You're Not in Any Trouble, Are You?

The opening credits show an aerial flyover of the Roman Coliseum, and indeed this episode is set entirely in the capital city of Italy. Inside the city we find our hero John Drake setting himself up as a target to take down a murder-for-hire ring. Inside Drake's hotel room we find John encumbered by the beautiful Susan Hampshire as his all-too-earnest femme fetal foil. Drake of course refuses to succumb to her charms as she succumbs to his.

By the way, there is a deeper take on this common motif where Drake never gets the girl. In point of fact our hero does indeed "get the girl" in nearly every episode. It's just that he never *takes* the girl. Think about that when you watch most any episode, for example the masterpiece "No Marks for Servility", with the stunning Francesca Annis inquiring as to whether John Drake might ever need an "upstairs maid".

Susan also appears later in the season in 'Are You Going to Be More Permanent?', with the title of both shows terminating with a question mark. Both episodes are worthy entries in the series.

This is the first time the ubiquitous electric razor that doubles as a tape recorder is seen! It seems like it shows up in every other episode, and is equaled in appearances only by the lighter that takes pictures. By the time I get through the entire series I'll know which gadget wins for most appearances, and will report such in a review of the final episode.

Note: We did see the razor once before in 'Colony 3', but in that episode it turns into a radio transmitter that allows Drake to phone home for evacuation from the hellish spy colony.

I've a soft spot for this episode.

Partially for the wonderful performance that Susan Hampshire gives - in what is one of her two appearances in DANGER MAN.

In this episode, she plays Lena, a beautiful, blonde Brazilian, who is clearly wealthy, and bored.

She involves herself with Drake, who is in Rome investigating what on the surface is a simple case of an agent being murdered.

Lena develops a clear attraction to Drake, and, while McGoohan made it clear that John Drake was not to have romantic entanglements, does respond with as much...interest as Drake can give back.

That is just the side-plot, to this episode, but, Ms. Hampshire's performance, and Mr. McGoohan's wonderful repartė with her, gives what is a great episode, a unique 'kick,' which gives this episode that certain... something.

Without revealing too much of the main plot, Drake's investigation, leads to a sort-of 'murder inc.-type organisation,' where, for a good deal of cash, someone can commission a hit.

Two other standout performances in this episode are from Andre Van Gyseghem, as Enzo Bandone, and, John Cazabon as Ernesto - an older, retied Mafia man, who tries to engage Drakes cover - Clive Harris (a writer), into listening to (and paying for) his stories of old-time Mafia days.

The last (and certainly not the least), person I want to mention, is Burt Kwouk, who gives a terrific appearance as a killer (unnamed in the episode, but, listed as 'Masan' in the credits.

Several years before Patrick McGoohan made "Secret Agent", he made a similar half hour show called "Danger Man". "Danger Man" was quite good but also rather rushed. So, with "Secret Agent" and their longer time slot, the series remade a few episodes--and in this case "You're Not in Any Trouble, Are You?" is a remake of his previous "Name, Date and Place".

The show begins with an agent learning that a recent death was no accident. However, before he could report this, he himself was killed. However, if Drake can find it, this dead agent left a clue as to who is doing these killings. The trail leads to a murder for hire organization--sort of like Murder Incorporated. And, Drake does something insanely foolish (which he also did in the previous version)--he takes out a contract on himself!

This is a good episode with a nice, violent finale. However, it's also one of the best episodes to watch to see Drake's ambivalence about women. Throughout the series, he's very much unlike James Bond--and seems to have no interest in women whatsoever. Some might even think Drake is gay--and in this show, it's about as obvious as it can be. A beautiful lady keeps throwing herself at him and Drake seems more annoyed than interested in this very charming lady. In fact, I felt rather sorry for the woman--there was just no way she was going to get more than polite indifference from the guy.

Love the Lena /Drake side-story. Great chemistry. Also main story is a remake of Name/ Date/ Time FYI.

I also saw Susan Hampshire starred with Patrick McGoohan on another episode 'Are you going to be Permanent' as well as the very underrated Disney movie '3 live of Thomasina'. If you love cats, you're in for a real treat :)

Throughout the series Drake does not get romantically involved with women. This is due to the fact that McGoohan was a devoted Catholic and married. He felt performing love scenes was inappropriate as a married Catholic and a betrayal of his wife. This is also the reason given for his twice turning down playing James Bond. He did not want to do the love scenes.