THE MASK OF JANUS

Full Name:	The Mask of Janus
Nationality:	British
Organization:	British Intelligence
Occupation	Agent

Creator:	John Gould
Time Span:	1965 - 1966

ABOUT THE SERIES

Richard Caddell and Anthony Kelly are agents with DI6 (MI6)

Those two are the main 'field' agents whose activities are detailed in the two connected series of televised adventures initially known as The Mask of Janus and then simply as The Spies.

In that first incarnation, the tales were "about the ceaseless peace-time war waged by secret agents." In the press release concerning these tales, we are told: "Who is Janus? He is the Roman god who stands at the year's end, wearing two faces, looking both forward and back. He is the god of beginnings and ends, of war and peace. And he is the special deity of the shadowed people who live a warlike peace and fight endlessly and boundlessly a peacetime war: the international intelligence agents - the spies."

"Their territory of operation is the unmapped country of Amalia, one of those unstable little nations whose situation makes it as likely as any other to see the eruption of a third world war. It lies right athwart the Iron Curtain, and is still - precariously - a "democratic monarchy". Britain, America and Russia all have interests there, and the jostling for influence is intense. Britain's Ambassador to Amalia is Sir Robert Crispin, and serving on his staff as Naval Attache and legal adviser is Commander Charles Hastings.

"But Hastings has a third and infinitely more important function: he is also the head of British Intelligence in Amalia. From the Amalian capital of Taira he controls a network which includes young Richard Cadell, vice-consul at the border city of Mansa, and is himself controlled by Anthony Kelly, D.I.6's man in Whitehall."

In these 'Janus' stories, it is Hastings who really the focal point though the others get involved quite a bit, especially Cadell. In the second incarnation, 'The Spies', Hastings has departed the scene and Cadell, more openly controlled by Kelly, handle things in Amalia.

TELEVISION


Number of Episodes:	26
First Appearance:	1965
Last Appearance:	1966
Network:	BBC

REGULAR CAST
Richard Cadell	Dinsdale Landen [ 1 ]
Peter Dyneley	Cdr. Charles Hastings [ 1 ]
Simon Oates	Anthony Kelly [ 1 ]
Lawrence Dane	Bob Miller [ ]

       There are two separate series involved in this entry, as mentioned above.
       In 1965, a very cerebral slow-moving drama concerning the back-room diplomacy efforts of the UK, US, and USSR inside the borders of a small European nation very much up-for-grabs. It lasted 11 episodes.
       The next year, a major retooling took place, up to and including changing the name of the show. The two field operatives from the first season, important in those episodes but not the focus, took center stage in the next set of stories, of which there were 15.

       Apparently, of the 26 known episodes, many are thought to no longer be in existence.

1	Them Is Anyone That Isn't Us Episode S1-1, first aired 10/08/1965 Director: William Slater Writer: John Gould Tonight's opening story tells how an innocent bystander is unwillingly co-opted for service.

2	And The Fish Are Biting Episode S1-2, first aired 10/15/1965 Director: David Proudfoot Writer: Roger Marshall Tonight's story involves an attempt to do that most difficult spy trick - the quadruple cross: In the intelligence game even the rawest recruit knows how to stay on the alert for the double-cross. A tolerably experienced operator can unusually be trusted to spot the triple cross. But you have to be good - very good - to detect, or even to set up if need be, the quadruple cross. Richard Cadell, the young man who looks after British Intelligence in the Amalian second city of Marsa, from behind his front job of Vice-Consul, is already a very cagey operator. So when he meets with a call for his services, he first examines all the angles.

3	The Sleeper Episode S1-3, first aired 10/22/1965 Director: Phillip Dudley Writer: Michael Winder There is a Hungarian governmental code to be cracked, and working at the Hungarian Embassy in Amalia is a solidly-established Communist diplomat who was once a young and idealistic refugee in London. In London he had accepted a retainer from British Intelligence; now he must carry out his side of that almost-forgotten bargain. Or else.

4	Rendezvous Episode S1-4, first aired 10/29/1965 Director: Eric Hills Writer: John Pennington Richard Cadell is part of an East European trade mission visiting Amalia, taking the role of press officer. His task is to contact a member of the other side's delegation but the question is which one.

5	The Public Interest Episode S1-5, first aired 11/05/1965 Director: Eric Hills Writer: Bill Barron Britain and the Soviet Union agree to exchange captured agents and use Amalia as the site of the transfer.

6	The Devil You Know Episode S1-6, first aired 11/12/1965 Director: David Proudfoot Writer: Jan Read It is not unusual for people to visit Amalia as a tourist but when a British government mathematician visits, his trip is particularly interesting considering he is fond of gambling and deeply in debt

7	The Rack Episode S1-7, first aired 11/19/1965 Director: William Slater Writer: Brian Degas The eye is a camera, but the mind is a distorting lens.

8	The Cold Equation Episode S1-8, first aired 11/26/1965 Director: Philip Dudley Writer: Tony Williamson Is a dangerous game the only game worth playing?

9	The Arranger Episode S1-9, first aired 12/03/1965 Director: William Slater Writer: David T Chantler Both the UK agent and US agent are very interested in the sculptor named Milo, a man who molds clay into incredible figures. He also is known to handle plastic explosives quite well.

10	Why Not Call Me Kruschev Episode S1-10, first aired 12/10/1965 Director: David Proudfoot Writer: Tony Williamson [plot unknown]

11	Arms And The Men Episode S1-11, first aired 12/17/1965 Director: Eric Hills Writer: David T. Chantler [plot unknown]

12	If He Runs, I Want You There Episode S2-1, first aired 01/01/1966 Director: Phillip Dudley Writer: John Gould Richard Cadell, whose record in the field has been marked by certain errors, is called home for 'routine security vetting'. But is his recall in fact a normal operation? In London there are men whose business is to spy on the spies, and they are taking an interest not only in Cadell, but in his chief, Anthony Kelly." "Spies don't have friends - only enemies and lovers.

13	It Hurts The Same Whoever You Are Episode S2-2, first aired 01/08/1966 Director: William Slater Writer: Michael Winder [plot unknown]

14	Go Ahead, I Only Live Here Episode S2-3, first aired 01/15/1966 Director: David Proudfoot Writer: Bill Barron An invasion of Amalia is kept at bay so long as Copic is not allowed to discover the secret of a British fireplace.

15	Poor Tchernik Episode S2-4, first aired 01/22/1966 Director: Phillip Dudley Writer: Brian Degas Tchernik thinks this is to be his last job - his one weakness ensures it is.

16	He Isn't On The Market - Not This Year Episode S2-5, first aired 01/29/1966 Director: Paul Ciappessoni Writer: Tony Williamson A 'reformed' enemy agent - beautiful Maria Galberti - wants to help the British. But just how reformed is she? This is the question Cadell and Kelly must answer." "A trap is no less a trap for being obvious; but this time the bait is too valuable for Anthony Kelly of D.I.6 to ignore.

17	It's Much Colder Where I Come From Episode S2-6, first aired 02/05/1966 Director: Eric Hills Writer: John Gould A quiet manhunt in London brings Cadell into a secret struggle against the Russian, Copic, for the mind of a homicidal maniac.

18	Your Own Hands Strikes You Dead Episode S2-7, first aired 02/12/1966 Director: Brian Parker Writer: John Gould A threat is made upon the life of Edward Manner.

19	Once You're Dead - You're Dead Episode S2-8, first aired 02/19/1966 Director: William Slater Writer: Michael Winder A kidnapping creates a political riddle and a British headache.

20	Full Pay And Funeral Expenses Episode S2-9, first aired 02/26/1966 Director: Phillip Dudley Writer: Duncan Ross Cadell puts himself in danger trying to get details of a secret weapon.

21	A Lamb To The Flock Episode S2-10, first aired 03/12/1966 Director: Phillip Dudley Writer: Elwyn Jones The cruelty of espionage sometimes reaches even into such places as schools and universities.

22	The Trouble With Aristotle Episode S2-11, first aired 03/19/1966 Director: Eric Hills Writer: Bill Barron Aristotle and Melina are professional safebreakers called in by Cadell to crack a safe at the bottom of a pond.

23	Don't Go Away, This'll Kill You Episode S2-12, first aired 03/26/1966 Director: Michael Hayes Writer: Jane Phillips A secret weapon - a girl magician - and Cadell is set on a path to danger.

24	There's Only One End For Traitors Episode S2-13, first aired 04/02/1966 Director: Paul Ciappessoni Writer: David Verner Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.

25	If I Can't Win, I Don't Play Episode S2-14, first aired 04/09/1966 Director: Paul Ciappessoni Writer: Tony Williamson A game with no rules, no referee and no final whistle. A dangerous game where cheating counts more than honour.

26	I Don't Even Volunteer Episode S2-15, first aired 04/16/1966 Directors: Eric Hills, David Proudfoot Writer: Tony Williamson Cadell, Hastings and Kelly run a dangerous race against Copic for a valuable international prize.

COLLECTIBLES

Number of Collectibles:	2
First Appearance:	1965
Last Appearance:	1966


1			The Spies Sheet Music Sheet Music Lawrence Wright Music Co. Copyright: 1965 "The Spies (Mask of Janus Theme) - Piano Solo from the BBC TV Series - Featuring Cyril Stapleton"

2			The Spies Theme Record .45 rpm record Pye Records Copyright: 1966 .45 rpm single containing the theme music from the show played by Cyril Stapleton. Side A: The Spies Theme Side B: March of the Diddy People

MY COMMENTS

I did not have to think hard to come up with a way of expressing how I felt about the lives the people in this series lived. Bleak. Granted, the grainy images I saw watching the episodes I could find helped give that feeling, along with them being in black and white (which normally I enjoy!).

But as I watched, I could not find a single person, male or female, on any of the sides presented, that I would like to spend the least amount of time with. Not that they are necessarily bad people. They just seemed depressing.

I can see why the retooling was thought needed. I believe it helped but obviously not enough.

GRADE

My Grade: B-

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