Callan (film)

David Callan (Edward Woodward), a leading intelligence agent/assassin in the employment of the S.I.S., was forced into retirement when he lost his nerve. Now, he is called back into service to handle the assassination of Schneider, a German businessman. Colonel Hunter (Eric Porter), his former employer, promises Callan that he'll be returned to active status as long as he follows his orders. But Callan refuses to act until he knows exactly why Schneider has been marked for death...

• Edward Woodward as David Callan
• Russell Hunter as Lonely
• Eric Porter as Hunter
• Peter Egan as Toby Meres
• Carl Möhner as Schneider
• Catherine Schell as Jenny
• Kenneth Griffith as Waterman
• Michael Da Costa as The Greek
• Veronica Lang as Liz, Hunter's Secretary
• Clifford Rose as Dr. Snell
• David Prowse as Arthur
• Don Henderson as George
• Nadim Sawalha as Padilla
• David Graham as Wireless operator
• Yuri Borienko as Security porter

The only actors to reprise their television roles in the film were Woodward, Russell Hunter who played Lonely and Clifford Rose who played Snell. Apart from the three, all the other recurring characters were played by different actors and actresses.

The script by James Mitchell is based on his original TV pilot "A Magnum for Schneider" and the novelization thereof, Red File for Callan, although only the novel is listed in the film's credits (as A Red File for Callan). The film was based more on the novel than on the original television script.

Callan's boss Hunter is played by Eric Porter, and Meres too is re-cast, this time played by Peter Egan. The only recurring actors from the TV series were Edward Woodward as Callan, Russell Hunter as Lonely, and Clifford Rose as Dr Snell.

Callan was the first film with a Dolby-encoded optical soundtrack.[4]

The film's original reaction was mixed to positive.

The Observer called it "surprisingly enjoyable".[5]

• Callan on IMDb
• Callan at BFI
• Callan at Letterbox DVD