Crime drama series Gideon’s Way focused on the cases of Commander George Gideon working out Scotland Yard. Partnered with Detective Chief Inspector Keen the pair tackle everything from thwarting assassination attempts, horse race fixing, tracking down thieves and of course murder. Unlike most modern day cops Gideon has a nicely settled home life with wife Kate and their three children Pru, Matthew and Malcolm.
Shot in crisp black and white Gideon’s Way is an excellent series, like a TV version of the fab Edgar Lustgarten Scotland Yard series of shorts for the movies. John Gregson, who had been hugely popular during the 1950’s, was here winding up his career somewhat, although he would go on to co-star in the Shirley Maclaine series Shirley’s World.
The series attracted some good quality guest stars in the shape of George Cole, Alfie Bass, Donald Sutherland, Rosemary Leach, Raymond Huntley, Sydney Tafler, Ray McAnally, George Baker, Charles Lloyd Pack, Ray Brooks, Derren Nesbitt, Nicola Pagett, a young John Hurt, Mike Pratt (who would go on to star in another ITC classic Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)), Finlay Currie and Jean Marsh to name just a few.
There was an unusual amount of location filming too which gave the series a nice ducumentary style edge, interiors were shot at Elstree Studios. The series was known as Gideon C.I.D. in the US and was based on the novels by John Creasey (who usually wrote them under the pen name J.J. Marric).
Great theme tune by Edwin Astley too!
The episodes are listed below in their original production because, like a lot of 1960’s ITV series, it was shown at various time and days across the ITV Network.
production details
UK / ITV Network – ATV – New World Production – ITC / 26x60m-e / Broadcast 17 October 1964 – 10 May 1966
Producers: Robert S. Baker, Monty Berman
Music: Edwin Astley
Novels: J.J. Marric (really John Creasey)
Script Supervisor: Harry H. Junkin
cast
JOHN GREGSON as Commander George Gideon
ALEXANDER DAVION as Ch Insp David Keen
DAPHNE ANDERSON as Kate Gideon
IAN ROSSITER as D.C.S. Bell
BASIL DIGNAM as Commissioner Scott-Marle
RICHARD JAMES as Matthew Gideon
GILES WATLING as Malcolm Gideon
ANDREA ALLEN as Pru Gideon
THE EPISODES (One season of 26 episodes running from 17 October 1964 – 10 May 1966)
1. STATE VISIT
2. THE V MEN
3. THE FIRE BUG
4. THE BIG FIX
5. THE HOUSEKEEPER
6. THE LADY KILLER
7. TO CATCH A TIGER
8. BIG FISH, LITTLE FISH
9. THE WHITE RAT
10. HOW TO RETIRE WITHOUT REALLY WORKING
11. SUBWAY TO REVENGE
12. THE GREAT PLANE ROBBERY
13. GANG WAR
14. THE TIN GOD
15. THE ALIBI MAN
16. FALL HIGH, FALL HARD
17. THE WALL
18. THE PROWLER
19. THE THIN RED LINE
20. THE PERFECT CRIME
21. THE MILLIONAIRE’S DAUGHTER
22. MORNA
23. BOY WITH GUN
24. THE RELUCTANT WITNESS
25. THE RHYME AND THE REASON
26. THE NIGHTLIFERS
