Original title
The Protectors
Released
9/29/1972
Origin country
GB
Genre
Action & Adventure, Crime, Drama
Production companies
ITC Entertainment, Associated Television (ATV)
Status
Ended
Number of seasons
2
Number of episodes
52
The Protectors is a British television series, an action thriller created by Gerry Anderson. It was Anderson's second TV series using live actors as opposed to electronic marionettes, and also his second to be firmly set in contemporary times. It was also the only Gerry Anderson produced television series that was not of the fantasy or science fiction genres. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company. Despite not featuring marionettes or any real science fiction elements, The Protectors became one of Anderson's most popular productions, easily winning a renewal for a second season. A third season was in the planning stages when the show's major sponsor pulled out, forcing its cancellation. The Protectors first aired in 1972 and 1973, and ran to 52 episodes over two series, each 25 minutes long - making it one of the last series of this type to be produced in a half-hour format. It starred Robert Vaughn as Harry Rule, Nyree Dawn Porter as the Contessa Caroline di Contini, and Tony Anholt as Paul Buchet. Episodes often featured prominent guest actors.
A friend of Harry's insists on doing a dangerous skydiving trick despite the fact that gold smugglers are trying to kill him.
A wealthy recluse hires the Protectors to break his brother out of prison.
While in Rome the Protectors try to help a senator who is being blackmailed.
The Contessa ends up putting her life in danger when she agrees to help an old friend win a wager by making him disappear.
The wife of a president hires the Protectors to guard her critically ill husband whom she fears may be kidnapped.
While investigating a plot to overthrow the government of a Mediterranean nation the Protectors end up confronting two old friends of the Contessa, one with whom she was romantically involved.
The West German government hires the Protectors to put a pension fund that is supporting fugitive Nazi's out of business.
The Protectors devise an elaborate con to recover a priceless antique which a woman had been conned out of.
Harry and the Contessa are the victims of a car crash that was engineered to get information out of them.
The daughter of a gangster whom Harry helped put in prison fails twice in her efforts to kill Harry.
The KGB hires the Protectors to capture a renegade Russian scientist who plans on destroying London with a new virus to show the world how dangerous biological warfare can be.
A kidnapped Paul will be blown to bits unless Harry and the Contessa help steal jewels which they have been hired to safeguard.
The Protectors only hope of putting a drug smuggling ring out of business lies in being able to decode a coded letter.
The Contessa is captured by a psychotic killer who puts her on trial for her life.
The police hire the Protectors to guard the corpse of a bank robber as part of a ruse to capture his accomplices.
In Malta, with only the body of a dead hippie as a clue, the Protectors go after smugglers despite having no idea what it is that is being smuggled.
After unsuccessful attempts on their lives, Paul and the Contessa are too late to warn Harry that someone is out to kill him.
The Protectors are hired to track down Bennett, a missing Canadian agent who holds valuable information about a new American-Canadian sky project.
Harry must land a small plane on his own when the pilot dies.
Drug dealers plan on using someone who can impersonate Harry's voice in order to get information out of a blinded Paul.
Harry finds his family being threatened after he agrees to guard a visiting president in London.
The Contessa gives Harry a shotgun for his birthday which he soon puts to good use when while investigating political blackmail he becomes the quarry in a manhunt.
An important witness to a murder who doesn't want the Protectors protection, vanishes soon after she is placed in the Protectors charge.
A small fluffy dog called Muffin is kidnapped from a hotel to place a microfilm in its collar. The dog is due to be ttansaported to NY. Harry saves the day.
Harry is hired to protect a disturbed Vietnam war veteran.
The Protectors end up in trouble in the Roman tombs.
Harry travels to Spain in order to track down a bounty hunter named Quin.
The Protectors are called to deliver the ransom for the kidnapped daughter of a Danish aristocrat.
A revolutionary group steals and auctions off a priceless art collection in order to purchase dynamite to fund their cause.
The Protectors are hired to smuggle into Britain a Russian scientist who wishes to marry her childhood sweetheart.
In Denmark, a young woman and her father call on the Protectors to deliver a huge ransom for a stolen jewelry shipment.
The Protectors go after industrial spies who are threatening to topple a chemical company by scooping their best products.
Alone in Italy, the Contessa goes to Venice to find out why the son of a wealthy Brit is making huge withdrawals from his account.
In Salzburg, the Protectors must rescue a group of vacationers whom are unknowingly being held hostage on top of an Austrian mountain.
In Salzburg, the Protectors must rescue a group of vacationers whom are unknowingly being held hostage on top of an Austrian mountain.
In Spain, an English boy is framed and arrested on drug charges after a drug dealer plants some hash in his backpack.
In Britain, Harry is called on to protect a Russian author from publishing his anti-socialist book.
An old friend who has a new lead on an insurance scam calls Harry and the Contessa to Venice, but he is murdered just before they arrive.
The Protectors are hired by a Hungarian actress wanting to bury her now deceased revolutionary father in their homeland.
Harry's college friend Zeke, a pianist, is blackmailed into setting Harry up by mobsters.
In Venice, Harry aids Lena, a journalist, expose a corrupt politician.
Undercover as an explosives expert, Harry seeks to rescue a kidnapped girl and prevent a bridge bombing.
In order to protect the daughter of a rich industrialist who has received threats against her life, Harry poses as her tutor.
Harry masquerades as a drunk in order to get a Canadian heiress out of a cult.
The Contessa is used to lure her former lover, a British spy, out into the open.
Knowing where a huge stash of heroin is hidden, Harry confronts the drug dealers.
The Protectors are called upon when the father of a man on trial for murdering a policeman goes after the judge.
Harry is stalked on a train by Shadbolt, a professional assassin.
Harry Rule is called upon to see if Eartha Kitt's (guest star)home is haunted.
The Protectors are hired to discretely research stolen secret Swiss bank account information.
The Protectors aid a movie director in the retrieval of film being held for ransom.
The Protectors chase after a stolen platinum shipment.
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