10 Great 1960s Spy TV Shows Worth Revisiting

The 1960s were an incredible time for spy TV shows and were the starting point for several popular series. Since many of the best spy shows from this era have been revived or rebooted on the big screen, it’s worth revisiting the source material and seeing how many surprising stories of covert espionage or covert government work there are to discover. From pioneering television shows that left a lasting impact on the genre to cult favorites that have stood the test of time, many series from the 1960s deserve the attention of modern viewers.

While many of the best spy films of the 1960s are well known to modern viewers, the same cannot be said for TV shows from this era. This does a disservice to how engaging and fun the best spy shows from this period were, and fans of spy series would be doing themselves a favor if they took the time to eradicate these older series. While they may not be as iconic as Sean Connery’s 1960s stint as James Bond, all of these spy series are worth revisiting.

10

Top Secret (1961-1962)

2 seasons / 26 episodes

As its name suggests, ITV’s British spy series Top secret was one of the best kept secrets of 1960s spy television. Starring William Franklyn as the suave secret agent Peter Dallas, Top secret took viewers on a thrilling journey of espionage and deception as the British agent began his work in South America. Over 26 60-minute black and white episodes, Agent Dallas investigated matters of interest to British intelligence in Argentina.

Each episode of Top secret also featured Patrick Cargill as wealthy businessman Miguel Garetta and Alan Rothwell as Dallas’ nephew Mike. With a cast of engaging characters, strong writing, and an intriguing espionage-based premise, Top secret it was a hit with British viewers during its time. While Top secret isn’t the easiest series to track down and revisit, those who seek it out will be rewarded with a hidden piece of British spy television history.

9

The Champions (1968-1969)

1 season/30 episodes

The champions it featured United Nations agents Craig Stirling, Sharron Macready and Richard Barrett working for a Geneva police organization called ‘Nemesis’. Like a British spy thriller The champions mixed science fiction concepts with occult detective fiction to produce an adventure series brimming with creativity. With a gripping pilot that began with the team fleeing a Chinese spy mission, The champions began in the fictional land of Shangri-La and only became more intriguing as the series progressed.

From its cast of eccentric and eccentric characters to its investigations of fascist regimes around the world, The champions was a unique spy series created by Dennis Spooner, who worked on other classics like The Avengers and Danger Man. Although budget constraints meant the need to utilize repeat sets and footage, the strong writing and creative premises of The champions more than made up for its financial limitations. With all 30 episodes available on DVD, there’s no excuse not to catch up The champions.

8

Calam (1967-1972)

4 seasons / 44 episodes

The British spy series Slang starred Edward Woodward as David Callan, a secret service agent who deals with insider threats in the United Kingdom. Allowed to use the cruelest methods necessary, Slang showcased its hero routinely torturing suspects as a means of interrogation and not thinking twice when it came to killing those considered a threat to Britain. While this description might make Callan seem like a shocking murderer, it was nothing compared to the sadistic nature of his upper-class peers and snobbish superiors.

Slang was an excellent piece of 1960s spy media that even spawned a 1974 feature film and a 1981 television film, showing the continued interest in his character. With four seasons and 44 episodes, ten episodes of Slang unfortunately they are missing from the ITV archives. Although this would mean a complete revisit of the entire Slang was an impossibility, the remaining episodes are available and make for thrilling viewing.

7

I Spy (1965-1968)

3 seasons / 82 episodes

Although the inclusion of now-convicted sexual predator Bill Cosby in the main cast of I spy meant this series has aged poorly in retrospect, that doesn’t take away from its status as a classic of 1960s spy-based television. Following US intelligence agents Kelly Robinson (Robert Culp) and Alexander “Scotty” Scott (Bill Cosby), traveling disguised as international tennis players, I spy used its unique premise to tell stories that saw its stars traversing the globe. As the duo pursued villains and rival spies, they also found themselves involved in romantic encounters with beautiful women.

I spy It was groundbreaking for its time, as it was one of the first American television series to feature a black actor in the lead role. Striking the perfect balance between action and comedy, I spy valued realism over the advanced devices of film series such as James Bond. Although Cosby’s later behind-the-scenes behavior tarnished his once-acclaimed reputation, that shouldn’t diminish Cosby’s incredible appeal. I spy and its importance in the history of espionage-based television during the 1960s.

6

Get Smart (1965-1970)

5 seasons/138 episodes

The popularity of James Bond The franchise in the 1960s meant that spy stories quickly became ripe for parody. This is exactly what Mel Brooks and Buck Henry sought to do with Stay smartthe secret agent comedy series that poked fun at the more ridiculous aspects of spy films and television series. By mixing Brooks’ iconic comedic sensibilities with stories about bumbling secret agents working for the CONTROL counterintelligence agency, Stay smart managed to last five successful seasons with an astonishing 138 episodes.

With technology and hilarious gadgets like phones hidden in ties, combs, clocks and watches, Stay smart It had recurring jokes and laughs, like Agent Max Smart’s phone, which required him to take off his shoes whenever it rang. With lots of amazing guest stars including Carol Burnett and Vincent Price Stay smart was a defining series in the rapidly developing spy comedy genre. Although Steve Carell’s 2008 film adaptation Stay smart failed to live up to its legacy, that reboot attempt showed the series’ continued appeal.

5

Dangerous Man (1960-1968)

4 seasons / 86 episodes

Danger Man was a British spy series also known as Secret Agent in the United States. Presenting the adventures of secret agent John Drake, unlike other heroes of the genre such as James Bond, Drake carried no weapon, rarely used devices, almost never caught the girl and avoided using lethal force. Starring Patrick McGoohan as the global spy working for NATO and later the fictional M9 intelligence agency, Danger Man was an interesting alternative to Connection.

Much like his more famous counterpart James Bond, Drake introduced himself with the phrase “Drake…John Drake,” and the series drew on many tropes and clichés of the spy genre. However, Danger Man also sought realism by dramatizing the very real threat of Cold War tensions during the 1960s. While Danger Man was canceled after its first season, the series was revived after a two-year hiatus in 1964 and is worth revisiting today.

4

The Man from UNCLE (1964-1968)

4 seasons / 105 episodes

UNCLE’S MAN was based on covert international counterintelligence and law enforcement agency called United Network Command for Law and Enforcementor UNCLE for short. Following the exploits of Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) and Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum), this NBC series helped fuel the spy craze of the 1960s and had many copycat and copycat shows.

Featuring many unique gadgets and weaponry, many episodes revolved around the spies’ fight against THRUSH, the Technological Hierarchy for the Removal of Undesirables and the Subjugation of Humanity. UNCLE’S MAN was a pioneering series for the spy media that was so popular it even led to spin-offs like UNCLE’S girl The legacy of this series has endured into modern times, as UNCLE’S MAN it was reimagined by Guy Ritchie for his 2015 film starring Henry Cavill.

3

The Avengers (1961-1969)

6 seasons/161 episodes

Although modern viewers will probably think of Tony Stark and a variety of Marvel heroes when they hear the title The Avengersin the 1960s, that name would also conjure up images of one of the most acclaimed spy series ever made. The Avengers was a British spy series that found great popularity around the world and focused on British intelligence agent John Steed (Patrick Macnee). Like a quirky series with a suave spy protagonist, The Avengers it embodied everything that was good about spy programs during the 1960s.

From Steed’s rotating array of female partners to the macabre Hitchcockian atmosphere of many episodes, The Avengers it was full of humor and style. Macnee’s performance was an impressive display of on-screen charisma, as he proved to be one of the most-watched leading men television has ever seen. With strong production values ​​and great performances, The Avengers holds up incredibly well today.

2

The Prisoner (1967-1968)

1 season/17 episodes

The Prisoner can only be the most original TV series of the 1960swhose incredible mix of sci-fi surrealism and Kafkaesque mayhem has made it a cult favorite. The series was created and starred Dangerous Man Patrick McGoohan, who played the mysterious Number Six, an intelligence agent kidnapped and imprisoned in a mysterious coastal village after resigning from spy work. With just 17 episodes, this unusual thriller was a pioneering piece of television that pushed audiences out of their comfort zone in a way that television at the time rarely did.

The legacy of The prisoner was so good that, more than 30 years after it went off the air, McGoohan reprized his role as Number Six in The Simpsons episode “The Computer Wore Menacing Shoes”. This episode saw Homer taken to the mysterious island and featured many references to The prisoner. While The prisoner worth revisiting for its engaging narratives, its role as an important document of 1960s counterculture also made it an essential piece of television history.

1

Mission: Impossible (1966-1973)

7 seasons/171 episodes

Mission: Impossible gained an impressive second life as a major feature film franchise starring Tom Cruise, but viewers often overlooked the appeal of the original 1960s spy series. This popular spy thriller series followed a small team known as the Force. Impossible Missions (IMF) as they overthrew hostile Iron Curtain governments, third world dictators, corrupt industrialists and crime lords. Featuring Lalo Schifrin’s iconic theme song and self-destructive messages, the Mission: Impossible TV series laid the foundation for much of what made movies so successful.

Instead of Cruise’s Ethan Hunt, Mission: Impossible followed agents such as Dan Briggs (Steven Hill) and Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) as they engaged in undercover work on behalf of the United States government. With plenty of mystery, great characters, and engaging action sequences, lovers of the upcoming film series would be doing themselves a disservice if they didn’t go back and check out the original. As perhaps the greatest spy series of the 1960s, Mission: Impossible it was unmissable spy tv show.