User Reviews

John Drake's Mission: Secure a mail bag containing highly sensitive government documents. The mail bag was aboard a plane that crashed off the coast of Sicily. The documents have fallen into the hands to two criminal brothers.

The Brothers is a nice episode in the Danger Man series. There's quite a bit here to enjoy: a cold-blooded murder, a jailbreak, listening devices, Drake's clever plan, and a humorous use of chicken. The acting is also worth noting. The Morelli brothers are suitably menacing. You really get the sense that these are two guys who'd just as soon shoot you as look at you. I was especially impressed with Ronald Fraser as Guiseppe Morelli. And, I also must mention the stunning Lisa Gastoni as Lita Rossi. A memorable performance from a memorable actress. Director Charles Frend does excellent work giving The Brothers a nice flow and pace. This is, however, another episode that could have easily used more time. There's a lot here to cover in 25 minutes. And I was enjoying it so much, I hated to see it end so quickly.

McGoohan and the writers are in fine form for this episode. Question; What would you do in Drake's place if some bandits had stolen a diplomatic pouch from a plane crash, and the only way to locate them and retrieve the pouch was through one of the bandit's girlfriend... who is in jail? Plus the girl has some serious ATTITUDE problems and does not want to cooperate.

As usual, Drake hatches a plan. A clever plan. He springs the girl from jail, meets up with the two men who stole the pouch, and of course the bandits, being ruthless killers as well as thieves, try to cross Drake and take his life as well as the ransom payment for the pouch. Drake of course having a plan B, disarms the bandits, stuffs the two of them into the trunk of a car containing a picnic basket, and shouts out with McGoohan's trademark razor voice; "Help yourself to some chicken!". Funny!

Guest starring in her second appearance in this series is the lovely and talented Lisa Gastoni. Lisa also appeared in 'The Blue Veil'. In both episodes we see an example of Drake, while never falling in love, still taking pity on the plight of the damsel in distress and interceding on her behalf. In each case drake receives a bright warm smile for his trouble.

Also guest starring is the handsome yet sinister looking Darren Nesbitt, who also pops up in two other Danger Man episodes. He's a killer in this episode, and plays an Assassin in the earlier 'Time to kill', as well as in the later one hour series 'Sting in the Tail' (this latter appearance being by far his best performance).

Finally, we get to see the first true spy gadget in the series. Up until this episode we have seen a miniature (although commercially available at the time) camera, a (police supplied) transmitter and ear piece receiver, a (likely police supplied) eavesdropping device connected to a telephone, and a smoke bomb and a phosphorus flare for dazing and confusing the enemy. But in 'The Brothers' we get a full on spy gadget in the form of a radio receiver disguised as a cigarette lighter. This is the first of the devices that looks like it does one thing but in fact doubles as a spy craft tool.

EDIT: Upon reflection I'd have to assert that the cigarette lighter in this episode is in fact the SECOND spy gadget seen. The aforementioned miniature camera, which appeared in episode #4, The Blue Veil (which was Lisa Gastoni's other guest role), was hidden in a whiskey flask. Thus it qualifies as a spy gadget under the definition of a device with dual purposes; one obvious, and the other covert.