Special Branch: The Promised Land (ITV 1 Oct 1969 with Windsor Davies)

In The Promised Land, Special Branch get involved when a group of illegal immigrants are caught arriving via boat. One of them, Majid, is seriously ill but goes on the run.

Superintendent Eden and Morrissey think that agitator Alex Rushmer knows more about the people smuggling than he is letting on. Meanwhile Majid has been taken in by tradesman Zac and his wife Rosa. With Majid in a bad way Zac knows he needs to let the man rest but Rosa just wants the authorities called in. Zac later takes Majid to London where he makes it to Rushmer’s before collapsing.

Meanwhile Rushmer is disturbed to discover that it is costing the immigrants big money to get into the country.

A surprisingly relevant episode – it’s another grabbed from the headlines type story told with a nice sense of economy by Trevor Preston. Some familiar faces popping up too including Windsor Davies, Geoffrey Bayldon and Dino Shafeek.

production details
UK / ITV – Thames / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Wednesday 1 October 1969 at 9.00pm

Writer: Trevor Preston / Production Design: Roger Allen / Director: Dennis Vance

Series: Special Branch Season 1 Episode 3

cast
Wensley Pithey as Eden
Derren Nesbitt as Jordan
Keith Washington as Morrissey
George Lee as Clayton
Windsor Davies as Vousden
Geoffrey Bayldon as Alex Rushmer
Arnold Peters as Giraud
Martin Wyldeck as Spaak
Dino Shafeek as Majid
Robert Hamilton as Zac
Mary Healey as Rosa
Usha Joshi as Dr Bakht
Harold Reese as Clarke
Arnold Diamond as Charles Settle