lindac-5 Review of The Rat Catchers

The Rat Catchers (1966–1967)

The Rat Catchers - a unique 1960s TV spy series and serial

[29 March 2005]

The Rat Catchers had a unique TV format - a series of 13 for two consecutive years, with story lines written as a trilogy or two parter, taking Smith, Hurst and the Brigadier to many European countries, the furthest abroad being the Greek trilogy (Corfu, Meteora and Athens). They also visited Ireland (Dromoland Castle Hotel), Madrid, Lisbon, Stockholm, Amsterdam (where Alpha finally got his come-uppance!) and other locations around London and the UK. Gerald Flood, formerly Colonel Sharif Mahmoud from "Crane", was wonderful as Peregrine Pascale Smith, the urbane, elegant assassin who, in Mr Flood's own words in a magazine interview enjoyed "doing his rather dreadful job supremely well." Glyn Owen, as Richard Hurst, was the "common working policeman", uneasy at his assignment, whilst Philip Stone's Brigadier Davidson, whose catch phrase was "Say so, if you understand me", was delivered with icy coolness. I would love to re-view all these shows but gather that only a half-hour of one episode is all that has been kept. Ah, yes, I will never forget the thrill of hearing that unique musical introduction (I still have the 45!) and the real enjoyment this unique TV series and serial afforded all those who watched. "Say so, if you understand me!"