Dennis Spooner Movies

The first of four New Avengers episodes filmed in Canada finds our dauntless trio of dogooders in Toronto, on the trail of an elusive Russian agent known as Scapina. Getting separated from her colleagues, Purdey (Joanna Lumley) finds herself trapped in a computerized building. Even worse: The building itself is the techno-murderer Scapina--an anagram for Special Computerized Automated Project in North America. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this fourth Canadian-filmed episode of The New Avengers, Steed (Patrick MacNee), Gambit (Gareth Hunt) and Purdey (Joanna Lumley) doggedly search for a missing circuit, following such clues as a drowned corpse in an evening gown. The trail leads to the bottom of Lake Ontario, where our heroes discover a hidden Soviet missile silo. This is the episode in which Joanna Lumley bravely attempts a Canadian accent--and this is also the final New Avengers installment, bringing the 16-year-old Avengers TV franchise to a close. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The New Avengers wrapped up its first season with an episode which writer Dennis Spooner has confessed was based on "Attack of the Alligators",an installment of the "Supermarionation" series Thunderbirds (with, it would seem, a bit of "Monty Python" thrown in). An illicitly developed growth liquid seeps into the London sewer system, creating a giant, deadly rat. Kidnapped by the scientists who created the liquid, Purdey (Joanna Lumley) is set up as bait for the king-sized vermin--and our girl must also contend with a passel of killer tomatoes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Blackballed by his peers, crackpot conservationist Zacardi (Vladek Sheybal) intends to get even with his highly trained birds, which swoop down and kill on his orders. Steed (Patrick MacNee), Purdey (Joanna Lumley) and Gambit (Gareth Hunt) endeavor to stop Zacardi in his plan to take over the world with his feathered friends. The climax of this episode (the top-rated installment of The New Avengers' first season) finds Purdey in perilous predicament that would even make Alfred Hitchcock nervous. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Man in a Suitcase, co-created by writers Richard Harris and Dennis Spooner, was one of the more clever series to come out of Lew Grade's ITC organization, which was also the source for Secret Agent and The Saint. Texas-born actor Richard Bradford played McGill, a former CIA agent forced out of his job by a cloud of suspicion around the defection of a key scientist who was under his protection. McGill's defense was that he was ordered to permit the man to defect, but the agency official who issued the order went missing in a plane crash and turned up dead soon after, leaving McGill with no proof of his story, just an intelligence scandal that the agency wanted buried. Left on his own and unable to return to the United States, McGill lives in London, almost a stateless person, his only possessions: his car, his suitcase, and his gun. He uses the skills he acquired as an agent; even those who suspect him of treason acknowledge that he was one of the best. He lived as a troubleshooter, investigator, and bounty hunter, and handled cases that were too hot or too dirty for any ordinary investigator.

Filmed in London at Pinewood Studios, the series was aimed more at the international audience than specifically at the American market (in those days, the idea of an American agent even suspected of treason would have been a tough sell as a hero in America), and it barely made a dent in the United States. Man in a Suitcase was much more dour and grim than The Saint, but it looked great and Bradford made a convincingly embittered hero with a dark side to his personality and a chip on his shoulder. McGill also looked like he could go 15 rounds with Sean Connery and as if his spit could kill Roger Moore. A total of 30 episodes were filmed, most running an hour each, and the series even managed to develop a cult following in America, where -- even in New York City -- it was usually relegated to secondary syndicated channels and time slots. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

In the 11th episode of the 12-part story "The Dalek Masterplan," the Doctor tries to stop the Daleks from destroying the universe without risking the lives of his travelling companions. Captured by the villains, Steven (Peter Purves) and Sara (Jean Marsh) are in for the biggest surprise of their lives. And there's more to come; the Doctor abruptly vanishes without a trace. Written by Dennis Spooner, "The Abandoned Planet" originally aired on January 22, 1966; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the eighth episode of the 12-part story "The Dalek Masterplan," the Doctor (William Hartnell) resumes his efforts to foil the mass-destruction schemes of the mutant Daleks. Unfortunately, he stymied by the unexpected appearance of his old enemy, the renegade Time Lord known as the Meddling Monk (Peter Butterworth). On another front, the Daleks, angrier than ever, step up their campaign of devastation. Written by Dennis Spooner, "Volcano" originally aired on January 1, 1966; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Six of the Best was a British TV anthology, consisting of pilot episodes for proposed series. Evidently none of these six pilots were the best, since none graduated to weekly status. The program was launched on August 11, 1965 with something called "Annie Doesn't Live Here Anymore." Subsequent entries included "Me and My Big Mouth" with Alfie Bass and Peter Bowles (August 18); "Charlie's Place" with Ray Brooks, Yootha Joyce, John Junkin, and Helen Fraser (August 25); "Porterhouse-Private Eye," with Peter Butterworth (September 1); "Man With a Mission" with Ronald Lacey and Thorley Walters (September 8); and "Are There Any More at Home Like You?" (September 15) with Barbara Mitchell (in a dual role) and Graham Stark (the final telecast, September 15, 1965). Six of the Best was telecast by ATV. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the four-part story "The Time Meddler," the TARDIS crew finds itself in the thick of things at the Battle of Hastings. Meanwhile, a renegade Time Lord (Peter Butterworth) pulls strings to determine the outcome of the battle. Can the Doctor (William Hartnell) stop the course of history from changing? Written by Dennis Spooner, Doctor Who: Checkmate first aired on July 24, 1965, as the final episode of Doctor Who's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the four-part story "The Time Meddler," the Doctor arrives in 11th century England in hopes of finding out the plans of a renegade Time Lord (Peter Butterworth). Disguised as a monk, the Doctor begins to realize that the villain's scheme is somehow connected with the impending Battle of Hastings. Meanwhile, fellow TARDIS crew member Vicki (Maureen O'Brien) makes a startling discovery. Written by Dennis Spooner, Doctor Who: The Meddling Monk first aired on July 10, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the four-part story "The Romans," Ian (William Russell) and Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) are at last reunited after suffering the ignominy of being Roman slaves. As the conspirators set their assassination plans in motion, the Doctor (William Hartnell) must act quickly to save Emperor Nero (Derek Francis). This episode proposes to solve the mystery as to who really set Rome on fire. Originally telecast on February 6, 1965, "Inferno" was written by Dennis Spooner. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the four-part story "The Romans," the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his companions encounter great danger while on a pleasure excursion to ancient Rome. Ian (William Russell) is captured and sold as a galley slave, while Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) is auctioned off as a "companion." The only hope for their rescue lies in the Doctor's precarious relationship with the Emperor Nero (Derek Francis). Originally telecast on January 23, 1965, "All Roads Lead to Rome" was written by Dennis Spooner. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi