Strange Report

I remember watching this series as a young boy in the late 60s. It was a excellent series then and, still is, now. What a shame they never went on to make a second run. What a great roll model Anthony Quayle was both as Adam Strange and as him self. Anneke Wills was/is great attired in the fashion outfits of the day and Kaz Garas was full of great fun without being too over the top, I thought his character was great. All three characters interacted so well that the presence of other actors is almost an intrusion.

As for DVD box set - It was great to see the present day Anneke and Kaz speaking of the series on the DVD extras disc. Appearances are made by other actors, like Martin Shaw, talking about the program just prior to the episode that they appear in. The quality is stunning, having been digitally remastered, far better than when I originally watched it. What a treat to see it again after all these years.

I've thoroughly enjoyed watching this (largely-forgotten) series over the past few weeks, & I'm just so surprised that I'd never come across it before. Starring the excellent Anthony Quayle (in a very naturalistic & perfectly understated performance) as criminologist Adam Strange, each hour-long story sees him tackling an unusual (numbered) case that is slightly out of the normal field of Scotland Yard's remit - ably assisted by forensics expert Ham (Kaz Garas), & Strange's pretty young female artist neighbour Evelyn (played by Dr Who's Anneke Wills). There are some eminent guest-stars too, including a pre-Sweeney John Thaw, Ian Ogilvy, Julian Glover, Martin Shaw, Sally Geeson, Bernard Lee & Anthony's 'Ice Cold in Alex' co-star Sylvia Syms, to name a few.

Only one series of 16 episodes were made - broadcast in the UK on Sunday evenings between September 1969 & January 1970. I liked the Little Venice London setting of Strange's apartment, & there's some excellent location work too which adds plenty of colour & late-60s period charm. The production is based at Pinewood, & good use is made too of the studios environs & locations in the surrounding areas. There's also of course the obligatory catchy theme tune & memorable title sequence that you would expect.

This show to me seems to bridge the gap perhaps from the more studio-bound & fantasy-based ITC shows of the 60s to the more gritty & realistic drama series that would start to emerge in the 70s. It's highly-enjoyable & original, & it seems a pity that only one season was made - although I'm not sure the proposed setting of the second season in America would have been such a good idea, as it may have lost the intimacy & 'Swinging London' feel that make this perfect collection of 16 episodes so unique.

All in all, highly-recommended for fans of tele-fantsasy & lovers of 60s kitsch, & a real hidden gem of a programme.

When this series first hit the screens in late 1969 I was living in bedsitter land Earls Court without a TV so missed it completely. It was only recently whilst searching IMDb for Anneke Wills who had fired my schoolboy libido when she was in Doctor Who that I came across it. I managed to score a copy of the complete series on DVD and watched all the episodes over a couple of days. This is a ten star series, well written and well-acted by all concerned, especially Anthony Quayle as Adam Strange. I love watching these series from the 60's, especially the locations as I know London from that time so well. My next move is to get all the Dept S and Jason King box sets, Peter Wyngarde had a flat in the house next to mine and drove a Jenson which he parked outside, try doing that now. It also good to see the mini-skirted Anneke Wills amongst the other swinging sixties actresses including the lovely Elaine Taylor who my father once danced with on the Isle of Wight when we had a holiday there and she was doing a summer season on Sandown pier. I think he was a bit enamoured with her, well who wouldn't be. Episodes also feature some rising stars including john Thaw, Ian Ogilvy, Rosemary Leach and Martin Shaw. It is well worth getting the DVD which has been lovingly restored and looking like it was filmed recently. There are some interviews with Martin Shaw and Zienia Merton plus short documentaries with Anneke Wills and Kaz Garas. It's just a shame the cast decided they didn't want to do a second series in the United States. I can't recommend this series enough.

During the summer of, I think, 1971, NBC used a three-year-old British show called The Strange Report as a summer replacement. I have very good memories of my 20-year-old sister wanting me to see this cool show and my surprise that it was cool (and she wanted to spend time with me, her annoying brother of 13!).

I remember the show as a fairly hip, witty, and funny show about three scientists who investigated the para-normal. The two male leads, Anthony Quayle and Kaz Garas were established character actors, but I didn't have a clue about the female lead. The show was spooky and scary and terribly fun to watch on a hot July night. Honestly, I don't remember much from the show--this review is more about the memories it evoked, but, if you ever get a chance to see it, watch it with an open mind (through my adult lenses, it's probably just awful!) and imagine seeing this with your older sibling(s) and feeling just fine.

I couldn't agree more with John Hughes. What an excellent series, and such a shame they never continued it. The other night I caught an episode on ITV 4 and it brought back several happy memories of being 12 in swinging sixties Britain.

Those were the days all right, and Strange Report captures them perfectly.

In terms of raw atmosphere it has oodles in common with other well-known series from the same period like: The Baron, Man in a Suitcase, Gideon's Way and The Champions. Yet, Strange Report was 'different' in a way I can only attribute to the level-headed, avuncular personality of Adam Strange himself, played brilliantly by Anthony Quayle. I guess he was the vital essence that distinguished the series from the rest.

But hey! There was a raft of other stupendous acting talents in there too – people like: John Thaw, Robert Hardy, Martin Shaw, Ian Ogilvy, Richard O'Sullivan, Julian Glover, Bernard Lee, Kenneth Griffith, Peter Vaughan, Keith Barron and Sylvia Syms. In fact, a veritable potpourri of contemporary British stardom by any measure.

Also, Roger Webb's outstanding theme tune deserves special mention. It was up-front, very catchy and eminently arresting. A classic of the genre – and of the era.

So, all in all, if you're a die-hard sixties fan like me, I reckon Strange Report is a fab way to relive the wonder years for not a lot of dosh. You'll love this one to bits.

Honest!