Series synopsis
Mark Saber is an American crime drama television series that premiered on NBC on October 1, 1954. It ended on September 5, 1960. It was created by Mark Grantham, Brian Clemens. It stars Donald Gray, Ron Randell, Robert Arden and Clifford Evans.
A half-hour 1950s detective television series that took different forms and titles during its run. From October 1951 to June 1954, ABC Mystery Theater stars Tom Conway as the titular character, a plainclothes English detective working with the NYPD Homicide Division.
The Vise (seasons 1–4): Donald Gray portrays Saber as a one-armed private detective based in London. Broadcast on ABC from October 1954 to June 1957.
Saber of London (seasons 5–7): Gray reprises his role in this final iteration, b ...
Premise
A half-hour 1950s detective television series that took different forms and titles during its run. From October 1951 to June 1954, ABC Mystery Theater stars Tom Conway as the titular character, a plainclothes English detective working with the NYPD Homicide Division.
The Vise (seasons 1–4): Donald Gray portrays Saber as a one-armed private detective based in London. Broadcast on ABC from October 1954 to June 1957.
Saber of London (seasons 5–7): Gray reprises his role in this final iteration, broadcast on NBC from September 1957 to May 1960.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Donald Gray as Mark Saber
- Ron Randell as Host
- Robert Arden as Bob Page
- Clifford Evans
- Hugh Latimer
- Alexander Knox
- Laurence Naismith
- George Coulouris
Supporting cast
- Sandra Dorne
- Lee Patterson
- Honor Blackman
- Martin Boddey
- Norma Parnell as Dorothy
- Natalie Kent as Miss Doyle
- Leslie Phillips as Hugh Lawrence
- Raymond Rollett as The General
- Colin Gordon as Theo Bayliss
- Charles Lamb as Hawker
- Tony Quinn as Goodbody
- Ann Stephens as Lily Bayliss
Guest cast
- Robert Arden as Bob Page
- Clifford Evans
- Hugh Latimer
- Alexander Knox
- Laurence Naismith
- George Coulouris
- Sandra Dorne
- Lee Patterson
- Honor Blackman
- Martin Boddey
- Norma Parnell as Dorothy
- Natalie Kent as Miss Doyle
Episodes
This series spans 7 seasons with 220 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 39 | October 1, 1954 | June 24, 1955 |
| Season 2 | 26 | July 1, 1955 | December 30, 1955 |
| Season 3 | 26 | December 23, 1955 | June 15, 1956 |
| Season 4 | 39 | June 20, 1957 | April 22, 1959 |
| Season 5 | 38 | September 13, 1959 | September 5, 1960 |
| Season 6 | 38 | October 12, 1958 | September 20, 1959 |
| Season 7 | 14 | September 6, 1959 | May 15, 1960 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | One Just Man | October 1, 1954 |
| 2 | Set a Murder | October 8, 1954 |
| 3 | Let Murder Be Done | October 15, 1954 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diplomatic Error | July 1, 1955 |
| 2 | Strangle Hold | July 8, 1955 |
| 3 | The Corpse in Room Thirteen | July 15, 1955 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Lady is Missing | December 23, 1955 |
| 2 | Diamond Cut Diamond | December 30, 1955 |
| 3 | A Coffin for Johnny | January 6, 1956 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
File It Under Murder Gwen Lawrence turns up for a job as secretary, with Mark Saber. She changes her mind but has stolen the Dirk Ewing folder. Now going under the name of Richard Osbourne he is murdered attempting to give himself up. |
June 20, 1957 |
| 2 |
If This Be Murder Writer Tony Latham's wife Nancy is murdered and the police haven't arrested janitor Anton Turek. He wants Mark Saber to help but author Oliver Moon demands he returns to work. Latham writes the books but Moon takes the credit. |
June 27, 1957 |
| 3 |
Sing Softly Sister A British industrialist calls in detective Mark Saber to locate his missing wife. |
July 4, 1957 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Captain and His Killers Captain Edge reports, to the police, two men disposing a body on the sea bank. When the body can't be found his granddaughter asks Mark Saber for help. Saber and assistant Paul Paulson find the body and believe the suspects are locals. |
September 13, 1959 |
| 2 | Hands Across the Sea | September 20, 1957 |
| 3 |
Deep in the Heart of Chelsea Texan Mr. Dugan, asks Mark Saber for help, when he is cheated out of £4,000, when he bought a fake painting by Ambroise Martin. To prove art dealer Guthrie is selling fakes Pete Paulson goes under cover as a rich American. |
September 27, 1957 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Curse of Death | October 12, 1958 |
| 2 |
The Killer and the Kid An escaped murderer persuades a young boy to get him clothes and food. But when the child's father discovers the items are missing, he calls Mark Saber. |
October 19, 1958 |
| 3 |
Paid Off Freddy Benson steals diamonds smuggled in from Amsterdam and leaves the courier for dead. The courier reaches former Sir George Royston but dies. Royston has been in prison so decides to ask Mark Saber for help rather than the police. |
October 26, 1958 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Broken Journey An elderly employee of a jewelry firm carrying a bag of diamonds stops in at a roadside restaurant for a cup of coffee and disappears. Convinced that he is not a thief, his daughter appeals to Mark Saber to find him and prove his innocence. |
September 6, 1959 |
| 2 |
Cousin from Montreal Gang member wants out and is beaten to death for it. When the case goes cold after a month, Sabre gets the job. |
September 13, 1959 |
| 3 |
The Big Stone Ross the Jewellers received an uncut diamond from Wainwrights worth £50,000. They polished it and courier, Jessica Roberts was taking it to Jonathan French to be cut. A car pulls up and a man steals the diamond. Mark Saber is called in. |
September 20, 1959 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | NBC |
|---|---|
| First aired | October 1, 1954 |
| Last aired | September 5, 1960 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Sunday at 21:30:00 |