Review for The Four Just Men

"Throughout time there have been men to whom justice has been more important than life itself. From these ranks come four men prepared to fight valiantly on the side of justice, wherever the need may be. Joined together in this cause they are The 4 Just Men."


Based on an Edgar Wallace novel, or possibly inspired by the popularity of film versions made some time earlier (1921 and 1939), 'The Four Just Men' was the first of many ITC commissions (this time with 'Sapphire Films' who made '"Adventures of Robin Hood" with Richard Greene and "The Buccaneers" with Robert Shaw amongst other series for Lew Grade's ITC) which were transparent attempts to appeal to an international market, and the US in particular.


With a star studded cast (particularly in the pilot episode which is the only one where we see the four principals together) and a genuinely international flavour, despite being filmed in the main part in the industrial looking back-lots at Walton-on-Thames, it exudes high production value and quality, as well as a truly international air.


With Director Basil Deardon at the helm for many of the episodes, and a cast with Oscar-nominated actors in lead roles, and a string of highly respected actors in support, 'The Four Just Men' remains impressive stuff when viewed today, some 50 years after its original airing in the UK.

Jack Hawkins, a firm favourite for his post-war work in many British war related movies ('The Cruel Sea') plays Ben Manfred, a Member of Parliament whilst Andrew Keir ("Quatermass and the Pit") plays his young assistant, Jock.

Dan Dailey plays Tim Collier, an American reporter working out of Paris. Honor Blackman (The Avengers' Cathy Gale and Bond girl Pussy Galore) plays his assistant Nicole.

Richard Conte plays Jeff Ryder, a well respected professor of law at a New York City university, with June Thorburn as his glamorous sidekick.
Then effervescent Vittorio De Sicca plays Ricco Poccari, the owner of a luxury hotel in Rome, and Lisa Gastoni ("Cuore Sacro") plays his assistant.


As we learn from the excellent pilot episode, The Four Just Men had worked together on a daring mission during World War II, blowing up a bridge in order to stop the Germans from scuppering the D-Day landings. Called together by their Commander, they discover that he has died but has left a considerable sum of money to the remaining four men to utilise in ensuring that any injustice in the world that they happen upon can be put right. Following the pilot, each of the episodes (running in at circa 25 minutes each) focuses on just one of the group in their home town (though Hawkins seems to travel further afield) putting that episodes wrongs to rights. Though not every episode is a winner, there is usually something magical in each that makes the whole journey worthwhile.


The stream of British support actors throughout are worth the price of the set alone, with a very dapper pre-Doctor Who Patrick Troughton appearing in one episode, as well as child actor Richard O'Sullivan, Jane Asher, Frank Thornton, Judi Dench, and Mai Zetterling amongst the parade.
Shooting began on the series in January 1959 and less than 20 weeks later, all 39 episodes were in the can.


Though most the filming took place in Walton-on-Thames, there was budget for scene-setting shots in Paris and London, as well as some location shooting in Wales. Exotic stuff!

It's interesting that no fewer than 9 of the 39 episodes were in the can before the fourth 'Just Man' was announced after a deal was finally struck with Columbia for the 'loan' of Richard Conte.

The series was a huge success on its sale to US syndication (sadly not to entire networks as initially hoped) and Lew Grade was able to sell the series to Australia (where it was also a hit and fondly remembered by some there to this day) and Czechoslovakia amongst other territories (despite so many episodes being clearly critical of communism).

As so much TV of the time lacked cinematic production values, the show really stood out. A review from 1960 by critic Guy Taylor (under the headline 'If only all the new shows had the shine of 4 Just Men') went: "....if only every film series had this quality! Expertly directed, magnificently photographed and very well acted. On first showing I would say that The Four Just Men justifies all expectations. With Hawkins, Dailey, Conte and de Sica it is obvious that much thought, care and artistry has gone into the making of these films."

Having viewed the entire set, I have to say that, even from today's perspective, there is something very special about the series. It plays like a series of short cinematic films, and, whilst the quality of some of the early episodes on this DVD (including the pilot) are merely 'perfectly acceptable', many episodes are flawlessly transferred with little or no sign of wear and tear. The picture has a rich, stylish high contrast that is both a tribute to the original cinematography as well as to the careful transfer on this set.
Audio quality is original mono but generously levelled and consistently so.


Extra features are a little sparse, but include production image galleries and some DF documentation which I couldn't access on the check discs.
At first glance the set seems to be priced a little highly for 5 discs, though with some eight episodes a disc, they're generously packed.

It's great that Network seem to be on a one company mission to bring these little seen archival TV gems out. After all, there's unlikely to be an opportunity to see them in any other way.

For ITC completists, the release will come as very good news indeed, though I hope that there is enough general interest in the set to allow network to more than recoup their costs.

The series originally aired before my time so I have no sense of nostalgia for the series, other than the sheer delight at seeing so many old favourites making cameo appearances.

I recommend the set wholeheartedly. Not only is it a damn good series with some well-written, excellently directed shorts, but it is also a very fine transfer indeed.