Callan (film)
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by James Mitchell
Derek Horne
| Callan | |
|---|---|
![](#/media/File:"Callan"_(1974).jpg) UK theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Don Sharp |
| Written by | James Mitchell |
| Based on | A Red File for Callan by James Mitchell |
| Produced by | Harry Benn Derek Horne |
| Starring | Edward Woodward Eric Porter Carl Möhner Catherine Schell Peter Egan Russell Hunter |
| Cinematography | Ernest Steward |
| Edited by | Teddy Darvas |
| Music by | Wilfred Josephs |
Production company | Magnum Films |
| Distributed by | EMI |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Callan (also known as This is Callan) is a 1974 British thriller film directed by Don Sharp and starring Edward Woodward, Eric Porter, Carl Möhner and Russell Hunter.[1] It was written by James Mitchell based on his novel A Red File for Callan, itself based on Mitchell's pilot episode for the ITV television series Callan (1967–1972).
David Callan, a leading intelligence agent/assassin in the employment of the S.I.S., was forced into retirement when he lost his nerve. Now, he is called back into service to handle the assassination of Schneider, a German businessman. Colonel Hunter, his former employer, promises Callan that he'll be returned to active status as long as he follows his orders. But Callan refuses to act until he knows exactly why Schneider has been marked for death.
Cast
- Edward Woodward as David Callan
- Russell Hunter as Lonely
- Eric Porter as Charles Hunter
- Peter Egan as Toby Meres
- Carl Möhner as Rudolph Schneider
- Catherine Schell as Jenny
- Kenneth Griffith as Waterman
- Michael Da Costa as The Greek
- Veronica Lang as Liz
- Clifford Rose as Dr. Snell
- David Prowse as Arthur
- Don Henderson as George
- Nadim Sawalha as Padilla
- David Graham as wireless operator
- Yuri Borienko as security porter
Production
The script by James Mitchell is based on his original TV pilot "A Magnum for Schneider" and the novelization thereof, Red File for Callan, although only the novel is listed in the film's credits (as A Red File for Callan). The film was based more on the novel than on the original television script.
Callan's boss Hunter is played by Eric Porter, and Meres too is re-cast, this time played by Peter Egan. The only recurring actors from the TV series were Edward Woodward as Callan, Russell Hunter as Lonely, and Clifford Rose as Dr Snell.
Callan was the first film with a Dolby-encoded optical soundtrack.[2]
The film was shot in late 1973 at Lee Studios and on locations such as the Spint Crossing at Newbury. Director Don Sharp called it "a joy to film" in part because Woodward's "character was so set but he came to it so fresh again."[3] "We're making a much more extended approach than the TV series," said Woodward during filming. "We could have easily fallen into the trap of making an elongated TV series, but we didn't want it to look cheap. But we mustn't close the claustrophic tight atmosphere that made it so effective and true to life."[4]
Sharp said the film received "lovely notices".[3]