The Dangizers became synonymous with bottom of the barrel British "Bs". They were a pair of American brothers whose only concern with films was the bottom line. Actors were often warned that if they weren't careful or lucky they could end up at Dangizers and there were some stories that circulated - one of Christopher Lee having to get pretty belligerent to collect his pay of 50 pounds!! Initially "The Vise" was part of a dual TV/Cinema deal in which episodes were boxed up and sold to cinemas as B movies - and judging from the few episodes available, I would have been pretty ticked off if, after paying good money to go to the cinema, I had to sit through some of these - and reviewers were annoyed that producers were trying to fob off what were half hour TV shows as 3 part films!!
They were likened to "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" but they didn't have the high quality stories, top production values or even the up and coming stars that made A.H.P. so memorable. It also went through some name changes - starting out as "The Vise", then "The Pendulum" and finally "Uncovered" as well as different hosts. It helped Ron Randall revive his career, then when Detective Mark Saber's episodes proved popular, Donald Gray took over.
A few of the episodes that are available - "Gabriel's Choice" - When a doctor saves the life of a young suicide (Lee Paterson) he comes to regret it as Patterson wreaks havoc on the doctor's nearest and dearest. "Dead Man's Evidence" - Blackmail is the name of the game in this very ho hum episode saved only by the beautiful Honor Blackman. When a struggling actor finds up and coming playwright Rex Stone in a passionate embrace with a young actress who is not his wife he resorts to blackmail. Things turn nasty and Rex thinks he has got away with murder but dead men do tell tales - especially those who wear glasses. "If This Be Murder" - Probably the best of the bunch and a pretty complicated plot (for 25 mins). Tony is convinced his wife was murdered and calls on Inspector Mark Saber whose secretary is avidly reading the latest Mr. Moon crime novel. Moon figures in the story as having a hypnotic effect over young Tony who just happens to be the real talent behind Moon's popular books.
There is no sign of innovation from Richard Lester's direction of "The Hostage" which tells of a hysterical woman holding Saber's secretary hostage while he has only hours to find the woman's fiancée who seems to have vanished from the face of the earth. "Bond of Hate" - The Bodmins seem to have the perfect marriage but behind closed doors Alice (Kay Callard) is an unbalanced shrew who will not consent to a divorce but is busily hatching a fiendish murder plan. "Side Entrance" - follows another tale of marital discord. Tom (series regular John Loder) is married to Claire, a real witch (seems to be a pattern here) who flaunts her affairs in his face but will not divorce him because he has the money!! He devises a plan to be rid of her and to implicate her latest lover.
They were likened to "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" but they didn't have the high quality stories, top production values or even the up and coming stars that made A.H.P. so memorable. It also went through some name changes - starting out as "The Vise", then "The Pendulum" and finally "Uncovered" as well as different hosts. It helped Ron Randall revive his career, then when Detective Mark Saber's episodes proved popular, Donald Gray took over.
A few of the episodes that are available - "Gabriel's Choice" - When a doctor saves the life of a young suicide (Lee Paterson) he comes to regret it as Patterson wreaks havoc on the doctor's nearest and dearest. "Dead Man's Evidence" - Blackmail is the name of the game in this very ho hum episode saved only by the beautiful Honor Blackman. When a struggling actor finds up and coming playwright Rex Stone in a passionate embrace with a young actress who is not his wife he resorts to blackmail. Things turn nasty and Rex thinks he has got away with murder but dead men do tell tales - especially those who wear glasses. "If This Be Murder" - Probably the best of the bunch and a pretty complicated plot (for 25 mins). Tony is convinced his wife was murdered and calls on Inspector Mark Saber whose secretary is avidly reading the latest Mr. Moon crime novel. Moon figures in the story as having a hypnotic effect over young Tony who just happens to be the real talent behind Moon's popular books.
There is no sign of innovation from Richard Lester's direction of "The Hostage" which tells of a hysterical woman holding Saber's secretary hostage while he has only hours to find the woman's fiancée who seems to have vanished from the face of the earth. "Bond of Hate" - The Bodmins seem to have the perfect marriage but behind closed doors Alice (Kay Callard) is an unbalanced shrew who will not consent to a divorce but is busily hatching a fiendish murder plan. "Side Entrance" - follows another tale of marital discord. Tom (series regular John Loder) is married to Claire, a real witch (seems to be a pattern here) who flaunts her affairs in his face but will not divorce him because he has the money!! He devises a plan to be rid of her and to implicate her latest lover.