Review of Callan (1974) by Trent R — 02 Apr 2011

Well-plotted reworking of the pilot ep. A Magnum for Schneider into a more cinematic offering. Action set pieces featuring a "Noguchi" .357 magnum, window-tinted white range rover, and hilariously easy to master iron fist technique are a lot of fun - despite perhaps reflecting Callahan more than Callan. The contrasting scenes of Callan warming to his assassination target, (an ex-Nazi arms dealer) while his mid-level English bureaucrat boss berates him are quite heavy handed. But pleasingly so, as a more pointed and specific variation on themes of domestic post-war fascism.

The military music is appropriate, given the incorporation of lead miniature tabletop strategy gaming into the plot, and the harmonica warms it a bit. Watch for a dubbed David Prowse on the receiving end of Callan's five fingers of death, and a surprisingly good fight with Peter Egan as Callan's institutional rival.