THE PERSUADERS

Full Name:	Brett Sinclair and Danny Wilde
Series Name:	The Persuaders
Nationality:	American,British
Organization:	None
Occupation	Freelance Agent

Creator:	Robert S. Baker
Time Span:	1971 - 1974

ABOUT THE SERIES

Brett Sinclair and Danny Wilde are the Persuaders.

That is a term they never (as far as I can tell) ever used or would have and it is a bit hard to understand who they are supposed to, by the title, persuade, or why.

What they do is get involved in cases that look outside the realm of normal police-work and which interests them. Or one into which they accidentally stumble and then have a great deal of fun getting out of.

Fun is the key with these two gentlemen. They both enjoy tremendously doing what they are doing and for the first time in apparently quite a while, each has something to put his mind to. Each was, in his own way, getting more than a tad bored with life in general.

Danny Wilde is an American born and raised in a New York slum. To get out of the neighborhood before a life of crime claimed him one way or another, Wilde enlisted in the U.S. Navy. That got him a chance to see the world and that in turn put him in position to take a gamble or three in the oil business. He would make, or lose, several fortunes over the next few years.

Sinclair is, officially, Lord Brett Rupert George Robert Andrew Sinclair. He is a product of the best upbringing British nobility will provide, including stints at Harrow and at Oxford before serving for a while as an officer in the British Army. After his service was completed and having no real need for a normal job, he began seeking thrills in a variety of activities, especially race car driving.

When we first meet them, they did not know each other and when they did meet, it was on opposite sides in a bar brawl. Destroying the establishment in their melee, they were both arrested. To their dismay, the local retired Judge saw in them a pair of gents who could help him right some wrongs. He offered them 90 days in jail or a chance to put their energies to good use. Reluctantly, they agreed.

Some of the adventures they will embark on are at the behest of the Judge. Some just pop up without warning. All give these two fellows a chance to do good, serve justice, and have fun.

BOOKS

Number of Books:	3
First Appearance:	1971
Last Appearance:	1974


1			The Persuaders #1 Written by Frederick E. Smith Copyright: 1971 Novelette-length adaptations of two episodes from the television series: Overture and Angie ... Angie

2			The Persuaders #2 aka The Persuaders ... Again! Written by Frederick E. Smith Copyright: 1972 Novelette-length adaptations of two episodes from the television series: Five Miles To Midnight and Someone Like Me

3			The Persuaders #3 aka The Persuaders At Large Written by Frederick E. Smith Copyright: 1974 Novelette-length adaptations of three episodes from the television series: The Gold Napoleon and Greensleaves and The Old, The New and The Deadly

NOVELLAS AND SHORT STORIES

Number of Stories:	8
First Appearance:	1971
Last Appearance:	1974


1			Overture Written by Frederick E. Smith (novelization), Brian Clemens (screenplay) Copyright: 1971 Novelization of the TV episode of the same name. Judge Felton offer a reprieve for Danny Wilde and Brett Sinclair if they will look into the disappearance of an underworld crime boss. One of the two stories collected in The Persuaders #1.

2			Angie, Angie Written by Frederick E. Smith (novelization), Milton S. Gelman (screenplay) Copyright: 1971 Novelization of the TV episode of the same name. Angie is an old childhood pal of Danny Wilde who is on the French Riviera with a scheme to pick up retirement funds, an idea that looks to get Wilde quite dead. One of the two stories collected in The Persuaders #1.

3			Five Miles To Midnight Written by Frederick E. Smith (novelization), Terry Nation (screenplay) Copyright: 1972 Novelization of the TV episode of the same name. A Mafia hitman who is turning state's evidence needs to be smuggled out of the country so Judge Fulton gets Danny Wilde and Brett Sinclair to help. Things are greatly complicated when a beautiful photographer gets wind of the plan. One of the two stories collected in The Persuaders #2.

4			Someone Like Me Written by Frederick E. Smith (novelization), Terry Nation (screenplay) Copyright: 1972 Novelization of the TV episode of the same name. Brett Sinclair is kidnapped and taken to a private clinic where someone is planning on turning another person to look just like him.. One of the two stories collected in The Persuaders #2.

5			Lancers Advance Written by Unknown Copyright: 1973 Published in TV Action Holiday Special 1973 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

6			The Gold Napoleon Written by Frederick E. Smith (novelization), Val Guest (screenplay) Copyright: 1974 Novelization of the TV episode of the same name. Danny Wilde is chatting with a young blonde artist when she is shot and injured. The police think it was Wilde who was the intended target but he and Brett Sinclair think otherwise. One of the three stories collected in The Persuaders #3.

7			Greensleaves Written by Frederick E. Smith (novelization), Terence Feely (screenplay) Copyright: 1974 Novelization of the TV episode of the same name. A crazy plot by possible MI-5 agents has an old manor owned by Brett Sinclair restored and used in a con against an African leader, a friend of Sinclair. Needing someone to play the rightful owner, they look for an actor who could do the job and hire Sinclair - to pretend to be himself.. One of the three stories collected in The Persuaders #3.

8			The Old, The New, And The Deadly Written by Frederick E. Smith (novelization), Brian Clemens (screenplay) Copyright: 1974 Novelization of the TV episode of the same name. Danny Wilde is being mistaken for a blackmailer, one who is being hunted by very nasty French count and the daughter of a politician. Both would like to see him dead. One of the three stories collected in The Persuaders #3.

MOVIES

Number of Movies:	14
First Appearance:	1974
Last Appearance:	1974


1			London Conspiracy Directors: David Greene, James Hill Writers: Terence Feeley, Terry Nation Actors: Roger Moore as Brett Sinclair, Tony Curtis as Danny Wilde Released: 1974 Two episodes, Greensleaves and A Home Of One's Own, stitched into one and released as a movie.

2			Sporting Chance Directors: Val Guest, Peter Medak Writers: Milton S. Gelman, Harry W. Junkin Actors: Tony Curtis as Danny Wilde, Roger Moore as Brett Sinclair Released: 1974 Two episodes, Someone Waiting and Anyone Can Play, stitched into one and released as a movie.

3			Mission: Monte Carlo Directors: Roy Ward Baker, Basil Dearden Writers: Val Guest, John Kruse Actors: Roger Moore as Brett Sinclair, Tony Curtis as Danny Wilde Released: 1974 Two episodes, Powerswitch and The Gold Napoleon, stitched into one and released as a movie.

4			The Switch Directors: Basil Dearden, Roy Ward Baker Writers: John Kruse, Val Guest Actors: Tony Curtis as Danny Wilde, Roger Moore as Brett Sinclair Released: 1974 Two episodes, The Ozerov Inheritance and Angie, Angie, stitched into one and released as a movie.

TELEVISION


Number of Episodes:	24
First Appearance:	1971
Last Appearance:	1972
Network:	ITV

REGULAR CAST
Roger Moore	Brett Sinclair [ 1 ]
Tony Curtis	Danny Wilde [ 1 ]
Laurence Naismith	Judge Felton [ 1 ]

1	Overture Episode 1-1, first aired 09/17/1971 Director: Basil Dearden Writer: Brian Clemens Judge Felton offer a reprieve for Danny Wilde and Brett Sinclair if they will look into the disappearance of an underworld crime boss.

2	The Gold Napoleon Episode 1-2, first aired 09/24/1971 Director: Roy Ward Baker Writer: Val Guest Danny Wilde is chatting with a young blonde artist when she is shot and injured. The police think it was Wilde who was the intended target but he and Brett Sinclair think otherwise.

3	Take Seven Episode 1-3, first aired 10/01/1971 Director: Sidney Hayes Writer: Terry Nation A long absent young man returns to his ancestral home to claim the title left him by his deceased father but his sister, in charge of things, refuses to believe he is who he claims. It falls on Brett Sinclair and Danny Wilde to sort things out, dodging bullets and surviving arson while do it.

4	Greensleaves Episode 1-4, first aired 10/08/1971 Director: David Greene Writer: Terence Feeley A crazy plot by possible MI-5 agents has an old manor owned by Brett Sinclair restored and used in a con against an African leader, a friend of Sinclair. Needing someone to play the rightful owner, they look for an actor who could do the job and hire Sinclair - to pretend to be himself.

5	Powerswitch Episode 1-5, first aired 10/15/1971 Director: Basil Dearden Writer: John Kruse A drowning under suspicious circumstances get Wilde and Sinclair involved in a case with go-go dancers and an old friend of Wilde.

6	The Time And The Place Episode 1-6, first aired 10/22/1971 Director: Roger Moore Writer: Terry Nation When Danny Wilde finds the dead body of a political reporter, he reports it. When the authorities go to investigate, they find the man very much still alive.

7	Someone Like Me Episode 1-7, first aired 10/29/1971 Director: Roy Ward Baker Writer: Terry Nation Brett Sinclair is kidnapped and taken to a private clinic where someone is planning on turning another person to look just like him.

8	Anyone Can Play Episode 1-8, first aired 11/05/1971 Director: Leslie Norman Writer: Tony Williamson Believing he has found a perfect system at an English casino, Danny Wilde is having a blast until someone mistakes him for a person in need of killing.

9	The Old, The New, And The Deadly Episode 1-9, first aired 11/12/1971 Director: Leslie Norman Writer: Brian Clemens Danny Wilde is being mistaken for a blackmailer, one who is being hunted by very nasty French count and the daughter of a politician. Both would like to see him dead.

10	Angie, Angie Episode 1-10, first aired 11/19/1971 Director: Val Guest Writer: Milton S. Gelman Angie is an old childhood pal of Danny Wilde who is on the French Riviera with a scheme to pick up retirement funds, an idea that looks to get Wilde quite dead.

11	Chain Of Events Episode 1-11, first aired 11/26/1971 Director: Peter Hunt Writer: Terry Nation When Danny Wilde finds himself chained to a briefcase by two MI-6 agents, he also discovers that Soviet agents want the case for themselves and him dead.

12	That's Me Over There Episode 1-12, first aired 12/03/1971 Director: Leslie Norman Writer: Brian Clemens A friend of Brett Sinclair is murdered while digging up dirt on a crooked businessman. Sinclair is himself kidnapped and Danny Wilde must impersonate Sinclair to get info from an informant to help free his colleague.

13	The Long Goodbye Episode 1-13, first aired 12/10/1971 Director: Roger Moore Writer: Michael Pertwee Judge Fulton has dispatched Brett Sinclair and Danny Wilde to Scotland where they find the wrecked plane of a British scientist and a valuable formula. They also find several beautiful young ladies claiming to be the dead man's daughter.

14	The Man In The Middle Episode 1-14, first aired 12/17/1971 Director: Leslie Norman Writer: Donald James Judge Fulton tasks Brett Sinclair with finding a traitor in British Intelligence but that will land him and Danny Wilde in deep trouble with a lovely MI-5 agent.

15	Element Of Risk Episode 1-15, first aired 12/24/1971 Director: Gerald Mayer Writer: Tony Barwick Danny Wilde is mistaken for a man planning a major gold heist and Brett Sinclair must find a way to rescue him.

16	A Home Of One's Own Episode 1-16, first aired 12/31/1971 Director: James Hill Writer: Terry Nation Danny Wilde has just bought a lovely English country cottage but then he learns it has a very interesting secret.

17	Five Miles To Midnight Episode 1-17, first aired 01/07/1972 Director: Val Guest Writer: Terry Nation A Mafia hitman who is turning state's evidence needs to be smuggled out of the country so Judge Fulton gets Danny Wilde and Brett Sinclair to help. Things are greatly complicated when a beautiful photographer gets wind of the plan.

18	Nuisance Value Episode 1-18, first aired 01/14/1972 Director: Leslie Norman Writers: David Rolfe, Tony Barwick The spoiled daughter of a very rich man appears to have been kidnapped and Danny Wilde and Brett Sinclair, in the wrong place with the wrong people, appear to have done it.

19	The Morning After Episode 1-19, first aired 01/21/1972 Director: Leslie Norman Writer: Walter Black Brett Sinclair awakens from a wild night out with a massive hangover ... and a new wife. Danny Wilde looks into what happened and finds himself involved with a Swedish diplomatic situation.

20	Read And Destroy Episode 1-20, first aired 01/28/1972 Director: Roy Ward Baker Writer: Peter Yeldham Brett Sinclair's old friend, an ex-British spy, has trouble on two fronts: a new girl friend and the desire to write his memoirs.

21	A Death In The Family Episode 1-21, first aired 02/04/1972 Director: Sydney Hayers Writer: Terry Nation Members of Brett Sinclair's noble extended family are being eliminated, one by one, and it looks like Sinclair is about to be next.

22	The Ozerov Inheritance Episode 1-22, first aired 02/11/1972 Director: Roy Ward Baker Writer: Harry W. Junkin It is to Brett Sinclair and Danny Wilde that Grand Duchess Ozerov looks for help in saving her precious crown jewels. Doing so, they come across her lovely granddaughter who has a mind of her own.

23	To The Death, Baby Episode 1-23, first aired 02/18/1972 Director: Basil Dearden Writer: Donald James Saving a beautiful heiress from the scheme of a con man is what Brett Sinclair and Danny Wilde have undertaken but they did not know there were others who also have their own plans

24	Someone Waiting Episode 1-24, first aired 02/25/1972 Director: Peter Medak Writer: Terry Nation Brett Sinclair and Danny Wilde are looking for a young woman they believe to be in trouble when they get themselves involved in a strange case that finds Sinclair back to racing cars and someone out to sabotage the whole race.

COMIC BOOKS, GRAPHIC NOVELS, AND MANGA

Number of Stories:	1
First Appearance:	1971
Last Appearance:	1973

Test purposes only for right now.


1			'The Clinic In Feilstein' Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 10/16/1971 Published in serial form in Countdown #35-42 - Brett Sinclair has been kidnapped and carried away to a clinic in the Bavarian kingdom of Feilstein. It falls on Danny Wilde and Judge Fulton to figure out where and why and get him out. Click here to read the story.

2			The Pollution Man Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 12/11/1971 Published in serial form in Countdown #43-49 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

3			Traitor's Treasure Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 01/29/1972 Published in serial form in Countdown #50-55 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

4			A Touch Of The Sun Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: Published in serial form in Countdown #56 and continued in TV Action #57-65 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

5			Revolution Roundup Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 05/20/1972 Published in serial form in TV Action #66-73 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

6			The African Affair Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 07/15/1972 Published in serial form in TV Action #74-81 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

7			The Chopper Caper Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 09/09/1972 Published in serial form in TV Action #82-89 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

8			The Terrors Of Toyland Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 11/04/1972 Published in serial form in TV Action #90-95 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

9			Traitor Trouble Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 12/16/1972 Published in serial form in TV Action #96-100 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

10			Ghost Town Terror Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 01/20/1973 Published in serial form in TV Action #101-105 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

11			Ancient Traditions Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 02/24/1973 Published in TV Action #106 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

12			Deadly Treasure Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 03/24/1973 Published in serial form in TV Action #110-114 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

13			Brainwashed Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 04/28/1973 Published in TV Action #115 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

14			The Village Of Revenge Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 05/26/1973 Published in serial form in TV Action #119-123 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

15			Who Is Sylvia? Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 06/30/1973 Published in TV Action #124 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

16			Double Take Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 07/14/1973 Published in serial form in TV Action #126-130 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

17			Music Menace Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 08/25/1973 Published in TV Action #132 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

18			The Big Shot Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 1973 Published in TV Action Annual 1974 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

19			The Last Hostage Published by Polystyle Publications Copyright: 1973 Published in TV Action Annual 1974 - [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

MY COMMENTS

I have not read any of the novelizations but I have read a couple of reviews that indicate the author did a darn good job capturing the fun that is the series. And, in my opinion, the series was a lot of fun to watch. I loved the freewheeling, smart-alec-y way that Tony Curtis invariably has. I loved Roger Moore as the Saint and say a lot of that fine character in his portrayal of Sinclair. Truth be told, I would have enjoyed anything either of these actors would have done.

I mentioned the Saint because in addition to the same actor being in both, there is a definite Saint feel to the dramas of the Persuaders. Exotic locales. Interesting and varied bad guys. Lots of gorgeous women, some needing saving and some quite able to take care of themselves.

This series is not really spy-fi but it is close enough, with international locales and intrigue and the occasional bumping up against spies that I just had to throw it in. That and I have seen this show included in other lists of 'spy dramas' so I fretted about not mentioning it, especially since I received email asking why I didn't include it.

Plus it had Tony Curtis and Roger Moore. 'Nuff said!

GRADE

My Grade: -

Your Average Grade: A

YOUR OPINIONS

chrisno1	A	2020-11-27	The Persuaders is the kind of show they dont make for TV anymore. It never took itself too seriously, was obviously filmed as expensively or cheaply as the budget allowed (perhaps dependent on the cast list''s consumption of champagne, judging by a few of the performances). ITC churned these series out by the dozen. I love this one: good casting, great credits, great theme, plenty of fun, tension & intrigue, wacky, melancholy, exciting, always watchable, occasionally stunningly good (The Ozerov Inheritance) often dreadful (Nuisance Value), always entertaining. The books dont add anything to what we see on screen, but they are a nice reminder.

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