Dangerous Knowledge

The 1970's was an era that was rich for espionage/mystery dramas, I have a huge fondness for those penned by Francis Durbridge, and while this isn't quite in the same style, it's still a very enjoyable six part series.

The start is full of intrigue, you have a load of questions, definitely who and why, the events seem to make no sense, but as the drama progresses all questions are answered, and plenty of surprises lay in store. After a great start, I'd say the middle is a little padded, but the concluding episodes are excellent, packed with drama, action and some surprising twists.

The acting is excellent, John Gregson, Prunella Ransome and Patrick Allen in particular. If I'm honest, and perhaps slightly critical I'd have to say that Gregson was perhaps a little too old for the role, I couldn't quite believe in the chemistry between Kirby and Laura. It doesn't matter a great deal, as he's a fine actor, and gave a truly excellent performance throughout.

If you get the chance, watch the six part format, rather then the condensed movie, which at times feels a little heavily slashed in parts.

A mystery come espionage drama, one which is well worth watching, I really enjoyed it. 8/10

'Dangerous Knowledge' by N. J. Crisp is an excitingly mounted 6-part 70s cold-war espionage series electrified by another commanding performance from the charismatic and much loved actor John Gregson, sadly, this was to be his last role, as he died shortly after filming was completed. The unwholesomely gripping narrative unfolds at an engagingly relentless pace, this raven dark paranoid thriller wastes little time pitilessly plunging our beleaguered protagonist Bill Kirby (John Gregson) into a shadow-steeped, increasingly murderous milieu of high stakes deadly duplicity, where, perhaps, nothing is quite as it initially seems!

The entertainment value of this uncommonly immersive, consistently exciting 6-part serial remains undiminished, a testament to the immutability of cast-iron scripting and the exceptionally fine acting of a no less splendid cast, with Ralph Bates exuding glacial menace as a kill-happy assassin, with the underrated Patrick Allen delivering a scintillatingly stern performance as straightedged minister Roger Fane. And I have to say twinkle-eyed John Gregson really was a class act, and he is on delectably dynamic, quick-thinking, fast-drinking form as handy 'insurance Salesman' Bill Kirby who becomes embroiled in a confoundingly circuitous conspiracy wherein too much knowledge can be a VERY bad thing indeed! While some have claimed 'Dangerous Knowledge' to be somewhat old fashioned, I simply feel it to be pleasingly well fashioned! And Christopher Gunning's moody theme is a groovy, pulse-quickening highlight!

This is an impressive thriller for children with adult themes which debuted in 1976. Spies, lies and betrayals are littered through the work, and although the plot twists are not particularly challenging, they keep the interest throughout the six episodes.

Star of the piece, in his final role as Kirby (he was already dead by the time the series was broadcast), is John Gregson, who ditches his usual likable persona for a hard-drinking workaholic beer-gutted divorcée who still relies on his ex-wife for support and who can only express his love for his son through money, not intimacy. He is already half-way through a mysterious transaction when he enlists the help of Laura (Prunella Ransome) to escape surveillance. Soon, bodies start piling up, and Kirby's explanations about what is going on ring hollow. Yet the mystery seems to involve Laura's father, played by Patrick Allen (doing his patent impression of a particularly stern Easter Island statue). Accusations and counter-accusations fly. Who is the traitor?

The plot is brilliantly marshalled by scriptwriter N.J. Crisp, who plays cleverly with point of view. The central protagonist is Kirby, but the script keeps his knowledge concealed. The audience generally sees the action from Kirby's point of view, but our knowledge of the plot is essentially Laura's, and we piece together the jigsaw from the fragments in Laura's possession. A clever device that keeps our sympathies with Kirby while maintaining suspense.

Locations in Hampshire and Brittany are nicely used, although the climactic scene is rendered slightly comical by being filmed in what appears to be a force 9 gale. The plentiful use of location filming adds to the realism.

The portrayal of Kirby and his unhappy life is magnificent. There is literally no chance that any character in any children's drama today could be shown sticking away as much booze as Kirby does. Neither could one expect to see such a difficult, complex and realistic relationship as he has with wife Claire and son Robin portrayed nowadays. The obvious bond between him and Robin, and the difficulty they both have in expressing it, is remarkably moving at times, as well as being characteristic of British males in the 1970s before the world was ruined by touchy-feely stuff. Excellent performances from David Gwillim and Ruth Trouncer.

Political incorrectness is a fine thing, but it can be taken too far. If there is a false note here, it is in the burgeoning romance between Kirby and Laura. I won't anticipate the outcome in a spoiler, but will note that 24 years (between Gregson and Ransome) is a pretty big age difference. In fact, it is a larger difference than between Gregson and Elisabeth Bergner, who plays the aged Madame Lafois. 'Nuff said.

Old fashioned enjoyable thriller, how they used to make them. Action but without gratuitous sex or profanity. Anyway John Gregson would never indulge in such things! The "Dangerous Knowledge" is teasingly kept secret from us until very near the end. All we know is that Kirby (Gregson) has learned something which is of national importance. However he is quite prepared to put a price on this information. This leads to him being followed by shady agent Ralph Bates who is working for government bigwig Patrick Allen. Is he the subject of the secret, or is it someone else? Is the girl Laura what she seems? Lots of unexplained goings on, mysterious deaths and suchlike. Very Cold War, with the emphasis on not taking anything at face value. The tension and mystery build up intriguingly, to the extent that, ha ving recorded the series, I ended up watching the final three episodes one after the other.

What was a six-part TV serial has been re-edited into a fast-paced 90 minute play/film which can currently ( January 2014 ) be seen on Britains 'Movies For Men' digital channel under its original title.

The fact that it's been edited so much is glaringly obvious at times as one scene replaces another at breakneck speed, but the plot is easy to follow, nonetheless.

However because six half-hours have been edited so tightly, it's amusing to witness the vast consumption of alcohol, particularly whisky, consumed by John Gregsons character in the 90 minute version. It's also sad to see him smoking so much, in almost every scene, knowing that this fine actor died from a heart attack not long after making the series.

I can't agree with a previous poster that this was a children's serial. It is being marketed on DVD as an "Armchair Thriller" which was the umbrella title for a prime-time ITV series in the 70's, not a tea-time slot.