The Power Game

The Plane Makers | The Power Game

1963, 1965 - United Kingdom

Set on the factory floor of fictitious aircraft manufacturers Scott Furlong, The Plane Makers focused on the day-to-day running of a multi-million pound company, and in particular the ambitions of ruthless company managing director John Wilder, as played with convincing gusto by Patrick Wymark. It was a performance that won Wymark many fans as well as an actor of the year award, and prompted a number of businessmen, who had seen the programme, to offer the actor places on the boards of real-life companies. 

In stark contrast to the character he played, Wymark described himself as having "No head for business at all, and paperwork would drive me mad. I don't think I've ever been ruthless. I'm too much of a coward." But John Wilder was the man that everyone loved to hate and when the series came to an end after two years with the collapse of the company, Wilder was whisked off to pastures new in the follow on series, The Power Game

Now knighted and placed on the board of a merchant bank, Sir John Wilder begins to crave excitement and seizes the opportunity to get back into the action as soon as it presents itself. The bank with which Wilder is connected backs a civil engineering firm of which Wilder eventually becomes managing director, much to the opposition of the firm's founder, Sir Caswell Bligh (Clifford Evans) and his son Kenneth (Peter Barkworth). Both Barbara Murray and Ann Firbank starred as Wilder's wife, Pamela (Lady Wilder) and the series was still top of the ratings in 1969 when it was brought to an abrupt end by the sudden death of its star. By that time Sir John was employed by the British Government as a member of the Foreign Office.

Published on January 19th, 2019. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Detective TV series 1964 & 1968

BBC anthology series in which each week a different famous literary detective is brought to the screen. The series spawned several long-running series including 'Cluff,' 'Father Brown,' and 'Sherlock Holmes'

Also starring Peter Barkworth

The Protectors

A private company offers security but ends up involved in forgery, espionage and murder.

Also tagged British Drama

Counsellor at Law

New York lawyer George Simon is about to jump out of his office window in the Empire State Building...

Also starring Barbara Murray

Albert and Victoria

Alfred Marks starring comedy vehicle produced by Yorkshire Television and set, as the title suggests, in the late 19th century when Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert were the figureheads on the British throne.

Also starring Barbara Murray

The Fugitive

"Name: Richard Kimble. Profession: Doctor of medicine. Destination: Death Row, state prison. Richard Kimble has been tried and convicted for the murder of his wife. But Richard Kimble is innocent..."

Also released in 1963

When a scientist’s almost fanatical devotion to a vaccine project brings her into collision with orthodox authority and there is a threat to put an end to her experiments, she rebels and continues on her own…with devastating consequences

Also starring Barbara Murray

Barbara Murray

Cool elegance and quiet strength defined Barbara Murray, the British actress whose performances graced stage and screen for over five decades—from post-war dramas to television classics, she remained a compelling, unassuming presence

Also starring Barbara Murray

Spindoe

A tale of cross border gang warfare - North versus South London and a lesson in no-honour among thieves.

Also tagged British Drama

Budgie

Cheeky cockney and loveable rogue Ronald 'Budgie' Bird. Budgie was a small time crook, a petty thief, a chancer who always dreamed of getting rich but mainly had to content himself with the slimmest of pickings.

Also tagged British Drama