Danger Man "View from the Villa" #1.1 (1960) (TV)

Who is the mysterious "G"?, 16 September 2014

Frank Delroy, an American banker is murdered in Rome. The $5 million in gold bullion he embezzled is missing. John Drake (Patrick McGoohan) is called in to find the killer and the missing gold. But first, he'll have to find the mysterious woman who may have been a witness.

View from the Villa is a wonderful way to kick off the Danger Man series. McGoohan plays Drake cool, quick, and incredibly intelligent. He's a no nonsense kind of guy who knows how to handle himself in any situation. The plot has enough intrigue, action, and mystery to fill a show with twice it's runtime – yet it oddly never feels rushed. The supporting cast is solid. I could watch Barbara Shelley in just about anything. Her Italian accent is surprisingly convincing. Finally, I was really impressed with all of the sets. Unlike a lot of shows from this era, the pilot episode of Danger Man never feels "stagey". I was especially impressed with the location shots, that were apparently filmed in Wales – not Italy. Still, they're a very nice touch.

Looking forward to checking out the rest of the series.

7/10