SoTrumpBelieve Must See Movie...

BeSummers Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

Anoushka Slater While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

jc-osms The most realistic and gritty of all the 1960's ITC thriller series and one of the best. If The Saint did it with suavity, The Champions with super-powers, Jason King and his Department S colleagues with camp panache and Randall and Hopkirk with supernatural powers, McGill, a CIA outcast trying to make a living as a private eye in mid-60's England, just did it. With no fuss or flashiness, Richard Bradford's anti-hero and his "have gun will travel" policy took him into adventures more believable and down to earth than those of his stable-mates.In this pilot episode for example, McGill gets waylaid by a deposed white African leader who wants him to reveal how back in his CIA days he assisted with that country's revolution with the ultimate aim of deposing the present government and re-establishing white government over the locals. Given that the British government of the time was having well-publicised disputes with former colonies in the African continent, there's a strong whiff of topicality about the narrative, only bolstered further by the use of forced interrogation techniques redolent of "The Manchurian Candidate" and "The Ipcress Files" to name but two. It's pretty obvious to say also that both these themes are still very much in the news today.The silver-haired Bradford is excellent as the laconic, friendless, endlessly cynical McGill. This episode was crisply directed by celebrated Ealing director Charles Crichton (later to direct "A Fish Called Wanda"). Yes, you will see various guest stars from the supporting cast of most of the afore-mentioned shows not to mention sets, cars and now and again variations on the same story too. Indeed McGill's anti-Establishment stance is not too far away from the daddy of all 60's TV rebels, Patrick McGoohan's "The Prisoner"."Man In A Suitcase" (which incidentally boasts another great Ron Grainer theme) may not have aimed quite as high as McGoohan's tormented odyssey but this was solid entertainment and very good quality stuff of its kind, one of the best adventure series of the 60's I'd say.

screenman I have to agree with the other punters here. Richard Bradford had the part of McGill to perfection. Sallow, understated, and with a cynical edge; he was a man made weary by human fallibility and weakness, yet doomed to make a living from it nonetheless. His hair seemed prematurely grey for his age, and its curiously coiffured mop looked suspiciously like a toupee. Though I'm sure it was genuine.Often he mediated between victims and victimisers, using his cunning and thinly-veiled contempt to get the best deal he could, when as often as not he got a beating instead - and a very realistic one at that.He lived in a suitcase, was available for hire anywhere anytime. He charged a standard rate no matter what; I believe it was $200 dollars a day plus expenses, which many baulked at but they could take it or leave it. Inevitably he made girlfriends and abandoned them just as readily. Each episode was gritty, terse, and usually had an unexpected turn. And as they were mostly set in London, rather at variance to his nationality, they were an excellent window on swinging '60's style and attitude.Streets ahead in credibility than any equivalent like 'The Saint', I'm absolutely amazed that Bradford didn't command a greater screen presence. Rather like Ed Bishop; he had all the right ingredients of good looks, acting skill, and charisma in spades, yet we hardly ever saw him. The new James Bond seems to have just caught up.There was a very catchy jazz theme music as well, like that of The Avengers' or 'The Prisoner'. I hope the DVD's are as good as I remember the programmes to be. Highly recommended if so.

gadfly132 "Man in a Suitcase" is easily one of the best series from the 60s. McGill, the antihero, played brilliantly by Richard Bradford is a disgraced American Intelligence type who hires out to do complex private eye work.The writing (and Bradford's acting) was top-notch and the supporting cast was always excellent. It was the first series to be both 'gritty' and 'believable,' in the sense that McGill didn't always win, and if he got cold-cocked, he usually stayed down. :-) Definitely worth a look.My favorite episode (going on memory here): a 2-parter called "In Pursuit of a Million Bucks." The title says it all.gadfly132

e-blowers Only one actor is listed as a regular cast member and that is Richard Bradford who starred as the man and his suitcase, McGill. That, and his wits, were all that were left to him after the CIA kicked him out to fend for himself. McGill had a rougher ride in this series than any other spy or investigator before or since and, to his credit, Richard Bradford made sure it showed. The effort he put into his characterisation, the generally high level of the supporting cast, writers and crew which backed him up, was well worth it as, over thirty years, later this series is still as fresh as the day it first aired. I am glad I found it, and I can't stop watching it.Richard Bradford is mesmerising to watch as McGill and throughout the series he is consistently good, never giving less than his best so a lot of the credit for the success of this series must surely go to him. He has made many appearances in films and on t.v. in character roles since which shows his scope as an actor, but I believe his talents deserved better. The star of Man In A Suitcase is surely the one that got away.