McGill goes to Naples where millionaire 'Ugo' ( Maurice Kaufmann ) has a job for him. His younger brother, 'Silvio' ( Paul Bertoya ), has inherited half a million pounds through a trust fund. All he needs to do to is sign some legal papers, and he is a rich man. Ugo wants Silvio to take the money so that he will stop sponging off him. Mac finds Silvio living amongst beatniks in London, amongst them avant-garde sculptor 'Tony' ( Michael Sarne ). Silvio does not want the money as he cannot stomach the social responsibility that comes with being wealthy. Sensing a kindred spirit in the young man, Mac does not force the issue. But 'Ciro' ( John Collin ), one of Ugo's thuggish employees, thinks differently...
Written by Stanley R.Greenberg and Reed de Rouen ( also an actor ), this stands out in the 'Suitcase' canon not because of the subject matter but rather the way it is presented. The jokey scene-setting captions, tinkly piano interludes ( like those heard in silent movie melodramas ), the gentle mocking of modern youth, suggest that we are not supposed to take a word of it seriously. One wonders if all this was laid out in the script as originally written, or whether Sidney Cole took one look at the rushes and decided the humour content needed to be emphasised, as later ( regrettably ) happened with 'The Avengers' episode 'The Great Great Britain Crime' ( which became 'Homicide & Old Lace' ). It was unnecessary. There is quite a serious theme at the heart of this story. Mac realises he has allied himself with the wrong side in an ongoing family dispute, and despite the money on offer is not prepared to force Silvio into adopting a lifestyle he basically does not want. The closing moments show Mac himself affecting a similar escape when his girlfriend offers him a job with her father's firm.
Maurice Kaufmann ( Ugo ) was Honor Blackman's husband. Michael Sarne ( Tony ) had a hit in 1962 with 'Come Outside' ( which also featured the late Wendy Richard ), and later directed the cult movies 'Joanna' and 'Myra Breckinridge'. John Bluthal and Bridget Armstrong are also on view ( looking far too old to be playing beatniks ).
Charles Frend also directed 'Scott Of The Antarctic', starring John Mills. This was his only 'Suitcase' assignment.
In a sly in-joke, a London gambling den is named 'Tronsons' in honour of Robert Tronson, one of the show's most prolific directors.
Written by Stanley R.Greenberg and Reed de Rouen ( also an actor ), this stands out in the 'Suitcase' canon not because of the subject matter but rather the way it is presented. The jokey scene-setting captions, tinkly piano interludes ( like those heard in silent movie melodramas ), the gentle mocking of modern youth, suggest that we are not supposed to take a word of it seriously. One wonders if all this was laid out in the script as originally written, or whether Sidney Cole took one look at the rushes and decided the humour content needed to be emphasised, as later ( regrettably ) happened with 'The Avengers' episode 'The Great Great Britain Crime' ( which became 'Homicide & Old Lace' ). It was unnecessary. There is quite a serious theme at the heart of this story. Mac realises he has allied himself with the wrong side in an ongoing family dispute, and despite the money on offer is not prepared to force Silvio into adopting a lifestyle he basically does not want. The closing moments show Mac himself affecting a similar escape when his girlfriend offers him a job with her father's firm.
Maurice Kaufmann ( Ugo ) was Honor Blackman's husband. Michael Sarne ( Tony ) had a hit in 1962 with 'Come Outside' ( which also featured the late Wendy Richard ), and later directed the cult movies 'Joanna' and 'Myra Breckinridge'. John Bluthal and Bridget Armstrong are also on view ( looking far too old to be playing beatniks ).
Charles Frend also directed 'Scott Of The Antarctic', starring John Mills. This was his only 'Suitcase' assignment.
In a sly in-joke, a London gambling den is named 'Tronsons' in honour of Robert Tronson, one of the show's most prolific directors.