Dial 999 is a British television series that ran for one series of 39 episodes from 1958 to 1959.[1][2]

The series was a co-production between ITV contractor ABC Weekend TV, and American television producer Ziv Television Programs.

Synopsis edit

Named after the emergency telephone number for the United Kingdom, Dial 999 stars Robert Beatty as Canadian Mountie Mike Maguire, and follows his work fighting crime alongside London's police. Beatty was essentially reprising his role in the 1946 film Appointment with Crime, in which he played Detective Inspector Rogers, a Canadian police officer attached to Scotland Yard. The show contrasted Beatty's muscular brand of policing with that of his British colleagues, but failed to sell to North American markets.

Cast edit

  • Robert Beatty – Detective Inspector Michael McGuire
  • Duncan Lamont – Detective Inspector Winter
  • John Witty – Detective Sargeant West

Each episode had a different supporting cast. Notable actors who appeared include Michael Balfour, Adrienne Corri, Vera Day, William Hartnell (who had appeared in Appointment with Crime), Arthur Lowe, Patrick Magee, Sidney Tafler, and Patrick Troughton.

Episodes edit

Episode Title Director
1 The Killing Job Alvin Rakoff
2 Special Edition Bernard Knowles
3 Illegal Entry Terence Fisher
4 The Great Gold Robbery Terence Fisher
5 Thames Division Alvin Rakoff
6 Missing Persons Bernard Knowles
7 Honeymoon Bernard Knowles
8 Commando Crook Terence Fisher
9 77 Bus Terence Fisher
10 Night Mail Bernard Knowles
11 Escape Bernard Knowles
12 The Big Fish Don Chaffey
13 Special Branch Terence Fisher
14 The Mechanical Watchman Bernard Knowles
15 Ghost Squad Terence Fisher
16 50,000 Hands Terence Fisher
17 Fashions in Crime Terence Fisher
18 Rolling Racketeers Bernard Knowles
19 24 Hours a Day Alvin Rakoff
20 Hunter, Hunted Robert Lynn
21 A Mined Area Robert Lynn
22 The Barge Burglars Robert Lynn
23 Old Soldiers Sometimes Die Bernard Knowles
24 Extradition Bernard Knowles
25 Gun Rule Bernard Knowles
26 Key Witness Bernard Knowles
27 Down to the Sea Bernard Knowles
28 The Exception to the Rule Bernard Knowles
29 Deadly Blackmail Bernard Knowles
30 Payroll Job Robert Lynn
31 The Motorbike Bandits Robert Lynn
32 Living Loot Bernard Knowles
33 An Inside Job Bernard Knowles
34 Picture Puzzle Robert Lynn
35 Rat Trap Robert Lynn
36 Heads or Tails Charles Saunders
37 Radio Active Robert Lynn
38 Robbery with Violence Alvin Rakoff
39 Death Ride Bernard Knowles

Production edit

Dial 999 was filmed at Elstree Studios, and on location in London. The programme credits acknowledge the cooperation of the Metropolitan Police.

Home media edit

In 2021, Network DVD released all the episodes of the series on DVD in a five disc set.

References edit

  1. ^ "Dial 999". IMDB. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  2. ^ Palmer, Scott (2022). Dial 999: The Series. Cypress Hills Press. ISBN 9781087992662.

External links edit