Homepage Television Heaven Logo
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...

Destination Downing Street 1957

Lost short-lived BBC spy thriller in which a team of experts in various fields are brought together by the Prime Minister to defeat ruthless saboteurs

Also tagged Spy Series

Charlie's Angels

This much maligned series from the late seventies has, believe it or not, reached cult status in more recent times and spawned a blockbuster movie starring four brand new stars as well as the original Charlie himself.

Also tagged Action Adventure

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

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

The Adventures of Long John Silver

Australian series filmed in colour but only available to the UK viewing public of 1957 in black and white, The Adventures of Long John Silver was based very loosely on Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel Treasure Island.

Also released in 1957

Gene Barry in The Adventurer

The publicity for this ITC show read "travel the world with The Adventurer, in a series of vital, new and dynamic situations in which every turn brings the zing of danger, drama and originality". Most viewers ended up wishing the hero of this particular television outing had stayed at home.

Also tagged Action Adventure

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

Emergency Ward 10

Britain's first medical soap, which was also the first of the country's twice-weekly serials, went on to become one of the nation’s best loved programmes, reaching an average audience of 16 million people a week and 24 million at its peak.

Also released in 1957