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The Protectors
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The Protectors is a British television series, an action thriller created by Gerry Anderson. It was Anderson's second TV series using live actors as opposed to electronic marionettes, and also his second to be firmly set in contemporary times. It was also the only Gerry Anderson produced television series that was not of the fantasy or science fiction genres. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company. Despite not featuring marionettes or any real science fiction elements, The Protectors became one of Anderson's most popular productions, easily winning a renewal for a second season. A third season was in the planning stages when the show's major sponsor pulled out, forcing its cancellation.
The Protectors first aired in 1972 and 1973, and ran to 52 episodes over two series, each 25 minutes long - making it one of the last series of this type to be produced in a half-hour format. It starred Robert Vaughn as Harry Rule, Nyree Dawn Porter as the Contessa Caroline di Contini, and Tony Anholt as Paul Buchet. Episodes often featured prominent guest actors.
Highest-rated episodes all ranked
- 01
The First CircleHarry is hired to protect a disturbed Vietnam war veteran.
Cast
Episodes by season
Season01
- S01E01
2,000 ft to DieSeptember 29, 1972—A friend of Harry's insists on doing a dangerous skydiving trick despite the fact that gold smugglers are trying to kill him. - S01E02
Brother HoodOctober 6, 1972—A wealthy recluse hires the Protectors to break his brother out of prison. - S01E03
See No EvilOctober 13, 1972—While in Rome the Protectors try to help a senator who is being blackmailed. - S01E04
Disappearing TrickOctober 20, 1972—The Contessa ends up putting her life in danger when she agrees to help an old friend win a wager by making him disappear. - S01E05
Ceremony For the DeadOctober 27, 1972—The wife of a president hires the Protectors to guard her critically ill husband whom she fears may be kidnapped. - S01E06
It Was All Over in LeipzigNovember 3, 1972—While investigating a plot to overthrow the government of a Mediterranean nation the Protectors end up confronting two old friends of the Co - S01E07
The Quick Brown FoxNovember 10, 1972—The West German government hires the Protectors to put a pension fund that is supporting fugitive Nazi's out of business. - S01E08
King ConNovember 17, 1972—The Protectors devise an elaborate con to recover a priceless antique which a woman had been conned out of. - S01E09
ThinkbackNovember 24, 1972—Harry and the Contessa are the victims of a car crash that was engineered to get information out of them. - S01E10
A Kind of Wild JusticeDecember 1, 1972—The daughter of a gangster whom Harry helped put in prison fails twice in her efforts to kill Harry. - S01E11
Balance of TerrorDecember 8, 1972—The KGB hires the Protectors to capture a renegade Russian scientist who plans on destroying London with a new virus to show the world how d - S01E12
Triple CrossDecember 15, 1972—A kidnapped Paul will be blown to bits unless Harry and the Contessa help steal jewels which they have been hired to safeguard. - S01E13
The Numbers GameDecember 29, 1972—The Protectors only hope of putting a drug smuggling ring out of business lies in being able to decode a coded letter. - S01E14
For the Rest of Your Natural ...January 5, 1973—The Contessa is captured by a psychotic killer who puts her on trial for her life. - S01E15
The BodyguardsJanuary 12, 1973—The police hire the Protectors to guard the corpse of a bank robber as part of a ruse to capture his accomplices. - S01E16
A Matter of Life and DeathJanuary 19, 1973—In Malta, with only the body of a dead hippie as a clue, the Protectors go after smugglers despite having no idea what it is that is being s - S01E17
The Big HitJanuary 26, 1973—After unsuccessful attempts on their lives, Paul and the Contessa are too late to warn Harry that someone is out to kill him. - S01E18
One and One Makes OneFebruary 2, 1973—The Protectors are hired to track down Bennett, a missing Canadian agent who holds valuable information about a new American-Canadian sky pr - S01E19
TalkdownFebruary 9, 1973—Harry must land a small plane on his own when the pilot dies. - S01E20
VocalFebruary 16, 1973—Drug dealers plan on using someone who can impersonate Harry's voice in order to get information out of a blinded Paul. - S01E21
With A Little Help From My FriendsFebruary 23, 1973—Harry finds his family being threatened after he agrees to guard a visiting president in London. - S01E22
ChaseMarch 2, 1973—The Contessa gives Harry a shotgun for his birthday which he soon puts to good use when while investigating political blackmail he becomes t - S01E23
Your WitnessMarch 9, 1973—An important witness to a murder who doesn't want the Protectors protection, vanishes soon after she is placed in the Protectors charge. - S01E24
It Could Be Practically Anywhere on the IslandMarch 16, 1973—A small fluffy dog called Muffin is kidnapped from a hotel to place a microfilm in its collar. The dog is due to be ttansaported to NY. Har - S01E25
The First CircleMarch 23, 1973Harry is hired to protect a disturbed Vietnam war veteran. - S01E26
A Case For the RightMarch 30, 1973—The Protectors end up in trouble in the Roman tombs.
Season02
- S02E01
QuinSeptember 21, 1973—Harry travels to Spain in order to track down a bounty hunter named Quin. - S02E02
BagmanSeptember 28, 1973—The Protectors are called to deliver the ransom for the kidnapped daughter of a Danish aristocrat. - S02E03
Fighting FundOctober 5, 1973—A revolutionary group steals and auctions off a priceless art collection in order to purchase dynamite to fund their cause. - S02E04
The Last FrontierOctober 12, 1973—The Protectors are hired to smuggle into Britain a Russian scientist who wishes to marry her childhood sweetheart. - S02E05
Baubles, Bangles and BeadsOctober 19, 1973—In Denmark, a young woman and her father call on the Protectors to deliver a huge ransom for a stolen jewelry shipment. - S02E06
PetardOctober 26, 1973—The Protectors go after industrial spies who are threatening to topple a chemical company by scooping their best products. - S02E07
Goodbye GeorgeNovember 2, 1973—Alone in Italy, the Contessa goes to Venice to find out why the son of a wealthy Brit is making huge withdrawals from his account. - S02E08
Wam (1)November 9, 1973—In Salzburg, the Protectors must rescue a group of vacationers whom are unknowingly being held hostage on top of an Austrian mountain. - S02E09
Wam (2)November 16, 1973—In Salzburg, the Protectors must rescue a group of vacationers whom are unknowingly being held hostage on top of an Austrian mountain. - S02E10
ImplicadoNovember 23, 1973—In Spain, an English boy is framed and arrested on drug charges after a drug dealer plants some hash in his backpack. - S02E11
Dragon ChaseNovember 30, 1973—In Britain, Harry is called on to protect a Russian author from publishing his anti-socialist book. - S02E12
DecoyDecember 7, 1973—An old friend who has a new lead on an insurance scam calls Harry and the Contessa to Venice, but he is murdered just before they arrive. - S02E13
Border LineDecember 14, 1973—The Protectors are hired by a Hungarian actress wanting to bury her now deceased revolutionary father in their homeland. - S02E14
Zeke's BluesDecember 21, 1973—Harry's college friend Zeke, a pianist, is blackmailed into setting Harry up by mobsters. - S02E15
LenaDecember 28, 1973—In Venice, Harry aids Lena, a journalist, expose a corrupt politician. - S02E16
The BridgeJanuary 4, 1974—Undercover as an explosives expert, Harry seeks to rescue a kidnapped girl and prevent a bridge bombing. - S02E17
Sugar and SpiceJanuary 11, 1974—In order to protect the daughter of a rich industrialist who has received threats against her life, Harry poses as her tutor. - S02E18
Burning BushJanuary 18, 1974—Harry masquerades as a drunk in order to get a Canadian heiress out of a cult. - S02E19
The Tiger and the GoatJanuary 25, 1974—The Contessa is used to lure her former lover, a British spy, out into the open. - S02E20
Route 27February 1, 1974—Knowing where a huge stash of heroin is hidden, Harry confronts the drug dealers. - S02E21
TrialFebruary 8, 1974—The Protectors are called upon when the father of a man on trial for murdering a policeman goes after the judge. - S02E22
ShadboltFebruary 15, 1974—Harry is stalked on a train by Shadbolt, a professional assassin. - S02E23
A Pocketful of PosiesFebruary 22, 1974—Harry Rule is called upon to see if Eartha Kitt's (guest star)home is haunted. - S02E24
WheelsMarch 1, 1974—The Protectors are hired to discretely research stolen secret Swiss bank account information. - S02E25
The InsiderFebruary 25, 1974—The Protectors aid a movie director in the retrieval of film being held for ransom. - S02E26
BlockbusterMarch 15, 1974—The Protectors chase after a stolen platinum shipment.
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