Never less than competent, "The Professionals" was however quite variable. But when it was good it was good in all departments. Something seemed to inspire all concerned to give their best. Sometimes it was a particularly good script. Here the direction/editing seems to have been the stimulus. Nearly every character gives more than simply delivering their lines - even baddies are individuals with a degree of depth, visually expressing thoughts at the end of their pieces of dialogue; the editing delaying cuts to allow the viewer to see those thoughts.
More obvious are the very spirited indeed desperate fight scenes. Bodie was never more aggressive, Doyle hardly ever more hard pressed and near the end of his tether. John Carson glided easily between urbane pleasantness and almost demonic anger. Cowley never more gentle and charming when charm served his purpose. It appears that the screenplay has been imaginatively and intelligently understood and perhaps more drawn out of it than originally existed, a kind of additional depth has been created and put into the performances.
As it seemed that good direction had been the key to this episode I checked on this directors filmography and all was explained - following this has been a very successful Hollywood career. It maybe that this episode of The Professionals is worthy of study by film students. It taught me something.
With a not hugely bigger budget (35mm, better camera-work, some minor cast changes) and longer running time this could have been worthy of a cinema release.
More obvious are the very spirited indeed desperate fight scenes. Bodie was never more aggressive, Doyle hardly ever more hard pressed and near the end of his tether. John Carson glided easily between urbane pleasantness and almost demonic anger. Cowley never more gentle and charming when charm served his purpose. It appears that the screenplay has been imaginatively and intelligently understood and perhaps more drawn out of it than originally existed, a kind of additional depth has been created and put into the performances.
As it seemed that good direction had been the key to this episode I checked on this directors filmography and all was explained - following this has been a very successful Hollywood career. It maybe that this episode of The Professionals is worthy of study by film students. It taught me something.
With a not hugely bigger budget (35mm, better camera-work, some minor cast changes) and longer running time this could have been worthy of a cinema release.
