Distribution

The 24 episodes were broadcast at 4:45 pm on Wednesdays, the first episode being broadcast in the UK on 6 December 1972.

The series was a joint venture with a German company, included some German actors as recurring cast in Season Two, and some of the scenes were filmed in German as well as English.

It was shown in Germany, and all over Europe (including Eastern Europe), in the USA, South America, and Australia, where it was of-cten given repeat showings, though it was seldom repeated in the UK.

Foreign TV networks variously dubbed or subtitled the show as they saw fit.

In 1975, scenes from various episodes were put together to make a film, “Arthur the Young Warlord”, though this was a shadow of the series, and left out most of Michael Gothard’s scenes, as well as the distinctive theme tune by Elmer Bernstein.

The series finally came out on DVD in 2009.

Michael’s former girlfriend N.B., who first met him in 1984, says:

'He didn’t like watching himself. I never got him to show me any movie he had worked in. From what he told me, I think he liked the film “Up the Junction” and “Arthur of the Britons.” And the French one, “La vallée.”'

Cast and crew with whom Michael Gothard worked on other projects.

Peter Stephens, who appeared in the episode ‘In Common Cause’ as Brother Amlodd, just before his death at 52, on 17 September 1972, had earlier starred with Michael Gothard in ‘Herostratus.’ Stephens played the part of the advertising man, Farson.

Brian Blessed: Porthos in in ‘The Further Adventures of the Musketeers’, and Korski in ‘The Last Valley’, and Mark of Cornwall in ‘Arthur of the Britons.’

Mike Pratt: Jeff Randall in ‘When the Spirit Moves You’, and Mordant in ‘People of the Plough’ (‘Arthur of the Britons’ episode.)

Alfie Bass: Charlie in ‘Up the Junction’ and Trader in ‘The Swordsman’ (‘Arthur of the Britons’ episode.)

Peter Firth: Colonel Caine in ‘Lifeforce’ and Corin in ‘The Pupil’ (‘Arthur of the Britons’ episode.)

Patti Love: Tasca in ‘Warrior Queen’, Gladwyn in ‘Rolf the Preacher’ (‘Arthur of the Britons’ episode.)

Peter Brayham: stuntman in ‘The Devils’, stunt arranger for ‘Stopover’ (‘The Professionals’ episode) and ‘Jack the Ripper’, and second unit director and stunt co-ordinator on ‘Frankenstein,’ fight arranger for ‘Arthur of the Britons.’

Watch on Youtube:

Season 1


Episode 1: Arthur is Dead
Episode 2: The Gift of Life
Episode 3: The Challenge
Episode 4: The Penitent Invader
Episode 5: People of the Plough
Episode 6: The Duel
Episode 7: The Pupil
Episode 8: Rolf the Preacher
Episode 9: Enemies and Lovers
Episode 10: The Slaves
Episode 11: The Wood People
Episode 12: The Prize

Season 2
Episode 1: The Swordsman
Episode 2 :Rowena
Episode 3: The Prisoner
Episode 4: Some Saxon Women
Episode 5: Go Warily
Episode 6: The Marriage Feast
Episode 7: In Common Cause
Episode 8: Six Measures of Silver
Episode 9: Daughter of the King
Episode 10: The Games
Episode 11: The Treaty
Episode 12: The Girl from Rome

IMDB entry

Stills from the series can be seen here, and even more here.

.
This is a story about a crook, Calvin P. Bream (Anton Rogers), trying to sell fake bonds to an even bigger crook, Miklos Corri (Kieron Moore).

Michael Gothard plays Miklos’ henchman, Perrin.

Calvin calls in Jeff Randall (Mike Pratt), of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) to try to get him out of the mess he’s got himself into. Marty Hopkirk (Kenneth Cope) helps out in his usual incorporeal manner.

They all spend a lot of time in comic deceptions, comic drunkenness (Calvin Bream is unusual in that he can see Marty Hopkirk when he is drunk) stake-outs, telephone conversations and negotiations, which is probably just as well, because the fight scenes leave something to be desired.

Like "Department S", "Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)" was filmed at Associated British Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, England.

Both "When the Spirit Moves You" and the Department S episode in which Michael appeared, "Les Fleurs du Mal", were produced by Monty Berman, and had Frank Maher as stunt co-ordinator.

It looks as if Michael is wearing the same long grey coat throughout the later part of "When the Spirit Moves You" as he was wearing in the graveyard scene in "Les Fleurs du Mal."

Michael Gothard was to work with Mike Pratt again, when the latter appeared in an episode of “Arthur of the Britons”, “People of the Plough.” In that instance, it was Mike Pratt who played a bad guy.

Harry Fielder was an uncredited stunt double for Mike Pratt, and Michael Gothard was later to work with him again on "The Devils."

IMDB entry

Eye for Film review

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