User Reviews

This appears to be the lowest-rated episode of the series but for me it is the best and cleverest.

The low-ratings from many viewers are probably because this is the most untypical episode and rather than being drama with a fair sprinkling of humour from King via his witty lines and observations this is essentially a satire on TV commissioning. King is considering selling TV series rights to his Mark Caine character to an American TV producer. While King wants to maintain some artistic standards the producer is obsessed simply with ratings and wants to dictate the format of the show and the story that he outlines. Any attempt at characterisation and fleshing-out the tale is rejected by the philistine producer who simply wants action and the use of every screen cliche. Of course it may be argued that all these criticisms are true of so many shows on TV including the actual Jason King series that aired. It that sense the episode may be seen as self-referential or even a send-up and that may be too much for some viewers but for me it was a great commentary on TV and film production.

There is actually a story that appears in between King's arguments with the producer and in other circumstances it could very well have been developed into a full episode. That story is pretty well done but it's the satire that really sticks in the memory (for good or bad depending on the viewer's perspective).

While Wyngarde is undoubtedly in great form here and always the central reason for the show's appeal honourable mention should also go in this episode to David Bauer as the pill-popping, stress-laden producer.

I had an older cousin who was obsessed with Jason King. He styled himself on the character in the early 1970s. The hair, the clothes, that moustache. He even bought a fast car.

It all came to a crashing halt when Peter Wyngarde had an unfortunate incident at the toilets of Gloucester bus station which led to his arrest.

The character of Jason King was such a cultural phenomenon. I didn't even notice his garish outfits in this opening episode.

Like a lot of ITC episodes that stock footage of international locations are on overdrive. New York, Geneva and somewhere in Greece.

The story is a bit humdrum. In some ways it is a bit ahead of its time in some Remington Steele or Moonlighting kind of way. It just comes across as overcooked nonsense. It really needed King to have a female co-star.

Jason King is now a successful novelist and is talking to an American television producer to bring his character Mark Caine to the screen.

King tells the producer when he is not being interrupted. The opening adventure featuring Caine who is portrayed by King.

A girl has had plastic surgery to look like a woman who died several years ago. Her handlers claim that she has had amnesia.

Caine comes to the girl's rescue. They know that her handlers are using her and plan to dispose of her later. The handlers are playing a complex game with a crook called Bellini.

Like the locations, it's a bit all over the place. Disjointed and in some ways looks cheap. A bit like Wyngarde's wig.