Strange Report
Encyclopedia
Strange Report is a British
television drama starring Anthony Quayle
as Adam Strange. It was produced by ITC Entertainment
and first broadcast in 1969.
Adam Strange, a retired Home Office criminologist, solves bizarre cases - which had been marked "Open File" by various government departments - with the help of Hamlyn Gynt (Kaz Garas), Evelyn (Anneke Wills
) and Professor Marks (Charles Lloyd Pack
). He employed the latest techniques in forensic investigation
, which he undertook in his own laboratory in his flat in Warwick Crescent in the Maida Vale
/Little Venice area of Paddington
.
Unlike other ITC productions which were created in order to be sold to a US market, Strange Report was created in collaboration with the US (NBC's films unit Arena) with the suggestion that the first half of the series would take place in the UK and the second half would see Strange visiting the US. This fell through, which explains why such a short season of episodes was created. The second series fell through because two of the main performers decided not to continue due to personal concerns (Anthony Quayle and Anneke Wills).
The series opening theme, composed by Roger Webb, was also available as sheet music.
, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire..
Airdate is for ATV
Midlands. ITV
regions varied date and order.
, from digitally restored prints, in 2005/2006, (the episode 'Heart' was not screened by ITV4), satellite channel Men and Motors also screened the series in 2007.
ITC Video released two VHS tapes of the series in the UK in 1994, containing the episodes - 'Heart'/'X-Ray', and 'Covergirls'/'Cult'.
Techno Film released two episodes as home movie versions on Super 8mm color film in 1970, 'Shrapnel' and 'Hostage'.
was published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1970.
records (1970), "The World of Love" the song from the episode 'Cult' was released as the b-side to The Strangers first single, "I've Got You", on the little known Havard record label (Harv 001) (1970), the accompaniment to the song is credited to Geoff Love
who, in 1972, recorded his own version of the 'Strange Report' theme for the Music For Pleasure LP 'Geoff Love and his Orchestra play-Your Top TV Themes' (MFP 5272), this version can also be found on the Virgin records CD "This is....Cult Fiction Royale" (1997) and the ITV50 Cult TV Themes CD (2005) released to celebrate 50 years of ITV.
Note: 'The Strangers' mentioned here should not be confused with either the Australian or Irish groups of the same name.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television drama starring Anthony Quayle
Anthony Quayle
Sir John Anthony Quayle, CBE was an English actor and director.-Early life:Quayle was born in Ainsdale, Southport, in Lancashire to a Manx family....
as Adam Strange. It was produced by ITC Entertainment
ITC Entertainment
The Incorporated Television Company was a British television company largely involved in production and distribution. It was founded by Lew Grade.-History:...
and first broadcast in 1969.
Adam Strange, a retired Home Office criminologist, solves bizarre cases - which had been marked "Open File" by various government departments - with the help of Hamlyn Gynt (Kaz Garas), Evelyn (Anneke Wills
Anneke Wills
Anneke Wills is an English actress, best-known for her role as the Doctor Who's companion Polly in the long-running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Biography:...
) and Professor Marks (Charles Lloyd Pack
Charles Lloyd Pack
Charles Lloyd-Pack was a British film, television and stage actor.He was born in London, England. He was seen in several horror movies produced by the Hammer Studios including Dracula, The Man Who Could Cheat Death, The Revenge of Frankenstein and The Reptile and Quatermass 2, the film version of...
). He employed the latest techniques in forensic investigation
Forensics
Forensic science is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to a legal system. This may be in relation to a crime or a civil action...
, which he undertook in his own laboratory in his flat in Warwick Crescent in the Maida Vale
Maida Vale
Maida Vale is a residential district in West London between St John's Wood and Kilburn. It is part of the City of Westminster. The area is mostly residential, and mainly affluent, consisting of many large late Victorian and Edwardian blocks of mansion flats...
/Little Venice area of Paddington
Paddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
.
Unlike other ITC productions which were created in order to be sold to a US market, Strange Report was created in collaboration with the US (NBC's films unit Arena) with the suggestion that the first half of the series would take place in the UK and the second half would see Strange visiting the US. This fell through, which explains why such a short season of episodes was created. The second series fell through because two of the main performers decided not to continue due to personal concerns (Anthony Quayle and Anneke Wills).
The series opening theme, composed by Roger Webb, was also available as sheet music.
Cast and characters
- Anthony QuayleAnthony QuayleSir John Anthony Quayle, CBE was an English actor and director.-Early life:Quayle was born in Ainsdale, Southport, in Lancashire to a Manx family....
- Adam Strange - Kaz Garas - Hamlyn Gynt
- Anneke WillsAnneke WillsAnneke Wills is an English actress, best-known for her role as the Doctor Who's companion Polly in the long-running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Biography:...
- Evelyn McClean
Episode list
Filmed July 1968 - March 1969 on location and at Pinewood StudiosPinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a major British film studio situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, approximately west of central London. The studios have played host to many productions over the years from huge blockbuster films to television shows to commercials to pop promos.The purchase of Shepperton...
, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire..
Airdate is for ATV
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
Midlands. ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
regions varied date and order.
| Episode # | Prod # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate | Filmed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broadcast
The series was repeated on UK satellite channel Bravo in 1996/97, and on UK digital channel ITV4ITV4
ITV4 is a British television station which was launched on 1 November 2005. It is owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc, and is part of the ITV network. The channel has a male-oriented line-up, including sport, cop shows and US comedies and dramas, as well as classic ITV action...
, from digitally restored prints, in 2005/2006, (the episode 'Heart' was not screened by ITV4), satellite channel Men and Motors also screened the series in 2007.
VHS and DVD release
Strange Report was released on DVD in the UK by Network as a 5 Disc Special Edition in 2004, and as a 4 Disc Edition in 2005. The 5 Disc Special Edition was subsequently re-released in the UK in 2007 and the 4 Disc set in 2009: The series was digitally restored for Carlton Visual Entertainment by BBC Resources in 2003. The series was also released on DVD in Australia by Umbrella Entertainment in 2007.ITC Video released two VHS tapes of the series in the UK in 1994, containing the episodes - 'Heart'/'X-Ray', and 'Covergirls'/'Cult'.
Techno Film released two episodes as home movie versions on Super 8mm color film in 1970, 'Shrapnel' and 'Hostage'.
Novel
A paperback novel 'based on the famous TV series', written by John BurkeJohn Burke (author)
John Burke was an English writer of novels and short stories.He had written under the names J. F...
was published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1970.
Records
The theme to the series by Roger Webb was released as a 7 inch single on ColombiaColombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
records (1970), "The World of Love" the song from the episode 'Cult' was released as the b-side to The Strangers first single, "I've Got You", on the little known Havard record label (Harv 001) (1970), the accompaniment to the song is credited to Geoff Love
Geoff Love
Geoff Love was a British easy-listening, and disco orchestra leader. He was born in the industrial town of Todmorden in the West Riding of Yorkshire. His father was a mixed race American-born guitarist and dancer, and his mother an actress. As a child, Love began to learn to play the violin but...
who, in 1972, recorded his own version of the 'Strange Report' theme for the Music For Pleasure LP 'Geoff Love and his Orchestra play-Your Top TV Themes' (MFP 5272), this version can also be found on the Virgin records CD "This is....Cult Fiction Royale" (1997) and the ITV50 Cult TV Themes CD (2005) released to celebrate 50 years of ITV.
Note: 'The Strangers' mentioned here should not be confused with either the Australian or Irish groups of the same name.