The Protectors: Series 1 - Episodes 1-26 [DVD]

The Protectors is a 52-episode Gerry Anderson live-action production set in the 1970s. It follows the adventures of three high-priced troubleshooters - Harry Rule (played by American actor Robert Vaughn), the Contessa Caroline di Contini (the late Nyree Dawn Porter), and Paul Buchet (the late Tony Anholt). Rule is based in London, the Contessa in Rome, and Buchet in Paris. They maintain contact through a sophisticated (for the time...) linked communication and computer network. Their adventures range from straightforward prison breaks to rather complex cases of international intrigue. Nearly every episode involves some sort of exotic location shot.

This series had a running time of about 25 minutes per episode - not quite enough to tell an absorbing action adventure tale with any significant character development. However, the series had a solid concept and a chemistry between cast members that overcame the tight time constraints and awkward scripts. Thirty years later, it has acquired the patina of dated charm - especially the continuity lapses, period dialogue, and dated apparel. For these reasons alone, this series is quite entertaining to watch.

Finally, The Protectors has one of those forceful 1970s theme songs that sticks in one's head - "Avenues and Alleyways" sung by Tony Christie. This song has the mildly annoying characteristic of getting in one's noggin and flatly refusing to leave...

I've changed my mind. The old review is left below the dotted line.

Now I've seen all episodes and it really isn't a great experience.
Poor image quality matched with poor... well, everything nearly.

They're trying so hard to establish Mr Rule as an ice cold and stunningly tough guy, but there he is with his hands in his pockets, a blank look and goes: "...mmm-hmmm" as a standard response.
The Contessa isn't a very convincing character either. She's trying hard to be "upper class" while (for example) answering the phone giggling: "-Contessa di Contini". It (and many, many more occasions of similar sorts) doesn't convince me.
The Tony Anholt character, I feel, is kind of "the least bad" of the lot.

I'd sum it up as: badly directed, badly acted and over played by Nyree Dawn Porter, Robert Vaughn and to a lesser extent by Tony Anholt. Bad image quality: slightly out of focus and bad contrast, too.

I still watch them from time to time. They fit nicely in the "so bad it's good genre" - almost like Hong Kong Kung Fu movies and are good for several laughs where it's unintentially funny. I don't mean to sound as if I enjoy other's failures, cause I don't, but these DVD:s are out there, they won't go away. Anyone can see for them selves what an unconvincing show this is, or was.

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I agree with J. D. Mohney's review totally, not much to add, really. Only that car nuts will have a treat too: I have not seen the entire series, but the episodes I've seen were packed with Jensen Interceptors, Rolls-Royces (several models), Citroën SM's, Citroën DS's and many more... There even was a Maserati Mistral in one episode! ...and a Citroën GS (Jaune Primevère, AC 321) in another one!

For the reasons mentioned by J. D. and the one's I've discovered for myself I find the series well enough entertaining and a joy to watch.

The 25-minutes-format is odd, I don't know of any other series that has such short episodes, but it's also perfect for those occasions when you don't have an hour to spend, only to realize that you've seen 3 episodes in a row! Just because they were only bite size.

Conclusion: The Protectors rank amongst my favourites for the above reasons. If you only ever will buy one series of 60's or 70's british police/agent drama/action you might be better off with The Professionals, I guess. I love Cowley's sharp tongue and way with words in that series! He's no push-over! But if you, like me, really love the series from the 60', 70's and even 80's you might find Special Branch (especially the series from the 70's), The Avengers (the Emma Peel years, in particular), Dempsey and Makepeace interesting too...

The Protectors is a great 1970s classic series originally created by the famous ITC studios. It is a good fun detective type of show. Robert Vaughn stars as Harry Rule, the suave American who leads the operations and works from a London office; Nyree Dawn Porter is the elegant, Rome-based Contessa di Contini, and Tony Anholt is Paul Buchet, a French agent operating out of Paris. The three of them make up this unique team that tackles baffling and dangerous assignments. Together they move around Europe`s most top resorts. There are some impressive locations that give the show glamour. The team keep in touch via hi tech seventies computer equipment. There are fashionable cars and private jets used as they fight crime head on. They tackle spies, murderers, smugglers and drug pushers. Harry Rule is the leader, an American who works from a hi tech office in London and lives in a country mansion with an Irish wolfhound named Gus. He is looked after by his au pair, Suki, who is a martial arts expert. The Contessa di Contini is Lady Caroline Ogilvy, an elegent English widow. Her late husband was Italian and has left her the villa in Rome. She specialises in art and antiques fraud and is chauffeured by a karate chopping driver named Chino. Paul Buchet is french, and works from an apartment in Paris. The three main characters have a special, and warm bond to each other and there is good atmosphere.
The series has style, glamour, action and a little comedy all neatly packed into each episode that runs just under half an hour. This means that there isnt the character development like there would be with an hour long show. But it doesnt matter because the three main characters do get character development over the series anyway. The running time also gives the show originality that makes it stand out. (there were very few other shows that had the same short running time made by ITC, and thay were series like The Adventurer made around the same time as The Protectors, and the early episodes of Danger Man from the sixties all of which I also reccomend) And the 25 minute episodes dont offer time to get bored as things move along quickly. The whole show has the feel of a standard hour long ITC show but its just shorter.
Robert Vaughn, Nyree Dawn Porter and Tony Anholt give a good performance. The series has charm with its seventies style of fashion, cars, locations and clothes. And the whole production seems to have even more originality about it than it did at the time. It is entertaining and nostalgic enjoyment that is on offer in this release.
The adventures of the Protectors were produced by Gerry Anderson (puppet master who created Thunderbirds) and Reg Hill. (who produced many other british programmes)
John Thaw, Diana Quick, Stephanie Beacham, Peter Bowles, Patrick Troughton and George Baker are among the many stars making guest appearances, while Tony Christie sings the show's theme tune, Avenues and Alleyways - a UK Top 40 hit in 1973 and on its re-release in 2005. This series was originally aired between 1972 and 1973.