Soldiers of Fortune

"...starring John Russell and Chick Chandler!" went the introduction to this "cheapie" and (I believe) syndicated series. As a ten year old I loved the freebooter aspect of the heroes. Russell was solid as always, a typical fifties hero except he was not (re-)fighting World War 2 but was off in exotic places, mostly Africa, and hiring out his gun and talents to the highest bidder. Chandler was the obligatory sidekick as I recall. Pause with me a moment and consider this: could 21st century television support a positive view of hired mercenaries? Fifty years ago there were different sensitivities. But were they always worse? Or better? John Russell's character represented courage, self-determination, chivalry and freedom. It is odd how such qualities seem sorely lacking in so many of today's role models. But few of them are "Soldiers of Fortune"!

Oh boy, do I ever remember this show! For many years, I tried my best to be just like the stars, traveling the world on a shoestring & getting into trouble while saving the girl. Sigh, oh well, instead I became an actor & got to do Hollywood heroics instead. A wonderful show in my memory. I got to know John Russell & even worked with him a couple of times. Unfortunately, I never got to meet Chick Chandler. Maybe someday, some smart person will start up a "nostalgia" channel & resurrect all those great old B/W TV shows from the 1950's. Remember Broderick Crawford in "Highway Patrol"? John Bromfield as "The Sheriff of Cochise"? "The Texan" with Rory Calhoun? and what about "Shotgun Slade" with Scott Brady? Sigh...those were the days!

When I was six years old this show was my idea of high adventure in exotic places! I still think that I became an avid reader of adventure fiction because of the mental stimulation I derived from the globe trotting exploits of Tim Kelly and Tubo smith. If memory serves the writing was first rate for a syndicated half hour show and the acting was enough to convince me that the show meant business. I've always had an irrational attachment to 7-Up as a soft drink because it was the sponsor for the show. Even the theme music was calculated to tickle the adrenal gland. I first learned about volcanic eruptions from one episode ; in another the two heroes hunted whales in open rowboats. In still another episode they brought a Latin American bandit on horseback to justice. Today I teach Global Studies in a High School because "Soldiers of Fortune" I wish it was available in syndication today.

Russell was in chess game with a Latin American dictator. He had help from a refugee European doctor. He won the game because the doctor was also "helping" the dictator. For a 10 yr old, the was a way cool plot twist.

I agree with the previous poster that the series was an example of the "White man's burden". Can't believe that it only ran a year. It was a period piece in a lull for mercenaries. Then again, with the Congo in 1960, the concept of mercenaries was revived and it was not an American dominated area.

Probably would have done better if they were CIA.

"Soldiers of Fortune" was one of my preferred t.v. shows in my youth.

I have too few souvenirs but I remember Tim Kelly and Toubo Smith as adventurers frequently in the jungle. Boy I am glad IMDB got me to remember this series !