DAVID CALLAN

Full Name:	David Callan
Nationality:	British
Organization:	The Section
Occupation	Agent

Creator:	James Mitchell
Time Span:	1967 - 2015

ABOUT THE SERIES

Callan is an assassin working for British Intelligence.

The actual agency for which he works is a small one in the Intel community known only as the Section. It is run by a man known as Hunter, more of a title for the head of the Section than an actual name. The Section's job is to remove those posing a threat to Britain's security, be it through extortion, arrest, or death. Callan's job is the killing part and he has been the best they've had.

As the series opens, Callan has been away for many months, sacked by Hunter for being too interested in the why of someone's death than the how or when. Working as a bookkeeper for a man who doesn't like him has had its toll on Callan so when Hunter calls him back, he is ready to answer. Not eager, perhaps, as he still dislikes his profession, but ready.

Callan is described by Hunter as a cold-blooded killer and in many regards that is the truth but Callan may dispatch quickly and cleanly when the time comes, he definitely does not like it, hence his annoying (to Hunter) habit of making sure that the target deserves being removed. This reticence means an assignment often takes longer than his boss would like but once Callan knows the killing is justified, it happens.

Like many in his profession, Callan is a loner. He has no steady love interest and very few friends, if any. He has very little contact with his fellows at the Section. Since he is also not a heavy drinker nor a gambler nor a womanizer, it is very hard for his distractors to find anything wrong with him but his perceived cold personality. This, though, is despite the fact that Callan can see the humor in far more than his workmates, albeit with a good deal more cynisism.

The one steady companion that Callan has, if that is the proper word, is Lonely, a mousey incredibly skittish member of the underworld who is never brave enough to make anything of himself, even illegally, but who is as ubiquitous as can be. Hence Lonely knows far more than most people would imagine and is an excellent source of information for Callan, as well as being able to come up with the odd gun or bug or whatever the operative is needing.

It would be obvious to any paying close enough attention that Callan has some strange affection for Lonely, despite the fact that the meek little man perpetually has a foul odor about him. Lonely likewise probably would admit liking Callan if he was not so totally in fear of the man. This fear is perpetrated by Callan to force Lonely in doing whatever Callan needed.

Callan knows enough about himself to admit he is not a very nice man but with his own set of morals, he also knows that despite his killing people for a living, he is still basically a good man.

BOOKS

Number of Books:	7
First Appearance:	1969
Last Appearance:	2015

After a quite successful run with his creation Callan, first as a teleplay and then as a weekly series, James Mitchell was obviously not finished with the character. This was understandable because Callan was an intriguing and interesting man, especially well played on the small screen by Edward Woodward. The author looked around for other ways to make use of the unhappy assassin and luckily for us readers, he found it.

Taking the teleplay he had written for what amounted to the pilot for the tv series, A Magnum for Schneider, he would expand on the character and fill him out considerably without changing the man from the operative that had been so popular. He created the first book which came out as the second season was drawing to a close.

The show would go on for two more seasons, one fairly short and the second a good length but it eventually concluded in 1972. The next year, Mitchell kept the character going with the second of his eventual four books. The third and the last came out in successive years.

While Callan would come back a few years later for one final adventure, this time in another movie, there were no more printed novels.


1			Red File For Callan aka A Magnum For Schneider, aka Callan Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1969 David Callan is pulled back into the Section to take care of an arms dealer named Schneider. He is also being set up to take the fall for the murder but people forget how good Callan really is.

2			Russian Roulette Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1973 To get back a top agent held by the KGB, Hunter has made a deal - no gun for David Callan. This meant that he was fair game to any who wanted him dead and 3 KGB top guns were headed to London.

3			Death And Bright Water Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1974 A woman wants her daughter kidnapped from the man she was with in Crete. David Callan, out of the Section now and needing works, doesn't want the job but his old boss, Hunter, insists.

4			Smear Job Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1975 Hunter asked David Callan to come back to do two simple jobs. The first was to break into a library and steal a book. Unfortunately, it was in Sicily. The other was to make sure a gambler lost a fortune at cards. Since Callan didn't play cards that much, it was more of a challenge.

5			Bonfire Night Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 2002 Callan learns that someone is out to kill him. While he does not yet know who ordered the hit, he knows the hitman, an East German named Voss who was his torturer during a time before the Wall fell.

6			Callan Uncovered Written by James Mitchell, Mike Ripley Copyright: 2014 Edited by Mike Ripley. Collection of many of the Callan short stories written over the years: Merry Christmas from the Section File on a Deadly Deadshot File on an Angry Artist File on a Reckless Rider File on a Weeping Widow File on an Angry Actor File on a Lucky Lady File on a Dancing Decoy File on a Deadly Diary File on a Classy Club File on a Fearsome Farm File on a Careful Cowboy File on a Doomed Defector File on a Pining Poet File on a Powerful Picador File on a Difficult Don File on a Darling Daughter File on an Awesome Amateur File on a Joyous Juliet File on a Mourning Mother File on an Angry American File on a Deadly Don File on a Tired Traitor File on a Harassed Hunter File on a Beautyful Boxer Also contains a screenplay for an episode never produced, Goodbye Mary Lee, and the Outline treatment for another episode, A Funeral Has Been Arranged and Will Shortly Take Place.

7			Callan Uncovered 2 Written by James Mitchell, Mike Ripley Copyright: 2015 Edited by Mike Ripley. Collection of many more Callan short stories written over the years, including the first ones published: File on the Happy Hippy File on a Faithful Husband File on a Loving Sister File on a Painless Dentist File on a Fancy Lawyer File on a Chinese Hostess File on a Willing Victim File on a Kindly Colonel File on a Chelsea Swinger File on a Missing Poet File on a Friendly Lady File on a Jolly Miller File on a Deadly Doctor File on a Man Called Callan File on a Gallic Charmer Also included are scripts from two early episodes of the television show for which no recordings are available: Goodness Burns Too Bright Blackmailers Should Be Discouraged And a "secret" file for the TV Times giving fascinating data on Callan.

NOVELLAS AND SHORT STORIES

Number of Stories:	40
First Appearance:	1967
Last Appearance:	1976

The numerous short stories that Callan creator James Mitchell produced came in several spurts.

In 1967, the British television directory magazine TV Times put out an extra Christmas special for which Mitchell was asked to come up with a story, which considering Callan was a government assassin might seem incongruous with the season.

Three years later, the British newspaper Sunday Express published stories during five consecutive weekends in September/October of 1970.

It would repeat this pattern of sets of weekly stories over the next few years with five in the summer of '71, five in the spring of '72, 4 in the spring of '73, 3 in the early summer of '74 and 3 more in the fall of that year, 5 in the summer of '75, 5 in the winter of '76, and finally 4 in the summer of '76.

I first learned of some of these by finding the Michael J Bird website where he made available for download pdf scans. I enjoyed them a great deal.

A couple of years later, Mike Ripley of Ostara Publishing (a man I proudly call my friend), along with James Mitchell's son, Peter, compiled these and a few more they had found into the collection Callan Uncovered. Subsequently, they learned of even more stories and were kind enough to release a second collection titled Callan Uncovered 2.


1			Merry Christmas from the Section short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1967 Originally published in the TV Times in 1967. Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered. Henderson was a Section man until he went over to the Russians and after giving them several names of men who were then killed. Hunter had him tracked down and Callan had one night to take him out before he disappeared behind the Iron Curtain.

2			File on the Happy Hippy short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1970 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 09/20/1970 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered 2. Janet Cruze is a wealthy American hippy who recently arrived in London. Janet inherited a large fortune from her mother, which worries her father, a U.S. diplomat poised to become the next Ambassador to Great Britain. The CIA suspects that foreign agents might exploit Janet to create a scandal. Callan's task is to prevent this.

3			File on a Faithful Husband short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1970 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 09/27/1970 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered 2. Callan is tasked with assassinating a double agent, Dekker, who is hiding in a posh hotel protected by two bodyguards.

4			File on a Loving Sister short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1970 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 10/04/1970 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered 2. Callan is tasked with befriending Enid Matthews, the sister of a spy, to help locate and extract her brother, Frank, who has gone missing after selling secrets.

5			File on a Painless Dentist short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1970 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 10/11/1970 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered 2. Callan must confirm if a dentist named Clarkson is actually a KGB agent named Orlov and, if so, to kill him. Clarkson, a well-liked and seemingly gentle dentist in Kent, is suspected of using his practice as a front for espionage.

6			File on a Fancy Lawyer short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1970 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 10/18/1970 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered 2. Callan is tasked with surveilling a highly successful lawyer whose lifestyle has him spending considerably more than his income should allow.

7			File on a Chinese Hostess short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1971 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 08/08/1971 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered 2. Hunter takes Callan to a Chinese restaurant. During the meal, he points out one of the wait staff, a young woman named Rose Li. She is, according to Hunter, an agent with the Red Chinese who has been passing false intel to her bosses. She is due to be eliminated but Callan is to stop that.

8			File on a Willing Victim short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1971 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 08/15/1971 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered 2. Callan was certain he would be ordered to eliminate Andrew Hardy, a left-leaning intellectual who was popular in magazine articles and on television but then Hunter insisted Callan help keep the man alive.

9			File on a Kindly Colonel short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1971 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 08/22/1971 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered 2. A West African nation's popular leader, Colonel Obra, is in the UK on a state visit. He says he is in fear for his safety so Callan is assigned as a bodyguard. Callan, though, has his suspicions about the validity of the threats.

10			File on a Chelsea Swinger short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1971 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 08/29/1971 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered 2. Hunter shows Callan the photo of a woman named Sarah Vane who he says has been marked for elimination by the KBG. Callan is told to keep that from happening. His first steps are to figure out why they want her dead.

11			File on a Missing Poet short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1971 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 09/05/1971 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered 2. A British poet named Digby is especially popular in Russia and goes there on a regular basis to party with all sorts. An agent for British Intelligence has used his visit to secret onto him a microdot with the names of hawks in the government up to no good. It is Callan's job to find the poet and get the microdot. Unfortunately, that man has gone missing and the KGB is after him.

12			File on a Friendly Lady short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1972 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 04/23/1972 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered 2. It is Callan's latest assignment to look after two visiting American women. Hunter tells Callan that the women are both attractive but both have complicated backgrounds.

13			File on a Jolly Miller short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1972 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 04/30/1972 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered 2. A man named Miller is suspected of trying to sell secret tank designs to East Germany. Callan is given the task of stopping the transaction but unusual roadblocks will hinder his trip including a dangerous dog and even more interestingly a woman.

14			File on a Deadly Doctor short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1972 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 05/07/1972 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered 2. Hunter, who has not lost love for Americans, is approached by one asking for help to locate a missing operative named Merrick, captured by the KGB.

15			File on a Man Called Callan short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1972 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 05/14/1972 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered 2. It falls to Callan to eliminate a threat posed by a foreign operative named Lubov. This will involve Callan impersonating that same person at a health resort, a place which will prove not very healthy.

16			File on a Gallic Charmer short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1972 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 05/21/1972 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered 2. Callan has the unusual task of surveilling a professor's wife and her possible affair with a chef named Christophe. Since the professor is involved in classified research, any possible breach is worrisome.

17			File On A Deadly Deadshot short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1973 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 03/11/1973 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered Callan is tasked by Hunter to protect a wealthy man named Baumer, targeted by an Arab terrorist group, during a shooting event at Lord Marsden's estate.

18			File On An Angry Artist short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1973 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 03/18/1973 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered Callan is tasked by Hunter to investigate an angry artist named Hodge who may be in possession of some secret documents related to the Trucial States and to get them back if discovered.

19			File On A Reckless Rider short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1973 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 03/25/1973 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered Hunter assigns Callan to be a bodyguard to a Foreign Office troubleshooter who is an amateur steeplechase rider. A sniper has killed two other riders recently and Hunter fears the FO man is in danger.

20			File On A Weeping Widow short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1973 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 04/01/1973 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered Callan is told to investigate the death of a famous racing driver by getting close enough to the widow, Pamela, to learn if the dead man and she were connected at all with being couriers for the KGB. Callan finds getting close means getting hurt.

21			File On An Angry Actor short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1974 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 05/26/1974 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered The red file that Callan is handed is for Noel Empson, a famous British actor who, according to Hunter, has been "extremely naughty" by arranging parties for influential people in order to obtain blackmail material on behalf of the KGB.

22			File On A Lucky Lady short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1974 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 06/02/1974 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered Callan is ordered to play bodyguard protecting Angela, daughter of a successful financier. It seems there are some Corsican mobsters who want to exploit the father's business connections in the field of super-conductors.

23			File On A Dancing Decoy short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1974 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 06/09/1974 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered. Callan's assignment is to investigate a former Russian ballerina named Varvara Arenskaya who had previously defected to the West. He is to learn her connection with a noted economist named Routledge. She is of interest because when she fled the Iron Curtain, the KGB did nothing to stop her.

24			File On A Deadly Diary short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1974 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 10/06/1974 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered. Callan's orders from Hunter has him keeping an eye on a Lady Black because of her late husband and his potentially sensitive diaries.

25			File On A Classy Club short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1974 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 10/13/1974 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered Callan is given a very strange assignment - he has to lose a significant amount of money at a high-stakes gambling club called Renfrew's. This is the first step to uncover an East German spy operation.

26			File On A Fearsome Farm short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1974 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 10/20/1974 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered. It falls to Callan to finding a list of Soviet agents at a health farm. The list was hidden by a freelance agent named Odell who had first turned into a double agent before taking his own life - if he did.

27			File On A Careful Cowboy short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1975 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 07/27/1975 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered. A Mafia big-wig who has a deep love of wild west gunfights and has used such to eliminate enemies is the target that Hunter hands Callan. The trouble is that the man, who is also a major heroin smuggler, is surrounded quite a few bodyguards.

28			File On A Doomed Defector short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1975 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 08/03/1975 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered. Callan and Meres are on a mission in Milan to protect Ostrava, a Czech defector, from potential assassination. Callan reflects on Ostrava's dark history, including his involvement with the SS during Nazi occupation and later with the KGB, where he continued his brutal practices. Despite Callan's personal disdain for Ostrava, he is tasked with ensuring his survival because of orders from Hunter

29			File On A Difficult Don short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1975 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 08/24/1975 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered. Hunter assigns Callan the role of a military historian for a conference at St. Giles College, Oxford, where Callan is to mix with real experts and conduct surveillance on Oliver Stanley Routledge, a cipher expert targeted by East German Intelligence.

30			File On A Pining Poet short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1975 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 08/10/1975 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered. Hunter hands Callan a yellow file on Arthur Lewis, an economist with the Foreign Office, and another file on Luba Varenskaya, a poet recently released from Siberia. Callan is tasked with investigating their relationship, suspecting that Varenskaya might be leading Lewis to a place where they can't reach him.

31			File On A Powerful Picador short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1975 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 08/17/1975 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered. Callan has two run-ins with the Spanish bullfighting picador named Escobar. The first is when he is told to destroy a package the man is couriering. The second is when Callan is ordered to either frighten him into defecting ... or kill him.

32			File On A Darling Daughter short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1976 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 02/01/1976 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered. Hunter assigns Callan the mission to save the daughter of a influential army general. The woman is in danger from drug addiction and a threat from the East German intelligence agency, the SSD.

33			File On An Awesome Amateur short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1976 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 02/08/1976 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered A Russian poet wants to defect and he has asked Ms. Cynthia Widgery to produce help in the matter. She calls Hunter who assigns Callan who is less than thrilled to learn that Ms. Widgery, though an amateur, will be his ad-hoc partner.

34			File On A Joyous Juliet short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1976 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 02/15/1976 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered A major industrialist whose company has come out with a new deodorant is also secretly working on a nerve gas which has the interest of the KGB. Hunter worries that it will go after the man's girl friend on a trip to Verona and sends Callan to protect her.

35			File On A Mourning Mother short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1976 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 02/22/1976 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered. Callan, under orders, pays a visit to a grieving mother whose adult son, a scientist, was killed in a car accident. His visit is to learn more about the deceased to find if he was passing secrets to the other side.

36			File On An Angry American short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1976 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 02/29/1976 - Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered. Hunter and Callan are treated to a very fine restaurant dinner by two CIA agents as they are 'courted' to help in a "health alteration assignment" of a man in the UK who has become a liability to the Agency because of his connection to a deceased scientist.

37			File On A Deadly Don short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1976 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 08/15/1976. Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered The orders from Hunter are for Callan to take out a Mafia don named Valence who is deep in both the heroin trade and in political misdeeds. to get to the heavily guarded man, Callan infiltrates a Gatsbyesque party as a vintage car owner.

38			File On A Tired Traitor short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1976 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 08/22/1976. Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered A man who betrayed Britain more than two decades before has been located in southern Spain and Callan is sent to bring him back or eliminate him. Before he even leaves, though, someone tries to stop him in the most definite of methods.

39			File On A Harassed Hunter short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1976 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 08/29/1976. Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered It is normal for Hunter to tell Callan to find and eliminate so-and-so and then sit back and wait for the word it is done. This time he travels to northern England on a hit to make sure he sees the body in person. Callan knew it meant trouble, especially when he learns the target had killed Hunter's daughter.

40			File On A Beautiful Boxer short story Written by James Mitchell Copyright: 1976 Originally published in the Sunday Express, 09/05/1976. Contained in the collection Callan Uncovered Callan is used to being given a file and told to eliminate someone. This time the order is to keep the Israelis from killing him. It is only a two or three day assignment but determined assassins can try a lot in that period.

MOVIES

Number of Movies:	2
First Appearance:	1974
Last Appearance:	1981

Two years after the show left the small screen, the creator and writer of the series, James Mitchell, decided a remake of the original show, done in color and expanded to better tell the story, was in order. The original episode had been A Magnum for Schneider and a few listings of the movie used the same name but for the most part, the movie was just named Callan.

Another seven years would pass before James Mitchell would again knock on actor Edward Woodward's door to invite him to take up the Callan role for yet another adventure, this time a one-off taking place several years after the character Callan had retired. Callan learns from the newest Hunter that retirement is not an actual thing but just a thought and there is one more little job that needs doing.


1			Callan, The Movie aka A Magnum for Schneider Director: Don Sharp Writer: James Mitchell Actors: Edward Woodward as David Callan, Russell Hunter as Lonely, Eric Porter as Hunter, Carl Mohner as Scheider, Catherine Schell as Jenny, David Prowse as Arthur Released: 1974 Callan is called back to work to take care of a gun runner who has been smuggling in Magnums and selling them to terrorists. Reluctantly Callan accepts the assignment and decides using such a weapon on the target was appropriate so he seeks his pal Lonely to get one.

2			Wet Job Director: Shaun O'Riordan Writer: James Mitchell Actors: Edward Woodward as David Callan, Russell Hunter as Lonely, Hugh Walters as Hunter, George Sewell as Daniel Haggerty Released: 1981 Living a very quiet life as the owner and operator of a military memorabilia shop, Callan is surprised when the latest Hunter comes to call telling him he is needed for one more job. This one is close to home for the target is a man writing a tell-all book about the Department, naming Callan as a killer.

TELEVISION


Number of Episodes:	44
First Appearance:	1967
Last Appearance:	1972
Network:	ITV (UK)

REGULAR CAST
Edward Woodward	Callan [ 1-4 ]
Russell Hunter	Lonely [ 1-4 ]
Ronald Radd	Hunter [ 1 ]
Michael Goodliffe	Hunter [ 2a ]
Derek Bond	Hunter [ 2b ]
William Squire	Hunter [ 3-4 ]
Anthony Valentine	Tobey Meres [ 1-2,4 ]
Patrick Mower	James Cross [ 3 ]

In February of 1967 a television show called Armchair Theatre provided Britain with weekly tv plays, each one unconnect to the other much like the movie-of-the-week concept in the States. One such episode was A Magnum for Schneider written by experienced screenwriter and producer, James Mitchell. It was not intended necessarily to be a pilot and at the end it looked like the main character was set to be eliminated by his own department. Public reaction was quite favorable, however, and the production company was asked for an additional set of six episodes.

Still popular, Callan was extended for another set of 15 episodes though it would be nearly 18 months from the airing of the last set to the first of this new group. These, too, were well received but at the end of this lot, it was still undecided whether to continue and there were even two different endings to the season finale, one in which the character would die, ending the show literally with a bang.

Callan would not, however, go meekly and a year later he came back with 9 adventures followed by another 13 episodes a year and a half later. This time when the season came to a close, the show ended for good albeit without the drama of killing off the main character.

While Edward Woodward would continue throughout the series run as the main character and Russell Hunter would play his skittish, off-smelling underworld contact, Lonely, the role of the head of the Department, a man named Hunter, would be played by different people at different times. This was explained by letting the viewers know that the name 'Hunter' was not really a name but a title given to the head of the branch. As one died or retired or moved on, the next man in the position would assume the name along with the desk, making the changing of name plate unneccesary.

Two other characters of note are Tobey Meres and James Cross, fellow agents to Callan, often friendly and often antagonistic and almost always competitive. Callan both likes and tolerates them but would seldom go out for drinks with either.

Fans can watch the episodes of Callan by purchasing two DVD sets. The first is called The Monochrome Years and, according to Amazon, has all 21 episodes from the first two seasons (this despite the fact that several have been reported as lost forever AND user comments on the selling page indicate that they are not present). Seasons 3 and 4 are collected in The Colour Years.


1	A Magnum for Schneider Episode Pilot, first aired 02/04/1967 Director: Bill Bain Writer: James Mitchell Callen is called upon by Hunter, a boss from his former Intelligence days, to come work for him in a job to take out a gun smuggler who is arming terrorists.

2	The Good Ones are All Dead Episode 1-01, first aired 07/08/1967 Director: Toby Robertson Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: Powys Thomas as Stavros / Strauss, Linda Marlowe as Jeanne Roche, Tom Kempinski as Avram, David Lander as Berg Just like in the pilot, Callan is called back in from limbo for an assignment. His job is to keep tabs on a former SS officer who is hiding out as a Greek Cypriot.

3	Goodbye, Nobby Clarke Episode 1-02, first aired 07/15/1967 Director: Peter Duguid Writer: Robert Banks Stewart Guest Stars: Fionnula Flanagan as Rena Clarke, Helen Ford as Miss Brewis, Alfred Hoffman as Stan Sheppick, Dennis Alaba Peters as Kanaro, Bruce Purchase as Blair Callan learns that Hunter is planning to have an old friend of Callan killed for training mercenaries in Africa unless Callan can get him to stop.

4	The Death of Robert E. Lee Episode 1-03, first aired 07/22/1967 Director: Robert Tronson Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: Brian Harrison as Watcher, Burt Kwouk as Robert E. Lee, Lisa Langdon as Liz March, George Roubicek as Curtis Dale, Francesca Tu as Jenny The CIA agents tell Hunter that the Chinese agent they need help eliminating is stealing nuclear secrets but in fact he is in the UK to kill Hunter.

5	Goodness Burns Too Bright Episode 1-04, first aired 07/29/1967 Director: Bill Bain Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: Gladys Cooper as Dr. Schultz, Rosemary Frankau as Eva Faber, Robert Lang as Bauer, Jeremy Lloyd as Maitland, Les White as Franz Hunter has a great plan to infiltrate a mole into East Berlin's operations but it involves setting Callan up as a sacrificial lamb.

6	But He's a Lord, Mr. Callan Episode 1-05, first aired 08/05/1967 Director: Guy Verney Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: Ann Bell as Caroline Fielding, Gerald Flood as Miller, Donald Hewlett as Lord Lindale A blackmailer is about to release the goods he has on various people, causing a lot of damage, unless Callan can eliminate him. One problem, though, is he is a member of the House of Lords.

7	You Should Have Got Here Sooner Episode 1-06, first aired 08/12/1967 Director: Piers Haggard Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: Jon Laurimore as Pollock, Pinkie Johnstone as Sue Lyall, Anne Blake as Mrs. Lyall, Derek Newark as Loder, Lisa Langdon as Liz March Lonely has been beaten up while robbing a house that should have been empty. This angers Callan who soon finds a link to an enemy operative.

8	Red Knight, White Knight Episode 2-01, first aired 01/08/1969 Director: Peter Duguid Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: Duncan Lamont as Bunin, John Savident as Hanson, Lisa Langdon as Liz March, Douglas Fielding as Truman, George Ghent as Goncharov A new Hunter brings Callan back into the Section on an official basis. His first job is to escort a Russian defector flying into London.

9	The Most Promising Girl of Her Year Episode 2-02, first aired 01/15/1969 Director: Peter Duguid Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: Elizabeth Bell as Joan Mather, Raymond Young as Dr. Bradford, Clifford Rose as Dr. Snell, Peter Blythe as Horst, David Hargreaves as Karl Donner When a government lab researcher expresses worry her work might be used as a weapon, Callan is ordered to check her out.

10	You're Under Starter's Orders Episode 2-03, first aired 01/22/1969 Director: Mike Vardy Writer: Robert Banks Stewart Guest Stars: Kathleen Byron as Hannah Strickland, Harold Innocent as Millett, Mark Kingston as Watt, Lisa Langdon as Liz March, Morris Perry as Nixon Callan pretends to go rogue but it is just to convince a smuggler of defectors and enemy operatives seeking to leave the country.

11	Little Bits and Pieces of Love Episode 2-04, first aired 01/29/1969 Director: Peter Sasdy Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: Pauline Jameson as Sophia Rule, Laurence Hardy as Dr. Rule, Vladek Sheybal as Dicer, Fabia Drake as Agnes Gregory Callan's job is to follow and befriend a Polish emigre whose former husband is a bigwig back home, all in the hopes of luring him to the UK.

12	Let's Kill Everybody Episode 2-05, first aired 02/05/1969 Director: Robert Tronson Writer: Ray Jenkins Guest Stars: Heather Canning as Dr. Paula Goodman, Hilary Heath as Jenny Lauther, Peter Welch as Bremer, Kenneth Gilbert as Dr. Walker, Henry Knowles as Gould The word has come that someone in the Section has been marked for death by an unknown person so everyone must be ready to fight for his or her life.

13	Heir Apparent Episode 2-06, first aired 02/12/1969 Director: Peter Duguid Writer: John Kershaw Guest Stars: John Wentworth as Sir Michael Harvey, Peter Cellier as Captain Jenkins, Lisa Langdon as Liz March, Barbara Grimes as Harvey's Secretary, Martin Lyder as East German Guard Yet another new Hunter takes over but this one is still in East Germany undercover and Callan and Meres must head there to help him get out.

14	Land of Light and Peace Episode 2-07, first aired 02/19/1969 Director: Piers Haggard Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: John Barrard as Sir Bruce Ingoe, Ian Cooper as Markinch, Alan Cullen as Geoffrey Gleeson, Avril Elgar as 01e Ellis, Lisa Langdon as Liz March The spiritualist says she can see to the other side but she really has in possession microfilm that Callan has been ordered to get back.

15	Blackmailers Should Be Discouraged Episode 2-08, first aired 02/26/1969 Director: Jim Goddard Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: Barry Andrews as Todd, John Arnatt as High Commissioner, John Franklyn-Robbins as Richie, Lisa Langdon as Liz March, Karin MacCarthy as Ruth Naylor A high ranking government official is being blackmailed and Callan is sent to end the extortion but he does get curious what goods are being held.

16	Death of a Friend Episode 2-09, first aired 03/05/1969 Director: Peter Duguid Writer: Ray Jenkins Guest Stars: Ann Lynn as Francine Coquet, Jerome Willis as Flomard, David Leland as Marcel Latour, Rex Robinson as Mason, Barry Stanton as Lambert An old, former friend of Callan dies in a car accident, the victim of foul play, and Callan is ordered to protect his widow, who then gets kidnapped.

17	Jack-On-Top Episode 2-10, first aired 03/12/1969 Director: Mike Vardy Writer: Trevor Preston Guest Stars: Clifford Cox as Assistant Governor, Barrie Fletcher as Special Branch Man, Richard Mathews as James Holbrook, Conrad Phillips as Wilson, Daphne Slater as Stella Paxton A spy ring has gathered a considerable amount of intel and its leader is ready to flee the country with it unless Callan and Meres can stop him.

18	Once a Big Man, Always a Big Man Episode 2-11, first aired 03/19/1969 Director: Bill Bain Writer: Lee Dunne Guest Stars: Bernard Archard as Albert Watt, Michael Beint as Captain West, Michael Forrest as Clive, Mark Moss as Ted, Jacqueline Pearce as Eva Watt As Callan and Meres try to get their hands on a safe of a ship that went down during WWII to find a list of Nazi collaborators, a survivor of the ship is out to make sure they fail.

19	The Running Dog Episode 2-12, first aired 03/26/1969 Director: Jim Goddard Writer: Williams Emms Guest Stars: Nicholas Courtney as David Forbes, Burt Kwouk as Tao Tsing, Renny Lister as Felice Neff, Jonathan Newth as Henry Thackery, Terence Rigby as Holder The Chinese ambassador to the UK is the target of a group of fascists who want to cause trouble between the two nations.

20	The Worst Soldier I Ever Saw Episode 2-13, first aired 04/02/1969 Director: Robert Tronson Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: Allan Cuthbertson as Brigadier Pringle, Ronald Radd as Colonel Leslie, Tessa Wyatt as Sarah Pringle, Julia McCarthy as Mrs. Carr, Larry Cross as General Joe Klinger When a retired British general takes a job with a sultan in the Middle East, Security calls upon Callan to keep him from leaving, even if it means killing him.

21	Nice People Die at Home Episode 2-14, first aired 04/09/1969 Director: Peter Duguid Writers: Robert Banks Stewart, Terence Feely Guest Stars: Harry Towb as Eric Marshall, Frederick Jaeger as Colonel Max Belukov, Angela Morant as Nadia Marshall, Jonathan Burn as Chelenko, Roger Bizley as Ross It is Callan's job to break up a Soviet spy cell and he does so by causing disorder and confusion amidst the members.

22	Death of a Hunter Episode 2-15, first aired 04/16/1969 Director: Reginald Collin Writer: Michael Winder Guest Stars: Barbara Leigh-Hunt as Susanne, Derek Waring as Haynes, John Wentworth as Sir John Harvey, Norman Wooland as Koralin, Terry Scully as Kenny Callan is captured and brainwashed into believing that Hunter is leaking intelligence and that he has killed Lonely and framed Callan for it.

23	Where Else Could I Go? Episode 3-01, first aired 04/08/1970 Director: Jim Goddard Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: Patrick Mower as James Cross, Gary Watson as Henshaw, Clifford Rose as Dr. Snell, Harry Towb as Judd, Dennis Thorne as Dodds, Alan Cullen as Merry After months in the hospital, Callan must now face a battery of tests to prove himself fit even as Lonely is facing a long prison sentence unless Callan can get him off.

24	Summoned to Appear Episode 3-02, first aired 04/15/1970 Director: Voytek Writer: Trevor Preston Guest Stars: Patrick Mower as James Cross, Sylvester Morand as Palanka, George Pravda as Mr. Karas, Hana Maria Pravda as Mrs. Karas, Norman Henry as Inspector Kyle, Edward Caddick as Mr. Lorrimer Fellow Agent Cross has killed an innocent bystander but when Callan steps in to cover for him, he must wonder if the killing was an accident or not.

25	The Same Trick Twice Over Episode 3-03, first aired 04/22/1970 Director: Peter Duguid Writer: Bill Craig Guest Stars: Richard Hurndall as Surtees, Patrick O'Connell as Mallory, Geoffrey Chater as Bishop, Trisha Noble as Jean Price, Harold Innocent as Freddie An exchange of captured enemy agents between the UK and the USSR goes terribly wrong and Callan is caught in the middle.

26	A Village Called G' Episode 3-04, first aired 05/13/1970 Director: Mike Vardy Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: Lisa Langdon as Liz March, Harry Towb as Judd, Joseph F?rst as Sabovski, Marne Maitland as Berman, Graham Crowden as The Groper, George Innes as Arnold Something has gotten Hunter's secretary extremely upset and ready to kill, a task she should leave for Callan or his colleague Cross. They are the professionals.

27	Suddenly - at Home Episode 3-05, first aired 05/20/1970 Director: Piers Haggard Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: Zena Walker as Lady 01et Lewis, Tony Beckley as Rene Joinville, Dorothy Alison as Housekeeper, Frances Tomelty as 2nd Woman, Lisa Langdon as Liz March When Callan and Cross are told to provide a woman with round-the-clock protection, Callan finds himself getting far too involved.

28	Act of Kindness Episode 3-06, first aired 05/27/1970 Director: Mike Vardy Writer: Michael Winder Guest Stars: Anthony Nicholls as Heathcote Land, Ray Smith as Donovan Prescott, Jacqueline Maude as 01ice Land, Nicolette McKenzie as Mrs. Briggs, Peter Beton as Shop Assistant A down-on-his-luck, and quite disreputable former agent is being blackmailed and turns to his old 'friend', Callan, to get him out of trouble.

29	God Help Your Friends Episode 3-07, first aired 06/03/1970 Director: Peter Duguid Writer: William Emms Guest Stars: Stephanie Beacham as Beth Lampton, Michael Jayston as Mark Tedder, Rachel Herbert as Jeanette Valden, Oliver Cotton as Senor Andarez, Edward Harvey as Mr. Robinson The lonely female government translator has become enamored with a man who has too many ties to the Iron Curtain and Callan is directed to break it up any way he can.

30	Breakout Episode 3-08, first aired 06/10/1970 Director: Reginald Collin Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: Garfield Morgan as Lubin, William Fox as Chaplain, Robert Cartland as Bonnington, Lisa Langdon as Liz March, Billy Cornelius as Mellor The order is to find and kill a Russian spy but Callan and Cross have to break the man out of prison first to do it.

31	Amos Green Must Live Episode 3-09, first aired 06/24/1970 Director: Jim Goddard Writer: Ray Jenkins Guest Stars: Patrick Mower as James Cross, Corin Redgrave as Amos Green, Annette Crosbie as May Coswood, Stefan Kalipha as Casey Amos Green is a politician with the combustible view that "coloured immigration is dangerous to Britain and must stop".

32	That'll Be the Day Episode 4-01, first aired 03/01/1972 Director: Mike Vardy Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: Geoffrey Chater as Bishop, T.P. McKenna as Richmond, Clifford Rose as Dr. Snell, Ronald Radd as Previous Hunter, Jonathan Newth as Parson Callan is missing unless you talk to the KGB who insist he is actually quite dead.

33	Call Me Sir! Episode 4-02, first aired 03/08/1972 Directors: Bill Bain, Mike Vardy Writer: Bill Craig Guest Stars: Sarah Lawson as Flo Mayhew, Geoffrey Chater as Bishop, Lisa Langdon as Liz March, Glynn Edwards as Trowbridge, Paul Williamson as Stafford The KGB trades Callan back to the UK believing him to be a high ranking operative and when they learn the truth, they decide to eliminate him out of embarassment.

34	First Refusal Episode 4-03, first aired 03/15/1972 Director: Jim Goddard Writer: Bill Craig Guest Stars: Geoffrey Chater as Bishop, Martin Wyldeck as Kitzlinger, Coral Atkins as Myra Kessler, Christopher Owen as Anton Bristac, Lisa Langdon as Liz March Given the job of being Hunter, Callan's first emergency is to get back a stolen list of British operatives that the KGB want to buy.

35	Rules of the Game Episode 4-04, first aired 03/22/1972 Director: Voytek Writer: Ray Jenkins Guest Stars: Virginia Stride as Alevtina Medov, Geoffrey Chater as Bishop, Mike Pratt as Medov, Verna Harvey as Danera Medov, James Cossins as Neville Dennis Callan orders Cross to frighten a Russian family who have actually done nothing wrong. This is a job Cross should have enjoyed but does not.

36	If He Can, So Could I Episode 4-05, first aired 03/29/1972 Director: Peter Duguid Writer: Ray Jenkins Guest Stars: Geoffrey Chater as Bishop, Peter Blythe as Trofimchuk, Clifford Rose as Dr. Snell, Morris Perry as Vadim / Burov, John Abineri as Cuthbertson The Section's shrink is ready to pull Cross from duty but Callan is determined to show his man is alright even if it means it can cost Callan his own position.

37	None of Your Business Episode 4-06, first aired 04/05/1972 Director: Voytek Writer: Trevor Preston Guest Stars: Tony Selby as Lucas, Peter Eyre as West, David Whitman as Black, Brian Murphy as Reeves, Paul Williamson as Stafford Losing his new post as Hunter, Callan is ordered to take vacation. His desires to go abroad are hampered by the fact that he does not have a passport in his own name.

38	Charlie Says It's Goodbye Episode 4-07, first aired 04/12/1972 Director: Peter Duguid Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: Dennis Price as James Palliser, Beth Harris as Susan Morris, Richard Morant as Trent, John G. Heller as Komorowski, Lisa Langdon as Liz March As Callan tries to leave the Section because his new girl friend does not like his job, a senior government official is trying to defect.

39	I Never Wanted the Job Episode 4-08, first aired 04/19/1972 Director: Jim Goddard Writer: John Kershaw Guest Stars: William Marlowe as Abbott, Paul Angelis as Steve, Michael Deacon as Sunshine, Cleo Sylvestre as Tina, Ron Pember as Albert When Lonely accidentally sees a mob hit, he turns to Callan for help which gets the Section involved and makes the new Hunter wonder is Lonely should be allowed to live.

40	The Carrier Episode 4-09, first aired 04/26/1972 Director: Jonathan Alwyn Writer: Peter Hill Guest Stars: Lisa Langdon as Liz March, Peter Copley as Peter Rose, Ralph Nossek as Tamaresh, Michael Turner as Det. Insp. Vanstone, Windsor Davies as Chief Supt. Brown Callan used Lonely to help break into a government scientist's house to copy some plans he has but Lonely cannot help nicking an odd item or two which causes trouble for the both.

41	The Contract Episode 4-10, first aired 05/03/1972 Director: Reginald Collin Writer: Bill Craig Guest Stars: Robert Urquhart as Major Harcourt, Michael Pennington as Lafarge, Bernadette Milnes as Vera, Hugh Morton as Stepan A visiting Field Marshall is marked for assassination by someone so to find out who Callan takes the role of a paid assassin.

42	The Richmond File: Call Me Enemy Episode 4-11, first aired 05/10/1972 Director: Bill Bain Writer: George Markstein Guest Stars: T.P. McKenna as Richmond, Geoffrey Chater as Bishop, Lisa Langdon as Liz March, Paul Williamson as Stafford, Brian Croucher as Jarrow To debrief him, Callan takes a Russian spy defector to a lonely country estate where a major battle of wits between the two starts.

43	The Richmond File: Do You Recognise the Woman? Episode 4-12, first aired 05/17/1972 Director: Peter Duguid Writer: Bill Craig Guest Stars: T.P. McKenna as Richmond, Sarah Lawson as Flo Mayhew, Sheila Fay as Norah, John Moore as Dowsett, Cheryl Hall as Gladys The real purpose for Richmond's defection begins to come to light.

44	The Richmond File: A Man Like Me Episode 4-13, first aired 05/24/1972 Director: Reginald Collin Writer: James Mitchell Guest Stars: T.P. McKenna as Richmond, Clifford Rose as Dr. Snell, Peter Sallis as Routledge, Paul Williamson as Stafford, Robin Ellis as Harris Richmond is on the loose ant getting desperate. He hides out in the home of a sleeper agent as Hunter throws everything to find him.

GAMES

Number of Games:	1
First Appearance:	1969
Last Appearance:	1969


1			QUIZMASTER - How Much Do You Know About Secret Agents? Game Type: Quiz Published by: Thorpe & Porter Copyright: 1969 From the pages of Super DC No. 5 printing in the UK. Name who the agents mentioned get there order from.

REFERENCE BOOKS

Number of Books:	1
First Appearance:	2016
Last Appearance:	2016


1			The Callan File: The Definitive Guide Written by Robert Fairclough, Mike Kenwood Copyright: 2016 "The Callan File features interviews with cast, crew and writers, many offering fresh insights into Woodward’s early career and telling the story of Callan both on screen and off. As well as new interviews with (among many others) actors" "Covering all aspects of Callan on film and TV, in novels, short stories and on radio, this book is the only guide you’ll ever need. Produced with the full co-operation and support of James Mitchell’s family, with exclusive access to their Callan archives."

MY COMMENTS

Mr. Mitchell gave the spy-fi community two excellent agents; Callan and Craig (written as James Munro). I thank the man sincerely for both. There are obvious similarities in both men as they are both killers for British Intelligence, but there are far away enough differences to make them both uniquely interesting.

I recommend both. Craig might be a bit more interesting, albeit less consistent in his life. Callan, however, is a great example of a man who is very good at doing something he very much would rather not.

The television show from which the books eventually came was every bit as gray and dismal in atmosphere as the novels but they sure were fun and Edward Woodward can make anything better.

GRADE

My Grade: A+

Your Average Grade: A+

YOUR OPINIONS

David	A+	4/19/2014 7:20:06 PM	I was a bigger fan of Mitchell's John Craig series under the Munro by-line, but enjoyed these and certainly the tough minded Callan and the bleak world his adventures were set in. All in all one of the few tough series that felt genuinely that way and not merely a pose.

Alan47	A+	3/14/2016 11:59:07 AM	I adored the TV series. The only book I remember from that time was "Red File for Callan". I have now read all except the last two (which I have on order. Great books and for those who lived in the 70's, great nostalgia.

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