CELEBRATING 70 YEARS! : THE PERSUADERS .. FIVE MILES TO MIDNIGHT .. ITC ENTERTAINMENT .. UK 1971 ..

 

ITC ENTERTAINMENT
Presents

As

ROGER MOORE as Lord Brett Sinclair
TONY CURTIS as Danny Wilde

LAURENCE NAISMITH as Judge Fulton

Guest Starring

JOAN COLLINS as Sidonie

JEAN MARSH as Nicole

ROBERT HUTTON as Frank Rocco

FERDY MAYNE as Sangallo

ROBERT RIETTY as Torino

IAN THOMPSON as Vasile

ROBERT GALLICO as Manny Howard

Directed by VAL GUEST

Danny Wilde a self made millionaire from the Bronx meets Lord Brett Sinclair, a member of the British upper classes on the French Riviera. After they become involved in a bar room brawl they come face to face with retired Judge Fulton. They have two choices, spend 90 days in jail or help him bring criminals to justice whom the court system failed in prosecuting...they decide to keep their freedom! They become two unlikely partners known as The Persuaders, seekers of justice throughout Europe. Their latest mission to escort the assassin of an underworld boss, out of the country, who for a reduced sentence promises to expose a crime syndicate. Along for the ride is the glamorous photographer Sidonie, who is beautiful, but certainly not dumb! Can they get him out alive? When there is still Five Miles To Midnight! 

Joan with Ferdy Mayne & the gang!

"The Persuaders" first aired in 1971 on ITV and then ABC in America and for it's time was the most expensive television series made for British TV at £100,000 an episode. Star Roger Moore was involved in the production from the start, but it took awhile to cast the role of Danny Sinclair. Rock Hudson and Glenn Ford rejected the role, with Tony Curtis finally accepting the part. But the series only ran for a season, while it was a hit in Europe and as far a Australia, it never caught on with American viewers. It did not help that the schedulers pitted it against the hit series "Mission Impossible". 

You got to hand it to Joan!

Joan had been friends with Roger for many years, ever since he was married to singer Dorothy Squires, as her father Joe was a theatrical agent and he represented Dorothy and then Roger. Joan is funny and lively in the episode as the trendy but eccentric Sidonie, however she does don a hideous early 70's wig!! Even though Roger was a gent to work with as expected, Joan found Curtis to be rude and arrogant and it did not help when he insulted her on the set one day. 

Tony's an unfriendly Persuader!

Tony recalled this story only recently as did Joan in her autobiography "Second Act". Any tension between them is not visible on screen, which shows how professional true stars really are whilst at work! Now a cult favourite.."The Persuaders" is certainly worth viewing today...

Daily Mirror January 1972

The Persuaders has been avaialble on dvd for some time, with a recent blu-ray from Network.. Joan's episode was avaialble on a single disc with another episode but this is now unavailable.. You can order the Network Releasing blu-ray at the following link!

ORDER THE PERSUADERS BLU RAY AT THE FOLLOWING LINK!