Moonstrike

1 9 6 3 (UK)
27 x 50 minute episodes

This anthology series of one-off thrillers from the BBC featured stories about the covert activities of Allied agents and resistance operatives against German forces in occupied Europe during the Second World War.

Each episode portrayed the efforts of a different Resistance group assisting Allied forces in their efforts to defeat the Germans, although many stories featured the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and their operations in occupied territories.

Several episodes featured the “Lysander boys” of Number 161 Squadron who hedge-hopped occupied France in their small aircraft to pick up Allied agents on the run.

There was no regular cast. Actors who appeared in the various episodes included Trevor Bannister, Dyson Lovell, Michael Culver, David Hemmings, Patrick Magee, Patrick Wymark, Gary Hope, Philip Madoc, Ivor Salter, Imogen Hassall, Steven Berkoff, Nigel Hawthorne, Tony Britton, Colin Jeavons, John Woodvine, Bernard Kay and Erik Chitty,

Episodes were fast-paced and filled with suspense and the series was regular prime-time fare for a healthy-sized viewing audience.

Only three episodes of Moonstrike still exist in the archives: ‘A Girl Friend’, ‘The Biggest Bandit’ and ‘The Factory’. The series was repeated in 1964.

Episodes

Home by Four | A Clear Field | Message Received | Five Hours to Kill | Return to Danger | A Safe House | Danger by Appointment | Unwelcome Guest| Round Trip | No Joy | A Sunday Morning | Death Sentence | The Expert | Four to Go | Last Act | A Girl Friend | The Biggest Bandit | The Escape | Rush Job | He Who Tells | A Matter of Trust | The Factory | The Canary | Try Out | The Bells Are Silent | No Heroics | The Last Mission |