The Protectors

The Protectors

1972
The Protectors
The Protectors

The Protectors

6.7 | TV-PG | en | Drama

The Protectors is a British television series, an action thriller created by Gerry Anderson. It was Anderson's second TV series using live actors as opposed to electronic marionettes, and also his second to be firmly set in contemporary times. It was also the only Gerry Anderson produced television series that was not of the fantasy or science fiction genres. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company. Despite not featuring marionettes or any real science fiction elements, The Protectors became one of Anderson's most popular productions, easily winning a renewal for a second season. A third season was in the planning stages when the show's major sponsor pulled out, forcing its cancellation. The Protectors first aired in 1972 and 1973, and ran to 52 episodes over two series, each 25 minutes long - making it one of the last series of this type to be produced in a half-hour format. It starred Robert Vaughn as Harry Rule, Nyree Dawn Porter as the Contessa Caroline di Contini, and Tony Anholt as Paul Buchet. Episodes often featured prominent guest actors.

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Seasons & Episodes

2
1
EP26  Blockbuster
Mar. 15,1974
Blockbuster

The Protectors chase after a stolen platinum shipment.

EP25  The Insider
Feb. 25,1974
The Insider

The Protectors aid a movie director in the retrieval of film being held for ransom.

EP24  Wheels
Mar. 01,1974
Wheels

The Protectors are hired to discretely research stolen secret Swiss bank account information.

EP23  A Pocketful of Posies
Feb. 22,1974
A Pocketful of Posies

Harry Rule is called upon to see if Eartha Kitt's (guest star)home is haunted.

EP22  Shadbolt
Feb. 15,1974
Shadbolt

Harry is stalked on a train by Shadbolt, a professional assassin.

EP21  Trial
Feb. 08,1974
Trial

The Protectors are called upon when the father of a man on trial for murdering a policeman goes after the judge.

EP20  Route 27
Feb. 01,1974
Route 27

Knowing where a huge stash of heroin is hidden, Harry confronts the drug dealers.

EP19  The Tiger and the Goat
Jan. 25,1974
The Tiger and the Goat

The Contessa is used to lure her former lover, a British spy, out into the open.

EP18  Burning Bush
Jan. 18,1974
Burning Bush

Harry masquerades as a drunk in order to get a Canadian heiress out of a cult.

EP17  Sugar and Spice
Jan. 11,1974
Sugar and Spice

In order to protect the daughter of a rich industrialist who has received threats against her life, Harry poses as her tutor.

EP16  The Bridge
Jan. 04,1974
The Bridge

Undercover as an explosives expert, Harry seeks to rescue a kidnapped girl and prevent a bridge bombing.

EP15  Lena
Dec. 28,1973
Lena

In Venice, Harry aids Lena, a journalist, expose a corrupt politician.

EP14  Zeke's Blues
Dec. 21,1973
Zeke's Blues

Harry's college friend Zeke, a pianist, is blackmailed into setting Harry up by mobsters.

EP13  Border Line
Dec. 14,1973
Border Line

The Protectors are hired by a Hungarian actress wanting to bury her now deceased revolutionary father in their homeland.

EP12  Decoy
Dec. 07,1973
Decoy

An old friend who has a new lead on an insurance scam calls Harry and the Contessa to Venice, but he is murdered just before they arrive.

EP11  Dragon Chase
Nov. 30,1973
Dragon Chase

In Britain, Harry is called on to protect a Russian author from publishing his anti-socialist book.

EP10  Implicado
Nov. 23,1973
Implicado

In Spain, an English boy is framed and arrested on drug charges after a drug dealer plants some hash in his backpack.

EP9  Wam (2)
Nov. 16,1973
Wam (2)

In Salzburg, the Protectors must rescue a group of vacationers whom are unknowingly being held hostage on top of an Austrian mountain.

EP8  Wam (1)
Nov. 09,1973
Wam (1)

In Salzburg, the Protectors must rescue a group of vacationers whom are unknowingly being held hostage on top of an Austrian mountain.

EP7  Goodbye George
Nov. 02,1973
Goodbye George

Alone in Italy, the Contessa goes to Venice to find out why the son of a wealthy Brit is making huge withdrawals from his account.

EP6  Petard
Oct. 26,1973
Petard

The Protectors go after industrial spies who are threatening to topple a chemical company by scooping their best products.

EP5  Baubles, Bangles and Beads
Oct. 19,1973
Baubles, Bangles and Beads

In Denmark, a young woman and her father call on the Protectors to deliver a huge ransom for a stolen jewelry shipment.

EP4  The Last Frontier
Oct. 12,1973
The Last Frontier

The Protectors are hired to smuggle into Britain a Russian scientist who wishes to marry her childhood sweetheart.

EP3  Fighting Fund
Oct. 05,1973
Fighting Fund

A revolutionary group steals and auctions off a priceless art collection in order to purchase dynamite to fund their cause.

EP2  Bagman
Sep. 28,1973
Bagman

The Protectors are called to deliver the ransom for the kidnapped daughter of a Danish aristocrat.

EP1  Quin
Sep. 21,1973
Quin

Harry travels to Spain in order to track down a bounty hunter named Quin.

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6.7 | TV-PG | en | Drama , Crime , Action & Adventure | More Info
Released: 1972-09-29 | Released Producted By: ITC Entertainment , Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
Synopsis

The Protectors is a British television series, an action thriller created by Gerry Anderson. It was Anderson's second TV series using live actors as opposed to electronic marionettes, and also his second to be firmly set in contemporary times. It was also the only Gerry Anderson produced television series that was not of the fantasy or science fiction genres. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company. Despite not featuring marionettes or any real science fiction elements, The Protectors became one of Anderson's most popular productions, easily winning a renewal for a second season. A third season was in the planning stages when the show's major sponsor pulled out, forcing its cancellation. The Protectors first aired in 1972 and 1973, and ran to 52 episodes over two series, each 25 minutes long - making it one of the last series of this type to be produced in a half-hour format. It starred Robert Vaughn as Harry Rule, Nyree Dawn Porter as the Contessa Caroline di Contini, and Tony Anholt as Paul Buchet. Episodes often featured prominent guest actors.

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Cast

Robert Vaughn , Tony Anholt , Nyree Dawn Porter

Director

Reg Hill

Producted By

ITC Entertainment ,

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Reviews

jc-osms Different to most of the competing cops and capers shows around at the time, "The Protectors", a rare Gerry Anderson project not involving puppets or science fiction, had episodes only clocking in at 25 minutes or so and thus, as I remember it, failed to secure a real prime-time TV slot on original release in 1972. However this gave it the benefit of appealing to casual viewers who didn't have an hour to spare to watch say, "The Persuaders" or "Mission Impossible" to name but two.Yet there's something to be said for the brevity of the individual programmes as there's less padding and more directness in the story lines and there's little time to be bored. Yes, most of the shows I've seen seem to rewrite the same four or five plot-lines, and seem to invariably include some foreign intrigue, overseas locations, a kidnapping, a daring rescue, a punch-up and some cliff-hanging finish before the end credits roll and that great theme tune, bellowed out by Tony Christie.Obviously over so many shows there is some variation in the quality of the writing but the direction, probably of necessity, is uniformly brisk and to the point. The casting of the leads is very pleasing, I loved Robert Vaughn in "Man Fom U.N.C.L.E." and while he's not the lean mean (lady)-killing machine he was back in the 60's, as team leader Harry Rule, he commits well to his part and rarely looks bored. Nyree-Dawn Porter is still the beautiful English rose she was in "The Forsyte Saga", certainly not faded and is surprisingly adept in her role as the stylish and resourceful Contessa Di Contini, while Tony Anholt does well enough as third wheel Paul Buchet, suave Frenchman, although his accent occasionally crosses back over the Channel.I'm working my way through an old DVD box-set I bought ages ago and am quite enjoying the task. My teenage heart at the time was in thrall to the more escapist shows of the era like "The Champions", "Department S" or "Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)", but I'm happy to commit 25 minutes of my time to Harry and the Contessa, any day of the week.
Desmond Pereira How could you not resist singing along to Tony Christie's wonderful rendition of "Avenues & Alleyways"? I love this series not for the plots that went nowhere, but for the great cast of Robert Vaughan, Nyree Dawn Porter (deceased) in a pseudo-Italian accent and the very handsome Tony Anholt (deceased) who looked decorative, spoke with a French accent and was always elegantly attired). A special mention needs to be made for Yasuko Nagazumi who plays Harry Rule's talented and elegant personal assistant. Check out her hairstyles and creative costumes!This series epitomised the stylish early 70's when men wore fitted suits, silk neck-scarves and sexy shoes, when women wore outrageous dresses, make-up and very high, creative hairstyles.Another Gerry Anderson production (I'm a fan of his work, especially UFO), this series was very much like "The Persuaders", set all over continental Europe and featuring some interesting guest stars of the day. The locations alone are worth watching for.Watch this series just for the fun and the retro memories. Don't take the story lines too seriously - it was just the early 70's; and that's what mattered!
robertconnor What opulence! The cars, the clothes, the interior designs, the DOG! Could a seventies show BE any more seventies? From the sublime Jensen Interceptor, to Anholt's neck scarves and Nyree's exquisite trouser suits, from Vaughan's eyebrow acting to the fantastic multi-Euro locales (did an episode ever NOT feature a European airport?)... pure snazz! Who cared that 30 minutes weren't enough? Who gave a damn about the back projections, Nyree's dodgy accents (Italian? British? KIWI??)...? This is a deluxe show, where EVERYONE has a drinks bar inside a big globe, and no matter what is going on, there's always time for a scotch - "drink?" And the yellow car in the opening credits? A FIAT 850 Coupe... so now you know.Altogether now, "All the low are living high!" Groovy!
Thomas E. Reed I remember seeing this series in Saint Louis, running as the last thing Sunday night. As an old fan of "The Man from UNCLE," I was curious to see Robert Vaughn playing an older, cynical, grouchier version of Napoleon Solo. Vaughn's personal liberal sentiments occasionally showed through, in one episode involving a military intelligence case. His Harry Rule character showed nothing but contempt for the way the military operated and its goals.On the other hand, there was a small amount of goofiness. One episode I recall had Rule and his Italian costar stopping a neo-Nazi plot. Instead of contributing the gold they seized that was intended to revive the Third Reich to a charity cause, they stuck it in a Swiss bank. Not precisely heroic behavior.One other note: Faberge, the perfume company, made the series (it was "A Brut Production") and the show contained a lot of "barter" spots for the Brut line of men's care products.