Posts : 98 Member Since : 2011-04-19 Location : North of England
Subject: The Professionals (1977-81) Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:16 am
Worth mentioning that Lewis Collins was in the running to play Bond in 1982, but apparently, Cubby Broccoli didn't like him.
Largo's Shark 00 Agent
Posts : 10588 Member Since : 2011-03-14
Subject: Re: The Professionals (1977-81) Wed Apr 20, 2011 3:15 am
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Last edited by Largo's Shark on Tue Oct 05, 2021 8:32 pm; edited 1 time in total
G section Q Branch
Posts : 524 Member Since : 2011-03-14 Location : Magic 44
Subject: Re: The Professionals (1977-81) Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:49 am
Sharky wrote:
JohnDrake wrote:
[flash(425,350)]Worth mentioning that Lewis Collins was in the running to play Bond in 1982, but apparently, Cubby Broccoli didn't like him.
Neither do I. Complete and utter t***.
Any reason behind that, Sharky?
I love The Professionals. My absolute favourite episode would be In The Public Interest - quite unlike any other.
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: The Professionals (1977-81) Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:53 am
Sharky wrote:
Complete and utter t***.
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JohnDrake Universal Exports
Posts : 98 Member Since : 2011-04-19 Location : North of England
That was a very good episode indeed, focusing on police corruption and fascism. It addressed themes like homophobia and bigotry as well.
Here is a scene from it that isn't available on the DVDs. It was spotted on ITV4.
My favourite Pros episode is Mixed Doubles. Very intriguing premise with Bodie & Doyle squaring off with 2 assassins who actually have quite a lot in common with them.
Klansmen is a very good episode, daring to portray one of the series' lead protagonists (Bodie) as a racist. Very un-pc and very good. A shame it has never been broadcast in the UK.
In the 1980s we kids loved The Professionals and used to discuss every new episode on the schoolyard. We would have loved to see Bodie, er, Lewis Collins as Bond back then. And I definitely remember rumours that he was approaching the role.
Ravenstone Head of Station
Posts : 1471 Member Since : 2011-03-16 Location : The Gates of Horn and Ivory
I know there was an unfortunate incident in 1981 where Lewis invited two charity workers to his place where a row broke out over missing money and in a fit of rage, he fired a shotgun. He went to court and paid a heavy fine, but apart from that, he's always struck me as a man who likes living life to the full. He did a lot of his own stunts on The Pros and never took himself seriously unlike Martin Shaw who blocked Pros repeats in the late '80s although he now appreciates the show a bit more.
Other classic episodes are Discovered In A Graveyard, Hunter/Hunted, Kickback, Close Quarters, Slush Fund and Involvement.
Ravenstone Head of Station
Posts : 1471 Member Since : 2011-03-16 Location : The Gates of Horn and Ivory
Clemens has been quite scathing in his remarks about the continuing non-UK broadcast of Klansman. Comments?
Klansmen is a little clumsy, and probably best not shown to avoid the row that would obviously ensue. It doesn't show Bodie in a good light - and people like their heroes to be perfect, or very close. Not harbouring prejudices.
And the ending is tacky.
Private Madness, Public Danger always struck me as a good plot.
[flash(425,350)]Worth mentioning that Lewis Collins was in the running to play Bond in 1982, but apparently, Cubby Broccoli didn't like him.
Neither do I. Complete and utter t***.
Any reason behind that, Sharky?
Common industry knowledge.
JohnDrake Universal Exports
Posts : 98 Member Since : 2011-04-19 Location : North of England
Subject: Re: The Professionals (1977-81) Fri Apr 22, 2011 3:13 am
From what I gather, Lewis Collins was a joy to work with on The Professionals. He had a nice rapport with Martin Shaw, despite some tension between them during the filming of series 1, and he enjoyed a practical joke or two. I have a very in-depth and entertaining book about The Pros by Bob Rocca, a highly devoted fan of the show, and it has lots of information about the stars and what they were like.
While Collins was fun to work with, Richard Bradford on the other hand was not when he did Man In A Suitcase. Even though he was a terrific actor, the crew didn't have a lot of nice things to say about him because of his supposedly egotistical ways and that is partly the reason why a second series wasn't commissioned by ITC.
Going back to Collins, he gave a convincingly tough and sensitive performance in the 1988 ITV adaptation of Jack The Ripper which starred Michael Caine. If any of you have not seen it, I strongly suggest you do. It really is stirring stuff.
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: The Professionals (1977-81) Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:12 am
Ravenstone wrote:
people like their heroes to be perfect, or very close.
That's often said, but I disagree. I like believable characters, and that means warts and all.
Anyway, The Pros greatest moment was Mrs Connolly with a hand grenade in her bra.
Ravenstone Head of Station
Posts : 1471 Member Since : 2011-03-16 Location : The Gates of Horn and Ivory
Subject: Re: The Professionals (1977-81) Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:36 am
ambler wrote:
That's often said, but I disagree. I like believable characters, and that means warts and all.
I agree with you, but I don't think we're typical of the general public. I like anti-heroes. Give me a good Byronic hero and I'm happy as Larry. Shades of grey are far more interesting than boring black and white characters.
On the subject of Bob Rocca, John, did you know he owns the original Mk II RS2000 from the show? It's a work in progress, and there aren't any photos of it's current state.
With Collins and Shaw, while I'm certainly not in the brigade who thinks they're the best thing since Andrex and that everything they do is marvellous, I do wonder whether some of the adverse articles and gossip about them is justified. I mean - everyone is allowed an off day.
And have you heard there's a film in the offing this year?
Damn this woman, playing with my head. I can't take it anymore.
But you like it so much!
Okay - when I said 'people' in the first quote, I meant 'the general public'. Your average audience. Your typical Daily Fail/Grauniad reader. I didn't mean nutters like you and me. ;)
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