Like Colin Blakely, Donald Sutherland returned to 'Suitcase' as a different character. His first was the drunken 'Willard' in 'Day Of Execution', here he plays 'Keith Earle', a newly-released convict who's as mad as hell. He has served a five-year sentence for his part in a gold bullion robbery, but now he's out and wants his share of the hidden loot. His fellow robbers did not get caught, so one by one he tracks them down ( using a motorcycle as transport ), roughs them up and kills them, rather like the Lee Marvin character in 'Point Blank!' ( 1967 ). McGill's involvement starts when garage owner 'Eddy' ( J.G. Devlin ) finds a group photo taken just before the lads pulled the job. Eddy wants Mac to find the gold first, so they can split it. But Mac is not alone in tracking Earle. Scotland Yard is interested in recovering the money too...
Written by Francis Megahy and Bernie Cooper - also responsible for the excellent 'Brainwash' - this is an exciting yarn, directed by Freddie Francis, a noted cinematographer who, like Jack Cardiff, switched to making films. He is best remembered for Hammer horror classics such as 'Dracula Has Risen From The Grave' and one of my favourite Amicus anthology films 'Torture Garden'. He found time to work in television, pitching in episodes of, amongst other things, 'The Saint', 'The Champions', and, of course, this show. The plot is hampered by a few implausibilities; why have the robbers all stayed in England where Earle can easily find them? And why don't they head for the hills when the news of Earle's attack on a detective ( Michael Hawkins ) is reported in the press? Sutherland's delivery of lines like 'I did five years' bird and I want my share!' sound bizarre coming from a Canadian. Perhaps the role was written for an English actor. He gives the character a sinister laugh which might have come in handy had he guested on 'Batman'. It feels strange to watch this now knowing that Sutherland went on to become one of the world's biggest movie stars, while Richard Bradford, who plays 'McGill', did not. That's show business.
The lovely Jennifer Jayne is 'Joy', the girlfriend of one of the robbers who harbours a guilty secret - she knows where the gold is to be found. Francis must have liked working with her; she also appears in his 'Dr.Terrors' House Of Horrors' ( as does Sutherland ) ( 1964 ) and the ludicrous but enjoyable sci-fi film 'They Came From Beyond Space' ( 1967 ). Irish actor J.G. Devlin, who plays 'Eddy', was one of the two escaped convicts ( Leonard Rossiter was the other ) who invaded Oil Drum Lane in the classic 'Steptoe & Son' episode 'The Desperate Hours'.
Written by Francis Megahy and Bernie Cooper - also responsible for the excellent 'Brainwash' - this is an exciting yarn, directed by Freddie Francis, a noted cinematographer who, like Jack Cardiff, switched to making films. He is best remembered for Hammer horror classics such as 'Dracula Has Risen From The Grave' and one of my favourite Amicus anthology films 'Torture Garden'. He found time to work in television, pitching in episodes of, amongst other things, 'The Saint', 'The Champions', and, of course, this show. The plot is hampered by a few implausibilities; why have the robbers all stayed in England where Earle can easily find them? And why don't they head for the hills when the news of Earle's attack on a detective ( Michael Hawkins ) is reported in the press? Sutherland's delivery of lines like 'I did five years' bird and I want my share!' sound bizarre coming from a Canadian. Perhaps the role was written for an English actor. He gives the character a sinister laugh which might have come in handy had he guested on 'Batman'. It feels strange to watch this now knowing that Sutherland went on to become one of the world's biggest movie stars, while Richard Bradford, who plays 'McGill', did not. That's show business.
The lovely Jennifer Jayne is 'Joy', the girlfriend of one of the robbers who harbours a guilty secret - she knows where the gold is to be found. Francis must have liked working with her; she also appears in his 'Dr.Terrors' House Of Horrors' ( as does Sutherland ) ( 1964 ) and the ludicrous but enjoyable sci-fi film 'They Came From Beyond Space' ( 1967 ). Irish actor J.G. Devlin, who plays 'Eddy', was one of the two escaped convicts ( Leonard Rossiter was the other ) who invaded Oil Drum Lane in the classic 'Steptoe & Son' episode 'The Desperate Hours'.