Episode 27: Cathy Gale Era
Page 27 of 192

 

  A.K.A.

 Mission à Montréal

 Misión A Montreal

Working title: Gale Force

  Other Viewpoints

• Visitor Reviews

MISSION TO MONTREAL

Steed becomes a stowaway
Dr King treats a sex symbol*

Production completed: 12 May 1962
UK Premiere (London, Season 2): 27 October 1962
US Premiere (A&E cable): ca. 31 February 1991

When the stand-in for a boozy sex-symbol film star is murdered, the actress quits her job and takes a cruise to get away from it all. Aboard the ship, she is confronted by her husband, the ship's Captain, who pressures her to turn over the stolen microfilm she is carrying. When she has second thoughts, she drags Dr. King into the quagmire.

 IMHO

Alas, there are only two things that manage to keep this one afloat (ahem): First, Patricia English, who proves here that she would have been a worthy successor to Diana Rigg, turns in a classic performance. And second, Venus Smith isn't in it. The relationship between Steed and Dr. King is best described as ambiguous: King is not being used in quite the same way that Venus is, but he's also not a full player like Cathy. It has just enough good moments to keep your eyes open, while a few moments inspire unintentional laughter. Production quality is so-so, although direction is quite good—not surprising, given who is at the helm (sorry, couldn't resist).

 Trivia

Strictly speaking, this is not a "Cathy Gale" episode, even though it was broadcast as part of the UK's second season. After Ian Hendry left, Jon Rollason was brought in as a replacement for three leftover Keel scripts, before Honor Blackman was signed on.

Gillian Muir, who played Judy, was the daughter of Douglas Muir, who appeared five times as One-Ten.

The studio paperwork for this episode identifies it as "Project 3500." Some scenes were pre-recorded on 11 May 1962 in advance of the main recording. The episode's working title, "Gale Force," gives rise to many questions! Coincidence?

*This unofficial subtitle is by Yours Truly.

 Essential Reading

MISSION TO MONTREAL

Teleplay by
Story Editor
Designed by
Producer
Directed by

Lester Powell
John Bryce
Terry Green
Leonard White
Don Leaver

Full production credits

CAST

John Steed
Dr. Martin King
Carla Berotti
Shiela Dawson
Nicholson
Judy
Film Director
Brand
Marson
Budge
With: [Pearson]
[Barman]
[Passenger]
[Reporter]
[Reporter]
[Reporter]
[Peggy]
[Photographer]
[Receptionist]
[Steward]
[Steward]

Patrick Macnee 007
Jon Rollason
Patricia English #
Iris Russell #
Mark Eden #
Gillian Muir #
Harold Berens
Alan Curtis
John Bennett #
Gerald Sim #
Eric McCaine
Alan Casley
John Frawley #
Malcolm Taylor #
Terence Woodfield #
Leslie Pitt
Pamela Ann Davey #
William Buck
Angela Thorne
Peter Mackriel
William Swan

# DOPPELGANGERS

John Bennett

False Witness

Pamela Ann Davy

The Living Dead

Mark Eden

Ashes of Roses

Patricia English

The Secrets Broker
Never, Never Say Die

John Frawley

Bullseye

Gillian Muir

The Sell-Out

Jon Rollason

Dead On Course
The Sell-Out

Iris Russell

November Five
Stay Tuned

Gerald Sim

The Radioactive Man
The Wringer
Dial a Deadly Number
The Rotters
The Lion and the Unicorn

Malcolm Taylor

Who's Who???

Terence Woodfield

School for Traitors
 

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Page last modified: 5 May 2017.

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