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The Classic TV Archive - UK  Filmed Drama series
Assignment: Foreign Legion (1956-57)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
D.W. McGregor (Sunderland, UK), David Moore (UK)
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://www.us.imdb.com)
------------------------
ASSIGNMENT: FOREIGN LEGION
------------------------
Intel Films production/ CBS Television Film Sales Inc.
Filmed on lcation in Algeria and Morocco and at
Beaconsfield Studios, Buckinghamshire, England
Executive producer Anthony C. Bartley (all episodes)
Produced by E. M. Smedley-Aston (most episodes)
Produced by Herman J. Blaser ("The Glory that was Meister"/ "The White Kepi" verified)
for
ATV London UK, Saturdays (15Sep56-9Mar57)
ATV Midlands UK, Fridays 9:30pm (21Sep56-15Mar57)
CBS (US) (Tuesdays 10:30PM ET) (01Oct57-24Dec57)

UK Anthology series 1956-57 26 episodes x 30 min bw
(only 12 episodes shown on CBS Network in US)
Hosted by and occasionally starring
Merle Oberon
as Foreign Correspondent in North Africa

Premise:
A female correspondent seeks the stories behind the men of the Foreign Legion.
Background:
Originally filmed on location in Algeria and Morocco before conflict between
the French Foreign Legion (who co-operated on the series) and nationalistic
freedom fighters forced the crew to return to Beaconsfield Studios in Buckinghamshire.

####### Assignment: Foreign Legion ###########
############# season 1956-57 [UK] ############
############ season Fall 1957 [US] ###########
ATV London UK, Saturdays (15Sep56-9Mar57)
ATV Midlands UK, Fridays 9:30pm (21Sep56-15Mar57)
CBS USA, Tuesdays 10:30pm ET (1Oct57-24Dec57)

1.1 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE STRIPES OF SERGEANT SCHWEIGER
15Sep56 UK ATV London, Sat / 22Oct57 US CBS Tue 10:30pm ET (#4 US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Assoc. Prod. E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Paul Monash
Directed by Lance Comfort
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Anton Diffring ........... Sgt. Schweiger
Geoffrey Keen ............ Capt. Cheminot
Karel Stepanek ........... Lt. Voljac
Alex Gallier ............. Capt. Haleine
John Fabian .............. Legionnaire Defaulter
Auric Lorand ............. Berber guide
Production Manager, Peter Bolton
Assistant Director, Phil Shipway
Script Supervisor, Beryl Booth
Lighting cameraman, Arthur Graham
Camera Operator, Ray Sturgess
Editor, Peter Saunders
Deputy Editor, Roy Hyde
Art Director, Frank White
Make-up, Jill Carpenter
Music Composed and directed by Herbert Griffith
Sound, Len Page
(no synopsis available)
(23Jan59 UK ITV Tyne-Tees)

1.2 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE MAN WHO FOUND FREEDOM
22Sep56 UK ATV London, Sat / 12Nov57 US CBS Tue 10:30pm ET (#7 US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Assoc. Prod. E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Hal Weber
Directed by Lance Comfort
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Lee Patterson .......... Ridge
Leonard Sachs .......... Gavin
Norah Gorsen ........... Marie Courville
Jacques Gey ............ Papa Courville
Frederick Schiller ..... German legionnaire
Patrick Westwood ....... Italian legionnaire
(no synopsis available)

1.3 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE BARONESS
29Sep56 UK ATV London, Saturday / (not shown in US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Assoc. Prod. E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Max Ehrlich
Directed by Michael McCarthy
Art Director, Frank White
Music, Herbert Griffiths
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Merle Oberon ......... the baroness
Tom Conway ........... Georgews Delacroix
Laurence Payne ....... Etienne
Betty McDowall ....... Corrine
Arthur Gomez ......... commandant
(no synopsis available)

1.4 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE STOOL PIGEON
6Oct56 UK ATV London, Sat / 26Nov57 US CBS Tue 10:30pm ET (#9 US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Assoc. Prod. E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by A.R. Rawlinson
Directed by Don Chaffey
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Donald Houston ......... Zub Rowski
Maurice Kaufmann ....... Max Brecker
Robert Arden ........... Bill Ainsworth
Larry Cross ............ Larry
John Heller ............ Ratenbild
Terence O'Regan ........ Murphy
Synopsis:
The stark background of a penal battalion of the Foreign Legion is the
scene for this of a man who tries to turn his back on the past.
(rpt 16Jan58 A-R London )

1.5 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE SEARCH
13Oct56 UK ATV London, Sat / (not shown in US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Assoc. Prod. E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Max Ehrlich
Directed by Michael McCarthy
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Peter Arne ............. Andre
Vera Fusek ............. Anna
Michael Ripper ......... Corporal
John Le Mesurier ....... Leblond
Guido Lorraine ......... Lieutenant Bourdon
John Serret ............ concierge
Synopsis:
A man goes out of prison and begins a search for his wife and son.
He discovers that his wife has married an officer in the Foreign
Legion and that his son thinks that he is dead.

1.6 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE GHOST
20Oct56 UK ATV London, Sat / 8Oct57 US CBS Tue 10:30pm ET (#2 US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Assoc. Prod. E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Max Ehrlich
Directed by Michael McCarthy
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
William Russell ......... Gerry Brooke
Clifford Evans .......... John Warwick
Paula Byrne ............ Jane Warwick
Peter Allenby ........... Clyde Warman
Keith Pyott ............. commandant
(no synopsis available)

1.7 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE OUTCAST
27Oct56 UK ATV London, Saturday / 1Oct57 US CBS Tue 10:30pm ET (#1 US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Assoc. Prod. E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Max Ehrlich
Directed by Lance Comfort
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Michael Gough ........... Andre la Palme
Rosalie Crutchley ....... Lucette
Patrick Allen ........... Corporal Schultz
Eric Pohlmann ........... Thibault
Edouard Ashley .......... Jean
Carl Jaffe .............. Von Hoff
André Mikhelson ......... Colonel Juin
(no synopsis available)

1.8 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE GLORY THAT WAS MEISTER
3Nov56 UK ATV London, Sat / (not shown in US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley
Producer Herman J. Blaser/ Assoc. Prod. E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by George Kirgo & David Rayfiel
Directed by Lance Comfort
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Alexander Gauge ......... Meister
Liam Redmond ............ Inspector Simkins
Charles Lloyd Pack ...... Huggins
Philip Lennard .......... Sergeant Malraux
Brian O'Higgins ......... O'Casey
April Olrich ............ Lucette
(no synopsis available)

1.9 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE THIN LINE
10Nov56 UK ATV London, Saturday / 3Dec57 US CBS Tue 10:30pm ET (#10 US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Assoc. Prod. E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by W. Stanley Moss & Reed De Rouen
Directed by Don Chaffey
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Patrick Barr
John Loder
Denis Shaw
Felix Felton
Maureen Connell
Gerik Schjelderup
(no synopsis available)

1.10 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE SWORD OF TRUTH
17Nov56 UK ATV London, Sat / (not shown in US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Assoc. Prod. E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Paul Monash
Directed by Lance Comfort
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Alan Cuthbertson ....... Capt. de Suresne
Robert Brown ........... Sgt. Boucher
Carl Duering ........... Willems
Alfred Burke ........... Cpl. Lescaux
Stephen Grey ........... Sgt. Maury
Synopsis:
The "Sword of Truth" is the sword on which the Arabs swear allegiance to
France, but it becomes an object of dread and suspicion to Captain de
Suresne, who has taken command of a desert post. He is suspicious of
everyone around him to the point of paranoia.
(rpt 27Feb58 UK A-R London)

1.11 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE DOLLAR A YEAR MAN
24Nov56 UK ATV London, Sat / (not shown in US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Assoc. Prod. E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by A.R. Rawlinson
Directed by Lance Comfort
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Anton Diffring ......... Franz Mayer
Bill Fraser ............ Monsieur Daudet
Lesley Nunnerley ....... Brigitte Daudet
Gaylord Cavallaro ...... Masterson
John Salew ............. finance minister
Pat Clavin ............ Franz's secretary
Synopsis:
A former great banker and financial wizard joins the legion after
a concentration camp in rags, without home or money. Then a letter
arrives - and he deserts.
(3Apr59 UK Tyne-Tees, Fri 7:00 pm)

1.12 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: FINGER YOUR NECK
1Dec56 UK UK ATV London, Saturday / (not shown in US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Assoc. Prod. E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by James Carhartt & Nicholas Winter
Directed by Don Chaffey
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Merle Oberon .......... Anne/Carla
William Sylvester ..... Tony
Norman Rossington ..... Manetti
Conrad Phillips ....... Dullin
(no synopsis available)

1.13 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE DEBT
8Dec56 UK UK ATV London, Saturday / 29Oct57 US CBS Tue 10:30pm ET (#5 US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Producer E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Max Ehrlich / Adapted by A.R. Rawlinson
Directed by Terence Fisher
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Tony Dawson .......... Captain Pierre Cordier
Peter Wyngarde ....... Lieutenent Charles Designe
André Mikhelson ...... fort commandant
Walter Hudd .......... Major Gauthier
Angela Krefeld ....... Denise
Charles Stapley ...... sergeant major
(no synopsis available)

1.14 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: TESTIMONIAL TO A SOLDIER
15Dec56 UK ATV London, Saturday / 17Dec57 US CBS Tue 10:30pm ET (#11 US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Producer E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Paul Monash
Directed by Lance Comfort
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Martin Benson ....... Kasar
Nigel Stock ......... Geist
Richard Pasco ....... Lieutenant Mauriac
Fred Kitchen, Jr. ... Colonel Pinaud
Alfred Burke ........ Major Lebeque
Peter Macarte ....... Arab stall keeper
(no synopsis available)

1.15 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE VOLUNTEER
22Dec56 UK ATV London, Saturday / (not shown in US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Producer E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Max Ehrlich
Directed by Lance Comfort
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
André Morell ........ Colonel Laurent
Leo McKern .......... Sergeant Campeau
Harold Kasket ....... El Kebir
Roland Brand ........ Morgan
Seymour Green ....... Captain Le Clere
Charles Stapley ..... Sergeant Le Jean
Tom Bowan ........... Sergeant Arnault
(no synopsis available)

1.16 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: A PONY FOR JOE CRAZY HORSE
29Dec56 UK ATV London, Sat / 19Nov57 US CBS Tue 10:30pm ET (#8 US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Assoc. Prod. E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Carey Wilber
Directed by David MacDonald
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Martin Benson ........... Legionnaire Crazy Horse
Lionel Jeffries ......... Sergeant Le Boule
Edward Cast ............. Cpt Dupont
Norman Rossington ....... Legionnaire Tete de Bras
Edward Evans ............ Garrison commandant
John Schlesinger ........ Cpl Schneider
Production Supervisor, Frank Sherwin Green
Assistant Director, René Dupont
Script Supervisor, Doreen Dearnaley
Lighting Cameraman, Arthur Graham
Editor, Lee Doig
Deputy Editor, Roy Hyde
Art Director, Frank White
Make-up, Roy Ashton
Music Composed and Directed by Albert Elms
Sound, Len Page
(no synopsis available)

1.17 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE COWARD
5Jan57 UK ATV London, Sat / (not shown in US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Producer E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Max Ehrlich
Directed by David MacDonald
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Patrick McGoohan ....... Capt. Valadon
George Coulouris ....... Sultan Ahmed Bey
Roger Delgado .......... Lieutenent Lachaise
Henri Vidon ............ Colonel Pradier
Donald Pleasence ....... commandant
John Welsh ............. minister of colonies
(no synopsis available)

1.18 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE CONQUERING HERO
12Jan57 UK ATV London, Sat / (not shown in US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Producer E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Cary Wilber
Directed by Don Chaffey
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Anthony Newley ........ Lgnre. Horatio Smith
Adrienne Corri ........ Gabrielle
Walter Rilla .......... Marchand
Patrick Troughton ..... Nedeau
Gertan Klauber ........ Schiller
George Pravda ......... Captain Leclerc
Stanley van Beers ..... colonel
(no synopsis available)

1.19 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE WHITE KEPI
19Jan57 UK ATV London, Sat / 15Oct57 US CBS Tue 10:30pm ET (#3 US)
Intelfilm/ British National Studios
Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Produced by Herman J. Blaser
Written by Paul Monash
Directed by David MacDonald
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Eddie Byrne ............. Sgt. Weller
Lee Patterson ........... Lgnre Reese
Alec Mango .............. Capt. Gary
Lisa Gastoni ............ Jacqueline
Michael Mellinger ....... Ballard
Stanley Zevic ........... Thibault
Guy Deghy ............... Kunz
Assistant Director, Gerry O'Hara
Director of Photography, James Wilson
Camera Operator, Austin Dempster
Editor, Ted Hunter
Art Director, Duncan Sutherland
Synopsis:
Across the hot and arid desert, constantly on the track of hostile Arab bands
slog the patrol of the French Foreign Legion. Their only break is leave. And
leave means bazaars, mysterious and alluring night clubs, and the opportunity
to act like civilians and tell of the days when no military orders existed.
Their tales are strange. This is such a story.
(14Feb58 UK Granada)

1.20 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE WHITE WITCH OF MAKALA
26Jan57 UK ATV London, Sat / (not shown in US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Assoc. Prod. E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by James Carhartt & Nicholas Winter
Directed by Don Chaffey
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Dennis Price .......... Major Louis de la Tour
Betty McDowall ........ Jeanne de la Tour
Bruce Beeby ........... Captain Henri Bardot
Connie Smith .......... Man'Emi
John Harrison ......... M'Dongo
Thomas Baptiste ....... Bolo
(no synopsis available)

1.21 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE RICHEST MAN IN THE LEGION
16Feb57 UK ATV London, Sat / (not shown in US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Producer E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Hal Webber
Directed by Don Chaffey
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Roger Moore ............. Legionnaire Paul Harding
Peter Dyneley ........... Richard Harding
Wensley Pithey .......... Captain Mercier
Michael Mellinger ....... the guide
Lucette Marimer ......... Jackie
Della Voss .............. Marion
(no synopsis available)

1.22 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE DESERTER
23Feb57UK ATV London, Sat / (not shown in US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Producer E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by John Kruse
Directed by Terry Fisher
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Patrick Allen .......... Mike O'Shea
André Charise .......... Abdul Rahim
Frederick Schiller ..... Sgt. Schmidt
Robert Arden ........... Canadian
Fred Goddard ........... Aussie
Lee Montague ........... Mahmoud
Synopsis:
A man who joins the Legion to obtain secret information.
(15May58 UK, A-R London, Thur 7:00 pm repeat)

1.23 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: AS WE FORGIVE
2Mar57 UK ATV London, Sat / (not shown in US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Producer E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Brian Kingcome and Don Chaffey
Directed by Don Chaffey
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Peter Arne ............ Father Prousteau
Christopher Lee ....... Rodin
Andrée Melly .......... Denise
John Dearth ........... Doctor
John Miller ........... Balmain (Gendarme)
Victor Brooks ......... Sergeant (Gendarme)
Synopsis:
A priest, bound by his vowes to respect the secrecy of the confessional, is
accused of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. But what of the guilty
man? He and the priest are to meet again, and play an important part in each
other's lives.
(12Mar58 UK Granada)

1.24 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: MIXED BLOOD
9Mar57 UK ATV London, Sat / (not shown in US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Producer E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Brian Ringlove
Directed by Michael McCarthy
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Martin Benson ......... Novac
Richard Johnson ....... Lieutenant Guillaume
Ferdy Mayne ........... Ben Rahim
Philip Leaver ......... Haroun
Arthur Gomez .......... commandant
John Bailey ........... Hussein
David Saire ........... Achmed
(no synopsis available)

1.25 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: THE ANAYA
29Sep58 UK / 24Dec57 US CBS Tue 10:30pm ET (#12 US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Assoc. Prod. E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by Irving Ellman
Directed by Lance Comfort
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Eddie Byrne .......... Sergeant Quinn
Christopher Lee ...... El Abba
Anna Gerber .......... Miriam
Peter Swanwick ....... colonel
John Harvey .......... Captain Janvier
Paul Homer ........... El Hakim
Synopsis:
An Arab leader forces a legionnaire to swear on the "anaya", a small
stick sacred to the Arabs, that he will remain faithful to him forever.

1.26 [--] Assignment: Foreign Legion: A MATTER OF HONOR (final episode)
5Oct58 UK / 5Nov57 US CBS Tue 10:30pm ET (#6 US)
Intelfilm/ Exec. Prod. Anthony C. Bartley/ Assoc. Prod. E.M. Smedley Aston
Written by James Carhartt & Nicholas Winter
Directed by Terence Fisher
Hosted by Merle Oberon
Guest Cast:
Stephen Murray ......... Grosjean
Lionel Jeffries ........ commandant
Robert Cawdron ......... Boileau
Ewen Solon ............. Coustaud
John Chandos ........... commissioner
Victor Baring .......... Jo Polo
Oscar Quitak ........... Delly
(no synopsis available)

####### Assignment: Foreign Legion ###########
################# the end ##################
##############################################

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