The Champions (TV Series) Nutcracker (1969) User Reviews

A hugely imaginative episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 1 August 2023]

After a visit to his dentist, Government Minister Lord Mauncey enters into secret vault and attempts to steal the F File, the enclosed documents contain information on The Country's defences plans.

I watched this episode twice today, purely and simply because I absolutely loved it, Nutcracker is a great episode, and definitely deserves its place as one of the show's top five episodes.

What they did brilliantly here, was to take the safe and ordinary, and make them menacing, The Policemen for example, if you can't trust a Bobby on the beat, who can you trust, a visit to the dentist, what could be more normal than that, it worked brilliantly.

I thought it had a somewhat Avengers feel about it again, the scenes in the gentleman's tailors for example, you could imagine Mrs Peel sat where Sharron was.

My only gripe here, Sharron once again had nothing to do, the most taxing thing she did was sit down, a shame she didn't get in on the action.

Overall though, this one was great.

9/10.

The Champions Steal Military Secrets

[bensonmum2 · 8/10 · 25 March 2017]

The well-respected Lord Mauncey enters a super-secret underground facility and attempts to steal File F. File F contains information on the country's defense systems. When confronted, Lord Mauncey remembers stealing the file, but has no idea why he would do such a thing. The Champions are called in to investigate. If they are able to bypass the elaborate security system and obtain File F, it will prove security isn't tight enough.

When I finish going through all the episodes, I plan to make a list of my five favorites. Nutcracker will be in the running for a place on that list. It's really well done with plenty of action, intrigue, and spy-type stuff. The various locking mechanisms guarding File F are a joy to watch. Richard's scenes as he attempts to get to File F are as suspenseful as any in The Champions. The episode was directed by the very able Roy Ward Baker - another genre director I usually enjoy. The highlight of the supporting cast for me was David Langton of Upstairs Downstairs fame as Lord Mauncey. I'll also add that John Franklyn- Robbins plays a fantastic villainous dentist. The biggest negative I can write about is the lack of anything substantial for Sharon to do in Nutcracker. As is too often the case, she's left on the sideline.

Vault of death

[ShadeGrenade · 10/10 · 16 July 2012]

I have always loved spy films/television shows where the main character walks into a perfectly ordinary place such as the back room of a shop or a photo booth or an office, presses a hidden button, and it turns either into an elevator, or opens a secret entrance to some futuristic underground complex. 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' is the classic example, of course. This 'Champions' episode by Philip Broadley opens with such a sequence. 'Lord Mauncey' ( David Langton, who was 'Lord Bellamy' in I.T.V.'s 'Upstairs, Downstairs' ) visits a London shirt and tie shop, requesting a particular type of bow tie, one with a unicorn motif. He goes into a changing room, presses a button on the mirror, causing the room to descend to basement level. Beyond is a corridor whose only feature is a test panel on the wall. By arranging lights in a particular sequence, he opens the door. There is another test panel - this one playing the first two notes of a tune, and he has to complete it or he will not be allowed through the next door. The final challenge involves putting the correct combination to a series of tumblers. He finally enters a room full of filing cabinets, removes a dossier marked 'F', and tries to leave. But he has unknowingly activated a defence mechanism, and is gassed. 'Major Duncan' ( William Squire, 'Hunter' in the last few 'Callan' series ) of Department M7 requests help from NEMESIS. The 'F' File contains important information on Britain's nuclear defence system. Mauncey admits to trying to steal it, but does not know why. Is there a security leak or a more terrifying explanation?

'Nutcracker' is a ( no pun intended ) cracking episode, whose highlight is easily Richard's attempt to break in to the vault. Although the tests might look childishly simple, there is a catch - you only have a limited amount of time to do them or you get gassed or killed. Added suspense comes from Richard completing them, only to realise he has left the tie behind on one of the test panels. The idea of a dentist brainwashing people to either give away or steal secrets was also done in a memorable 'Avengers' episode called 'The Hour That Never Was'. The late John Franklyn-Robbins is suitably menacing as 'John Warre', the dental surgeon. He later played a Time Lord in the 'Dr.Who' classic 'Genesis Of The Daleks'. Spy fans will recognise the actor who plays Mauncey's guard as Dervis Ward, who as oil magnate 'Henry Kellor' got blown up by a lethal cigar at the start of the 1966 Bond-like 'Bulldog Drummond' thriller 'Deadlier Than The Male'. Michael Barrington, the shop manager, who was the Governor of H.M. Slade Prison in 'Porridge'.

Sharron is only required to keep the shop assistant ( Robert Mill ) busy while Richard penetrates the vault. A nice bonus for spy fans are the fake policemen who stop Richard's car by spraying the road ahead with nail clusters. The climactic fight in Warre's dental practise is a bit brief, but as this is such a good story I'm prepared to overlook this.

Nothing amazing

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 6 January 2022]

Nothing amazing here; there's some fun spy shenanigans early on, but the material about the secret vault drags a bit despite best attempts to inject suspense into the proceedings. The lack of notable guest stars hurts it, too.