Review for The Organization - The Complete Series

‘The Organization’ (with a ‘Z’ despite being very British in every regard) was well received by critics on its original airing in 1972. Indeed, it’s something of a surprise that it’s resided in the archives pretty much since that time; a mere seven 60 minute (minus the adverts) episodes.
It’s about as sharp an observation of office politics as you’re ever likely to see, and remarkable fresh and relevant today.


Donald Sinden, Anton Rodgers, Bernard Hepton and Peter Egan are just some of the stars of this top-notch drama which is set in a large corporation (the Greatrick Organization) which (I think) markets toys, though this is very rarely touched upon. Whilst it focuses on inter-office politics and gamesmanship above all, it does so with subtlety and wit for the most part.


The first episode, which shows a young man, Richard Pershore (Peter Egan) about to join the Public Relations department headed up by conniving David Pulman (Donald Sinden) is a bit heavy handed and felt contrived – but the series soon settles down to some brilliant human observation.


By episode 2, perhaps the best of the lot, all the focus is on how best to rid the department of an old blaggard who has clearly past his sell by date. But as he’s been with the company for so many years, and holds its Chairman in such high esteem, the department rallies to connive a way of making him believe that the Chairman is letting him go for his own good as the company is holding him back. It’s brilliantly done and a joy to watch.


The series was penned by Philip Mackie, perhaps best known for his screenplay of Quentin Crisp’s ‘The Naked Civil Servant’ and the ‘Raffles’ TV Series in 1975, apparently based pretty much on his own experiences in PR at a large corporation – most probably the BBC where he had worked since 1954 as a contract writer. (I wonder what he would made of the blatant send-up of the modern day BBC, ‘W1a’?).



The acting is really great throughout with excellent performances from an eye-wateringly good cast and the studio-choreography and direction is tight too, with a cut to reaction close ups at all the right moments.

It’s fun that the Chairman is referred to constantly throughout but is never seen – along with any other part of the business. Just like real life in a big business, each department is little kingdom unto itself. There is even an episode here where the conclusion drawn by all is that PR is pointless and yet, somehow, necessary too – a bit like the majority of roles within the modern corporation.


It’s all great fun and although image quality is variable, it’s in perfectly reasonable shape for a show of this vintage. Fans of series like ‘The Power Game’, 'Hine' or ‘The Plane Makers’ take note; this is one to watch. Great stuff!

Here are the episodes you get with original air dates, three on Disc 1 and four on Disc 2.



EPISODE 1: Mr Pershore and Ken Grist - 16 Apr. 1972
EPISODE 2: Ken Grist and Eve - 23 Apr. 1972
EPISODE 3: Eve and Rodney Spurling - 30 Apr. 1972
EPISODE 4: Rodney Spurling and Peter Frame - 7 May 1972
EPISODE 5: Peter Frame and Veronica -14 May 1972
EPISODE 6: Veronica and Mr Pulman - 21May 1972
EPISODE 7: Mr Pulman and Mr Pershore – 28 May 1972