"Special Branch" Hostage (TV Episode 1973) Poster

(TV Series)

(1973)

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7/10
Terrorist Attack
gordonl5611 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Special Branch – Hostage – 1973 The daughter, Karen Stark, of the German ambassador, Michael Gambon, is kidnapped from her school by three Arab terrorists. They demand a quarter million pounds for her safe return.

Special Branch gets the call and Detective Inspectors, George Sewell, Patrick Mower and Bill Rowland get the case. They set up a command post at Gambon's home. All they need to do now is wait for a phone call.

The terrorists, Patsy Trench, Nigel Baguley and Nadim Sawalha soon call to arrange the ransom drop off. The time and place is agreed to. Special Branch tails along to watch the exchange. They plan to follow the swines back to their hideout.

The exchange is made and the boys follow from a safe distance. Unfortunately, they lose their quarry near some abandoned dockside warehouses.

Sewell, Mower and Rowland split up and search the area for signs of recent use. Mower sights some suspicious activity and calls it in.

Sewell calls in the Branch heavy mob who arrive armed to the teeth. The warehouse doors are booted in and the Branch boys pile in.

The terrorists do not come quietly and a major gun battle erupts. One of the Special Branch men is killed along with all three terrorists.

A quick search of the warehouse is started, and the young girl is recovered unharmed. She is returned to her parents, Gambon and Ann Lynn.

A nicely done episode that was made a year after the Munich Olympic hostage crisis. (color)
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8/10
Super final scene.
bondbug12 June 2022
The final scene must have set the blueprint for the Sweeney. It was excellent. A very good episode. Atmospheric and directed. Cast were excellent. I've buying these early 70's box sets, Scotland Yard and Budgie hoping to a Bond Bug which I own.
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10/10
Gripping, well paced, powerful acting, a gem.
Vaughan7418 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Special Branch have to deal with the kidnapping of a diplomat's daughter. A highly emotionally charged episode that is handled with aplomb by all, fine acting, tight direction, and a generally fast pace. Film location in the latter part is in the since-redeveloped London docklands. One of the best episodes of series 3.
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6/10
Hostage
Prismark108 February 2021
It is a case of spotting some well known faces and a goodbye to a cast member.

The daughter of a German diplomat who was dropped off near her school ios kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists.

They ring a newspaper that they have a hostage and demand a ransom of a quarter of a million pounds.

Crave and Haggerty have very little to go on. One lad who was late for school did see a red Cortina racing round a corner.

Meanwhile Pam is upset that Craven is avoiding her again. Their relationship reaches a breaking point.

The terrorists are painted as ruthless and although their cause is not stated explicitly. Professor Munro a middle eastern expert makes it clear that they are fighting for the Palestinian cause. He also makes it clear to Craven and Haggerty the problems that the Palestinians have gone through.

There is some luck and nice detective work from Craven and Haggerty to track down the whereabouts of the terrorists.

It all leads to an action packed shootout.

This would be deemed to be a controversial episode at the time. Broadcast almost a year from the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre. So it was a surprise that the Palestinian grievances were at least addressed. It would had been more tempting to make it one sided.

The breakup between Craven and Pam was sad to see. It added a lot to Craven's character. It seems actress Sheila Scott Wilkinson found another television role.

Look out for Michael Gambon, Brian Wilde, Mark Eden and Elisabeth Sladen.
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