Formula for Danger

Formula for Danger

1960 - United Kingdom

A young boy escapes to Britain from the fictional Ostonia, a country in Europe. In his possession is a secret formula (Formula 987) discovered by his scientist father (Stratford Johns), a victim of political opression. The formula is for a chemical that could shake industry. But should it fall into the wrong hands, the world would be facing a disaster like no other before. 

Soon after his arrival in England, Erik Stahl (Joseph Cuby), hotly pursued by foreign agents, takes refuge at a London secondary modern school where he makes friends with two students Roger (played by 17-year old David Langford) and Pat (played by 12-year old Jeanette Bradbury). Here the school lab is put to good use as the youngsters try out the formula much to the startled amazement of their science teacher (Ken Watson). But Erik's experiment brings him to the attention of the nosey Herr Schmeilder, as well as the ruthless businessman Mr Petersen (Peter Stephens). When the press get to hear of it Erik is soon facing a moral dilemma. His father has told him that if the discovery is likely to be used for evil he must destroy it immediately. 

Formula for Danger
Formula for Danger

Formula For Danger was a 7-part 30-minute Sunday adventure series broadcast at 5.15pm throughout March and most of April 1960. Programme Consultant was Mary Field, former Head of the Children's Film Foundation at this time working for ATV. "Of course we must start with a good story," she was reported as saying in the TV Times, "but that is no reason why we can't also put over a message. In this case it's a simple argument that science must be above politics and personal gain. The inventor has a right to stand up against politicians and big business." 

Producer Cecil Petty had the help of technical experts from the Regent Street Polytechnic in London, in setting up a jungle of test tubes, pipes and retorts for the experiment scene while script-writer Vivian Milroy was even more adventurous by creating a new language - Ostonian - using a mixture of German, Russian and Norwegian, even going so far as to produce a glossary of basic 'Ostonian' terms. Four of the cast received so much fan mail that ATV teamed them up again later in the year for Mill of Secrets

Published on December 13th, 2018. Written by Based on original TV Times articles. Adapted for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Fury

US & British co-production about a black stallion that no-one has yet been able to tame.

Also tagged Childrens Adventure Series

The Bloodhound Gang

A group of young detectives solving cases using scientific methods.

Also tagged Teenage Drama

Biggles

Crack pilot James "Biggles" Bigglesworth leads a team of investigators who solve crime around the world.

Also released in 1960

City Beneath the Sea

Scientists are being kidnapped and taken to an undersea world.

Also tagged Teenage Drama

Andy Robson

Based on Frederick Grice's 1969 novel, The Courage of Andy Robson, about a young boy who is uprooted from his life in the pit community of Easington, in 1910, when his father is killed in a mining accident.

Also tagged Teenage Drama

Bootsie and Snudge

Spin-off from 'The Army Game' - Private 'Excused Boots' Bisley and his bullying Sergeant, Claude Snudge, return to civvy life where they find employment in a Pall Mall gentleman's club called The Imperial.

Also released in 1960

jungle boy tv series

A boy grows up in the wilds as an orphan when the rest of his family is killed in an airplane crash. Filmed entirely on location in Kenya, East Africa.

Also tagged Childrens Adventure Series

Brendon Chase

Classic children's story shown over thirteen episodes concerning the Hensman brothers, Robin, John and Harold, who spend eight months living as outlaws in the forest of Brendon Chase.

Also tagged Teenage Drama

All Our Yesterdays

One of Granada Television's most successful series of all time, All Our Yesterdays began in 1960 and was presented by noted foreign correspondent James Cameron who linked together edited version of two 1930s cinema newsreels from the same week twenty-five years ago.

Also released in 1960