confusion, this set comprises the 9 episodes of Season 3, which is the first season to be filmed in color."

MASTERFUL SERIES DEPICTING THE DARK WORLD OF SPIES AND INTEL

Harold Wolf | Wells, IN United States | 07/12/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"David CALLAN (Edward Woodward, The Equalizer) was blackmailed by a secret part of the British Security Services known as "The Section". They wanted his skills. He didn't like or want the job, but he had no choice, but he was good at it. This former soldier turned thief, was 'drafted' by "The Section".

The Section head, codename Hunter (William Squire), AKA Charlie, is cold, ruthless, needs Callan, and cares little about who gets killed. Concern is only the how, why, and if anyone finds out.

There's a nucleus of regular cast, but each episode (9 in this Set 1) is primarily a new suspense story involving espionage, murder, blackmail, and all those good black things. Callan is THE top agent (realism, no James Bond or Get Smart stuff here)--kills when ordered--is a deadly shot--with a tinge of conscious, fair play, and justice. It's a bit on the dark side, every man for himself. A collection of individuals in a dark world, void of trust. A climate where right and wrong have no definition. Sometimes Callan has to much personal emotion for his job of deceit and dirty-tricks. That makes for a fascinating character. Great character relationships throughout the series. Well, some relationships turn downright nasty. Callan even has feelings, though never shown, toward a dirty, criminal type, Lonely (Russell Hunter), who is occasional helpful, in all the bad ways of getting the job done.

The "Section's" colour code for files: RED= dangerous, priority, target death; YELLOW= occasional surveillance; BLUE= wrong party; WHITE= put out of action via prison, bankruptcy, mental home, etc. What colour is your file?

Downside: no subtitles. But they'd help little with the British slang used occasionally like: bird=girl, nik=arrest, belt up=shut up, ta=thanks, quid and bob=$$$ but how much?

A fun series for those who remember the late 60's/early 70's. Filmed at that time period, the British scenes, decor, and clothing styles resemble everyday life in the USA about then. This DVD series is NOT a 1970 period drama, just a very good intelligence/spy series created and aired during the 60's to 70's decade change.

This CALLAN SET 1, originally aired April to June, 1970, is the 3rd season. Many of the B/W episodes telecast earlier had been "lost." Acorn Media has saved this season for all of us. TA. Fortunately in 1970 the show went to color.

Episode 1, WHERE ELSE COULD I GO?
2, SUMMONED TO APPEAR
3, THE SAME TRICK TWICE
4, A VILLAGE CALLED 'G'
5, SUDDENLY--AT HOME
6, ACT OF KINDNESS
7, GOD HELP YOUR FRIENDS
8, BREAKOUT
9, AMOS GREEN MUST LIVE
Watch them all if you dare, but periodically check over your shoulder.


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Classic Brit espionage

DOUGLASG SMITH | 12/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having personally lived aspects of the Cold War and read the contemporaneous literature of the time and the revisionist literature coming out now, it is heartening to see personal ethical conflict in these then contemporary now retro-episodes

The low key trudging flavor of real intelligence work is evident with the occassional terror of needed action.

The inability to trust even the agency for which one works creates a burden that ultimately withers most individuals. Career agents experience a life of conflict and tumoil or a life of oblivious obedience."

The best spy series ever and first antihero too

Michael P. Dobey | colorado springs | 04/25/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Edward Woodard was by anyones standard a great actor, in fact he was often called englands finest actor even , he one awards to prove it and his presence always added to a production. Sadly he passed away in nov 2009. But this landmark series lives on dvd to show one of his finest characterizations ever. This isn't the first series those are only available in region 2 and you'd need a all region player to watch them. (those players are around one hundred bucks). If you go to go to amazon.uk you can get the dvd sets of the first two series. This was in fact series 3 and the show starts at that point. Hopefully acorn will put out the first two series but they say they probably won't do it in this region. Callan is extremely realistic in some regards and some of it's episodes should be shown in spy training. as in " Are you willing to do this?" The lead character is a realist who does have a concious even though he must kill people and when things go wrong innocent people may die. The show was shot on video tape and the outdoor scenes were shot on film. So it doesn't have the feel of american shows of the period but it doesn't matter because the show is just excellent on many levels.
Callan is a spy who doesn't always agree with his assignments but he doesn't
want to lose his job or be replaced by younger agents either.
So if you want well acted truer to life spy stories that are realistic and not over the top then you will enjoy this one. And if you want to complete the collection then get a all region player and get the first two seasons on amazon.uk. (don't buy the two earlier seasons from their without FIRST BUYING a ALL REGION DVD PLAYER)
But this one is good to go because it is region one (our region) and first class entertainment all the way.

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