Ron Randell in OSS

O.S.S.

1957 - United Kingdom

Ron Randell and Robert Gallico starred as agents Frank Hawthorne and Sgt O'Brien working for the Office of Strategic Services during World War ll. Both men received their orders from Lionel Murton as 'The Chief' and the series was allegedly based on a real organisation of the same name, which was disbanded after the war and was in fact the precursor to the CIA. Co-producer William Eliscu had himself served in the agency, adding some semblance of authenticity to the stories, which usually involved rescue and sabotage missions behind enemy lines. 

The series was distributed by ITC and networked in the United States by ABC

Published on January 16th, 2019. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

The Girl from UNCLE

Inferior spin-off from The Man from U.N.C.L.E. but notable for launching the TV career of Stefanie Powers, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. was inspired by Peter O'Donnell's British comic strip heroine, Modesty Blaise.

Also tagged Spy Series

The Sandbaggers

Gritty spy drama centered round a covert elite operations section of British Intelligence.

Also tagged Spy Series

Women at War/Les Combattantes

Well acted, very well directed, and extremely well produced - Woman at War is an emotional period drama set in 1914 during World War One, and pays tribute to the countless women who broke free from their gender roles to serve their country

Also tagged Wartime Drama

Man of the World

Armed with camera, typewriter and a trained eye for the unusual and newsworthy, freelancer Mike Straight enjoyed a glamorous lifestyle that continuously saw him getting involved in cases of blackmail, espionage and murder.

Also tagged Action Adventure

Edward Woodward as Callan

Edward Woodward as the troubled yet still deadly agent. With consistently hard-hitting, uncompromising scripts and uniformly excellent support playing from a talented core cast

Also tagged Spy Series

The War of Darkie Pilbeam

For most families the 1940s consisted of air-raid shelters, the sound of ack-ack and rationing. Some people profiteered - people like Darkie Pilbeam.

Also tagged Wartime Drama

Das Boot

The year is 1941 and it's the height of World War II. In German-occupied France, a youthful submarine crew gathers for one last night of drunken revelry before they take to the high seas.

Also tagged Wartime Drama