The Man in the Middle

An even more fun and likeable than usual episode of "The Persuadors", given that it's very much centred on the appearance of the moustachioed, gap-toothed English comic actor Terry Thomas who guest-stars as Brett's penniless, fly-by-night third cousin. Cousin Archie promptly gets in the way when Brett's assigned mission to collect a top-secret microfilm sees him caught between a rock and a hard place with both British Intelligence and Russian secret agents after him for impersonating a spy at a rendezvous pre-arranged by the judge which naturally goes awry.

Of course we've already seen Archie accidentally meet the real spy, a Mr Price by name and even introduces him to Brett and Danny at the hotel where they're staying..Succeeding events see Brett survive being caught in the crossfire of both sets of spies, end up in the arms of a voluptuous lady diplomat in the British Embassy in Italy only to be tracked down and put in peril again as he's sent out again by the judge to save the Magoffin of the secret formula which both sides want.

On the other side is a pretty, gun-carrying young British agent played by Suzy Kendall. Half way through the episode it seems that Danny and Archie have tied everything up by rescuing Brett but when the dratted Ruskies kidnap Suzy, they demand an exchange with Price but as they don't know what he looks like, it becomes obvious who will play the part of the less than willing dupe to help engineer Kendall's escape and save the day.

It probably helps if you like Thomas's cowardly caddish-cadger persona built up in many a British film of the 50's and 60's and to be truthful he probably won me over despite myself in the end. Moore and Curtis gently and graciously give way to the roaring old boy in more ways than one in another amiable episode of this ever-entertaining light adventure series.

I knew in advance that I could - but not would - be bored with this espionage scheme. But I resumed after a couple of minutes only because of the presence of our two friends, their humor, dialogues, funny situations...The rythm and atmosphere, so specific to the series, is of course maintained and you can still be kept awake all long the episode. Again, Leslie Norman directed it, with his usual style, very dynamic and fast paced. I have always disliked the espionage schemes in this series, I don't know why...I prefer other plots, more "simple" with unusual situations. But this one is not the worst of the show, don't worry.

This episode featured the great Terry Thomas...adding a upper crust English gent to the proceedings...and his famous bumbling act....good in its day but now dated,this episode features also Suzy Kendall....a 70s darling....when ladies didn't worry about wearing bras.Typical 70s fare, when nobody got really hurt...although the bullets were flying all over the place!....still a good watch... .if only just to see the fashions in the early 70s.

Not only is he mistaken for a spy peddling NATO plans, Lord Brett Sinclair (Roger Moore) has to deal with a sponging, ne'er-do-well relative (the inimitable Terry-Thomas).

Terry-Thomas had previously appeared with Tony Curtis in the eggregiously-titled "Those Daring Young Men in their Jaunty Jalopies" and the two have a better rapport than Terry-Thomas has with his alleged relative, Moore.

The token female is Suzy Kendall but, caught between Curtis (one of the biggest male movie stars of the 1960s), Moore (soon to be one of the biggest movie stars of the 1970s) and Terry-Thomas (being forever Terry-Thomas), she never stood a chance.

A very enjoyable episode, highlighted by Terry-Thomas' teaching the others how this sort of comedy is done. He's still the master.

ANYTHING with the great Terry-Thomas in is worth watching! He plays his usual "cowardly English spiv" with aplomb; he has, of course, had much practice! Loved it.