The Guardians
The Guardians title card
GenreSci-fi
Political thriller
Drama
Created byRex Firkin
Vincent Tilsley
Written byvarious
Directed byvarious
StarringGwyneth Powell
Cyril Luckham
David Burke
Derek Smith
Edward Petherbridge
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes13
Production
ProducerAndrew Brown
Running time60 minutes
Production companyLondon Weekend Television
Original release
NetworkITV
Release10 July (1971-07-10) –
2 October 1971 (1971-10-02)

The Guardians is a television political thriller series of 13 60-minute episodes made by London Weekend Television and broadcast in the UK on the ITV network (with the exception of Ulster Television) between 10 July 1971 and 2 October 1971.

Synopsis

The Guardians is a dystopian political thriller set in the 1980s. Following economic chaos, democratic government has been overthrown in a bloodless coup, the Royal Family fled into self-imposed exile and England is ruled autocratically by Prime Minister Sir Timothy Hobson. Hobson is initially a pawn of 'the General'; a military officer by the name of Roger, who later becomes the Minister of Defence. Hobson subscribes to an outwardly benevolent paternalistic fascism, based on the principle that "democracy is a form of group suicide." Political opposition is suppressed by a uniformed paramilitary force recruited from former policemen, soldiers and security guards and called "The Guardians of the Realm" (known for short as "The Guardians" or simply "The Gs"). Each episode begins with a column of Guardians marching through central London to a memorable theme tune composed by Wilfred Josephs.

The government, nominally headed by Hobson, is opposed by a fragmented resistance movement collectively named "Quarmby." The dominant group within Quarmby favours a strategy of provoking increased oppression by the state through the use of assassination and other forms of terrorism. The series avoided black and white scenarios by portraying moderate and extreme factions jostling within both government and resistance. Hobson represents the liberal element within government, attempting to outmanoeuvre the seldom-seen General and the polished Cabinet Secretary Norman.

Cast

Episode list

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"The State of England"Robert TronsonVincent Tilsley10 July 1971 (1971-07-10)
After a period of mass unemployment, chaos and a complete failure of the government, order has been restored in England. However, the price of this new stability is personal liberty. Dissenters soon appear, dedicated to the overthrow of the new regime.
2"Pursuit"James GoddardHugh Whitemore17 July 1971 (1971-07-17)
An attempt has been made on the Prime Minister’s life, and an agent planted to root out Communists within the Guardians is shot dead.
3"Head of State"Robert TronsonJohn Bowen24 July 1971 (1971-07-24)
A delicate situation develops when the French President, due in London for talks, refuses to attend unless he can meet the real head of state. With the Queen in self-imposed exile and the Prime Minister little more than a pawn of the General, who is the real head of state?
4"The Logical Approach"Tony WharmbyJohn Bowen31 July 1971 (1971-07-31)
The new Home Secretary is perturbed to find out that, in a supposedly humane measure, prisoners under sentence of death are sedated and painlessly euthanised 24 hours before their scheduled executions.
5"Quarmby"Robert TronsonJohn Bowen7 August 1971 (1971-08-07)
The search continues for a sniper and the Prime Minister has had enough. He decides to disband the Guardians. But does he have the power to do so?
6"Appearances"Mike NewellMonty Poole14 August 1971 (1971-08-14)
Having killed a detective in cold blood, the state psychiatrist and Quarmby activist Dr Benedict returns to his routine of causing chaos for the Guardians and the government. Is it time for action to be taken?
7"This is Quarmby"Brian ParkerArden Winch21 August 1971 (1971-08-21)
There have been many strikes against the regime, but now the resistance launches a new campaign to persuade public opinion of the innate brutality of the government.
8"The Dirtiest Man in the World"Derek BaileyJohn Bowen28 August 1971 (1971-08-28)
An officer of the Guardians is being held at the rehabilitation centre and is making no effort to leave; Dr Benedict does not underestimate the officer’s value as a pawn in the struggle against the Guardians.
9"I Want You to Understand Me"Robert TronsonJohn Bowen4 September 1971 (1971-09-04)
When a kidnapped member of the Guardians is assassinated, the Prime Minister is sent an ultimatum: restore democracy or face more kidnappings and chaos.
10"The Nature of the Beast"Mike NewellJonathan Hales11 September 1971 (1971-09-11)
Dr Benedict has problems when a man calling himself Quarmby drops into his office without an appointment, while Clare has her own problems with her drugged husband.
11"The Roman Empire"Moira ArmstrongJohn Bowen18 September 1971 (1971-09-18)
The Prime Minister, fearing for his career, rigs a show trial after a Guardian commander kills three workers during a protest.
12"The Killing Trade"Derek BaileyJonathan Hales25 September 1971 (1971-09-25)
Weston is alone after Clare reveals her love for Chris; any escape plan will now be difficult with such limited support.
13"End in Dust"Robert TronsonJohn Bowen2 October 1971 (1971-10-02)
Dr Benedict embarks on a high-risk mission, unaware that he is under surveillance. With anger growing in England, the time to take sides has come.

Northern Ireland

The Independent Television Authority decided that the series was unsuitable to be broadcast in Northern Ireland due to IRA activity there because of its political content such as depictions of terrorist activity from the terrorist's point of view.

DVD release

The Guardians was released on DVD in the UK on 1 February 2010 by Network.[1] The full 13-part series was released as a 4-disc set.

References

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