Gerry Anderson
Director
The Protectors (1972)
Season 1
The Protectors is a British television series, an action thriller created by Gerry Anderson. It was Anderson's second TV series using live actors as opposed to electronic marionettes, and also his second to be firmly set in contemporary times. It was also the only Gerry Anderson produced television series that was not of the fantasy or science fiction genres. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company. Despite not featuring marionettes or any real science fiction elements, The Protectors became one of Anderson's most popular productions, easily winning a renewal for a second season. A third season was in the planning stages when the show's major sponsor pulled out, forcing its cancellation. The Protectors first aired in 1972 and 1973, and ran to 52 episodes over two series, each 25 minutes long - making it one of the last series of this type to be produced in a half-hour format. It starred Robert Vaughn as Harry Rule, Nyree Dawn Porter as the Contessa Caroline di Contini, and Tony Anholt as Paul Buchet. Episodes often featured prominent guest actors.
Released Sept. 29, 1972
Episode 25 min
10+
Genres: Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama
Keywords: imdb.cult-tv, imdb.paris-france, imdb.italy, imdb.london-england, imdb.mission, imdb.investigation, imdb.espionage + 9 more, imdb.private-detective, imdb.private-investigator, imdb.female-detective, imdb.detective, imdb.action-hero, imdb.teamwork, imdb.action-heroine, imdb.1970s, imdb.spy
Production Companies: Associated Television (ATV), ITC
Network: Associated Television
Country: United Kingdom
Languages:
English
S1E1 - 2,000 ft to Die
A friend of Harry's insists on doing a dangerous skydiving trick despite the fact that gold smugglers are trying to kill him.
Sept. 29, 1972, midnight
S1E2 - Brother Hood
A wealthy recluse hires the Protectors to break his brother out of prison.
Oct. 6, 1972, midnight
S1E3 - See No Evil
While in Rome the Protectors try to help a senator who is being blackmailed.
Oct. 13, 1972, midnight
S1E4 - Disappearing Trick
The Contessa ends up putting her life in danger when she agrees to help an old friend win a wager by making him disappear.
Oct. 20, 1972, midnight
S1E5 - Ceremony For the Dead
The wife of a president hires the Protectors to guard her critically ill husband whom she fears may be kidnapped.
Oct. 27, 1972, midnight
S1E6 - It Was All Over in Leipzig
While investigating a plot to overthrow the government of a Mediterranean nation the Protectors end up confronting two old friends of the Contessa, one with whom she was romantically involved.
Nov. 3, 1972, midnight
S1E7 - The Quick Brown Fox
The West German government hires the Protectors to put a pension fund that is supporting fugitive Nazi's out of business.
Nov. 10, 1972, midnight
S1E8 - King Con
The Protectors devise an elaborate con to recover a priceless antique which a woman had been conned out of.
Nov. 17, 1972, midnight
S1E9 - Thinkback
Harry and the Contessa are the victims of a car crash that was engineered to get information out of them.
Nov. 24, 1972, midnight
S1E10 - A Kind of Wild Justice
The daughter of a gangster whom Harry helped put in prison fails twice in her efforts to kill Harry.
Dec. 1, 1972, midnight
S1E11 - Balance of Terror
The KGB hires the Protectors to capture a renegade Russian scientist who plans on destroying London with a new virus to show the world how dangerous biological warfare can be.
Dec. 8, 1972, midnight
S1E12 - Triple Cross
A kidnapped Paul will be blown to bits unless Harry and the Contessa help steal jewels which they have been hired to safeguard.
Dec. 15, 1972, midnight
S1E13 - The Numbers Game
The Protectors only hope of putting a drug smuggling ring out of business lies in being able to decode a coded letter.
Dec. 29, 1972, midnight
S1E14 - For the Rest of Your Natural ...
The Contessa is captured by a psychotic killer who puts her on trial for her life.
Jan. 5, 1973, midnight
S1E15 - The Bodyguards
The police hire the Protectors to guard the corpse of a bank robber as part of a ruse to capture his accomplices.
Jan. 12, 1973, midnight
S1E16 - A Matter of Life and Death
In Malta, with only the body of a dead hippie as a clue, the Protectors go after smugglers despite having no idea what it is that is being smuggled.
Jan. 19, 1973, midnight
S1E17 - The Big Hit
After unsuccessful attempts on their lives, Paul and the Contessa are too late to warn Harry that someone is out to kill him.
Jan. 26, 1973, midnight
S1E18 - One and One Makes One
The Protectors are hired to track down Bennett, a missing Canadian agent who holds valuable information about a new American-Canadian sky project.
Feb. 2, 1973, midnight
S1E19 - Talkdown
Harry must land a small plane on his own when the pilot dies.
Feb. 9, 1973, midnight
S1E20 - Vocal
Drug dealers plan on using someone who can impersonate Harry's voice in order to get information out of a blinded Paul.
Feb. 16, 1973, midnight
S1E21 - With A Little Help From My Friends
Harry finds his family being threatened after he agrees to guard a visiting president in London.
Feb. 23, 1973, midnight
S1E22 - Chase
The Contessa gives Harry a shotgun for his birthday which he soon puts to good use when while investigating political blackmail he becomes the quarry in a manhunt.
March 2, 1973, midnight
S1E23 - Your Witness
An important witness to a murder who doesn't want the Protectors protection, vanishes soon after she is placed in the Protectors charge.
March 9, 1973, midnight
S1E24 - It Could Be Practically Anywhere on the Island
A small fluffy dog called Muffin is kidnapped from a hotel to place a microfilm in its collar. The dog is due to be ttansaported to NY. Harry saves the day.
March 16, 1973, midnight
10.0
S1E25 - The First Circle
Harry is hired to protect a disturbed Vietnam war veteran.
March 23, 1973, midnight
S1E26 - A Case For the Right
The Protectors end up in trouble in the Roman tombs.
March 30, 1973, midnight
Network: Associated Television
Episode Runtime: 25 min.
Season Runtime: 1300 min.
Released: Sept. 29, 1972
Last Air Date: March 15, 1974, midnight
Status: Ended
Certification: TV-PG / 10+
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