"Ghost Squad" (1961)TV series

Directors:

Phil Brown
James Ferman

Writers:

Brad Ashton (writer)
Geoffrey Bellman (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

9 September 1961 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

The adventures of the agents of Scotland Yard's secret undercover crime unit, dubbed "The Ghost Squad".

Cast

Anthony Marlowe	...	Geoffrey Stock (32 episodes, 1963-1964)
Claire Nielson	...	Jean Carter (32 episodes, 1963-1964)
Michael Quinn	...	Nick Craig (30 episodes, 1961-1963)
Neil Hallett	...	Tony Miller / ... (22 episodes, 1962-1964)
Angela Browne	...	Helen Winters (13 episodes, 1961-1963)
Donald Wolfit	...	Sir Andrew Wilson (13 episodes, 1961-1963)

Also Known As:

G.S.5 (UK) (third season title)

Runtime:

60 min (52 episodes)

Country:

UK

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Independent Artists Studios, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Associated Television (ATV)

A great film noir series

Ghost Squad was a British series that commenced in 1961. The first 13 episodes were shot on high quality film and still look great today.Unfortunately the second, longer series suffered from a strike at the time and was therefore shot on video tape and it shows.The first series starred Michael Quinn as Nick Craig, special Ghost Squad operator.Also starring as his boss was the legendary theatre actor, Donald Wolfit.This first series is a gem. Espionage, murder, robbery, international intrigue and Nick Craig was always there.Great to see so many British upcoming actors, Honor Blackman, Douglas Wilmer, Roger Delgado, John Cairney, William Hartnell, so many more.The entire series has now been released on DVD in the U.K. I recommend it strongly to the t.v. collector.The second series gave Craig a new boss , Donald Wolfit was gone. Neil Hallett came in as another agent and his stories generally rotated with Craig's.It's still a good show but the loss of quality really does show on video tape.Michael Quinn was an American actor with only a few bit parts to his name when he landed the lead. In the beginning his inexperience shows but to his credit he vastly improves quickly and for me despite other actors appearing as agents , Craig is always the interesting one.Neil Hallett is fine and probably the better actor of the two. However there is something about Quinn as Nick Craig that really does convey the life of a lonely agent.Some sources state that Craig is blown up in the episode "A first class way to die". This is untrue, he is alive and well at the end of series 2.However when the series returned a year later under the title, GS.5 , Nick Craig was gone and Miller ( Neil Hallett) sets out to avenge his death, but Craig's demise is never shown to the audience. Was Quinn dropped or did he leave? We shall never know.Quinn went back to America and only managed small roles in shows like Bewitched and Dallas. I have heard he then went to Australia and appeared in Neighbours as a doctor. I have been unable to verify this, so if anyone could help, please do let me know.Would be interesting to know if he is still alive, if he is it seems a shame he is not there giving a commentary on a landmark t.v. series.Ghost Squad was the first British one hour dramatic show and to this day the majority of the stories stand up well, give it a whirl.