Crane is a British black and white adventure series that aired on ITV from 1963 to 1965. It was shown on Monday nights at 8 PM.
Plot
The series was based around Richard Crane (Patrick Allen) who was a successful city businessman who was tired of the big city rat race. He took his money and retired to the sun-drenched shores of Morocco, near Casablanca, investing his money in a beachside café and boat.
Having let it be known that his services were available for import and export assignments, he soon found himself involved in minor smuggling activities (tobacco and alcohol, but no drugs, although the series never explained how he made a profit smuggling in a country where cigarettes over the counter are already a minimal fraction of the usual price elsewhere and Casablanca is over 300 km from the nearest border by sea). However, this brought him to the attention of the local chief of police, Colonel Mahmoud (Gerald Flood). The pair developed a healthy respect for each other and there were times when they would join forces against a common enemy. Colonel Mahmoud was assisted by Inspector Larbi played by Bruce Montague.
Crane's only real friend was an ex-Foreign Legionnaire named Orlando O'Connor (Sam Kydd), who became his trusted confidant. The glamour in the show was Halima (Laya Raki), a young Arab girl Crane employed to run the bar in his café.
Particularities
The location filming was shot in Morocco mainly by Christopher Hodson, whilst the interior filming was studio-bound and filmed in the studios at Wembley in London with various directors.
The series was originally planned as a 'midsummer filler programme', only to last one season of 13 episodes, but it proved so popular that it returned for a second season of 13 episodes and even a third one of 13 episodes.
It spawned another series, this one aimed at children and called Orlando, based on one of its characters and starring Sam Kydd. This ran for 76 episodes of 30 minutes, running from 1965 to 1968 (one show ended January 1965, the other started April 1965).
Episodes
Series 1 (1963) EpisodeTitleFirst aired 1"" 2 April 1963 When a friend of Crane's is killed, he hunts the man through the streets of Casablanca. Guest stars: Michael Robbins as Jennings, Jennifer Browne as Margot, Guy Deghy as Primo, Gábor Baraker as Dupuis, James Bree as McEligot. 2"" 9 April 1963 Crane and Orlando pick up a young hitch-hiker and find themselves in trouble. Guest stars: Katherine Blake as Sonia, Charles Tingwell as Albert Ringwood, Desmond Jordan as Inspector Slimene, David Nettheim as Chavez. 3"" 16 April 1963 Crane and Mahmoud work together to stop a murder for sale syndicate which wants them both dead. Guest stars: Peter Reynolds as Austin Crispin, Derek Benfield as Osman, David Graham as Sharif Mohammed, John Herrington as the doctor, Nicholas Evans as the servant. 4"" 23 April 1963 Someone is trying to get Crane arrested on false charges. Guest stars: Bruce Montague as Inspector Larki, Anthony Steele as Gil, Thalia Kouri as Rosamaria, Richard Davies as Willie Jones, Geoffrey Colville as Aubrey Feltham, Arnold Yarrow as Louis Barreto, Henry Lincoln as Arab guide. 5"" 30 April 1963 Crane and Orlando are put in danger after helping a wounded man, being hunted in Casablanca. Guest stars: Alexander Davion as David, Warren Mitchell as Dorfmann, Bryan Woolfe as Malachi, Cyril Shaps as Rabbi, Sydney Arnold as Tailor, Barbara Bermel as Maid, Gordon Rollings as Doctor, Eileen Way as Hannah. 6"" 7 May 1963 Someone is trying to kill Madeleine and blame an innocent man for the crime. Guest stars: Madi Hedd as Madeleine, Donald Morley as Latour, Rex Garner as Sergeant Fazil, Terry Bale as 1st Policeman, Louis Raynes as 2nd Policeman. 7"" 14 May 1963 Crane and Mahmoud are looking for a gang of thieves in Casablanca, one of whom may be a dangerous killer. Guest stars: Dermot Walsh as Haufmann, Sally Nesbitt as Jacqueline, Desmond Newling as Roberts, Edmund Bailey as Fatim. 8"" 21 May 1963 Crane believes a murder convict is innocent but only has three days before he is executed. Guest stars: Peter Bowles as Nikkolai, Reginald Barratt as Inspector Misrai, Margot Van der Burgh as Maitre Zem, Brian Cant as Kramm, Charles Carson as Jean Collard, Gertan Klauber as Habbas, Edward Cast as Guard. 9"" 28 May 1963 Mahmoud is trying to find a callous murderer in Casablanca, but the Foreign Legion will reveal nothing, so he seeks Crane's help. Guest stars: Barry Keegan as Szabo, Alec Mango as Dr. Ahbib, Richard Marner as Alexis, Maitland Moss as a Priest. 10"" 4 June 1963 An orphan taken in by Crane puts him and his friends' lives in danger. Guest stars: Peter Newton as Abba, Steve Plytas as Krasses, John Hollis as Hamid. 11"" 11 June 1963 Crane rescues a pursued man and comes up with a mystery involving a yellow rabbit. Guest stars: Edgar Wreford as Matthews, John Rumney as Mickey the Crook, Arthur Hewlett as the Colonel. 12"" 18 June 1963 A corpse is discovered in a newly dug grave and Crane is dragged into the matter against his will. Guest stars: Alan Tilvern as Paul Harrington, Peter Arne as Michael Harrington, Nicholas Evans as Boy. 13"" 25 June 1963 Crane and Orlando find a crate floating in the sea, which brings them to the attention of some very nasty men. Guest stars: John Bennett as Smith, George Coulouris as Dr. Jackson, Alec Mango as Chatterji, Dallas Cavell as Customs official, Michael Mellinger as Hotel receptionist.
Series 2 (1964) EpisodeTitleFirst aired 1"" 13 January 1964 A beautiful woman brings murder and treachery into Crane's life. Guest stars: Patricia Haines as Marie, Peter Vaughan as Goddard, Gertan Klauber as Darius, Michael Hawkins as Martin. 2"" 20 January 1964 A friend's son fails to arrive home from school so Crane follows the trail to death and heartbreak for his friends. Guest stars: Ingrid Hafner as Selina, William Marlowe as Pasquale, Emrys James as Gantz, David Nettheim as Gamal, James Culliford as Aldo, David Graham as Halif. 3"" 27 January 1964 Crane reluctantly agrees to help get a man out of prison only to nearly get killed in the attempt. Guest stars: Richard Vernon as Wolsey, Colin Gordon as Lung, Jan Waters as Liz, Richard Davies as Willie Jones, Sheila Keith as Mrs. Ambrose, Bartlett Mullins as Governor, Brian Cant as Man. 4"" 3 February 1964 Mahmoud seeks Crane's help in bringing the murderous Venza gang to justice. Guest stars: Louis Rayner as Abdul, Bill Nagy as Venza, Jennifer White as Jasmina. 5"" 10 February 1964 Crane is suspected by the brother and Mahmoud when it turns out he was the last person to see a murdered man alive. Guest stars: Dudley Foster as Charles, Annette Andre as Petra, Job Stewart as Alphonse, Sydney Bromley as Slotz, Julian Sherrier as Dr. Sul. 6"" 17 February 1964 Mahmoud must solve a baffling case, while Crane has to keep a rendezvous from which he may not return. Guest stars: Philip Latham as Salbierre, Ric Hutton as Vanel, Lee Richardson as Corto, Patrick Godfrey as Dr. Launay, Reg Lye as Stanley, Gábor Baraker as Fat policeman. 7"" 24 February 1964 Crane is invited to Ahmed's Palace as an honoured guest but gets a reception which makes him doubt Ahmed. Guest stars: Cyril Luckham as Mouley Ahmed, Isobel Black as Zuida, Donald Bisset as Muller. 8"" 2 March 1964 Crane gives Orlando a ticket to the theatre, with no idea that he is sending him into danger, in which he too will become involved. Guest stars: Anthony Newlands as Stark, Maxine Audley as Freda, Arthur White as Pirelli. 9"" 9 March 1964 Crane and Orlando accept a Contessa's invitation to go to her villa, not knowing that Crane's murder is planned. Guest stars: Patricia Kneale as Contessa d'Avezzano, Paul Eddington as Dr. Stampini, Richard Hurndall as Fausto. 10"" 16 March 1964 Philipe plans revenge on a police informer and the cards of a gypsy lead Crane into violence and murder. Guest stars: John Woodvine as Philipe, Howard Goorney as a Gypsy, Harold Innocent as Jacko. 11"" 23 March 1964 Orlando is found on the beach with blood on his hands and is suspected of murder after a quarrel the night before. Guest stars: Derek Sydney as Arif, Michael Mellinger as Abdoul, Zooey Zephyr as Mokahl, Stephanie Bidmead as Annette Brillon, John G. Heller as Bartender. 12"" 30 March 1964 Crane is after a killer hidden in Casablanca and receives an invitation which leads him into danger. Guest stars: Keith Anderson as Sweeper, Basil Dignam as Raswani, David Andrews as Marcel, Harry Landis as Ben Zeda, Roger Delgado as Barman, Irene Prador as Mrs. Kirschbaum. 13"" 15 June 1964 A gang of thieves try to murder Crane to stop him clearing an innocent man. Guest stars: Patrick Troughton as Hugo Krantz, Alan Wheatley as Michaud, Anthony Baird as Sergeant Miraz, Royston Tickner as Sgt. Khatib, Joby Blanshard as Rahman, Hal Dyer as Hostess, Michael Allaby as Doctor.
Series 3 (1964-5)