Review for Overseas Press Club: The Complete Series

Another treat from Network. This little seen anthology series from 1957 may not ring many bells but it’s still well worth picking up. The set includes 13 individual 30 minute ‘dramas’ loosely joined together through the notion that they are all based on true life press tales. The ‘overseas’ element probably made them seem terribly exotic at the time though all were shot in the UK. Indeed, many of the attempts at characterisation outside of Europe (in South-East Asia for example) are risible through today’s eyes with British actors taking oriental parts and doing them to the same high standards as Charlie Chan movies. Though that is most certainly part of their undoubted charm today.


It’s worth stating early on (and evidenced by my screen-grabs) that, once again, the transfers here are breath-takingly good. Originally shot on 35mm, these exude filmic production values, albeit on a budget when it comes to props, locations and effects.


In common with many anthology series, there is a veritable parade of character actors, some appearing as children (Richard O’Sullivan) along with youthful outings from Frazer Hines, Peter Wyndgarde, Leonard Sachs, Alfred Burke and many more.


For this review I was sent just a single disc (disc 1) so can only base opinions on that though I don’t doubt for a moment that the remaining 7 episodes as good as the first half dozen.

All the episodes begin with the same voice-over and shots:

“I'm the President of the Overseas Press Club of America, and this building is our headquarters, the gathering place of the top foreign correspondents of our time, who cover every corner of the globe in their search to bring the truth to you. From their personal files, we tell the stories behind the headlines. What you are about to see really happened and the people portrayed really lived”.

The shows may be older than me but they are remarkably entertaining today, squeezing in their narratives in very tight time-frames, economically shot and fast paced, I viewed the first disc in a very enjoyable single-sitting.


OVERSEAS PRESS CLUB – EPISODES
(My comments are only attributed to Disc 1 as, until I order the set and see Disc 2, this is all I had to go on. I may well edit this review once that happens!)

1. The Man Who Changed Faces
This is an extraordinary wartime story about a young Norwegian who, after an SS Officer is captured, has plastic surgery and training to go back to his post and provide valuable information to the allies. If true, an absolutely remarkable feat. The show not only manages to tell this quite complex narrative, it explores the deep psychology of how the power corrupts him to some degree too, making him cruel during his deceit and somehow crossing an acceptable line.

Starring: Kieron Moore (Major Hoffman/Lars Hansen), Andre Morell (Sven), Jon Farrell (Bob Considine), Martine Alexis (Gerta), Nigel Stock (Olaf), Gerard Heinz (Dr Borodin), Gerald Anderson (Colonel Simpson), Christie Humprey (Norwegian Mother), Llewelyn Rees (Chief Censor)


2. The General’s War with Scotland

If true, another extraordinary story, this time set in a 1930’s China ruled by warlords. Miss MacPherson is an attractive but devout missionary based at at Sangchow who, when defying a brutal warlord, becomes the object of his affections. As a result she ‘sacrifices’ herself to save the village, and in particular the children in a nearby orphanage. Whilst entertaining enough (and featuring John Laurie ‘We’re Doomed!’ from Dad’s Army) the Chines characters are laughably bad.

Starring Eric Pohlman (General Yin Chang), Dorothy Alison (Miss MacPherson), Ewan Roberts (Mr Frazer), John Laurie (The Reverend Ingram), Stanley van Beers (Mayor Kuo), Michael Mellinger (Eugene Li), Michael Peake (Colonel H’Su), Cyril Luckham (Maurice Dekobra), Lee Montague (Chen).

3. The Monk of Chimay
Another war story, though this time from WW1, where a flying ace is shot down over occupied territory and has to hide out in a monastery which has a vow of silence. A little slower than someof the others in the series.

Starring: Claude Dauphin (Brother Joachim), Richard Thorp (Sergeant James Cross), Zena Howard (Madame Bonnet), Hugh Miller (Abbe), Jack McNaughton (Gaston Bonnet), James Dyrenforth (Frank Jerome Riley), Ferdy Mayne (Abwehr Officer), Wolf Frees (Gestapo Major), Dennis Edwards (1st German Officer), Stanley Meadows (2nd German Officer), Robert Crewsdon (3rd German Officer)

4. Father Tiger
Another slightly religious angled story. When a street-wise Italian monk, having had great success in turning homeless teens into useful members of society in his own town, is asked to help clean up another town which is over-run with dangerous and feral youths (young teen Richard O’Sullivan is one of these so they’re not too terrifying!). He succeeds by living amongst them, often fighting the worst of them to make his point, before revealing his true identity. A lovely episode and my personal pick as the best of the bunch for Disc 1.

Starring: Peter Arne (Father Maggiore), Harry Landis (Mario), Richard O’Sullivan (Thomaso), Mark Mileham (Toni), Alaric Cotter (Luigi), Gawn Grainger (Guiseppi), Wilfred Downing (Alberto), Philip Vickers (Frederic Sondern), John Ruddock (Headmaster), Maureen Beck (Gina).


5. My Favourite Kidnapper
A US reporter arrives at Hitler’s secret house in Munich to find someone lying in his bed. When he hears the man’s tale it’s unbelievable. David Hamilton, a US Officer, ends up amongst Nazi’s and his hoping to break through security by pretending to be an agent that has ‘turned’. When it gows awry he escapes and awaits the arrival of the US troops.

Starring: Ron Randell (Lt David Hamilton), John van Eyssen (Captain Bauer), Ferdy Mayne (Major Vogel), Desmond Jeans (General von Epp), Robert Brown (Erik Richter), Bill Nagy (Pierre J Huss), Donald Morley (Sergeant), Stanley Meadows (Orderly), Walter Gotell (Gestapo Officer), Jerry Stovin (GI).

6. The Billion Franc Mystery
A slightly convoluted plot though apparently true. In the 1930s, the Nazis attempt to create a monetary scandal to help slow down France’s re-armament plans following their victory in WW1 . An American correspondent almost falls for the tale which would have led to him spreading the idea that France is double-printing the numbers of six billion Francs.

Starring: Lee Patterson (Geoffrey Foster), Nicole Maurey (Nicole Garvet), Anton Diffring (Louis Walleau), Alfred Burke (Inspector Maron), Martin Boddey (The Man in Gloves), George Howe (French Premier), Gordon Tanner (Charles Delaney), Enid Lorimer (Concierge)


That’s it for Disc 1. Here’s what you get on Disc 2.

7. Santa in a Jeep
8. The Millionth Frenchman
9. The George Polk Case
10. The Littlest Sergeant
11. The Unknown Man
12. Tatiana The Czar's Daughter
13. Two Against the Kremlin

All in all, a great series and an absolute steal for the price. Also an ideal antidote to the modern diet of reality shows, talentless competitions and formulaic drama. Put in your Xmas list post-haste!