Monkey (TV Series 1978-1980)

King Monkey is summoned to heaven by the Jade Emperor. However, his mischievous tendencies lead him to eat all the heavenly peaches, gaining immortality. Expelled to Earth, alongside two of the Emperor's disgraced officials, Monkey is encased in a mountain as punishment by Buddha, whilst one official is made a pig spirit (Pigsy) and the other a water spirit (Sandy). Years later, the Buddhist boy priest, Tripitaka, frees Monkey and recruits him alongside the other two as his disciples. Their journey is to reach India from China to fetch the Buddhist scriptures to bring peace to the people of the world. Monkey is a Japanese program that adapts from the Chinese novel 'Journey to the West' by Wu Cheng'en, which received an English dub for release in the UK, which the show is probably most known for. I was introduced to the show by my Mum and a co-worker, who equally believed it to be right up my street as a fan of strange cult classics. Naturally, they were absolutely right. Nothing could be more peculiar than a stone ape born from an egg on a mountaintop who battles demons, and I was all for it. I was an instant fan from the first episode, which alone was unlike anything I had experienced before. Equally, as a whole, the series astounded me with a whole plethora of attributes that made the programme feel uniquely special. The overflowing care and work put into the project is ever present, featured through outstanding ambitious special effects, flashy and exceedingly well-choreographed action and a stellar cast of energetic actors. Undoubtedly, my favourite member of the group is Monkey, the Great Sage and Equal of Heaven. His mischievous nature always makes him a delight to watch, using his cheek on both his friends and foes. He is equipped with a great many skills, knowing every magic trick under the sun, though his coolest abilities consisted of his magic wishing staff that could grow and shrink, along with his iconic skill of summoning his pink cloud to ride on. Some of his magic is quite bizarre, however, like turning into a wasp and turning his chest hair into an army of monkeys. Monkey, also partakes in countless fights (usually starting them), which show off his impressive techniques and the exquisite choreography that never ceases to get you pumped with adrenaline. Sandy, once commander of the heavenly host, now turned cannibal water spirit, brings a lot of knowledge and wit to the group delivering probably some of the funniest quips in the show. Pigsy, once marshal of the heavenly host turned pig spirit, is frequently fixated on eating, being lazy and looking for women, though when it counts, he's a helpful asset. Tripitaka is the boy priest sent on the holy pilgrimage who is kindhearted, always doing what's right and keeping the group in check. Finally, there is also the dragon/horse/man, Yu Lung, which is a peculiar statement, sure to confuse nonviewers. Whilst perhaps a somewhat straightforward story of travelling from point A to B, this journey is riddled with countless and widely varying stories that challenge our intrepid travellers. Waves of demons cause a whole manner of problems for our group, coming in all sorts of forms with special powers. Each requires different approaches from some being fought and thwarted to others reconciled and redeemed. Whilst there is a great deal of action and ecstatic comedy, the show holds an equal amount of heart, which is acted tremendously by the superb cast. The show would also not nearly be as popular if it wasn't for the phenomenal soundtrack by Godiego, who brings such lively tracks to the vigorous fight scenes, especially the theme song 'Monkey Magic' which is unnaturally catchy. Interestingly 13 episodes were never originally dubbed, being deemed too dark, featuring very mature themes, though eventually receiving a dub in 2004, making all episodes available. Overall, I had a blast with Monkey. I truthfully didn't expect to be so engrossed in it that once I'd started, I couldn't stop. I adored the effects, which were so spectacular for its time, to the unbelievable action and fantastic delivery of the actors and dubbing voice actors. An extraordinary cult classic deserving of far more recognition.

Seasons & Episodes: 2 Seasons - 52 Episodes

Creators: Wu Cheng'en, Hirokazu Fuse, Motomu Furuta, James Miki ...

Genre: Action / Adventure / Comedy / Fantasy

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The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974)

In 1904, Professor Van Helsing ventures to China on a lecture tour, where his lessons about the legends of 7 golden vampires are dismissed by his students. However, a local family believe him, knowing full well of their existence and where to find them. They join forces, which leads Helsing to get caught up in a battle between good and evil as the gang of sword-wielding vampires rise from their graves. The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires marked the 9th and final entry in Hammer's extensive Dracula series. Each picture progressively got more unique (and somewhat peculiar) with each addition, though none went nearly as far or was as ambitious as this one. Following The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973), we yet again disconnect from any form of continuity, delivering a stand-alone story. This movie was a collaborative piece between Hammer Film Productions and Shaw Brothers Studio, which would bring forth an unimaginable product, a martial arts horror flick. A mix of genres one wouldn't expect to work out, however, it does more than that, it excels and is simply put, awesome. Who would relish in the idea of epic flashy fights against vampires and an army of undead? Naturally, the slight genre shift of this movie can make it feel out of place in the series (despite the last two doing similarly for different reasons), but I was able to look past it once I was hooked on the adventure at hand. We open in 1804 at Castle Dracula who sadly isn't reprised by Christopher Lee finally having enough of the series and refusing to return. The Count would instead be played by John Forbes-Robertson whose portrayal is sufficient but unfortunately doesn't come close to rivalling the great Lee. Plus, the overwhelming amount of make-up does his appearance no favours. Dracula is approached by Kah (or as my family calls him 'Reg' after mishearing Dracula's remark 'wretch' to him), who requests his help in resurrecting the seven vampires and the power of the temple. Dracula agrees, but on his terms, possessing Kah's body and setting off to China. Cutting to 1904, we are reunited with leading protagonist Lawrence Van Helsing (and his portrayer Peter Cushing) for one final explosive escapade. I thoroughly enjoyed Cushing's Van Helsing in all of his iterations in the series and this outing was no exception. I also love that this version wears the exact outfit of his character, the Doctor from Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965). Helsing's knowledgeable background in these adversaries makes him a powerful asset in the mission at hand. He is met by student, Hsi Ching, who believes Helsing's teaching recruiting him to free the village from its horrors. He offers him protection, bringing his six brothers the twins Sung and San, Ta, Kwei, Jin How and Bao Kwei, alongside his one sister, Mai Kwei, each capable in multiple martial art forms. The company is also joined by Helsing's son Leyland and rich widow, Vanessa Buren, who finances the trip. I loved this idea of following an entire expedition on a perilous task and quickly became attached to each member with their unique personalities. Our group encounter many oppositions along their journey filled with extensive action and visually stunning displays of excellently choreographed battles. My favourite had to be the fight in the cave where our unexpecting group was resting and quickly had to leap into action. Needless to say, the highlight of the production was the final act where our crew began preparations to hold the village from the amassing army. The entire segment was marvellous with an immense display of accelerating scrimmage, full of chaos with fire blazing and foes at every turn that our heroes are pushed to their limits, which takes its toll. You will be glued to the screen with bated breath from the first to the final blow. Overall, I cannot help but adore this cult classic mix-match genre epic. I was left in a constant state of awe at the flowing action and was captivated by the characters and actors, especially Cushing. It may not be the best of the series, sadly being its last, but it is a fun and exciting film sure to bring joy to any who watch. This concludes my review of Hammer's Dracula series, and I hope you have enjoyed it as much as me.

 

Runtime: 1h 29m

Directors: Roy Ward Baker, Cheh Chang

Genre: Action / Horror

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The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973)

Secret Service and Scotland Yard police investigators believe they have uncovered a case of vampirism in London. They call in expert vampire researcher Professor Lorrimer Van Helsing to help them stop these hideous crimes. It becomes apparent that the culprit is none other than Count Dracula, disguised as a reclusive property developer, secretly plotting to unleash a fatal virus upon the world. The Satanic Rites marks the 8th entry in Hammer's Dracula series, following on from the events of Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972). Its continuation of the story allowed for many returning characters, locations and recalling of events, which cemented the pair's shared continuity. I found this to be the film's strongest attribute, developing every element further in exciting and interesting ways. I particularly loved the reprisal of figures who originally had meagre parts step into the limelight, such as Inspector Murray. He was a fun side character in A.D. but ultimately didn't get anything crucial to do, until now, playing a pivotal role, aiding Helsing and getting in on the action. Even Helsing's granddaughter, Jessica, would make a return, although now recast, which I'm still unsure how I feel about. Naturally returning prior characters meant another showdown was set in place for returning stars, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in their respective roles as Van Helsing and Dracula. Their ceremonious reunion was a huge highlight of the last title and would be an equal driving force here. Lee's Dracula plays a much more prominent role than in the previous, having plenty more to do, say and finally, a bigger vendetta to pursue rather than his personal revenge missions of the past. His presence continues to be grand in all his scenes, featuring his demanding, booming voice with plenty of dialogue. Cushing's Lorrimer Van Helsing equally receives plenty to do, becoming the focal protagonist who must once more use his cunning to unearth the dark mysteries and expose the truth. I also love how he would later arm himself for a confrontation with Dracula, bringing a cross and so on, including a gun, which made for a fantastic image of him wielding the two. Any opportunity to see the duo together makes for required viewing as their chemistry elevates the production, even if this is the most confusing and weakest movie in the series. Many would argue this derived from the film's juggling of a plethora of genres, which come across as less of a 'Hammer Dracula' production and more as a spy, thriller or crime flick. One that just so happens to have vampires present. Its mix-matched genre styles can be quite puzzling, almost as though the film itself isn't sure what it's meant to be. I'm not sure espionage, car chases, and police investigations were high demands for a Dracula film but, it has the luxury of never being done before or since. All being said, amidst its flaws, I still found much to enjoy and certainly don't hate the film. Whilst it has been deemed the weakest movie by viewers, it has evolved in its perception by fans, much like A.D. 1972 has. We definitely see a departure from some of its more 'campy' themes, moving away from its hippie focus and taking a seemingly more serious and darker tone. There are plenty of aspects using more violence, mainly including shoot-outs, as well as upping the horror, best seen through the twisted farm of chained-up vampiric brides in a basement. Furthermore, Dracula's plan is just as horrifying, aiming to destroy the population with a manufactured plague whilst it could be argued as making little sense for him to do so, it would practically be his ultimate revenge. I also liked the detail of the headquarters of the evil goings-on being the original grounds of the condemned church, where Dracula died in the last film and would feature one of the best sequences with the mortal enemies talking face to face. Overall, The Satanic Rites is a pretty basic Dracula film, in my opinion. It has plenty of redeemable qualities but still falls flat as it loses its identity in attempting to do too much. I think Cushing and Lee's involvement makes this worth watching, especially to see Lee's final portrayal as the definitive iteration of Dracula. Check out the final production The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974) for more.

 

Runtime: 1h 27m

Director: Alan Gibson

Genre: Horror

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Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972)

London has become a small town for a handful of jaded psychedelic-era hipsters. Except, Johhny Alucard has a groovy new way for his pals to get their kicks. A particular ritual will be the living end, he insists, but little do they know how deadly serious he is. Whilst the act comes to fruition, the now resurrected Dracula must still face the descendant of his archnemesis, Van Helsing. Whilst a sequel to Scars of Dracula (1970), it equally chose to depart from the rest of the series, starting a fresh in probably the most ... unique way. Dracula A.D. 1972 decided to do something new and, in doing so, departed from its Gothic period settings in favour of bringing this ancient evil to the realms of today, modernising the series. The period aspect had always been at these film's core but even this production couldn't totally cast it aside. The film opens with a climactic confrontation between Lawrence Van Helsing and Dracula in 1872 aboard a moving coach, travelling at high speeds. Their animalistic fight is a gripping opening to the picture displaying Helsing's triumph over his sworn enemy before his ultimate demise. However, a follower of the Count collects the ashes for safekeeping. This introduction is absolutely fantastic, instantly pumping you with adrenaline before the title card has even been played. I further adored the transition from the 19th Century setting being panned up to the sky as funky music blares out with a plane crossing the screen, transporting us to 1972. That adrenaline is carried on through the entire sequence by this killer soundtrack that has the grooviest theme in any Dracula film! The soundtrack is a tremendous highlight and one I can honestly say is worth owning. Mike Vicker's composed theme alone is a stand-out track and one that's permanently stuck in my head. Viewers will be quick to notice the reprisal of actor Peter Cushing as Van Helsing or rather, both versions as he plays Lawrence during the opening and his descendant, Lorrimer, our main protagonist. I loved the return of Cushing to this franchise after all, his last appearance with Christopher Lee's Dracula was way back in the first film, Dracula (1958). Naturally, the pair steal the spotlight, bringing outstanding scenes at the abundance, elevating the picture tenfold. Their inevitable reunion during the finale is a phenomenal segment that will have fans on tenterhooks. During the year 1972, Lorrimer Van Helsing leads a standard life looking after his granddaughter, Jessica who on the other hand, spends her time hanging out with her hippie-like friends who like to have fun crashing parties and doing wild things for kicks. Jessica and her friends are one of the main focuses of the movie and are easily one of the reasons this film was classed as dated. Even my Dad joked "The film was dated when it came out", which I find hilarious. Despite all this, it has weirdly improved with age and is favourably looked at now by more people revisiting it. Jessica is undeniably the most intriguing member of the group to follow, with her ties to Van Helsing and how she would become an ideal target for a revenge plot. Among her group, member Johhny Alucard proposes an experience like no other, suggesting a black mass. Reluctantly agreeing under peer pressure, they do so in a condemned church. However, when the situation becomes increasingly realistic, they all scatter moments before Dracula makes his dramatic revival. Now with his vampiric turned servant, Johhny, Dracula hunts each member. However, when the police get involved and seek the Helsings for questioning, Lorrimer begins investigating the matter, equally hunting Dracula and his spawn. Overall, Dracula A.D. 1972 is a fascinating step in the series, taking the age-old tale in a new direction. This is a guilty pleasure for me and my Dad as we found plenty to enjoy from its ambitious and outright groovy style. Plus it was my introduction to the Hammer Dracula series. It's a so bad it's good film that also manages to deliver a brilliant soundtrack as well as the reuniting of Cushing and Lee in their iconic roles. Movie-goers will find plenty to be entertained by from this unusual flick. Check out the continuation in The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973).

 

Runtime: 1h 36m

Director: Alan Gibson

Genre: Horror

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Scars of Dracula (1970)

After coming back to life from the ashes, Count Dracula begins spreading his evil once again from his mountaintop castle. When passer-by Paul Carlson spends the night, he witnesses the horrors of Dracula first-hand, resulting in his disappearance. His brother, Simon, and his girlfriend, Sarah, trace him to the area, where they discover a terrified populace. Thrown out of the inn, they make their way, like Paul, towards the sinister castle and its undead host. Scars of Dracula is one of the more intriguing entries in the Hammer Dracula franchise. Viewers of the series will be quick to notice the featured resurrection sequence holds no continuity to the last entry, Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970). Therefore, breaking up a line of sequels with connected stories since the initial production back in 1958. Scars was planned to be a reboot of the franchise in the case of Christopher Lee not reprising as the titular vampire going forward. The idea of this being a reboot is honestly crazy, considering the fact Taste the Blood only came out some months earlier in the very same year! The film opens with a large bat (that unfortunately hasn't aged particularly well), which hastily begins regurgitating blood upon a pile of ash remains, reforming into Dracula. Although breaking all continuity, I was a fan of the choice to bring Dracula back from the minute go. All previous instalments made us wait nearly forty minutes just to see him, making for a welcomed change. An interesting choice too was to open with the uprising of the villagers who gather at the castle in an attempt to destroy him forever, burning the structure. However, these actions do more harm than good as we're treated to the first of many horrifically gory and bloody depictions of Dracula's wrath ever shown. Scars is a brutal film and features an unbelievably violent Dracula, unlike any prior portrayals. Furthermore, as the story progresses, we are subjected to sights, actions and ideas never before attempted by Hammer in their realm of horror. We are subsequently introduced to our main protagonists, Simon and Sarah, during her birthday, where Paul (not to be confused with either version of the last two films) competes against his brother for her hand. Whilst I like Simon and Sarah's chemistry, it's not of the same standard as Hammer's earlier movies that had brilliantly crafted relationships on display. However, Paul's attempts are cut short when his mischief-ridden lifestyle catches up with him and he must escape the authorities, leading him further than he anticipated, arriving at a mysterious castle. Naturally, he is welcomed in by the icy charming host who allows him to stay but, he shortly falls victim to the fury of the Count in a dramatic display. Worried for his brother, Simon and Sarah follow suit, finding themselves in a similar predicament staying at the castle. Some attributes of this film hark back to elements from the original works of Bram Stoker's novel, much like Dracula (1958) did. My favourite lift from the book was the scene of Dracula scaling the wall from his secluded coffin, cut off by a sheer drop. Seeing him crawling up the wall with ease was an awesome inclusion. Another highlight was the character Klove, Dracula's servant, although not the Klove of Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966). This time, played by Patrick Troughton, who is a contrasting character to that of the previous, who showed unwavering loyalty, whereas, this version occasionally displeases his master and is tortured for such. His growth and motivation remain one of the best aspects of this story, and his scenes with Dracula are the finest in the production. The ruthless nature of the movie carries over to the final confrontation, which entails possibly my favourite death of the villainous beast in an explosive spectacle of effects. Overall, despite stopping the series' overarching narrative, Scars of Dracula is still a fantastic stand-alone movie for fans to enthral in. It is a bit of a cult classic and one I can enjoy, especially my Dad, who loves it. With an opportunity to see an unnaturally violent Dracula, it makes ideal viewing for movie-goers who want a lesser-seen adaptation of the iconic vampire. Also, see the next picture with yet another fresh start to the series in Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972).

 

Runtime: 1h 35m

Director: Roy Ward Baker

Genre: Horror

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Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970)

Three middle-aged distinguished gentlemen search for some excitement in their boring bourgeois lives and are approached by Lord Courtley who offers them an experience like no other. They don't yet fully realise he is one of Count Dracula's servants. They perform a ritual that goes awry resulting in the three men killing Courtley. However, the Count is successfully resurrected and now seeks revenge on each man for his servant's death. Following on from Dracula Has Risen From the Grave (1968), we open to the scene of Dracula's demise, however, this time featuring a new angle. Travelling businessman, Weller is thrown from his carriage and alerted by horrifying screams, leading him to the frightful sight. Witnessing the body turn to dust, Weller collects the robe, jewellery and a vial of blood for good measure (as any sane person would). We are then introduced to three gentlemen: William Hargood, Samuel Paxton and Jonathon Secker who are deemed 'respectable' figures in the community, devoted to charity work. But, in actuality, they head to brothels leading a secret life in an attempt to escape their dull lives. Upon our initial meeting of the group, I was quite shocked to see the true nature of their so-called work. Admittedly, it was an interesting aspect to explore the double life led by supposed upholding citizens. These men are certainly unlikable, which the actors did a phenomenal job at portraying as they revel in their ingenuity. Of the three men, I found Hargood the most disagreeable. His actions were horrendous, like his punishing of his daughter, Alice, when drunk for no good reason. Still dissatisfied in their lives, they meet Lord Courtley, a man known for partaking in acts such as a Black Mass. Intrigued by what he offers, they follow him to Weller's store to purchase Dracula's items and powdered blood. Meeting at an abandoned church, they begin the ritual, which entails (you guessed it) drinking the blood of Dracula. It is a pretty disgusting scene though likely nothing extreme by Hammer's standards but by all accounts, it was still a sick concept to witness. Although, when they each back out, Courtley drinks alone, falling to the floor in pain, begging for help. The frightened men instead beat him to death putting him out of his misery and flee the scene moments before Courtley's body morphs into none other than Dracula. Now risen a fourth time, he seeks revenge once more this time on those who killed his servant. It is interesting to note, that the original script featured no Dracula at all. There were difficulties in getting Christopher Lee to return and Courtley's character would've been a generic vampire upon his death, for the antagonist. Lee later agreed to star in the production and yet analysing the film closely it appears Dracula has less to do in the story and acts as more of an observer to the events, likely since he wasn't in the script, having to be worked in. Dracula's plan for revenge here is certainly a twisted one. Controlling and possessing the children of the gentlemen and using them towards each's demise is a very dark concept that explores the pure evil cunning of our Count. One by one, he gets a hold of the offspring of each perpetrator and sets in motion the means to their deaths. Whilst never acting upon the individuals himself, he commands the children to deal the blows, ultimately committing the deed and counting them off at a time in his bone-chilling voice, "The First", "The Second" and "The Third". Despite his triumph, Dracula is unaware Paxton's son Paul (not to be confused with the last film) is informed of the whole ordeal by Secker by letter and now sets in motion his defeat. Though we don't spend much time with Paul, his scenes towards the end are great with the de-sanctification of the derelict church and battle with the overwhelmed Dracula by the sights and cross. Overall, Taste the Blood is personally one of my lesser favourites mainly due to not being as memorable. I still enjoyed many aspects, especially Dracula's vendetta and the final confrontation plus, Lee is outstanding, alongside the fellow cast members. It's still a worthy watch in the series. For more, see the unconnected sequel Scars of Dracula (1970).

 

Runtime: 1h 31m

Director: Peter Sasdy

Genre: Drama / Fantasy / Horror / Romance / Thriller

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The Professionals (TV Series 1977-1983)

Bodie and Doyle, top agents for Britain's CI5 (Criminal Intelligence 5), and their controller, George Cowley fight terrorism and similar high-profile crimes. Cowley, a hard ex-MI5 operative, hand-picked each of his men. Bodie was a cynical ex-SAS paratrooper and mercenary, while his partner, Doyle, came to CI5 from the regular police force. They are the top men in their field and the ones to whom Cowley always assigns the toughest cases. The Professionals is a show like no other. Whilst it falls under a similar group of shows following action, police drama, and comedic elements like, for example, Starsky & Hutch (TV Series 1975-1979), it takes this miscellany of genres to a new height with a grittier and more realistic style, unmatched by other products of the time. It subsequently made shows like Starsky & Hutch feel more comical and in a way, tame, despite themselves having darker-themed episodes but nothing to the level of this series. I first watched this show with my family, which coincidently, coincided with our watching of Starsky and Hutch, where we could see the drastic differences between the American series and this British one. The professionals blew me away with its rich stories that varied from all sorts of crimes, terrorist acts, international incidents, personal vendettas, dangers of varying proportions and magnitudes, plus many more exciting plots. Such stories held many villainous antagonists that CI5 are pinned against from terrorists, hit-men, hate groups, gangsters, espionage suspects, gunmen and many more. But these episodes are only as good as those leading them and there are none finer than our main trio. We follow two of CI5's best operatives, William Bodie and Ray Doyle, as well as their boss and leader of the organisation, Major George Cowley, as they work to put a stop to all crimes in their country no matter the danger or risk. We spend a great deal of time with Bodie and Doyle through thick and thin throughout all sorts of complex and explosive missions. Their relationship may edge on the side of contentiousness, but they still care enough for one another and exchange plenty of delightful banter. I never got tired of their quick remarks that were flung back and forth through their adventures and their playful mannerisms (regardless of the current dangers they were in or around) are equally entertaining. They also come from different backgrounds as CI5 is made up of, well, professionals from all areas of her Royal Majesty's services with Bodie being from the army and Doyle from the police force, which gives them an edge in those fields and paired together, there is little they can't accomplish. Cowley keeps this duo and his many operatives in line as he governs for a safer neighbourhood, being up for anything thrown at him. Whilst he may send out his men to these extreme situations, he isn't afraid to get involved himself taking charge on the scene on many occasions (when not enjoying a malt Scotch whisky). The organisation of CI5 may be a fictitious one but they really sell you on the idea of such a force existing, one that uses uncustomary methods in cracking down on criminal groups. One of the all-time highlights of the show is the intros. The first season features Cowley conducting a test on his men on a trial course (sometimes with a voiceover) that is overwhelmingly exciting. Later seasons featured one singular intro featuring collective clips in a phenomenally energetic manner that really gets the blood pumping. If you could sit still without moving an inch to this magnificent piece, then there is something wrong! I personally, own a boxset that saw an overhaul in visual upscaling that has breathed new life into the show, making it look so much crisper (I've linked a video below comparing such visuals). Equally, there are loads of special features and an inclusion of the original banned episode 'Klansmen'. Overall, The Professionals is an outstanding piece of television and of a British one at that. Fast cars, explosions, gritty, realistic stories, a banter-filled duo and a killer theme. This show is undoubtedly worth watching. There isn't one episode that misses the mark with quality residing in each one.

Seasons & Episodes: 5 Seasons - 57 Episodes

Creator: Brian Clemens

Genre: Action / Comedy / Crime / Drama

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