User Reviews

Episode 2 of The Champions is another winner. In The Invisible Man, The Champions investigate $30 million in stolen gold and why a seemingly normal banker would just hand it over. The mini-transmitter playing the role of the titular invisible man is an interesting idea. And it's carried out very well also. Peter Wyngarde, the voice of the invisible man and the evil genius behind the gold theft, is the highlight of the episode. He steals every scene. What a presence! One thing I really enjoyed about The Invisible Man was the atmosphere. There's a real sense of menace about the whole thing as you watch the upstanding banker struggle with what's going on in his head. It reminded quite a bit of an episode from The Avengers - not that I remember one with a similar plot device, but the feel was very Avengers-like.

One complaint I have about The Champions so far is with the make-up. There are scenes where Stuart Damon looks positively plastic. And it takes real talent to make the beautiful Alexandra Bastedo look so bad - which is exactly the case because of a poor make-up job.

Granted, this was the second episode in the series. Thus far, the powers of these heroes had by and large been relatively nothing more than super-hearing.

But there seemed to be a bit of a contradiction in this early episode.

Craig is in a room that is suddenly filled with gas, which proceeds to knock him out.

Later, he dives off a dock and holds his breath underwater, longer than the average person would be able to.

Why didn't he do this in the room with the gas? He would have instinctively known to try to hold his breath, so wouldn't it have worked the same as it did underwater? Does this then give the impression that these abilities of the Champions gradually progressed?

The second 'Champions' episode was the first of eight to be written by Donald James, who became of I.T.C.'s most prolific contributors. Banks and bankers have been in the news recently, and I don't want to comment except to say that, years ago, crooks used to wear masks and carry guns whereas now they are far more likely to wear pinstripe suits and carry briefcases. Craig receives a tip-off from Zurich banker 'Boursin' ( Steve Plytas ) that the sum of thirty million dollars in gold will be shortly deposited in his bank. Craig thinks the money will come from a robbery. He and the other Champions check out the vaults of major European banks. All appear secure. Whilst visiting 'Sir Frederick Howard' ( Basil Dignam ), director of one of London's biggest banks, Craig hears a voice ordering Howard to 'get rid of him'. The banker is being plagued by an 'invisible man' - a disembodied voice which gives him orders ( such as handing over thirty million dollars ) and, if they are not obeyed, inflicts excruciating pain on him.

When Sir Frederick is stabbed to death in a London alleyway, a doctor named 'John Hallam' ( Peter Wyngarde ) is first on the scene. By an amazing coincidence, Hallam is also Sir Frederick's personal physician. Craig visits Hallam's clinic and, after an argument, is gassed. A device which relays commands from Hallam is inserted into his ear. This is the source of the 'invisible man'. Craig is now completely under Hallam's control...

Directed by Cyril Frankel, this is good stuff, featuring a splendid villainous turn from Peter Wyngarde, just before he grew his hair long to play 'Jason King' in 'Department S'. His silky voice adds considerable menace to his 'invisible man' routine. There is not a great deal for Richard and Sharron to do, its Craig's show. The scene where he fights the agony caused by the device is harrowing, culminating in him diving into a river and staying there - having superhuman lung power is quite handy - until Hallam and his sidekick 'Sumner' ( James Culliford ) have gone. Another reviewer wonders why Craig didn't hold his breath earlier when he was gassed. Possibly he was caught unawares.

If this at times feels more like a 'Man In A Suitcase' story, it is because the composer Albert Elms also wrote the incidental music.

One line of dialogue, perfectly innocent at the time, is guaranteed to raise an unintended laugh now - it is Hallam saying to Sumner: "Use the Vibrator, Charles!".

Aubrey Morris, who plays corrupt customs officer 'Van Velden', was a familiar face in British T.V. series and films of the period, ditto Steve Plytas a.k.a. 'Boursin'. 'Fawlty Towers' fans may remember him as 'Kurt' the drunken chef in the 'Gourmet Night' episode.

A decent second episode, more fun than the first. Jason Wyngarde makes for a great guest villain and the ear piece plot has some novelty to it for the era, although I suspect modern spies would be a lot more savvy to it. Fun to see Dave Prowse at the outset of his career too.

In those days location shots must've been expensive - attempts to show scenes happening in Holland show budget limits, Hallam driving the truck round a hill (not many of those in Holland).

Rotterdam road signs (40km) apparently on the side of the road not facing any particular direction, so they are legible in shot). Cars being driven in Holland on the wrong side of the road.

It all looked very English countryside (though some of the poplar lined straight roads were close.

The only character with a dutch name had quite a bizarre accent too, even the windmill didn't look very Dutch. But back then I guess none of us knew any different.