The Baron - TV Series. 1967/68 Ft Steve Forrest

It was common in the 50's and 60's to import American actors into Britain to portray the heroes in action adventure series,particularly the ones that followed in the wake of the successful "THE SAINT." Steve Forrest,younger brother of Dana Andrews,was chosen to play John Mannering a.k.a "THE BARON",a two-fisted antique dealer and part-time adventurer who week after week got involved in all kinds of intrigue and danger.This was par for the course with these shows but "THE BARON" was one of the best although unfortunately it is rarely shown nowadays. Forrest made a tough and imposing figure as Mannering who was rarely seen without a cigarette in those pre PC days and who could really pack a punch in the shows many rugged fight sequences. If you ever get the chance to see this great show,look out for a great two-parter called"STORM WARNING/"THE ISLAND" a great sea-bound actioneer by anyone's reckoning.Mannering's sexy and sophisticated sidekick called Cordelia played by the glamorous Sue Lloyd featured strongly in this one too. Action fans in the US probably remember Steve Forrest from the 70's show "S.W.A.T."; if you thought he was tough in that, then you never saw "THE BARON." Why oh why can't the British produce shows like this anymore?