A Magnum for Schneider

This is a play from the series "Armchair Theatre." Titled "A Magnum For Schneider," we are introduced to a character of David Callan. He is a British secret operative who works for a particular department for British Intelligence, simply called "The Section." To the outside world, he's known as David Tucker. At the beginning of the play, he is given the chance of redeeming himself after his boss - codename "Hunter" - had to let Callan go. Callan is someone who specialises in committing murder, both with a gun and with his fists. These assignments are determined in accordance with a colour coding filing system. It is those files that are coded red that Callan is given. The person in a red file is marked for death and that is where Callan comes in. The trouble is, is that the agent doesn't really enjoy his job as he is always questioning his orders. His masters on the top floor do not particularly care for this, hence the reason Callan was removed from the section. Hunter presents the said opportunity for Callan to prove he is still a worthy and dangerous operative. However, Hunter needs to be sure that the agent isn't suffering from battle fatigue. Callan accepts the job as he loathes the current job he holds - an ordinary office clerk in the same building as the section. Edward Woodward and Ronald Radd make the script crackle with tension in the scenes they have. Callan's contempt for Hunter and for the job, sets the tone for the rest of the play. Peter Bowles is a very good Toby Meres but Anthony Valentine made the same character his own during the regular series. Russell Hunter is excellent as the safecracker Lonely, who it turns out, is the only person Callan can call a friend. There is a bit of a twist to the tale which I won't reveal but this is vintage dramatic television. "Callan" is still the best Spy drama series of all time.

'A Magnum for Schneider' is a taut 55-minute TV play produced for ABC's 'Armchair Theatre' in 1967 and starring Edward Woodward. David Callan is a sharp-shooting British spy who has been sidelined to a humdrum desk job after displaying too much sympathy for his victims. However, when his spymaster requires the speedy disposal of a German arms-dealer in the next-door office to his, it seems as if Callan may literally have a shot at redemption.

The play delivers all you might expect from its lone-wolf spy-with-a-conscience premise. No one trusts anyone, and no one is to be trusted. Callan's boss wants that old chestnut, deniability, and so Callan must achieve the kill unaided and unarmed. Enter Russell Hunter as 'Lonely', an unsavoury acquaintance of Callan's adept at acquiring black-market guns but less skilled at the art of washing. Lonely was to become a regular in the 'Callan' series which followed.

Peter Bowles, a staple of 'Armchair Theatre' and many other TV dramas of the period, plays Callan's self-confident replacement, while the magnificent Joseph Furst portrays his target, with whom Callan unexpectedly finds he has something in common. You may recognise Furst's distinctive face - his film appearances include 'The Brides of Fu Manchu' and 'Diamonds are Forever', and both he and Hunter also boast Doctor Who appearances on their CVs, Hunter as Uvanov in the classic Tom Baker serial 'The Robots of Death' and Furst as Professor Zaroff in the now largely lost Patrick Troughton serial 'The Underwater Menace'.

The inevitable showdown manages to raise genuine life-or-death tension, and the intriguing plot is given space to breathe plus a satisfying resolution in a phone-box coda. In fact, the whole production impresses, bearing in mind that it is entirely studio-bound and recorded more-or-less as live with minimal editing and re-shoots. The sets are well designed and allow for a couple of scenes with business outside windows, while the acting is uniformly strong.

'A Magnum for Schneider' is available in the UK from Network on the DVD compilation 'Callan - The Monochrome Years'. The transfer shows plenty of film dust and dirt as well as the odd video flicker, but although it's had a hard life it still provides clear picture and sound.

Don't expect the slicker production values of the 1970s colour era and you'll be well rewarded. Woodward is excellent in what would become a signature role for him, and this rates well both as a one-off 'Armchair Theatre' and as the introduction to the 'Callan' series. If you have a taste for tales of the lonely life of a misunderstood spy, then this is just the fodder for you.