Danger Man

Lore & Background

The idea for Danger Man originated with Ralph Smart, an associate of Lew Grade, head of ITC Entertainment, who was looking for exportable formats. Ian Fleming was brought in to collaborate on series development but left before completion. Like James Bond, the main character is a globetrotting spy who works first for NATO, in series one, and then for the fictional British intelligence service M9 for the remainder of the show's run. Drake introduces himself as 'Drake... John Drake.' After Patrick McGoohan was cast, he affected character development, notably avoiding firearms (with rare exceptions) and outright seduction of female co-stars.

The first series of 39 episodes ran 24–25 minutes each, filmed in black and white, with Drake working for a Washington, D.C.–based intelligence organisation on behalf of NATO. For the second and third series, episodes were extended to 48–49 minutes, Drake's nationality became British, and he worked for M9. These were also filmed in black and white. The pilot episode, 'View from the Villa,' was written by Brian Clemens and set in Italy, but the production manager set the shoot on location in Portmeirion, which later inspired The Prisoner. The second unit director on the pilot was John Schlesinger, who was fired by Ralph Smart.

When American financing for a second series failed, the programme was cancelled. After a two-year hiatus, repeat showings worldwide created public demand for new episodes. The revived series (1964) had 49-minute episodes, a new musical theme, and a U.S.-only theme song, 'Secret Agent Man,' by Johnny Rivers. The fourth series consists of only two colour episodes, 'Koroshi' and 'Shinda Shima,' which were recut together as a feature for cinemas in Europe. After these episodes, McGoohan resigned to create The Prisoner.

Reader's Guide

Danger Man holds a significant place in television history as a precursor to more cerebral spy dramas, distinguishing itself from the contemporaneous James Bond films by striving for realism and focusing on credible Cold War tensions. The series emphasized Drake's intelligence, charm, and quick thinking over violence; he rarely carried a gun and almost never killed. This approach influenced later series, including McGoohan's own The Prisoner, which reused locations and personnel from Danger Man. The show's international success, particularly after its revival, demonstrated the viability of British-produced espionage series for global markets. Its U.S. theme song 'Secret Agent Man' became a hit, further cementing its cultural footprint. The series also contributed to the development of the spy genre on television, offering a more restrained, character-driven alternative to the gadget-heavy Bond films.

Did You Know?

• The pilot episode was written by Brian Clemens, who later co-produced The Avengers.
• The second unit director on the pilot was John Schlesinger, who was fired by Ralph Smart.
• The U.S.-only theme song 'Secret Agent Man' by Johnny Rivers became a success in its own right.
• The two colour episodes of the fourth series were recut together as a feature film for European cinemas.