Samantha Eggar on Ghost Squad

1963 was a busy year for Samantha Eggar. She had begun her career just two years before, making her television debut on the BBC's Rob Roy series, followed by a guest appearance on the dramatic anthology series Rendezvous. 1962 saw Samantha Eggar appear in her first feature film (alongside several other rising stars) in The Wild and the Willing. 1963 saw Samantha Eggar take part in a number of UK teleplays and TV shows, including Ghost Squad, as well as being featured in another movie, Doctor in Distress. Her final television guest star role before focusing exclusively on cinema for a decade was on The Saint, in late 1963. Two years later she would be nominated for an Oscar and win the Golden Globe award for best actress.

Back in 1963, however, Samantha Eggar was still an up-and-coming actress and her guest appearance on the crime drama Ghost Squad shows significant evidence of her potential. She has a strong and wonderful presence and her star quality is very apparent.

In the Ghost Squad episode 'Hot Money', a convoluted tale about counterfeit money, Samantha Eggar plays Mina. Mina is the granddaughter of an old Italian man, who owns an art shop and, even though she moved to England when she was five years old, still retains a rather strong Italian accent. As a testament to her burgeoning acting skills, the quite British Samantha Eggar does a fine job using a foreign accent throughout the episode. She also sports a fabulously puffy hairdo, which she likewise pulls off in great style.


The following are some images of Samantha Eggar appearing on Ghost Squad:

Samantha Eggar in LIFE Magazine 1965

Deep within the May 14, 1965 issue of LIFE Magazine was a short photo essay concerning The Collector. The film was to be released to theaters the following month and this article served as a nice preview of the movie. The focus of the pictures and words is Samantha Eggar and she is shown in various stages of fright and is given several quotes to accompany a lovely head shot in the final section.

(Each image may be clicked on to enlarge.)

Wendy Kilbourne in Condor

In 1986, Wendy Kilbourne co-starred with actor Ray Wise in a feature-length pilot for a proposed television series called Condor. Condor was a sci-fi project, set in the near future of 1999. Ray Wise played a crime fighting cop named Christopher Proctor, working for the Condor Organization run by the wealthy Cyrus Hampton (played by Craig Stevens). At the beginning of the movie, Proctor is teamed up by Hampton with a new partner: a 'bionic woman' of sorts named Lisa Hampton (Wendy Kilbourne). They go on to battle The Black Widow, a supercriminal who has just escaped from prison and is out to do some damage and get revenge on Proctor for having put her away in the first place.

Wendy Kilbourne was no stranger to television in 1986. She had already been the featured guest star on shows like Knight Rider, Riptide, The A-Team, and Hotel. Her biggest success had come in 1985 after playing a prominent role in the massive cast of the TV miniseries North and South and its subsequent continuation North and South Book II in 1986.

Condor didn't end up getting made into a proper TV series. That's unfortunate because I think it would have made a really fun show. Wendy Kilbourne has such a charming presence, I would have enjoyed seeing more of her in this type of show. I know some people have thought that Condor didn't come off all that well, but I think some of that may be from expecting too much. Condor seems to be designed to be light, fluffy and campy and works best as sheer entertainment.

Following Condor, Wendy Kilbourne maintained her presence on television. In 1987 she was cast in the short-lived TV show version of the movie Nothing in Common. The following year she landed her biggest role since North and South, as rich radio station owner Devon King on the popular NBC series Midnight Caller.

Wendy Kilbourne and Craig Stevens

Wendy Kilbourne's eyes

Wendy Kilbourne and Ray Wise

Wendy Kilbourne and James Avery

Charlotte Rampling in The Long Duel

In 1967, Charlotte Rampling was featured in the supporting cast of Ken Annakin's The Long Duel, a classic adventure film set in India in the 1920s. Yul Brynner plays sultan, the charismatic leader of a tribe that has decided to revolt against British control. Trevor Howard plays the man who must catch Sultan, despite his sympathy to the Indian people and the animosity of his British co-workers. Charlotte Rampling portrays Jane, the daughter of the police superintendent, who falls in love with Trevor Howard's character.

Promotional pic of Charlotte Rampling for The Long Duel 

Before Charlotte Rampling began doing art films, she was in The Long Duel. Her acting career had only begun two years prior, in 1965, with her first substantial role in the movie Rotten to the Core. She followed this up with a very visible part in the popular Georgy Girl. After Georgy Girl, Charlotte Rampling spent some time doing guest appearances on UK television, perhaps most notably on a wonderfully campy episode of The Avengers.

In the summer of 1967, The Long Duel premiered in London. Her role in the film is not huge, but nonetheless memorable. Knowing the type of presence she would bring to the screen in later years, it is fun to watch Charlotte Rampling in the early role, playing it completely straight. She brings a credible, youthful energy to her part and succeeds in livening up the proceedings. Almost all of her screen-time is shared with Trevor Howard and the two work well together.


The following are some images of Charlotte Rampling in The Long Duel:

Charlotte Rampling and Trevor Howard

Charlotte Rampling and Harry Andrews